'Beto' leaves Perak in bid to step up and step back into national team

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 -- Midfielder Ahmad Khairil Anuar Ahmad Zamri, fed up with his limited playing time in the Perak Super League side, has decided to pack his bags and seek greener pastures elsewhere for next season’s Malaysia League (M-League).

In fact, he is already in advanced talks with a club in the Klang Valley and is expected to sign a contract with them soon.

The Ipoh-born 25-year-old, who is fondly called ‘Beto’, stressed that the limited playing time with Perak under coach Mehmet Durakovic this season had jeopardised his chances of regaining a spot in the national team.

Ahmad Khairil Anuar, who can also play as a winger, said he was still excited about donning the national jersey, which he last wore back in 2017 under then-coach Nelo Vingada. 

“The (first and) last time I played for the national team was in 2017 when we lost 4-1 to North Korea. So, yes, I still hope to be recalled to the Harimau Malaya squad,” he told Bernama today.

“I was hardly fielded by Perak in the M-League and I don’t want my performance to be affected as I need more game time. The last time I played for Perak was on Nov 7 when we took on Kelantan United in the Malaysia Cup competition.

“For me, the 2021 season is for me to rise again and make a name for myself with a new team,” he said.

Ahmad Khairil Anuar began his career with the Perak Youth Cup (Under-19) squad in 2012 before moving up to the President’s Cup (Under-21) side and helping them win the title in 2014.

In 2015, he was roped into the Perak Super League squad but struggled to win a starting spot when the late Karl-Heinz Weigang of Germany took charge in 2016.

-- BERNAMA