Football: Hafiz scores in midfield

Football: Hafiz scores in midfield

MALAYSIA - He had one of the longest streaks going without a goal in the team.

More than 1,500 minutes of game time had elapsed and he still had not broken his duck.

Many of his teammates, including most of the defenders, had already opened their accounts for the LionsXII, but not Hafiz Abu Sujad.

He said it didn't really matter to him as his priority had always been his defensive duties.

The way the left back celebrated when he finally broke his duck with the stunning third goal in the 3-1 Malaysia Cup win over Kedah at the Darul Aman Stadium last Saturday suggested Hafiz was actually bothered by the statistic.

Speaking to The New Paper on Monday, the 22-year-old admitted with a sheepish smile: "Which footballer doesn't want to score? I see myself as a defensive player, but I also like to take shots."

The win ensured the LionsXII booked a quarter-final date with ATM FA.

V Sundramoorthy deployed Hafiz in central midfield against Kedah, and the youngster was outstanding, keeping his opposite number Nelson San Martin relatively quiet while putting in an admirable box-to-box shift.

It throws up the question whether the coach will stick with Hafiz in the engine room for the first leg of the quarter-final on Saturday at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Sundram was full of praise for Hafiz's performance, although he hinted fit-again skipper Shahril Ishak will return and shoulder much of the attacking responsibility.

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"Hafiz had one of his best games this season against Kedah. He has the right attitude and we needed someone who could get stuck in higher up the pitch and prevent Kedah from distributing the ball," said the coach.

"It was a pleasant surprise he scored such a beauty and I'm very happy with his performance.

"As for whether he will keep his place in that position against ATM, it depends on our analysis of the opponents. We will then decide which player is suitable for each position."

Hafiz's first goal was indeed a cracker.

Collecting a pass from Shahfiq Ghani from near the halfway line, he strode forward, held off two Kedah defenders before dispatching a sweetly struck left-foot shot from 25 metres. Such was the power and technique, the ball took a wicked dip just in front of goal and fooled Kedah goalkeeper Abdul Hadi Hamid before bulging the bottom corner.

Hafiz could even have had a hat-trick, missing a one-on-one chance as well as going close with another long-range shot.

He certainly revelled in his new central midfield position.

"In the NFA and Young Lions, I used to play as a central midfielder," the former Courts Young Lions captain explained.

"But last season at Young Lions, I started playing at left back, and I was comfortable there.

"To be honest, I rather get my defending right first, as that's how I find my confidence in the match - by winning possession from opponents."

Utility players often suffer as they fail to make a spot their own, but soft-spoken Hafiz, whose cousin is the legendary Fandi Ahmad, chooses to look at the positives.

"It's up to me to show Coach what I'm capable of," he said.

"I was surprised to start against Kedah in central midfield, but I tried to follow the instructions and gave of my best.

"I see it as an advantage to be able play in more than one position, and as of now, I just want to contribute to the team and go as far as we can in the Malaysia Cup."


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