Nizaruddin back with Mat Zan in KL Plus
NIZARUDDIN Yusof’s signing with KL Plus for the new season will see the striker link up with the coach who gave him his break into the big time.
It was Mat Zan Mat Aris who made Nizaruddin, then only 19, a regular starter for Kuala Lumpur in 1998 before they combined to lead a young KL side to FA Cup glory the following year.
But after Mat Zan left KL at the end of the 2000 season, so did Nizaruddin and then 10 years later they have reunited at KL Plus after under-taking different paths in much travelled careers.
Mat Zan, while glad to have last season’s top scorer with him, will not let sentiments get in the way of attempting to end KL Plus’ trophy drought.
“Of course many people expect us to do well because we have the country’s top goalscorer with us but the team is not about Nizaruddin.
“My main concern is to get the strikers working together and forge an understanding so that we won’t struggle for goals. I am very aware of Nizaruddin’s capabilities since I worked with him when he was still young.
“Now he brings a wealth of experience with him and it would be unfair to place all the burden of scoring on him alone. I expect the best from him but also from the other strikers,” said Mat Zan yesterday.
Nizaruddin, who scored 29 goals for Perlis in all competitions last season, sought a return to the capital to be closer to his ailing parents and sickly infant daughter with KL Plus giving him a deal he could live with.
KL Plus also signed forward Badrul Hisani Abd Rahman from Pahang to keep Nizaruddin and Fadzli Shaari on their toes.
KL Plus open their Super League campaign against Penang on Jan 9 at their new home venue, the Petaling Jaya Stadium.
But in a blow to KL Plus, they have lost Safiq Rahim who moved back to Selangor with Mat Zan hoping new signing from Perlis, Azi Shahril Azmi can fill the hole in midfield left by Safiq.
“Safiq made a choice to go to Selangor and we had to respect that but it is not right to say we can’t cope without him. We signed Azi as a replacement for Safig and together with Lot Abu Hassana and Reeshafiq Alwi, I think we have a good midfield,” said Mat Zan.
Mat Zan also brought four players from defunct UPB-MyTeam — goalkeeper Faizal Rashid, Azrul Azmi, Fazrul Hazli Kadri and Nazrin Nawi — in addition to defender Sanjos Sundawat (Selangor) and midfielder Es Lizuan Zahid Amir (Perlis).
KL Plus edged Kedah 1-0 in Alor Star last Sunday and held Perak 1-1 in Tapah on Thursday their latest friendly matches, with Nizaruddin on target in the latter game, and wrap up their pre-season programme against PKNS at PJ Stadium on Tuesday.
-By Devinder Singh/NST
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