The Omar Sports Young Player of The Year

Wan Zack Haikal

Wan Zack Haikal, a promising youngster

This year has been a revelation for Wan Zack Haikal. His talent were never went unrecognised as he was chosen to become one of Harimau Muda player at the age of 18 and has since improved dramatically under Ong Kim Swee. He have skills to past his opponent, run over and through the defence but most importantly, he has the ability to be a finisher. All of this has been proved in his performance during Olympic Qualifying Round, S-League, and most recently in AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 as he played a major role in becoming a constant threat to the opposition, scoring and create loads of assist, he is arguably the best performer for Malaysia. His only weakness is injury proneness that may hindered his progress as he have injured for a number of times in the past and particularly in AFF Suzuki Cup 2012, as he is out injured before semi final and could not help his side from progressing through as they were beaten by Thailand. Nonetheless, he still have a big future lie ahead of him as he is only 21 years old and certainly have a plenty of time to become one of the best Malaysian player they have ever had. 

Wan Zack and Shakir will miss the clash against Thailand

Doubtful in a clash against Thailand

Wan Zack Haikal

Safee Sali

S. Kunanlan

Shakir Shaari

Malaysia head coach, K. Rajagobal has confirmed that both Wan Zack Haikal and Shakir Shaari are ruled out of contention to play in first leg semi-final against Thailand. He said Wan Zack has suffered a thigh muscle tear and may not available until the end of the tournament. Kelantan midfielder Shakir Shaari will miss the game due to ankle injury but will most likely to join the team back for the second leg in Bangkok. There are doubts to other key players too, with S. Kunanlan, Kyril Muhymeen and Safee Sali carrying a knock sustained before and during 2-0 victory over arch-rival Indonesia. Only Kunanlan has shake off his injury and will be available for selection against Thailand. Rajagobal said he is not too concern with injury blow and hopes that the other squad player should step up their performance and take advantage with the current situation when selected to be in the first eleven.

Wan Zack Haikal and Shakir Shaari have been performing above expectation, playing extremely well in two previous matches in a row but will be sidelined for tomorrow clash against Thailand. Wan Zack Haikal is one of the Malaysia's brightest young talent ever produced, playing debut season with Felda United in 2007 before spending his whole career with Harimau Muda A, winning his first major honour with them, the 2009 Malaysia Premier League title. He is part of Harimau Muda A who trained at Slovakia in 2010 and have a short term loan deal with Slovakian club, FC Vion but failed to make a single appearance due to injury. He return to Malaysia with Harimau Muda A in 2012, following the exchange deal with Lion XII who will play in Malaysia Super League, while Harimau Muda A will featuring in S-League. During this time, Wan Zack, along with his teammate Wan Zaharulnizam were attending a trial with Japanese club, FC Ryukyu for two weeks. He is one of the young Malaysian talent who is expected to shine in few years time but could not do so as he have missed a lot of important matches and tournaments due to his awful injury record. If he is in injury-free, he will certainly playing at his best, as what he did currently in AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 tournament that earned Malaysia a deserved place in the semi-final, for the quest of retaining the title for the second time.

Malaysia secured 2-0 win over Indonesia

Photo Courtesy from www.bumiyang.blogspot.com

It was all drizzling and drenched at Bukit Jalil National Stadium today as it contested one of the biggest match in the country, certainly with the fierce rival, Indonesia, having already met in the previous AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 edition, with Malaysia triumph all the way to clinch the title. Indonesia in the pole position to qualify for the next round, having already pick up four points from two matches, after 2-2 draw with Laos and narrow 1-0 victory over Singapore. In the final match of Group B, Indonesia only need to draw against Malaysia to qualify through to semi-final but have to wary of Malaysia's revival. After losing a heavy 3-0 defeat to rival Singapore in the first match, Malaysia hopes to defend the title came back alive with a convincing 4-1 win over Laos to level point with Singapore in the Group B. Now Malaysia have no other option but to beat Indonesia in order to qualify comfortably in the tournament. It was a much-needed win for the Malayan Tiger to boost their chances for the semi-final of AFF Suzuki Cup 2012.

As soon as the match started, Indonesia begin to attack and dominate in the early minute of the match, with chances created were almost converted to goals by Irfan Bachdim and Oktovianus Maniani. Malaysia trying to break the opposition attack, coupled with few chances but only some woeful passes and finishing. Yet, when Indonesia attacking severely, it was Malaysia who managed to get an early lead through crossing from Mahalli Jasuli which almost met Safee Sali's head but instead finding Azamuddin Akil with a powerful strike in the 26th minute, in which the ball past through Indonesian goalkeeper Wahyu Tri Nugroho straight to the bottom right corner of the net. Malaysia did not have to wait longer for the second goal, after dazzling run from a young winger Wan Zack Haikal that resulted a delightful pass to put full-back Mahalli Jasuli through on goal, to which he strikes to the top left corner of the net in the 29th minute to give Malaysia a comfortable lead. It was the goal that rounded off the whole match, after such a hot-heated match that produced more than five yellow cards and a poor showing in the second half from both side, from a series of needless foul and wasting time to poor finishing and understanding when launching an attack. It was a good match nonetheless, albeit from a low quality when it comes to passes and finishing.

A deserved 2-0 win over Indonesia meaning that Malaysia finished Group B as a runner-up and qualify through to the semi-final where they will meet against Group A winner Thailand, the only team in the tournament to qualify to the semi-final without losing a single match. It is said that Malaysia will meet a tougher opposition than ever before, and somewhat need miracles to defeat the side that have previously beat Malaysia 2-0 in a friendly match weeks before the tournament started. But Malaysia will do all they can to keep their hopes of defending the title and gaining the victory in the process.

Man of the Match: Wan Zack Haikal