Centre-back Mohd Fadhli Shas has a personal reason for wanting Malaysia to produce a positive result in Wednesday's first leg final against Thailand at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.
Talking to The Star, the 23-year-old Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) defender explained that in addition to setting up this weekend's home leg in Kuala Lumpur he wants to enjoy a "payback" moment against the Thais.
" getting="" a="" positive="" result="" here="" will="" be="" perfect="" for="" us="" to="" take="" into="" the="" second="" leg="" at="" national="" stadium="" on="" saturday.="" it="" also="" sort="" of="" payback="" me,"="" said="" fadhli,="" who="" was="" sent="" off="" in="" bangkok="" during="" 2012="" suzuki="" cup="" semifinal="" between="" two="" countries.="" thailand="" prevailed="" over="" malaysia="" 2-0="" contest="" and="" 3-1="" aggregate.
"Getting a positive result here will be perfect for us to take into the second leg at the National Stadium on Saturday. It will also be a sort of payback for me," said Fadhli, who was sent off in Bangkok during the 2012 Suzuki Cup semifinal between the two countries. Thailand prevailed over Malaysia 2-0 in the second leg contest and 3-1 on aggregate.
Fadhli did experience tournament glory in 2010. As a 19-year-old he was part of K. Rajagobal's title winning squad that lifted the trophy after beating Indonesia in the final.
"A lot of things have changed since my last two Suzuki Cups," said Fadhli. "I still remember winning in 2010 and getting sent off in 2012. All these experiences have made me a better player."
Coach Dollah Salleh has not changed his back four since the start of the tournament. Fadhli, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Afif Amiruddin and skipper Mohd. Shukor Adan have started in all five of Malaysia's matches in the 2014 campaign.
However, it remains to be seen whether captain Shukor will start in the first leg of the final against Thailand. But the 35-year-old Felda United defender is back in training after suffering a back injury during Harimau Malaya's 4-2 win in the second leg semifinal against Vietnam in Hanoi.
Fadhli says Malaysia's defenders are prepared to take on the home side's marauding offensive players. "Each defender has his own strengths and the coach will pick the players best suited in his gameplan against Thailand."
The Thais last won the Southeast Asian tournament in 2002 despite appearing in three of the past four finals.