‘Gaddar' eyes capital gains in terms of progress in new chapter with KL
That opportunity did not pan out, but the experience helped shape his journey.
Now, seven years later, the man fondly known as 'Gaddar' is ready to take another leap - this time with Kuala Lumpur in the Super League kicking off on Aug 8.
After gradually building his reputation back home - especially during a standout 2023 season with Kelantan - Fazrul earned a move to the capital.
While some initially viewed him as a potential back-up option, his lively displays in pre-season friendlies suggest he may have a bigger role on the left wing.
But the 25-year-old isn't getting ahead of himself as he is well aware of the fierce competition in his position, with Argentine playmaker Manuel Hidalgo, S. Sharvin, and J. Partiban all vying for spots on the flanks.
'This is my second time playing outside the east coast, but I've been able to adapt quickly. The staff and my teammates have helped make the transition smooth,' said Fazrul.
'Competition on the wings is intense, but I consider it a positive challenge. It motivates me to raise my level.
'After four friendly matches, I feel more in tune with the team, and my form is picking up - but there's still plenty I need to improve on.'
Kuala Lumpur have played four pre-season friendlies so far, drawing with Bunga Raya (0-0) and Sabah (1-1), beating Armed Forces (3-1), and losing narrowly to Indonesian side Semen Padang (0-1).
They will travel to Melaka for another friendly tomorrow, with more matches scheduled before their Super League opener against Immigration at the Batu Kawan Stadium on Aug 12.
Last season, Fazrul made 24 appearances in all competitions and scored two goals.
'My personal target this season is to play consistently, contribute more with goals and assists, and keep progressing.
'For the team, the aim is clear - we want to climb up the table and take KL further than before this season.'
The City Boys finished sixth with 31 points last season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
FOMO fuels pickleball craze as Malaysians seek fun path to fitness
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — If you're an avid social media user, chances are you've come across videos of friends or celebrities playing a unique sport that combines elements of ping pong, badminton, and tennis — known as pickleball. This activity has been gaining popularity, even among those who initially had little interest in sports but eventually got hooked due to the psychological phenomenon known as the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). According to Norezzati Md Hanafiah, a psychologist at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), FOMO — often linked to social pressure or unhealthy lifestyle habits — can actually be used positively, including to encourage a more active lifestyle. She explained that from a psychological perspective, this drive is closely tied to the human instinct to be accepted within a social group, which is essential for emotional well-being. In the context of pickleball or other light sports, FOMO can turn into a positive motivator. 'One might start as a spectator, then develop an interest in trying it out, which can become a turning point toward adopting a healthier lifestyle. If handled properly, FOMO can spark healthy habits that spread widely within a community,' she said. Beyond physical benefits, pickleball also contributes to mental health through its relaxed and fun social aspects — enhancing mood, providing ongoing motivation, and offering social therapy for those dealing with work stress or burnout. Players looking at pickleball equipments. — Bernama pic According to Norezzati, the approach to health promotion is evolving, with a greater focus on the fun-first concept, as seen in pickleball. This makes physical activity enjoyable and more effective than approaches that emphasise beauty or weight loss. 'When an activity is seen as fun rather than a burden, people are more likely to stick with it. This makes a healthy lifestyle something to enjoy rather than something to be forced into,' she said, adding that social media plays a major role in spreading the trend and creating a wave of normalisation that encourages more people to try it without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. Pickleball is also the sport of choice for national hockey legend Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, 53, who was drawn to the game's unique, low-impact nature, making it suitable for all age groups. 'I find pickleball to be perfect for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Previously, I only did brisk walking and went to the gym for workouts,' said Mirnawan, who has been actively playing since mid-last year. As the owner of Pickleball Playground in Shah Alam, he also encourages participation among youth under the age of 18, seeing their potential as future athletes who could elevate the sport to greater heights. Mirnawan also described pickleball as a wallet-friendly and accessible sport, noting that with court rental fees ranging from RM50 to RM70 per hour — usually split among several players — and minimal equipment requirements, the sport is suitable for people from all walks of life. 'In residential areas, for instance, the community or management could make use of and modify existing badminton or basketball courts slightly, so residents can play for free and enjoy a variety of recreational sports,' he said. — Bernama
