PETALING JAYA: Right wingback Syahmi Safari has declared himself ready for international duty after overcoming a lengthy injury setback.
The 28-year-old is putting himself in contention for Malaysia’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round Group F qualifier against Vietnam in Nam Dinh on March 31.
“I’m grateful to be back,” said Syahmi.
“I was out for quite a while and I see it as a blessing to return after more than two years. This is one of the best moments for me,” he said.
Syahmi started full training last November following his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which took almost a year to recover.
He returned to competitive action in December and has since featured in 16 matches across all competitions for Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
Syahmi’s last appearance for the national team came in November 2023, when he played in Malaysia’s thrilling 4-3 win over Kyrgyzstan in the 2026 World Cup second-round qualifiers.
He admitted that the road to recovery was not without challenges.
“There were days when negative thoughts crept in, but through rehab and playing for JDT, my confidence gradually returned.
“I always believed I would make it back to the team one day.”
Syahmi believes he has emerged stronger.
“Physically, I feel different. There’s still some uneasiness around the injured area, but as I kept playing, I felt stronger and better,” he said.
“Of course, the trauma is still there, but once you’re on the field, all that disappears. You just want to give your best for the team.”
Syahmi will have to compete for a starting spot with Dion Cools and Azam Azmi Murad and he sees the strong competition as a positive sign.
“We have many quality players in the team. Competition for places is healthy and pushes all of us to raise our level,” he said.
On the match ahead, Syahmi said: “Playing Vietnam in Vietnam is never easy, but we are in a good position to show what Malaysia is capable of.”
