MALAYSIA’S unexpected run to the final of the AFF Cup last year has earned some rave reviews and that notable performance was reflected at the AFF Awards in Hanoi, Vietnam on Friday.
Syahmi Safari took the top gong in the category of the Best Goal of the AFF Cup with his superb strike in the semi-final against Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium last December.
The Selangor ace was at the end of a splendid eight-pass move that started all the way back from goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, which saw Syahmi lashing in from outside the penalty box right into the top corner.
The right back’s performance throughout the competition also saw him earning a place in the AFF Team of the Year alongside two of his teammates.
Veteran Norshahrul Idlan Talaha rolled back the years with an eye-catching five goals in the competition including one against Thailand that saw him selected as one of the two strikers in the AFF Best XI.
Midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba was the other Malaysian selected in the AFF Best XI, following his all-round display at the heart of Malaysia’s engine room.
All three players were unable to attend the ceremonies as they are now with the national team training for the World Cup qualifiers against Thailand and Indonesia.
FA of Malaysia general-secretary Stuart Ramalingam accepted the awards on their behalf at a glittering ceremony.
AFF champions Vietnam also have three players in the Best XI with goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, defender Que Ngoc Hai and attacker Nguyen Quang Hai being selected.
The other positions were filled by Safuwan Baharudin (Singapore), Korrakot Wirya-Udomsiri (Thailand), Stephen Shrock (Philippines), Sanrawat Dechmitr (Thailand) and Riko Simanjuntak (Indonesia).
Quang Hai, the undoubted star of the tournament, was rightly chosen as the AFF Player of the Year with Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo crowned as Coach of the Year.