Nafuzi Zain di pentas Piala Dunia Remaja 1997
“Ambik mano jersi ni?” tanya jurulatih bola sepak Terengganu FC, Nafuzi Zain.
Beliau masih ingat lagi jersi bernombor 20 dan berjenama Lotto itu.
“Ni sebelum pakai Adidas,” jelas jurulatih muda itu lagi. Jersi ini digunakan untuk beberapa perlawanan persahabatan dalam persediaan untuk menghadapi Piala Dunia.
Nafuzi pernah bermain di pentas dunia sewaktu Malaysia menjadi tuan rumah Piala Dunia Remaja 1997. Malaysia tewas dalam kesemua perlawanan Kumpulan A, 1-3 kepada Maghribi dan Uruguay serta 0-3 kepada Belgium. Walaupun tewas, banyak pengalaman yang dikutip.
Jurulatih yang berumur 42 tahun ini mula bermain sebagai penyerang di awal karir. Nafuzi mewakili negara sejak di bangku sekolah lagi setelah dipilih untuk skuad B-16 negara.
Sekarang, beliau berjaya membawa pasukannya berada di tangga kedua, tiga mata di belakang pendahulu liga, JDT, setelah separuh perjalanan Liga Super 2021.
Beliau tidak lupa akan jasa mereka yang yang banyak membantu beliau seperti jurulatih Irfan Bakti dan B. Satianathan. Mereka adalah antara individu yang telah mengenal pasti bakatnya dan membentuk jati diri yang ada pada beliau sekarang ini.
Legasi Lagenda akan menyimpan jersi Nafuzi sebagai khazanah sukan negara. Kisah bermula seorang remaja yang pernah bermain di Piala Dunia, yang sekarang ini sedang mengukir nama sebagai jurulatih yang berjaya.
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Nafuzi Zain takes on the 1997 Youth World Cup Stage
“Ambik mano jersi ni?” the Terengganu FC coach, Nafuzi Zain asked.
He still remembers the No. 24 Lotto jersey.
“This was before we wore Adidas,” the young coach explained.
This particular jersey was worn for several friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup.
Nafuzi played on the world stage when Malaysia hosted the 1997 Youth World Cup. Malaysia lost all of their Group A matches, 1 – 3 to Morocco and Uruguay and 0 – 3 to Belgium. Despite their losses, the experience itself was worthwhile.
The 42-year-old coach started his football career as a striker. Nafuzi began representing Malaysia while he was still in school as he was selected to join the U-16 national squad.
Currently, halfway through the 2021 Super League, he has led his team to second place with only three points behind JDT.
He has not forgotten those who have helped him throughout his career, including coaches Irfan Bakti and B. Satianathan. They are among the individuals who identified his talents and shaped him to the man he is today.
Legasi Lagenda will archive and cherish Nafuzi’s jersey as a national sports treasure. We will remember his story of a young teenager who once played at the World Cup and is now making his mark as a successful coach.
