KUALA LUMPUR – It’s a double-edged mission for national striker Safawi Rasid tomorrow as he not only aims to win the Merdeka Cup but also to set the modern-era goal-scoring record for Harimau Malaya.
His penalty kick not only successfully defeated the Philippines, securing the first victory under new coach Pau Marti Vicente, but also brought him one step closer to achieving that dream.
Currently, Safawi has scored a total of 21 goals with the national squad, just two shy of the record held by former national striker Safee Sali.
Therefore, as they face Lebanon in the final, Safawi is attempting to break the record.
“I am really excited if I can (break the record). I know it’s not easy to achieve as a footballer to score goals. I’m still young, and if I get the chance to score more goals, it will be a record for me.
“I don’t mind playing either as a right winger or as a number 10 (forward striker); I will give my best and 130% for the team,” he told the media yesterday.
The Terengganu striker noted that while the national squad’s performance against the Philippines recently wasn’t particularly impressive, most players managed to adapt to the tactics introduced by Pau Marti.
Pau Marti was appointed to replace the previous coach, Kim Pan Gon, after the South Korean coach unexpectedly stepped down last month.
However, Pau Marti is no stranger to the team, as the 41-year-old was part of Pan Gon’s coaching staff, contributing to Harimau Malaya’s success over the past two years.
“For me and all the players in the team, we can take instructions from him (Pau Vicente), and for me, it’s not a problem.
“We conceded first, but for me, that’s not an issue. We just have to follow the coach’s instructions on what we need to do, and we managed to win,” he added.
Last year, Malaysia missed the chance to win the Merdeka Cup after losing 0-2 to Tajikistan. – September 7, 2024