PETALING JAYA: Young Negri Sembilan A. Selvan (pic) flanker has good reasons to believe that he could soon be spreading his wings to the national team.
Despite making only five starts with the Deer last season, the speedy and skilful winger still managed to catch the eye of Harimau Malaya coach Kim Pan-gon.
The South Korean has now put him on the standby list, as the 23-year-old Selvan hopes to impress him further with more regular starts with Negri in the new season.
“If I can be a regular first-team player with Negri and perform well consistently, that will certainly boost my chances of being picked for the national team. That’s the dream I’m pursuing,’’ he said.
The Seremban-born Selvan is also attracting interest from Super League teams Perak and Selangor, who could use a winger of his quality.
But an assurance from the Negri management that he would be a regular starter next season has convinced him to stay on.
“Some clubs have contacted me to show their interest but Negri’s new chief executive officer Faliq (Firdaus) has assured me that I would be first choice for the team in the new season.
“He has a good vision for the team, and I could play a big part in it. If I had joined a new club, I would have to start all over again. I have to adapt to a new place, fans and environment.
“I’ve been with Negri for seven years. I started as a youth player and now I am with the first team. I feel I have more to give.”
Selvan, however, has his work cut out to earn a regular spot. Competition to be first-choice wingers will be the stiff as he has the likes of N. Javaabilarivin, Hadin Azman, Myanmar international Hein Htet Aung and Ikhwan Yazek to contend with.
‘’I know the score when it comes to fighting for a first XI spot. I’ve been working on my finishing with coach Nantha (assistant head coach K. Nanthakumar).
“I want to score more goals and provide more assists compared to last season, where I only scored two goals.”
