PETALING JAYA: For almost a year, winger Hakimi Abdullah was out of action and when the season started in May, he struggled to get the minutes with Terengganu.
With star players like Safawi Rasid and Akhyar Rashid being preferred on the wing positions, and at times striker Ismaheel Akinade, it was hard for Hakimi to get into the Turtles’ first eleven.
Realising the need for game time, the 24-year-old opted for a loan stint and got his wish when he moved to his home state Kelantan for the remainder of the Super League season.
On his second game with the club, Hakimi scored a goal in Kelantan’s 3-2 win against Negri Sembilan on Sept 27.
The nippy player, who is left-footed, was delighted to start life well in his new club with a goal and hopes to carry on the momentum in the upcoming fixtures of the league.
Hakimi knows for the momentum to continue, he needs to work hard harder during training sessions and show the coaches he can be the main man on the flanks for the rest of the season.
“First of all, I have to thank Terengganu for loaning me to Kelantan. After 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, I tried to be back and felt a move away would be better for my career,” he said.
“I played my first league game for Kelantan against Negri and scored a goal.
“To me, that feeling was amazing and I want to make sure it continues for a long time.
“I do admit that the time away from the field due to ACL did have an impact on my rhythm and harmony with my new teammates, especially when we played Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sept 22 (They lost 1-6).
“But after that game, with training and constant communication, I got my mojo going with Kelantan and I want it to continue for the rest of the season.”
Kelantan will take on Kuala Lumpur next at the Cheras Football Stadium on Oct 18, with Hakimi hoping to play a key role again.
But he knows it would not be easy taking on the City Boys who are powered by their attackers Paulo Josue and Haqimi Azim Rosli.
“Both of them are playing for Harimau Malaya and we have seen how they performed in recent months for club and country,”he said.
“So we need to keep a tight leash on them and execute our game plan well.”
Kelantan are currently 12th in the league with six points from 11 games.
