Sikh Izhan makes Super League debut at age 19

By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 -- The dream of young goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman to play at the highest level of domestic football has finally come true after he made his debut for Selangor FC in their Super League match on Friday. 

Sikh Izhan, 19, earned his first Red Giants cap after a seven-month struggle to prove his capabilities in keeping the team’s goal safe since making it into the main squad from Selangor FC II in December last year.

The goalkeeper from Seberang Jaya, Penang, celebrated his debut with a win over Kedah Darul Aman (KDA) FC, as Selangor beat them 4-2 at Darul Aman Stadium, Alor Setar and chalked up their third consecutive win.

Sikh Izhan credited the continuous support from his family and Selangor FC II head coach Michael Feichtenbeiner for his excellent performance, adding that they had helped him get pass the ups and downs of his professional career.

“Michael (Feichtenbeiner) is responsible for improving my performance on the field during training and matches, and now I only need to maintain my consistency and continue learning,” he told Bernama.

Sikh Izhan, who is the national Under-19 squad goalkeeper, said Feichtenbeiner, 61, is experienced and always kept an open mind, and that made it less awkward for him to share and exchange views with his coach.

The teenager said he realised that if he wanted to be a footballer of international standard, he would need more playing time and Selangor FC would be able to help him progress into a better player in time.

"Maybe to some, I am still young, but I need to learn and adapt faster. I have never forgotten my dream of playing at the international level,” he said, adding that he did wish to play overseas since he was young.

Sikh Izhan was the only goalkeeper out of five Selangor FC II players, Sharul Nazeem Zulphakar, Aliff Haiqal Lokman Hakim Lau, Ahmad Zikri Khalili and Ahmad Danial Ahmad Asri, who were absorbed into the Selangor FC squad early this season.

He said he frequently studied match replays to observe his weaknesses and mistakes so that he could improve for the next match. 

"Football is a high-intensity game and every little mistake could cause the team to lose,” he added.

Sikh Izhan said that being in the same squad as national goalkeeper Mohd Khairulazhan Mohd Khalid, who is Selangor FC’s first-choice goalkeeper, provided him with a lot of new input and would spur him to continue competing for the team’s goalkeeper position.

-- BERNAMA