Dedication: Syamer Kutty Abba had to postpone his honeymoon plans in December last year to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar earlier this year.
PETALING JAYA: Syamer Kutty Abba became a father on Nov 25, but due to his footballing commitments, he will miss spending time with his baby son and wife.
The 27-year-old Penang defensive midfielder, on-loan from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), will be joining Harimau Malaya for the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) campaign starting on Dec 8.
For Syamer, he would love to spend more time with his loved ones, especially with the arrival of a newborn in their household but his family knows that the nation comes first for him.
“It is a wonderful feeling to be a father. When he grabbed my fingers, it was an indescribable feeling. But because of my football schedule, it is tough to get lots of time with my family and baby,” said Syamer, who once played in Portugal for Vilaverdense in 2018.
“My wife understands my career and also my commitment when it comes to the game, especially Harimau Malaya. Representing the country always comes first for me.
“I know I can do something for the family also. I want to create something in this tournament where they would be proud of me.
“The aim is to have a good campaign. I hope this sacrifice will bear fruit.”
This is not the first time he had to sacrifice family time.
Syamer had to postpone honeymoon plans in December last year to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar earlier this year.
Now in the AMEC, Syamer said he is looking forward to returning to the premier South-East Asian football competition after six years.
“I am delighted. It is an honour to represent the nation. This is my second AFF tournament, with the last one being in 2018. I could not participate in the 2020 and 2022 editions due to injuries, so I am back after six years.
“This tournament is an opportunity for me to do something for the nation. I am looking forward to the first game and hopefully give our everything to bring pride to our country.”
There are murmurs that Syamer could be made team captain with players like rightbacks Matthew Davies and Dion Cools missing out due to club commitments.
Syamer merits the armband thanks to his performances as defensive midfielder for club and country. Not only he possesses high work rate and strong defensive acumens, but he is also known for his technical ability, especially ball control and box-to-box movements.
The other captaincy candidates besides Syamer are centreback Dominic Tan and striker Syafiq Ahmad.
“If given the armband, it is a privilege. It is a huge responsibility for anyone to captain Malaysia,” said Syamer.
“I hope I can do a good job if given. If I am not captaining the team, I know we have lots of leaders in the team, with lots of experience. Anyone given the armband would surely give their all in this tournament.”
The AMEC will see Malaysia competing in Group A alongside defending champions Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Timor-Leste.
The players are scheduled to report to camp in Kelana Jaya on Thursday.
They will depart for Phnom Penh on Friday for their first Group A match against Cambodia at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, on Dec 8.
They will fly back home for the second match against Timor-Leste at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Dec 11 and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand, for the third match against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium on Dec 14.
