BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
Over the weekend, two Malaysian footballers were involved in their respective overseas clubs' matches, while one more is close to entering the fray of playing abroad.
In Thailand, Curran Ferns started in Sukhotai FC's round 20 Thai League 1 away match against Chainat Hornbill on Saturday, but the midfielder could not help his club avoid losing 4-2. It was their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions. They dropped down into the relegation zone following the defeat, to 14th place.
Sukhothai vs Chainat Hornbill match highlights
On the same day, American-Malaysian teenager Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal was on the bench when his club Sporting Kansas City edged ten-man Houston Dynamo 3-2 in a thrilling come-from-behind win at home, in their Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Saturday. With the win, the Wizards remain in the top spot of the MLS Western Conference.
Sporting KC vs Houston Dynamo match highlights
The following day, he started for development club Swope Park Rangers in their 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights, a United Soccer League (USL) match in the United States' second tier. Kuzain scored a free kick that would end up as the winning goal, in the 67th minute, with the visitors missing the chance to grab a last-gasp equaliser through a spot kick deep in injury time. The Rangers are currently fourth in the USL Western Conference.
Rangers vs Lights match highlights
But the biggest story of the weekend is surely the imminent departure of Malaysia forward Shahrel Fikri Fauzi. The PKNP FC skipper is expected to join Thai League 1 side Nakhon Ratchasima FC on a loan deal acccording to his representatives, with the transfer set to be finalised on Monday.
He has scored a total of eight goals in all competitions for PKNP this season, and in 2017 won the Best Striker Award at the National Football Award.
If the move materialises, the 23-year old's departure would happen just days before PKNP play Pahang in the second leg of their FA Cup semi-final tie, this Sunday. The first leg last Saturday ended in a 1-1 draw.
Nakhon Ratchasima are currently ninth in the standings.