Syafiq Ahmad could not have hoped for a sweeter homecoming as he marked his return to the Darulaman Stadium by scoring a goal and creating another to help Kedah beat Malaysia Cup champions Kuala Lumpur 3-2 in a Super League match in Alor Star on Wednesday.
On loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim, the forward's first match at the stadium where he first burst onto the scene was only witnessed by 2,500-odd fans but they took to the 26-year-old with renewed enthusiasm.
Syafiq's acrimonious exit after the 2017 season — he was left out of Kedah's match-day squad for the 2-0 defeat to JDT in the Malaysia Cup final after news broke of his impending departure — is largely forgotten after heading in the equaliser and setting up Dennis Buschening for Kedah's third goal against KL.
"It's been a long time since I played at home at the Darulaman Stadium and I managed to score and have an assist," said Syafiq, who scored against Kedah in the 2019 Malaysia Cup final which JDT won 3-0, in a television interview after the match.
"It's my good fortune to be able to help the team win the game. The three points will boost our mentality and increase our commitment to give our best in the next games."
Playing in support of striker Ronald Ngah, Syafiq combined well with midfielders Buschening and Dechi Marcel N'Guessan as a new-look Kedah side made a perfect start after two matches, putting the departures of several of last season's key players, including Baddrol Bakhtiar, behind them.
"Very pleased with him. He's a good player but at JDT he didn't play in many games and didn't have much confidence," said Kedah coach Aidil Sharin Sahak.
"We brought him in and he deserved the goal. He worked very, very hard in training, he's a professional and this is good for Malaysian football. He always gives something to the team."
Aside from long-serving Baddrol, Kedah also lost forwards Tchetche Kipre and Kpah Sherman, midfielder Rabih Ataya and defenders Rizal Ghazali and Renan Alves after finishing runners-up to JDT in the Super League last season.
Choosing not to dwell on losing half his first XI, Aidil expressed his delight as his side recovered from conceding first to KL before withstanding a late fightback from the visitors, even as they remained short of their full squad with Andorran defender Marc Vales still sidelined.
"Let's not talk about the past, we are in the present and I believe with this team we have a lot to look forward to," said Aidil.
"Although we played good football today, we still need to make sure we don't give the ball away when we take the lead."