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Nazmi Faiz Mansor - Google Blog Search

YouTube Sensation <b>Nazmi Faiz Mansor</b> | Muhamad Asyraaf

Posted: 10 May 2012 11:32 PM PDT

It took just a YouTube clip for Nazmi Faiz Mansor to earn a chance of becoming the first Malaysian to play in the top-flight of a major European football league after attracting the interest of Portuguese Primeira Liga club Beira Mar.

Nazmi's breath-taking goal in an Olympic qualifier against Bahrain last November combined with his impressive display at the Sea Games and for Young Tigers A in the S-League was enough for Beira Mar to offer the youngster a one-year contract next season.

Nazmi leaves for the port city of Aveiro, where Beira Mar are based, on Sunday with his father Mansor Mustapha for a week-long trial and to finalise details of his contract.

The trial is only expected to be a formality with Nazmi, who can only sign professional terms under Fifa regulations when he turns 18 on Aug 16, is excited at the prospect of playing against top Portuguese clubs Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

"I'm really happy to get this opportunity as it is not easy for a Malaysian player to get a chance to go overseas," said Nazmi yesterday, with an ice-pack strapped to his left knee before training at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya.

"I've known about their interest for a month and I've been preparing myself to get used to the idea of living and playing in Europe.

"I know other Malaysians have returned home early from Europe but I don't want to end up like them. My first aim is to try to break into the first team and as the game there is a little different from here, I'll have to adapt as quickly as I can."

Several Malaysians have attempted their luck in Europe previously but none played for a top-flight team.

Lim Teong Kim turned out for Hertha Berlin in 1987 in the West German Oberliga (third division), former Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Perak midfielder S. Karthigesan had a short stint in 1997 with FC Basel, then in the Swiss second division, while Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli and Juzaili Samion played for French fourth division FCSR Haguenau in 2000.

Beira Mar flirted with relegation for several weeks this season but are now safe in 12th place with one game remaining and they could finish as high as ninth in the 16-team top-flight.

The club are little known outside Portugal but Portuguese great Eusebio made 12 appearances for them in 1976 at the tail-end of his career while former Czech Republic goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek is another internationally known player to have played for Beira Mar from 2004 to 2006.

National youth coach Ong Kim Swee revealed that a Singapore-based agent for Beira Mar approached him about the possibility of Nazmi playing in Portugal a month ago.

"I asked the agent how they came to know about Nazmi and he said they had seen clips of him on YouTube. They asked for CDs of Nazmi but before I could get it to them, they said they had seen enough of him and wanted to give him a trial.

"I suppose there is something about him they like and I think he should get the contract. He's a skillful, hardworking player with good vision and passing ability and based on his current performance, I think he does not have a problem of impressing them.

"I believe he has the talent to succeed and if he makes it there, it would open the door for other Malaysian players to be selected by European clubs," said Kim Swee, who added that Nazmi's fitness problems appear to be nearing an end.

"He played 90 minutes against Hougang United (on Apr 27) and though he struggled a little in the last 10 minutes, he looks to be improving his fitness. I left him out against Geylang last week because of a slight knee injury but that was just a precaution."

If all goes well, Nazmi will head to Budapest after his trial to link up with the Young Tigers' European tour in preparation for the AFC Under-22 Championship qualifiers in Myanmar in late June before returning to Beira Mar for pre-season training.

Jumaat, 11 Mei 2012

Nazmi Faiz Mansor - Google Blog Search

Nazmi Faiz Mansor - Google Blog Search

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