BANGKOK: National Under-23 striker Haqimi Azim Rosli is still mourning the death of his stepfather.
But his late father Sharol Asikin Mohd Shariff was also his source of inspiration - so, Haqimi has strong motivation is his return for the SEA Games football semi-final.
Haqimi missed the final Group B match against Vietnam (Malaysia lost 0-2) to be at the funeral, but he now returns to lead the Harimau Muda attack in the high-stakes semi-final against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium today.
“My feelings are mixed. I miss him but my late father has always been a source of inspiration for me in life and in football,” said Haqimi.
“He instilled all the values of discipline, hard work, and self-belief in me.”
Malaysia will really need the 22-year-old’s presence up front today.
Fellow striker Abdul Rahman Daud (pic above) is suspended after collecting two yellow cards, while Fergus Tierney is unavailable due to club commitments with Sabah.
That leaves Haqimi as the focal point of Malaysia’s attack.
The striker had already underlined his importance earlier in the tournament, scoring in the emphatic 4-1 win over Laos on Dec 6, a result that ultimately proved crucial. Malaysia finished level on goal difference with Indonesia at plus one, but progressed to the semi-finals on goals scores - four to Indonesia’s three.
For Haqimi, reaching the knockout stage of the SEA Games for the first time is special.
“It feels like a dream come true,” said Haqimi, whose hero us Real Madrid’s French striker Kylian Mbappe.
“I am adapting to the role of a striker by focusing on off-the-ball movement and sharpness in front of the goal, and I lover Mbappe because he utilises space, pace and finishing to provide maximum impact,” he explained.
“Playing against Thailand at Rajamangala will certainly be a big challenge with the pressure from the home supporters, but that atmosphere becomes fuel for us,” said Haqimi.
“Throughout my time with the national U-23 team, my journey has been filled with challenges, competition. It’s a continuous learning process and has made me a more disciplined person.”
