KUALA LUMPUR: Midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba admitted he is still far from his best, despite being named man of the match in Malaysia's 2-1 win over the Philippines in the Merdeka Tournament on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old commanded the midfield for Harimau Malaya, scoring the equaliser in the victory against the Azkals at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Penang-born player was once tipped as a future star, but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to his right knee in 2022 stalled his progress.
He made his Harimau Malaya debut in 2017.
"I've faced tough moments due to injury, but I've come back, and the coach has given me the chance to show I can perform well for the team," said Syamer.
"However, I can't say I'm back to my best yet because, honestly, there's still a lot of room for improvement.
"I need to sacrifice more for the team and take on more responsibilities so we can control the midfield better.
"The determined midfielder, who has already won several titles with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), is hoping to secure his first international accolade with the national team when they face Lebanon in the Merdeka Tournament final on Sunday.
"It would be great to win something personal, so I hope to add the Merdeka Tournament to my collection," Syamer added.
"We will try to give our best and deliver a more organised performance on Sunday."