PETALING JAYA: No matter how much you prepare before the whistle, once the game begins, it is your teammates who help you through the toughest moments.
Fortunately for national winger G. Pavithran, his teammates gave him the encouragement he needed to overcome a frustrating start and eventually earn the Man of the Match award in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Laos in their Hyundai AFF Cup Group B match on Tuesday.
The opening stages were far from easy for the 21-year-old. He made several darting runs down the flanks but struggled to produce the final ball.
His attempts to whip crosses into the box also came to nothing, with most of his deliveries failing to clear the Laos centrebacks.
However, Pavithran said his teammates’ backing pushed him to eventually get his two assists to goals by Paulo Josue and Endrick dos Santos.
“For me, I grew into the game as the minutes ticked on. The boys kept supporting me,” said the youngster, who made his debut with the national squad in the team’s first group match against Myanmar on Saturday.
Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe clearly sees potential in the Johor Darul Ta’zim II player though, as he has played 90 minutes in both matches.
Pavithran is determined to repay the coach’s faith in him with more such performances.
“Whenever the coach plays me, I have to do my best,” said the Perakian.
“The most important thing tonight is the three points. Any award is secondary.”
The youngster will now focus on his team’s trip to Bangkok where they will take on Thailand for the next group match on Aug 1.
“We want to reach the semi-finals. So we have to leave Thailand with three points.”
