Latest news with #Ubaidullah
The Star
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Ubaidullah highlights valuable lessons learned from hiccup at AFF C'ship
Hopeful: Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili (right) believes the upcoming centralised training camp will serve as a platform to regroup, sharpen their tactical awareness, and strengthen their unity. — Terengganu FC PETALING JAYA: Whether it's two days or two weeks of preparation, Malaysia Under-23 football team captain and defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili believes that they must learn to adapt quickly if they are to progress on the world stage. Following the Harimau Muda's early exit in the AFF Under-23 Championship, the midfielder did not hide his disappointment but insisted that valuable lessons were learned – particularly in terms of experience and on-field awareness. 'I'm disappointed. We didn't get to the next stage,' said Ubaidullah, who plays for Terengganu in the Super League. 'We have to move on and take this as a lesson. We have a bigger assignment coming.' That next challenge is the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September, where Malaysia will face Thailand, Lebanon and Mongolia – a group Ubaidullah acknowledges as tough but not impossible to navigate. 'We have to qualify. It is important. The last AFC tournament, we qualified on merit. If we have good preparation and a solid plan, nothing is impossible.' The 22-year-old, who wore the armband during the AFF campaign, pointed to communication breakdowns and lack of in-game decision-making as critical areas that need improvement before the qualifiers. 'We have the chemistry, but on the field, our communication is less. This is for myself as well. In some situations, we didn't know what to do,' he admitted. 'We may look emotional because of the shouting at each other, but adrenaline is high. These moments will help us to mature. Next tournament, the boys will know what to do. We will move forward.' Ubaidullah believes professionalism starts with personal responsibility, especially with many players juggling club duties during pre-season or competitive league campaigns. 'Off or on season is not an issue. As professionals, we have to be prepared. We have to do it on our own and not expect everything from others.' He was also quick to defend the team's preparation time, stressing that the two weeks they had was enough, if used wisely. 'Every game, there was improvement. But in the national team, you need to adapt quickly and understand the demands. We had two weeks to prepare, which is ample enough. We have to be better.' Looking ahead, Ubaidullah hopes the upcoming centralised training camp will serve as a platform for the squad to regroup, sharpen their tactical awareness, and strengthen their unity. 'The biggest lesson I can take is experience. Our squad is still young and inexperienced, but this outing will mature us. 'I've learnt a lot and I know the team has too. I believe we will do better in the upcoming competition.' With Malaysia set to face stern tests in September, the leadership and clear-eyed honesty of their captain could be just what they need to turn disappointment into qualification.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Ubaidullah, Haqimi touted as the ones to watch
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Football Federation (AFF) has named centre-back Ubaidullah Shamsul and striker Haqimi Azim Rosli as Malaysia's players to watch at the Asean Under-23 Championship from July 15-29 in Jakarta. Terengganu's Ubaidullah played every minute of the AFF Under-23 Championship two years ago, and also gave a strong showing in last season's Asean Club Championship (ACC). Ubaidullah has impressed with his tackling, positioning and ability to break lines with sharp passes from the back. Though Haqimi was not part of the Under-23 squad in 2023, the KL City striker has earned senior national call-ups and featured in the last two Asean Championships. He also played all five matches for KL City in the ACC, scoring the winner against Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines. Malaysia are drawn in Group A alongside Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei in the Asean Under-23 Championship.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Young defender Ubaidullah ready to face AFF test head-on
SUBANG JAYA: Malaysian defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili (pic) knows it will not be a walk in the park at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship in Indonesia from July 15-29. Drawn into the challenging Group A alongside tournament hosts Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei, the 21-year-old is bracing for a tough campaign – but he's not backing down. Instead of being overwhelmed, Ubaidullah is embracing the challenge as a learning experience. 'I would like to thank my coach Nafuzi Zain for giving me the opportunity to play. It is a great honour to represent the country, and I see this as a valuable chance to grow,' said Ubaidullah. 'I think the tournament will be an opportunity to gain valuable experience for our team as we will be facing teams that will parade quality players. 'Hopefully, this will also be a platform for us to improve ourselves in the game.' Ubaidullah said the game against hosts Indonesian would be the most exciting. 'Indonesia will be making full use of their home advantage. The fans in this country are well know for their passion in the game. 'There surely will be some pressure considering Indonesia have quality players but we aim to enjoy the game and achieve good results.' Ubaidullah added that he had been learning from his senior teammates, who have done well in recent tournaments, ahead of their games in Jakarta. He had a chance to brush shoulders with the seniors as he stole the spotlight briefly when he was named man-of-the-match during an international friendly against Cape Verde at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras last month, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Ubaidullah stressed that having experience with the senior squad does not guarantee an automatic spot in this young squad. 'First of all, I was lucky to be selected for this camp. But there is no guarantee of final selection. I see two or three players vying for the same position in the team. So I'm taking it seriously to fight for a berth,' he said. ''I'm inspired by the seniors' results. I will try to follow their lifestyle and disciplined routines to improve myself.'
The Star
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rave reviews for Harimau Malaya debutants Ubaidullah and Palmero
KUALA LUMPUR: The future of Harimau Malaya may have just taken its first confident stride against Cape Verde and it came in the form of two debutants - Ubaidullah Samsul Fazili and Gabriel Palmero. While the international friendly ended in a 1-1 draw at the Cheras Football Stadium on Thursday, it was the composure and promise shown by Ubaidullah and Palmero that stole the headlines and the trust of national coach Peter Cklamovski. Ubaidullah, a 21-year-old centreback from Terengganu, was handed his first senior cap and he grew into the game in the most encouraging fashion. The nerves were evident in the opening 45 minutes but the second half belonged to him. With each tackle, pass, and confident surge from the backline, he embodied the spirit of a defender coming of age. 'I am proud to wear the colours of the nation,' said Ubaidullah. 'This was my first game for Malaysia, so there were jitters, especially in the first half. I made some mistakes but during half-time, the coaches and teammates reminded me to play my game. That gave me the push I needed.' By full-time, he had earned the man-of-the-match award, a testament to the composure he displayed against a team ranked 72nd in the world. His maturity belied his age. 'Football is about using every chance that comes your way. You are never a finished product - every day, you're learning,' he added. 'I enjoy playing in a back three and have done it for my club and the Under-23s. The intensity at the international level is higher but I will adapt.' His performance will only add to his growing stock, with reports of potential loan moves to Thailand surfacing earlier this year. On the other side of the pitch, Palmero - the Spanish-born wingback from CD Tenerife - brought composure and clarity on the flanks. The 23-year-old's touches were clean, his positioning intelligent, and his connection with teammates seamless, despite this being his first outing in Malaysian colours. 'I can do better,' Palmero said humbly. 'I keep working to be the best version of myself. But football is a language, and I try to speak it fluently. Malaysia is in my heart.' Cklamovski, known for his focus on development and detail, was impressed by both players. 'We had six Under-21 players in our first phase. They've all shown the right mentality and adjusted to the intensity we demand,' said the Australian tactician. 'Ubaidullah showed strong character. If we're talking about five years down the line, at a World Cup, he will be at the perfect age to peak. This is the mentality we want.' ''As for Palmero, he came from Spain, prepared well and connected with the group. ''It's not easy facing a world-class opponent in your first match, but he put in a solid individual performance.'
