KUALA LUMPUR: After a year of disappointment, goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy is not in a hurry to get back into the national team.
The Perak custodian admitted he needs to sharpen his skill first before thinking of wearing the national jersey again.
The 26-year-old said 2019 taught him a lot after he was dropped from the national squad just before September’s pre-World Cup qualifiers against Thailand and Indonesia.
Following the disappointments, the 1.8m Hafizul has decided to better himself and regain the sparkling form shown when he first joined the national team in 2016.
“I wish to be like how I first started playing for Perak because that was my best season.
“I have no expectations to get back into the national team this year. I have to work hard again, and once I’m good enough, only then will I try,” he said.
Hafizul, who helped Perak emerge as runners-up for the 2018 Super League, said the Bos Gaurus’ targets this season is the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup finals as well as bettering their fifth place finish in the Super League last season.