Out to prove himself: Nooa Laine (left) said he is eager to justify the selection and show that he has what it takes to be an important player for the Harimau Malaya. — Nooa Laine’s Instagram
PETALING JAYA: Nooa Laine is hopeful that his first call-up for national team training will be a platform to show his capabilities and eventually earn his place in the first eleven.
The 20-year-old of Finnish-Malaysian parentage, who played for SJK Seinajoki club in Finland, is happy to be one of the 27 players called up by head coach Kim Pan-gon for training ahead of the friendly matches against Turkmenistan on Thursday and Hong Kong on March 28 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
Nooa said he is eager to justify the selection and show that he has what it takes to be an important player for the Harimau Malaya set-up.
“I feel really good and proud to be here, like finally,” said Nooa.
“I want to be a big part of the team in the future, if not now.
“I’ve just started training with the national team.
“I will do my best when given my debut. You go in to perform, that’s the goal.
“I’m good with the ball. I’m strong, I can win duels and second balls. That’s important as a No. 6.
“I’ve been playing regularly with my club, so that’s an advantage as well.”
Nooa said the team had warmed up to him.
“It’s harmonious and everyone is friendly, which is good,” he said.
Nooa, who plays as an attacking midfielder, also spoke about the differences in training between the national squad and his club in Finland.
“Here, teams play it straightforward, while in Finland, football is a bit more tactical, bit it is evolving here too,” he added.
Apart from Nooa, other new faces called up by Pan-gon are goalkeeper Damien Lim and Daniel Sang Ting (Sabah); Paulo Josue (Kuala Lumpur); Endrick dos Santos and Mohd Feroz Baharudin (Johor Darul Ta’zim); and Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman (Negri Sembilan).
