Terengganu aims for top three position at MPFL

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 1 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu men’s futsal squad targeted a top three placing in the inaugural Malaysia Premier Futsal League (MPFL) based from the team's performance in the last two matches.

Its coach, Mohd Rozairi Ahmad said the target was realistic as the tournament had just started on June 22, and his team did not know the other teams’ strengths.

The former national player, however, noted that he was banking on his players especially the defender, Akil Khalis Adli Khairul as well as the twin players Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Hafizi Ismail in the Ala position (winger).

"All the teams were aiming to become champion, so let's start with the top three positions.

"God willing, we can achieve that target because we have a good team and good players such as Akil Khalis who created a hat-trick in the second match when we beat Penang 3-1 on Saturday," he told reporters, here today.

The Terengganu men's futsal squad consisted of 14 players, namely Tengku Azraf Fahmi Che Ku Sulong, Alif Shafiq Suhaimi; Mohd Irwan Mazlan; Ahmad Shafiq Afnan Azmi; Mohd Aizat Saari; Mohd Zikry Aiman ​​Zamri; Akil Khalis; Muhammad Fitrah Mohamad; Amirrul Izzad Adang; Muhammad Alif Mat Amin; Haziq Shahiran Marzuki; Muhammad Izzat Alif Rosdi; as well as Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Hafizi Ismail. 

Mohd Rozairi noted that almost 80 per cent of Terengganu's squad which drew 2-2 with Kedah in their first match were the Malaysia Games (Sukma) players.

In the meantime, he welcomed the inaugural futsal premier league, which is regarded as the right track for the national squad players selection.

"In the future, I think Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) should make it compulsory for all states to send their respective teams in order to increase the competition level and make it more prestigious," he said.

There were nine teams in the men's category and four teams in the women's category competing in the tournament.

-- BERNAMA