Sarawak’s goalkeeper ‘one of the best in the nation’

KUCHING: Sarawak have to thank the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Mohd Fadzley Kassim for last Friday’s 1-0 win over Kelantan in Kota Bharu.

He made crucial saves for the good part of the match to deny Kelantan’s barrage of assaults and ended with a clean sheet.

He also got headcoach Robert Alberts’ vote for the man of the match.

“He had a good match and I hope to see more of the same from him in the next match. His performances was instrumental in the team’s victory last week,” Alberts commented when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

Mohd Fadzley’s performance also drew praise from Kelantan’s interim head coach Hashim Mustapha, a former Malaysia international.

“Sarawak had an quality goalkeeper in Mohd Fadzley. He was simply brilliant and I think he’s currently one of the best in the nation,” Hashim said after the match.

Signed at the start of this season, the Selangor-born player was brought into the squad as a back-up to Sani Anuar Kamsani after the departure of Saiful Amar Sudar.

Sarawak fans got a glimpse of his abilities when he came in for Sani who was red-carded during Sarawak’s FA Cup second round match against Selangor this year. He then started in the next two matches while Sani served his suspension.  He kept clean sheets for both matches as Sarawak won 2-0 against PKNS in the Super League and drew 0-0 with Felda United in the first leg of the FA Cup quarter-finals.

A string of woeful mistakes by Sani in recent matches have given Fadzley the opportunity to prove himself.

After Sarawak’s 3-1 home defeat to Terengganu at the Stadium Negeri on April 4 Alberts decided it was time for change.

Mohd Fazley was given the nod to start during the away match against Terengganu on April 11 which Sarawak went on to win 2-1.

He made his home debut at Stadium Negeri in the 3-2 victory against ATM on April 15.

The Crocs have gone on a three-match winning streak and currently lie fourth in the Super League standings.