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Machuca thanks his grandma for Malaysia shirt
KUALA LUMPUR: His footie-loving granny worked hard to get him to play for a national team in the other side of the world. The Argentine-born Imanol Machuca attributed his move to Harimau Malaya to his Malaysian grandmother. In an interview with Spanish media outlet, Sabado Velez recently, the 25-year-old winger said his Malaysia debut was a "unique experience", one made possible by his grandmother. Machuca played a key role as Malaysia thrashed Asean powerhouse Vietnam 4-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10. In retrospect, Machuca thanked his grandmother for making his Malaysia dream a reality. "I got a phone call from my grandmother. She had been working on this (joining Malaysia) for a while. I had been talking about it for some time, but never managed to make it happen. Thank God, this year I was finally able to play. It was incredible." Speaking ahead of the Copa Libertadores round of 16, Machuca, who plays for Velez Sarsfield FC in Argentina, also talked about his Malaysian adventure. "There's a lot of passion in Malaysia. When the announcement (about Machuca playing for Malaysia) was made, the post got 15,000 likes and so many comments with the Malaysian flag. I want to send a big hug to all Malaysians," he said. Machuca said he was charmed in his first visit to Malaysia. "It's a beautiful country. Economically stable, the cities are very nice, although the weather is quite humid and hot. "People are friendly. They treated me well, and the culture is impressive. "I have been in contact with the coach (Peter Cklamovski). I hope they will call me again. I had a great experience in the Asian Cup qualifiers. We did well and I hope we can win our next two games (against Laos on Oct 9 and 14)."
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Five titles not enough — Herry demands world champs in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: Coach Herry IP insists he's far from satisfied despite guiding Malaysia to five titles in just six months since taking charge of the national men's doubles squad in February. The latest success came courtesy of world No. 24 Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who lifted the Macau Open crown on Sunday after defeating Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 22-20, 21-18 in a 80-minute final. That win marked Malaysia's fifth men's doubles title of the season under the Indonesian coach – fondly dubbed the 'Fire Dragon'. Herry has already played a key role in helping world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bag titles at the Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open and Singapore Open, while also reaching the finals of the Malaysia Masters and China Open. World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun chipped in with a title of their own at the Malaysia Masters, bringing the tally to five since Herry's arrival. But the seasoned tactician is demanding more — with his sights firmly set on the biggest prize of all — the World Championships in Paris at the end of the month. "I hope we can produce world champions this year — it doesn't matter which pair does it, as long as they are from Malaysia," he told BH Sukan. To date, Malaysia have won the world title only once through Aaron-Wooi Yik in 2022 in Tokyo — ending the nation's long wait for glory. This time, four Malaysian pairs will be in the hunt for honours in Paris – three from the BA of Malaysia (BAM) — Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun and Arif-Roy King, along with independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (world No. 4). On the Macau Open final, Herry said composure and patience were the keys to Arif-Roy King's breakthrough, particularly in challenging conditions – with the match frequently interrupted by water dripping from the arena's air conditioning system, creating slippery patches on court. "The match went on for 80 minutes because it had to be stopped multiple times due to the wet court," said Herry. "I told the boys to stay focused and patient – don't rush, as the court conditions were far from ideal. It wasn't about tactics – it was all about maintaining focus and composure." Herry described the pair's first World Tour title as the perfect morale booster ahead of the World Championships. "Yes, this is their first title, and it'll definitely give them an extra lift going into the Worlds." Their win in Macau also ended a 12-year drought for Malaysia in the men's doubles at the event – the last success coming in 2013 via Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong. Although pleased with the current level of consistency from his charges, Herry is aiming for greater depth moving forward. "I think our performance has been quite good and consistent, but I want more. In the future, I hope to see five or six Malaysian pairs capable of challenging for titles – not just two or three.
