KUALA NERUS: National Under-23 defender Mohd Safwan Mazlan (pic) has high hopes for the new M-League season as he eyes a starting berth in the Terengganu side.
The 21-year-old said he does not want just to make up the numbers in coach Tomislav Steinbruckner’s side, who finished runners-up in the top-tier Super League last season.
The youngster said that although competition for places will be intense, he has no intention of playing second fiddle and aims to impress Steinbruckner, who is famous for his high-intensity training drills.
“Apart from being a young player, my ability to play across the backline – either as a centreback, leftback or rightback – is something that will make me stand out,” he said.
“Whatever the challenges are, I promise to work hard to get into the starting XI when the Super League starts (on Feb 24).”
Apart from focusing on the M-League, the 1.8m tall Safwan is also eyeing a place in the national Under-23 squad who will be competing in the Cambodia SEA Games in May.
He hopes to have better luck this time after missing out on the Hanoi SEA Games last year after contracting Covid-19.
“I was upset and sad then because it’s not easy to make the cut, more so since most of my teammates were called up.
“I hope this year I will get called up by head coach E. Elavarasan so that I can experience playing on the international stage,” said Safwan, who is now in Thailand for Terengganu’s pre-season friendlies.
Safwan is one of the five youngsters promoted from the Terengganu II squad to their senior outfit this season after eye-catching performances last season. — Bernama
