SAFAWI Rasid will have to wait a little longer for his Portimonense SC debut in the Primeira Liga.
The 23-year-old, however, played his first match on Portuguese soil in Portimonense's 3-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in Friday's Revelacao Liga (under-23 south zone league) match at the Dois Irmaos Stadium in Portimao,
Safawi, who is on a year-long loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim, was named in the starting line up.
"I still have a lot to learn about Portuguese football. It is so different here.
"There is no time to think during a match. A player needs to make quick decisions as the pace and tempo is different.
"As for my performance, I am not too happy with it. I could not perform at my best," said Safawi.
Rafael Fernandes (28th), Duarte Carvalho (61st) and Nicolai Skoglund (63rd) netted for Sporting to cancel out Portimonense's lead through Romulo Machado (18th).
Although coach Paulo Sergio is impressed with Safawi in training, he feels the Malaysian striker needs more time to adapt to Portuguese football before he can make his Primeira Liga debut.
Portimonense played Maritimo in an away Primeira Liga match yesterday.
Source: New Straits Times