Football: Striker is on track to regain reputation as a feared man with Turtles

PETALING JAYA: Footballer Safawi Rasid is slowly getting back his scoring touch but knows more needs to be done if he wants to recapture his old form.

The Terengganu playmaker, who is on-loan from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), did not score in his first three domestic games for the Turtles but got on the scoresheet when they beat Perak 2-1 in the last 16 of FA Cup on Friday.Best yet to come: National striker Safawi Rasid believes he will regain his former form during his tenure with Terengganu.

The 27-year-old scored a penalty in the 35th minute much to his relief. He did score before the FA Cup game but it was on the international stage when he helped Malaysia beat Taiwan 3-1 in the World Cup 2026 second-round qualifiers last week.

Two goals in two games is a step in the right direction for the player known for his direct runs, shooting and set-piece prowess.

“The game against Perak was one of our best performances this season and getting a goal felt good. We see the result because of our system and game plan,” said Safawi.

“I’m giving myself another month or two to be in my top condition. I’m not easily satisfied.

“As much as I want to score goals and make an impact, the main goal is to fit into the team’s system. I am doing that slowly but surely.”

He has been playing as a number 10 with Terengganu but admitted that he prefers to play in the seventh position (right wing).

“I’m getting regular minutes now under the number 10 spot, but once I show more improvement, I will push for the right spot,” he said.

Safawi made his name in 2018 and 2019 when he became one of the top local attackers in the Super League and even a key figure for JDT.

In 2018, he scored 16 goals out of 36 matches in all competitions, and a year later, the player fondly known as Pawi, did even better, scoring 20 in 37 games.

It led him to winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2018 and 2019.

In 2020, he played nine games and scored eight as the season was impacted by Covid-19.

From 2021 onwards, he could not get back to his usual form and his spot in JDT was taken over by young phenom Arif Aiman Hanapi.

Despite that, he remained a key player for Harimau Malaya, earning 61 caps and scoring 21 goals.

Being a determined person, Safawi looks good to reclaim his reputation as one of the best attackers in Malaysia.