Versatile: Alvin Fortes (right) is a good playmaker as well as goal scorer in the Selangor team.
PETALING JAYA: Selangor fans are starstruck with Alvin Fortes after his recent fiery performance.
The international winger from Cape Verde impressed in the Selangor Asia Challenge (SAC) Cup after scoring two goals in the 30th and 68th minutes to help the Red Giants beat Brunei club DPMM 4-0 at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Friday.
The other two goals were scored by Jordanian international Noor Al-Rawabdeh in the 15th and 57th minutes.
The 28-year-old Fortes was truly a menace on the right flank as he constantly made inside runs and also sudden surges into the box whenever left winger Faisal Halim was looking to make a pass.
The former Ratchaburi player is expected to play a key role for Selangor this season and based on his early performances, it looks like he could be one of the foreigners to watch out for in the Super League starting in May.
Coach Nidzam Jamil is not surprised with what Fortes has done so far.
“Alvin is involved in building attacks and also scoring goals. It is important he gets used to the league, not just the players. Thai and Malaysian league are similar but the culture is different,” said Nidzam.
“But I’m happy with him because his attitude is good on and off the field. He is coping quite well.
Nizdam was happy with the overall commitment by the boys.
“We showed the right mentality against DPMM. When we lost the ball possession, we always found a way to get it back. Even if our positioning were off, we tried to regain our formation.
“We had a clean sheet and that will boost the confidence of our defence and also goalkeepers.”
Nidzam also welcomed the return of the Malaysian Under-23 boys, where eight Selangor players played in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, in which Malaysia failed to collect any points in Group D.
The squad was lambasted by many critics and the heaviest recipient of it was captain Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, who plays in midfield for Selangor.
Nidzam said he does not want to indulge in negativity.
“Let’s take the positives from what happened in Qatar. The boys’ will mature. I spoke to all eight and it’s not easy for them.
“People assess them on their results but as a coach, I want to see their progress. Even if it is five to 10 percent, I’m happy. They are looking to be more professional.”
The eight Selangor players were Mukhairi, midfielders Nooa Laine, Syahir Bashah and Mohd Abu Khalil; centreback Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar; rightback Ahmad Zikri Khalili; winger Aliff Izwan Yuslan; and goalkeeper Azim Al-Amin.
