Full of hope: Danish Hakimi Salahuddin (right) and the Philippines’ Ortega Antoine going for the ball during the bronze medal playoff. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
BANGKOK: Danish Hakimi Salahuddin is a shy lad off-the-field.
But once on the field, the timidity disappears. And versatility takes over.
At 20, he played like veteran, as a hardman and a defensive midfielder, making overlapping runs as an auxiliary wingback and even making smart through passes as a playmaker.
Against the Philippines in the football bronze medal playoff, he was given a free role by coach Nafuzi Zain, and rewarded that trust by scoring a goal in the 2-1 win at the Rajamangala Stadium on Thursday.
He gave Malaysia the lead in the 27th minute when he punished the Young Azkals poor defensive coordination by thumping a loose rebound past goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes.
The other Malaysian goal was scored by striker Haqimi Azim Rosli in the 42nd minute, while the Philippines’ goal cam off an own goal by Haqimi in the 36th minute.
Danish was confident enough to say that his goal spurred the team’s gameplay.
“Because of that goal, we got the rhythm. In the first 10 minutes, we could not settle down at all. The goal had an impact,” said the Johor Darul Ta’zim II player, who plays in the A1 Semi-Pro League.
Danish returned home with eyes fixed on the 2027 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“I am just 20. I have another SEA Games cycle left in me. I hope I can further improve for the next Games. I hope we get to the final in Kuala Lumpur. We will give it our all.”
