With less than a month remaining before flying off to Zurich for the 2016 Fifa Puskas Award ceremony, Penang footballer Mohd Faiz Subri still remains focused on training with his teammates.

Malaysia's first nominee for the Fifa Puskas Award is currently attending training sessions with the Harimau Kumbang team, as they prepare for the next Malaysian League season.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, the 29-year-old footballer said he is still waiting for the green light from Football Association of Malaysia and the Football Association of Penang before making his final preparations and flying off to Zurich.

“I’m not hoping for anything, just accept the results when it is announced,” he said.

Faiz, who hails from Kedah, said the competition is still fierce even though football stars like Lionel Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior have stepped down from the nomination.

“There are only three nominees left, there is a big a chance that they will get huge support from their home countries too.

“What is important is I hope Malaysians and other people will vote for me,” he added.

Faiz must still face-off against two other nominees, Johnath Marlone Azevedo da Silva from Brazil and female footballer Daniuska Rodriguez from Venezuela.

He stressed that it is already an achievement for getting nominated for the award.

“I am not hoping to lift the trophy, getting nominated for the award is already a bonus,” he added.

Put Malaysia on the map

In the meantime, Faiz has another dream to achieve when attending the ceremony on Jan 9.

If allowed, he said, the footballer said he wanted to put Malaysia on the map by wearing his Baju Melayu, to show the significance of the first Malaysian to receive such an award.

“Until today, I have yet to receive information on what to prepare when I get there (Zurich)”.

“I must bring my whole family there, as this will be a once in a lifetime journey for me. Thanks be to Allah, for this is his bounty to me.

“If I am the recipient for the award, if possible, I want to speak in Bahasa Melayu,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Online.

“There is no need to be ashamed of speaking our mother-tongue as a Malaysian.

“If we are not proud of our own language, who would be? Like I said, this award is not an achievement for me alone, it is for all Malaysians,” he added.