KUALA LUMPUR: Six young national football players have become top targets for several Thai League 1 (T1) clubs after their good showing at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games last month.
The six are defenders Adam Nor Azlin (Selangor) and Adib Zainudin (Felcra FC), midfielders Syamer Kutty Abba (Penang) and Nor Azam Azih (Pahang), as well as forwards Jafri Firdaus Chew (Penang) and the team’s star N. Thanabalan (Felcra FC).
This was revealed by MVP Sports Agency’s talent director Hafizan Halim after he was approached by talent scouts from a few T1 clubs after the Sea Games football final at the Shah Alam Stadium where the National Under-22 squad went down fighting 1-0 to Thailand.
“There are a few top Thai clubs who have made enquiries regarding our young players who starred at the KL Sea Games.
“These clubs were attracted by our players’ abilities and are interested in holding talks with them.
“Before the Sea Games, these clubs’ talent scouts came to see our players at the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championship qualifiers in Bangkok in July.
“However the players did not play so well then, as they lost to the hosts 3-0.
“This time round, the talent scouts are showing more interest in our players after their strong performances in the Sea Games.
“But it’s still too early, so it’s up to them (talent scouts) to initiate discussions with the players and their respective clubs for next season,” he told Arena Metro yesterday.
Hafizan declined to reveal the T1 clubs involved, but he did mention that the interested clubs are based in Bangkok and Chonburi.
Thailand’s League 1 clubs are on the lookout for import players from the Asean region for next season after new league regulations set by the league’s governing body recently.
The new rules see changes in the quota for import players where T1 clubs can have four import players, three from AFC member countries and one from the Asean region.
“This is a welcome development especially for our players if they are able to get a place with a T1 club because the Thais have the best football league in the region,” said Hafizan.
Translated from Harian Metro