KL City signs national winger Safawi on loan from JDT
Safawi joins the City Boys on a one-season loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), adding significant firepower to the Klang Valley-based side as they gear up for the 2025-26 M-League campaign.
"Safawi? Yes, it's confirmed," said Syed Yazid briefly.
The 27-year-old brings a wealth of experience, having made 66 appearances and scored 22 goals for Harimau Malaya.
At club level, Safawi has turned out for T-Team, Terengganu, JDT, Portuguese side Portimonense and Thailand's Ratchaburi, collecting multiple M-League titles and domestic honours along the way.
Safawi is not expected to be the only new arrival from the south, with KL City also being linked to JDT midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba, who has 42 national caps.
Syed Yazid believes KL City will be in good shape next season, with preparations already well underway.
"It will be a solid team next season," he said.
"There will be a meeting on Monday to finalise matters regarding the squad."
He also addressed recent concerns surrounding the club's finances, reassuring fans that KL City are in the clear.
"Salaries have been paid. Everything is clear," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
James Milner honours Diogo Jota with Brighton jersey number switch
JAMES MILNER will switch to the number 20 shirt at Brighton & Hove Albion this season in honour of his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident in Spain last month. Jota and his brother Andre Silva lost their lives in early July when their Lamborghini left the road and caught fire in northwestern Spain. The Portuguese forward had worn the number 20 during his successful spell at Liverpool, where he and Milner shared the dressing room for three seasons before the English midfielder moved to Brighton in 2023. 'Once I heard Carlos (Baleba) was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and obviously pay tribute to Diogo Jota,' Milner said. '(He was) an amazing player I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. So it'd be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League.' Liverpool have announced they will permanently retire the number 20 following discussions with Jota's wife, Rute, and his family. The number will no longer be used at any level, including the women's team and academy. Milner, 39, recently extended his contract with Brighton for another year and is closing in on Premier League history. With 638 appearances, he is just 15 games short of surpassing Gareth Barry's all-time record of 653. - Reuters
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Hidalgo reveals why he owes his life to Maradona
PETALING JAYA: Like all Argentinian footballers, Kuala Lumpur's new winger Manuel Hidalgo looks up to the late Diego Maradona as an idol and inspiration. But for the 26-year-old, who joined the City Boys on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), his fascination with the 1986 World Cup winner extends beyond the magic he created on the pitch. Hidalgo can even claim he owes his life to the legend, who many hail as the greatest player of all time. To put it poetically, he has been blessed by the ''hand of god'' – a reference to the controversial goal Maradona scored against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Look no further than Diego: Manuel Hidalgo in action for Kuala Lumpur against Sabah during a friendly match. — KL City FC 'I love him not just because of what he did in football – but because without him, I wouldn't be in this world,'' he said after a training session at the PKNS Field here yesterday. And there's an absorbing story behind that. Hidalgo's father, Gustavo, was living in Barcelona when Maradona was suspended for cocaine use and forced to return to Argentina in the 1980s. That unexpected turn led to him also returning home and eventually meeting the woman, Victoria, who would become the mother of his son, Manuel. 'My father met my mum in Argentina, and they went on to have me. So if not for Maradona, I won't be here in this world,' Hidalgo said. It is a remarkable twist of fate, one that Hidalgo carries with him not just emotionally, but literally – inked on his body. 'I have two Maradona tattoos, and a phrase from him across my back,' he adds proudly. Today, Hidalgo is thriving in a city he now calls home. 'I have a very good relationship with everyone, locals and import players as well.' Now entering his fifth season in Malaysia, Hidalgo speaks with a maturity that reflects his journey. He knows the expectations are high, but he has embraced them. A tattoo of Maradona on Hidalgo's hand. 'I think we (Kuala Lumpur) have an amazing team this year, and we're going to achieve great things for sure. 'We started not so hard, and I think that's good. ''Sometimes when you push too early, the players aren't fresh for the season. I think we'll arrive at the first game at 100 per cent.' Hidalgo is particularly impressed with the atmosphere within the team and the communication between coach Risto Vidakovic and the players. 'It's the best I've experienced in Malaysia by far. ''The connection is very good. We all feel it.' KL have been beset by financial problems in the past, but with changes in the top management, Hidalgo hopes his teammates don't need to wait for their dues. 'I have the luck that I'm part of JDT. When you have JDT behind you, everything is easier. ''They do things how they should be done, on time, professionally.'' Hidalgo also revealed that he is awaiting to be naturalised and hopes to don Malaysian colours one day. 'After December, I will have been in Malaysia for five years. Maybe by then, or next May, I can get something more official. I hope that can happen next year.'
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Perfectly prepared – Mukhairi can carry weight that comes with No. 10 shirt
PETALING JAYA: In Malaysian football, few jerseys carry more weight than Selangor's number 10. Worn by legends, most notably the late, great Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, it is more than just a number. It's a legacy. And now, that legacy rests on the shoulders of 23-year-old midfielder Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi ( pic ), who hails from Sungai Lembing, Pahang. 'Wearing the number 10 jersey is indeed heavy, especially for a club like Selangor,' admitted Mukhairi. 'Many legends have worn it, especially the late great Mokhtar Dahari. The responsibility of that jersey is huge. But I'm not seeing it as a burden - I can carry it. I will continue doing my best for this team.' As the new Malaysian Super League season approaches, many eyes will be on Selangor. The Red Giants face the biggest possible test - a Charity Shield clash with perennial powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) on Aug 8, which also acts as a league fixture. Selangor's pre-season preparations have been steady, structured, and purposeful, according to Mukhairi, though some fans have been worried about the team's mixed form. 'We've had a lot of game time, and I would say pre-season has been good. Pre-season is one way to ascertain our weaknesses. From there, we work on it and make sure the season goes well,' he said. He credits not just the training intensity, but also the chemistry developing within the squad. 'Even the new foreign players that have joined us are working well. The harmony is there and everyone is communicating. We still have a few days left to train, and we'll use that time to build a strong team.' With multiple Super League titles and a deep, star-studded squad, JDT will once again enter the Charity Shield as heavy favourites but Mukhairi refuses to be fazed. 'Yes, JDT are the favourites, but I hope my teammates and I can give them a tough fight.' Mukhairi is not naive about the scale of the task ahead, but he is not intimidated either. 'We have to take on whatever situation comes our way. We'll do our best before that tie.'
