PETALING JAYA: Any conflict can weigh heavily on a person’s mind, but Selangor midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh showed remarkable composure on Sunday despite concerns over the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the safety of his family.
The Jordan international also expressed hope for peace in the region.
“As everyone can see in the media, there is war in the Middle East. I hope it will end as soon as possible and that everyone can live in peace,” said the 29-year-old, who added his family are fine back home.
The latest flare-up in the Middle East has seen renewed military exchanges involving several nations, raising concerns over regional stability.
While Malaysia remains far removed geographically, the presence of foreign players with family ties in affected areas has placed clubs and league officials on alert to ensure their welfare.
On the pitch, Al-Rawabdeh played a key role in Selangor’s dominant display, anchoring the midfield and allowing the attacking players to flourish.
He was instrumental in breaking up Immigration’s counter-attacks and quickly distributing the ball to Selangor’s forwards, helping the Red Giants maintain their attacking momentum throughout the match.
On Selangor’s ambitions this season, Al-Rawabdeh acknowledged the tight race for second place in the Super League.
“There are three clubs fighting for second place. If we perform well in every game, we can secure that spot. We promise our fans that we will fight until the end to finish second this season,” he added.
Selangor’s attacking duo of Chrigor Moraes and Alvin Fortes played pivotal roles as the Red Giants strengthened their grip on second place in the Super League with a commanding win on Sunday.
Moraes scored twice while Fortes provided two assists as Selangor cruised to a 4-0 victory over Immigration at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.
Moraes also spoke highly of coach Kim Pan-gon.
“Coach KPG (Pan-gon) is one of the best coaches I have ever trained under. He is excellent both on the pitch and off it,” he said.
“Since coach KPG came to Selangor, our performances have improved with every game. His tactics suit the team well.
“He also has an amazing personality and manages the dressing room very well.
“The players respect him a lot and everyone enjoys working with him.
“We need to believe in ourselves and treat every game like a final. If we do that, we can achieve our targets this season.”
The victory lifted Selangor to second in the standings with 39 points from 19 matches, edging Kuala Lumpur on goal difference.
