CARDIFF CITY could be set to strengthen their ties with Malaysia even further with the arrival of one of the Asian nation’s hottest young talents in the Welsh capital. Bluebirds’ boss Malky Mackay is back from Malaysia today after holding discussions to bring 17-year-old midfielder Nazmi Faiz to the club on a year’s placement.
Faiz shot to prominence last year when he became the youngest player in the Malaysia Olympic squad for the South East Asia Games in Jakarta. He is part of the Malaysian set-up trying to qualify for the football tournament at this summer’s Olympics in London.
The pacy youngster also scored a superb first international goal for his nation against Bahrain last year. Mackay has been in Malaysia looking at the initiative to further links between the country and the Bluebirds called 1Malaysia Cardiff City.
Chairman Dato Chan Tien Ghee and financial backer Vincent Tan both hail from Malaysia and are keen to see closer relations between their homeland and the club. The Bluebirds have already given trials to striker Safee Sali and Malaysian national team captain Safiq Rahim, but with Sali aged 27, and Rahim 24, Faiz is seen much more likely to make the breakthrough.
And he could now have 12 months to develop under Mackay and his staff. Cardiff chairman TG certainly believes there is plenty of young talent in Malaysia which could benefit the Bluebirds.
“Malaysia possesses a vast pool of talented and skilled footballers as well as many aspiring ones,” said TG.
“Safee and Safiq Rahim were at Cardiff for trials and both were exposed to different kinds of training,”
“We will continue to give opportunities to players and coaches as the club are a part of Malaysia.”
Discussions are on-going to bring Faiz to the Welsh capital for a year. Mackay believes any Malaysian players hoping to make it in British football would need plenty of time to acclimatise.
“Safee adapted very well in training as he easily picked up the drills with the first team, and as for Safiq, he was smaller in size but technically gifted,” said Mackay.
“The pace and tempo of the game in United Kingdom is quicker and one needs to be physically strong to make it and Safee did well.
“However, a player needs to spend a couple of years to adapt to our football and also learn about the physical, nutritional and fitness aspects of it. A younger player will be better.”
Mackay has already handed first-team football to 18-year-old Joe Ralls this season and it looks likely Faiz will be given the same chance now to show what he can do in the Welsh capital.
“When I was manager of Watford, the club was financially restricted and we decided to invest in youth development as we had a good academy,” added Mackay.
“In Cardiff we also believe in development and one of our products was Aaron Ramsey, who worked his way through the club’s youth system.”
“We have given some of our youth players first team action and they have responded well.”
Cardiff also offered Malaysian under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee the chance to spend time at the club to work with backroom staff, but the former international player looks unlikely to be able to take up the offer due to work commitments.
CARDIFF CITY could be set to strengthen their ties with Malaysia even further with the arrival of one of the Asian nation’s hottest young talents in the Welsh capital. Bluebirds’ boss Malky Mackay is back from Malaysia today after holding discussions to bring 17-year-old midfielder Nazmi Faiz to the club on a year’s placement.
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