Shakir vows to stay calm

PICTURE: Berita Harian

NAME: Shakir Hamzah

BORN: Oct 20, 1992

HEIGHT: 1.78m

WEIGHT: 64kg

POSITION: Left-back, centre-back

PREVIOUS CLUB: Courts Young Lions

SHAKIR Hamzah says he needs to control his temper.

For people who know him only outside of the football pitch, it's a puzzling statement.

The soft-spoken 19-year-old never fails to smile when spoken to.

He blushes whenever he's asked a personal question and displays a sort of youthful innocence not expected from a tough-tackling defender.

Yet, his name rests high on last season's S-League disciplinary record list.

Shakir, who played for the Young Lions the past two years, is third on the list with four yellow and two red cards – only three others were sent off two or more times.

"I got no discipline. I can't control my temper sometimes," he said with a sheepish smile when asked about his sendings-off last season.

"When I lose my temper on the pitch, I get over-physical. Sometimes I'll get frustrated with my own performance and take it out on my opponents.

"I'm also very protective of my teammates. If one gets hit, I'll be sure to (return the favour) to the opponent later.

"Of course, that isn't good. I know I can't get carried away on the pitch like that."

Shakir's coaches, teammates and family have since advised him to cool down and control his wild tackling.

The young defender, who can operate as either a centre-back or a left-back, knows he must heed their advice, especially now that he had earned a place in the LionsXII M-League team with his elder brother Shahir.

Said Shakir: "This is absolutely the team I want to be playing for. And to be in the same team with my brother is definitely something to be proud of.

"Now, I'm just looking to improve on my game and get some playing time."

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QUESTIONS WITH SHAKIR HAMZAH

Favourite player?
Neymar

Favourite chick?
Selena Gomez

Most songs in your iPod?
David Guetta

Biggest regret?
Quitting school (ITE) after six months

No one knows that...
I'm actually shy and have stage fright