Zafuan hoping for a longer stay in Laos

PETALING JAYA: Skipper Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak hopes to erase the bitter memories of Malaysia’s early exit from the SEA Games Under-23 football competition in Korat two years ago.

The Negri Sembilan centreback said that they came to Korat with the target to win the gold medal but instead went home empty-handed.

“It was agonising for the team to go down after coming so close to booking a place in the semi-finals,” said Zafuan, who has the chance to redeem himself with the Malaysian team in the Laos SEA Games in December.

At the previous Games, the team under coach B. Sathianathan needed to win their final Group B match against Singapore but they allowed the Lions to snatch a 1-1 draw, conceding the goal barely 10 minutes from time.

“We just could not hold on to the lead. But it was a good lesson for me and the team. It all boils down to experience and we will be better prepared for the challenges in Laos,” said Zafuan.

Zafuan is among those from the Korat SEA Games squad who are still in the national Under-23 team. The others include his twin brother, Mohd Zaquan, Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal, Safiq Rahim, Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Bunyamin Umar, Syed Adney Syed Hussein, Mohd Asraruddin Putra, Farderin Kadir and Badrol Bakthiar.

Zafuan said the good performances in matches to prepare for the games augured well for the team.

The team under coach K. Rajagopal have played 12 friendly matches thus far – winning five, drawing three and losing four.

They won their first four matches in April – beating Singapore (3-0), Indonesia (1-0) and Zimbabwe (4-0, 1-0).

In July, they lost to the visiting Manchester United twice (2-3, 0-2) before holding fancied China and Kenya to goalless draws.

And in the recent tour of the Middle East, Malaysia were beaten by Saudi Arabia (1-2) and Saudi Premier League side Al-Qadisiyah (0-1) before playing out a goalless draw against Jordan.

Last week, they crushed Lesotho 5-0 before breaking camp on Monday.