One of the best players to emerge from the South East Asian nation in recent times, Akmal has contemplated hanging up his boots for good after enduring a succession of injury problems that have kept him on the sidelines for long spells.

A knee cartilage problem in late 2004 kept him out of the game for eight months, forcing him to miss the Asean Football Championship and a large chunk of the Malaysian league season.

And just when he appeared to have recovered from that injury, he broke down again in only his second match back for Kedah and underwent surgery on his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) that ruled him out for another seven months.

"There was desperation and I was at the bottom of the heap – both physically and emotionally. And I really thought of giving the game up for good," said the 25-year-old at the Malaysian team’s national training camp for the AFC Asian Cup.

"But with the support of my wife and my parents, my sense of belief returned to me. There are still people out there who want to see me play and that is a great motivator."

With a helping hand from his wife of three years, Shahira Sofea Riss, Akmal went on what he called a 'serious three-month rehabilitation’ in Kuala Lumpur. But while he made progress off the pitch, news came through that his home state, Kedah, had decided to terminate his playing contract.

But such is the esteem in which Akmal is held in Malaysian football that it wasn’t long before he received an offer from local giants Selangor, who signed him to a one-year contract at the start of the 2006-2007 Super League season.

"It takes a lot for a team to sign a player when he is injured and I must say that Selangor took a huge gamble with me,” said the diminutive striker.

“For that, I must thank Selangor coach Dollah Salleh for believing in me. It was a risk which he didn’t need to take but he did it and I am eternally grateful.

"As a former player, Dollah knew what needed to be done and understood how I would be able to get my fitness level back.

“And now that I'm back on top, I don't ever want to be down again because I know how difficult it was to get back what I lost."

Born in the northern town of Jitra in 1982, Akmal was a prolific striker at all levels throughout his teenage years, earning a move abroad to French side FC Strasbourg where he spent two years.

Since returning to Malaysia, he has caught the eye not only with his goalscoring feats but also through his energetic and hard-working performances for club and country.

However, he remains hungry for success and is eager to prove himself at the highest level.

"Mine has not exactly been a career full of achievements," said the father of two, whose only honours with Kedah were a Second Division title in 2002 and the Premier League crown in 2006.

"But we all have to begin somewhere and after winning the silver (at the 2001 SEA Games) and then the bronze (at the 2003 SEA Games), the Asian Cup presents the best chance for us to show just how much progress Malaysian football has made.”

While Malaysia have been drawn in Group C with three of the tournament’s heavyweights in Iran, Uzbekistan and China, Akmal remains confident of his side’s prospects of advancing past the group stage.

"All of us have high hopes for the Asian Cup as this is the first time that we are playing in the competition after a long absence.

"The chances are there that we can do well and we want to prove that we are not here just to make up the numbers. We must show that Malaysia still has the players who can compete at the international level.

"My target as a striker is to score goals while my aim as part of the team is for us to reach the next round of the Asian Cup.

"It is important that to prepare psychologically, in terms of my contribution and what can I give to the team. The psychological preparation is exceptionally important because we must perform in front of a Malaysian crowd which is really the hardest lot to please in the world.

"But I hope that with a good positive atmosphere in the team, we can do well and that the fans will come and support us."

KUALA LUMPUR – Korea Republic international Park Ji-sung believes that the Taeguk Warriors can still sparkle at the AFC Asian Cup 2007 despite the absence of four key players due to injury.

However the winger, who has been ruled out of the AFC Asian Cup after undergoing knee surgery in April, has tipped newcomers Australia as the team to beat when the tournament kicks off this weekend.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the AFC, the Manchester United player expressed his disappointment at missing out on this summer’s football extravaganza.

“I was looking forward to playing in this prestigious football event but, unfortunately, I am unable to take part in it due to my injury. Nevertheless, I hope that all Asian football fans enjoy a festival of Asian football this month,” he said.

Korea are one of the favourites to lift the title in Jakarta on July 29 but their hopes of securing the first AFC Asian Cup victory since 1960 have been hit hard by a spate of injuries that will sideline Park, forward Seol Ki-hyeon, full back Lee Young-pyo and defensive midfielder Kim Nam-il.

“It will be tough for the Korean team because they will be missing a number of experienced players. However, Korea should still have a strong enough side to compete in the Asian Cup because of the country’s young talented players,” said Park.

“I am sure that the tournament will give the team a chance to move forward with these young players.”

Park though believes that Australia are the favourites to win the 16-team tournament and has welcomed the addition of the Socceroos to the Asian football family.

“I think it could be Australia because they qualified for the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup last year and the experience of their players in Europe makes them one of the best teams at the Asian Cup.

“I believe that their participation will help Asian football to improve and rapidly move to a higher level in world football.

“It provides a great foundation to make Asian football stronger and gives fans more of a chance to watch a better quality of football in Asia.”