Football: Striker Indra out to give a strong showing in Asian Cup

PETALING JAYA: Striker Indra Putra Mahayuddin will be out to give a strong showing in the Asian Cup Finals to pave a smooth road for him to get into a new team next season. 

After four years with Pahang in the Super League, Indra has decided to make a move. His best season with the Elephants was in 2004, helping them win the inaugural Super League title and bagging the Golden Boot Award. 

“I am looking for bigger challenges and it is time for me to move on. I have received a few offers and will make a decision after the Asian Cup,” he said. 

Indra Putra: The national striker is ready to impress in the Asian Cup to pave a smooth road for him to get into a new team next season.

Indra is a surprise inclusion in Norizan Bakar's national team. He underwent surgery on both ankles after the Merdeka Tournament last August and has not played a single match for Pahang this season. 

Besides Indra, there are three other strikers in the team – Akmal Rizal Rakhli, Hairuddin Omar and Safee Sali. 

With Akmal still nursing a knee injury he picked up while playing for Selangor in the FA Cup semi-final second-leg match against Kedah recently, Indra may find himself having to play a key role for Malaysia. 

“It has been a while since I played for the country. It's good to be back in the national team,” said Indra. 

“It's too early to tell whether I will get to play in the Asian Cup because Akmal, Hairuddin and Safee are the favourites to be in the starting line-up. 

“But I have to be ready for duty. Physically I am up to the task. I need to be mentally ready too because the Asian Cup is a very big tournament. 

“All our opponents in the group (China, Iran and Uzbekistan) are without doubt stronger than us. A draw against them can be considered a good result. We will try to do our best to beat the odds.” 

Malaysia open their campaign in Group C against China at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on China followed by matches against Uzbekistan (July 14) and Iran (July 18).