IZWAN 'REBORN' AFTER RECALL

Goalkeeper, 34, who last played for Lions in 2021, hopes to reclaim No. 1 jersey

- David Lee

CHIBA - As the sun peeked through the clouds to provide some warmth on a chilly morning at the JFA Yume Field, Lions goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud let out a cheer and exclaimed: "Finally, we have some sun."

He could well have been describing his football journey, too, as he is finally seeing some light after one of the darkest periods of his roller-coaster career.

Making a return to the national team after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his left knee in 2022 sidelined him for almost a year, the 34-year-old is hoping to rebuild his international career, having last played for the Lions in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Saudi Arabia in June 2021.

Ahead of Singapore's Oct 11 friendly against Tokyo Verdy, he told The Straits Times in Chiba: "Being back in the national team after so long, it feels like I'm reborn after the biggest injury in my career."

As he looks to impress national coach Tsutomu Ogura in the build-up to the Dec 8-Jan 5 Asean Football Federation Championship and add to his 54 caps, Japan brings back fond memories for Izwan, because it was where he reached one of the peaks of his career.

Having made his Lions debut in 2011, he went on to help Singapore win the Asean title the following year and claim the 2013 Malaysian Super League and 2015 Malaysian FA Cup with the LionsXII.