AIDIL Zafuan Radzak is on track to be Malaysia’s most ‘prized’ player of all-time, having won so many prizes: six Super League titles, 2015 AFC Cup, 2016 FA Cup and 2017 Malaysia Cup.
And now, the 32-year-old is back with the national team as the captain for the international friendly against Sri Lanka at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, today. The last time he played for Malaysia was in the AFF Cup in December.
The JDT ace will be wearing the Malaysia jersey for the 83rd time today. When asked what drives him to perform at such a high level, Aidil said it’s the ‘pressure’ of the game.
‘I’m used to pressure because as a player, it’s needed and I accept it. I like pressure because it leads me to focusing on matches.
‘As a senior player, I need to give all I have to the team. Just because I am a senior, it doesn’t mean I can do as I please, I still have to follow the coach’s (Tan Cheng Hoe) tactical plays.’
The former poster boy for Nike admitted that he wished he was out there on the field during Malaysia’s 3-2 win against Indonesia in a World Cup qualifier in Jakarta last month.
Aidil was recalled by Cheng Hoe to add stability to the Malaysian defence as the backline had looked shaky at times against Indonesia and the UAE.
Aidil who said he saw some mistakes in the two matches, hopes he will be able to utilise his expertise against Vietnam on Oct 10.
‘I was disappointed (being not in the national team earlier) because I didn’t get to fight alongside my teammates.
‘But as a player, I have to think positive because maybe there are better players than me.
‘I felt like I still wanted to play for the national team and I thanked the coach (Cheng Hoe) for the opportunity.’
Aidil will only know if he had made Cheng Hoe’s final 23-man squad against Vietnam after today’s match against Sri Lanka.