Goal count down the most promising players from the top competitions in the Malaysian football season in 2017, and here’s number 5.
Penang had a season to forget in 2017 as they exit early from cup competitions as well as being relegated from the Super League but amidst the horror show for the Black Panthers, there are undoubtedly specks of positivity still to be had.
If the season before saw Faiz Subri claiming all the limelight for his wonder goal that eventually won his the FIFA Puskas Award, the 2017 season sees Syamer Kutty Abba taking over the mantle of the shining light in a poor Penang team.
Early on, Syamer had already impressed Ashley Westwood enough to justify a place in the starting XI and the trend and preference for the 1.86m midfielder would continue when Zainal Abidin Hassan took over as head coach of Penang.
Comfortable on the ball and possessing the ability to beat his marker despite his gangly figure, Syamer reminds a lot of a lanky midfielder in the shape of former Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira. Admittedly, Syamer is very much on a much lower level compared to Vieira and still need to improve on the defensive side of his game.
His performances this season was vindicated by call-ups from both the Malaysia Under-23 and senior team under the guidance of Ong Kim Swee and Nelo Vingada respectively. As with any young players, Syamer is still one to be affected by nerves but the qualities that he has shown is the desire to improve, when he has a less than desirable first half, the second half inevitably becomes better.
Joining Johor Darul Ta’zim for the 2018 season, Syamer would probably face an uphill struggle to find minutes in the Super League but he’ll be no doubt be determined to change that notion and continue his upward rise in Malaysian football.
Read also: MSL 2017 BEST PLAYERS: #5