Japan-based footballer Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak, who is back in Malaysia after two years, is all fired up for the Hanoi Sea Games from May 12-23.
The lanky forward was "stranded" in Japan since the end of 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but his fortune seemed to take a turn for the better as he recovered from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury on his right knee last year.
Hadi made waves when at the age of 18, he joined J2 League side Fagiano Okayama in 2018. He was loaned out to J3 side Azul Claro Numazu this year.
The 22-year-old then tore his ACL, which is the nightmare injury of footballers worldwide, during training with the Azul team, and returned to Fagiaono for rehab after his loan deal was extended by Azul last December.
Hadi's perseverance in Japan paid off when he made his debut with Azul in a 2-0 win over Vanraure Hachinohe in the J3 League on April 21, becoming the first Malaysian to play in an official J-League match.
Hadi hopes that the experience he has gained in Japan will help the national Under-23 team in their Sea Games campaign.
"I returned to Malaysia on Monday, and I'm excited to join the team," said the 1.86m tall player.
"This is every player's dream, to play for the country.
"I came all the way from Japan for the Sea Games, and I hope my experience will help the team.
"We also have other good players in the team. I believe that if we all fight for the same cause, we can achieve success."
At the previous Sea Game, in Manila, in 2019, Hadi shone for Malaysia, scoring three goals in the group stage.
Newcomer Nooa Laine, who plays in the Finnish League for SJK Seinajoki, also joined the training camp but he is not available for the Sea Games.
Another overseas-based player, Luqman Hakim Shamsudin of the Belgian club KV Kortrijk, is expected to join the team on April 30.