KUALA LUMPUR: Three young players will come under the spotlight as they have been nominated for two categories at the 2018 National Football awards on Monday.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) left winger Safawi Rasid has been inked for the Best Midfielder as well as Most Promising Player awards, which will also see Kelantan's Nik Akif Syahiran in the fray.
Pahang's Nor Azam Azih has been nominated for the Best Midfielder award.
Kedah's Akhyar Rashid has been listed for the Best Striker award, and the 19-year-old will also be in a tussle with Safawi and Nik Akif in the Most Promising Player category.
Safawi, 21, said: "It will be a challenge for me in both the categories, because I will be judged alongside some of the best players in the country.
"It will be great to end the season with an award. I will be grateful to win one award, but if I don't win any, I will try harder next season," he said.
Overall, JDT players will feature in seven of the eight categories.
Farizal Marlias has been nominated for the Best Goalkeeper award together with Malaysia Cup hero Hafizul Hakim Khairul of Perak and Khairul Fahmi Che Mat of Melaka.
In the Best Defender category, S. Kunanlan will be challenged by Perak’s Shahrul Saad and last year's winner Matthew Davies.
JDT's Gonzalo Cabrera has been nominated for the Best Foreign Player award together with Terengganu's Lee Tuck and Super League top scorer Rufino Segovia.
Three Singapore imports dominate the Best Asean Player category. They are Faris Ramli (PKNS FC), Hariss Harun (JDT) and Safuwan Baharudin (Pahang).
In the Best Coach category, the battle will be among Felda United's B. Sathianathan, Pahang's Dollah Salleh and Perak's Mehmet Durakovic.