Perak FA goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim has vowed to get his ‘A-game’ going when he reports for his first national call-up at Wisma FAM next Monday.
The 23 year-old was included in Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s squad for their upcoming friendly match against Indonesia, after an incredible breakthrough season with Perak this year. But right now, Hafizul is fully focused on taking his career to the next level with Harimau Malaysia.
“I’m incredibly thankful to God for this opportunity because I never really saw it coming, to be honest,” he told FourthOfficial.com “But this is a perfect opportunity for me to show what I’m capable of, so I’m grateful to the national team’s coaching set-up for recognizing the potential in me.
“Of course, it won’t be easy. There are two other incredible keepers in the team – Khairul Fahmi and Khairul Azhan. I’ll try to learn as much as I can from them as well. It may be difficult for me to break into the first eleven, but I will it give it everything I have, definitely,” he added
Hailed as the ‘David De Gea of Perak’, Hafizul has been in fine form for the Seladangs this year, effectively replacing Zamir Selamat as their first-choice goalkeeper, despite being initially drafted in from Melaka United as a back-up option. And according to Hafizul, his rise in prominence is due in no small part to the coaching he has received in Perak.
“It’s been a challenging season for me – it’s my first ever Super League campaign. But I’ve got to thank the Perak coaching staff, who have been nothing short of brilliant. Their constant support helped me be consistent this year, so I’m really grateful to them,” Hafizul enthused.
What are your thoughts on Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s latest national squad? Do you think he picked the best team available out there? Or did he miss out on several good names? Let us know by commenting below!
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