Courtesy: The Malay Mail


Futsal/Asian Championship qualifier: Zaidi may hold the fort for Malaysia

by GHAZ RAMLI

April 4

MALAYSIA will most likely have paratrooper Zaidi Ramli as custodian for the Asian Futsal Championship qualifier in Pahang next week.

Although the final 14 players have yet to be selected, Zaidi, the most experienced goalkeeper in the squad, is most likely to be first choice.

Zaidi is among five players from last year’s squad picked for the current training squad.

“This year’s side are relatively inexperienced. We may have some difficulties at the beginning but the team look to be building up well,” said Zaidi when met during training at the Sports Barn in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

“There are a couple of new players who might be useful but compared to the others who have had international experience, it is too early to say how they will fare.”

Zaidi has been the Armed Forces goalkeeper since 1992, but he was the second choice when the team competed in the M-League.

“I’ve been playing football throughout my service with the army. However, I was ordered to specialise in futsal about six years ago,” said Zaidi, who was given the captain’s armband last year when Armed Forces set up their own futsal squad.

“Futsal is a growing sport and since the Army have set up their own squad, I’ve been playing professionally.”

The qualifier will be held in Kuantan from April 14-22, where the top two sides will join four teams from the other two qualifiers for the competition proper in Uzbekistan from May 21-28.

Along with Malaysia in Group A are Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Maldives and Cambodia while Group B comprises South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, North Korea and Australia.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com