Khairul Fahmi Che Mat

Khairul Fahmi Che Mat
Khairul Fahmi bin Che Mat, P.B. (born 7 January 1989 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Malaysia Super League club Sabah. He is also a former member of Malaysia national team.
Club career
Early career
At his youth, Khairul Fahmi began his football career playing for Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar (SSBP) and Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ). During his school year, he was selected as the second choice goalkeeper for Malaysia U-17 at the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship.
Harimau Muda
Khairul Fahmi was later chosen to be in the Harimau Muda team for the 2007–08 Malaysia Premier League. Khairul Fahmi appeared in a match against ATM FA which Harimau Muda lose 2-1. Halfway through the season, he was dropped from Harimau Muda. He signed with PKNS until the end of 2008 season.
PSV Eindhoven Youth team trials
Khairul Fahmi had also impressed the Dutch club, PSV Eindhoven and went for a-week trials with the club's Under-19 and Under-23 teams. He went there with his teammate, Asraruddin Putra after they showed excellent performances in the 2007 Champions Youth Cup.
Return to Kelantan
In 2008, Khairul Fahmi returned to Kelantan as a loan player from PKNS for the 2008 Malaysia Cup. In 2009 he signed a permanent deal with Kelantan and registered as the third goalkeeper for Kelantan but he did not made any appearances for the senior side.
In 2010, he finally have the chances with the senior squad due to Halim Napi retirement and a blunder from Syed Adney during their match against Kedah in 2010 Malaysia Super League. He made his league debut on 6 March 2010 in a 1-0 away win against T-Team. In his debut season, he won the 2010 Malaysia Cup. He also won The Best Young Player and Best Goalkeeper awards at the 2010 Anugerah Bola Sepak Kebangsaan 100Plus-FAM.
In 2011, Khairul Fahmi retain as Kelantan first choice goalkeeper. He ended the season with Kelantan winning their first league title, making 24 appearances and he also won the Best Goalkeeper Award for the second consecutive time.
In 2012, Khairul Fahmi continue his fine form which saw Kelantan won their first ever treble in the Malaysian League. He also won the Best Goalkeeper Award for the third time in a row.
Melaka United
On 7 May 2018, Khairul Fahmi signed a six-month contract with Melaka United until the end of the current season. On 12 May 2018, Khairul Fahmi made his debut for Melaka United in a 0–0 draw against Perak.
On 8 February 2021, he extended his contract with the club until the end of the 2022.
International career
Malaysia under-23 national team
Khairul Fahmi made his first appearance for Malaysia under-23 at the 2010 Asian Games. He helped his team qualify into the second round but later lost to Iran, 1–3. Khairul Fahmi became Malaysia's hero when he saved two penalties and they won 4–3 in the penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw against Indonesia to ensure Malaysia retained the prestigious SEA Games gold medal. Khairul Fahmi also helped his team qualify into the Men's Asian Qualifiers Preliminary Round 3 of 2012 Summer Olympics Qualification. However, Malaysia failed to win any matches in the group stage.
Malaysia senior national team
Khairul Fahmi made his debut against Oman on 3 September 2010 replacing Sharbinee Allawee during the second half. He kept a clean sheet for the entire second half after Malaysia conceding 3 goals in the first half of the match.
In November 2010, Khairul Fahmi was called up to the Malaysia national team by coach K. Rajagopal for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. Khairul kept a clean sheet against Thailand on a 0–0 draw. He also kept a clean sheet against Vietnam twice in the semi-finals. In the first leg of the finals, Khairul Fahmi played well against the Indonesians. The match ended a 3–0 win to Malaysia, thus earning another clean sheet to him. In the second leg of the finals held in Indonesia, Khairul Fahmi gave another outstanding performance by making numerous saves including a brilliant penalty save early in the match. The save proved to be a pivotal moment in the match in which Malaysia scored an away goal. Malaysia won on 4–2 aggregate and lifted the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup title for the first time.
Khairul Fahmi was selected for the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup. On 26 November 2012, Malaysia's opening group match against Singapore ended up with the Malaysian side losing 0–3. The Lions scored the first goal through their captain, Shahril Ishak at the 32nd-minute. Six minutes later, Ishak once again scored a goal for the Lions as a result of Khairul Fahmi's blunder at goal. In the second half, veteran Singaporean forward Aleksandar Đurić completed the rout against the Tigers with the third and final goal of the game. The match resulted in 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup holders Malaysia losing its first group match of the tournament, and Khairul Fahmi was subsequently dropped for the rest of the Tigers' campaign.
However, since Kim Pan-Gon was made in charge of the Malaysian national football team in 2022, he was deemed too short to play in goal, losing his spot to taller and younger goalkeepers.
Career statistics
Club
International
Exhibition matches / Malaysia XI
Personal life
Khairul Fahmi is the fourth of five siblings. He received his early education at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Tapang, Kota Bharu. Then he entered Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar, Johor Bahru. After that he furthered Bukit Jalil Sports School (National Sports School). He was active in sports and has represented the school since primary school. On 28 December 2012, Khairul Fahmi married Nur Eilunie Natasha Jaafar. They have a daughter named Kayla Elayna, and a son named Khaleel Emir.
Honours
Clubs
Kelantan
Malaysia Cup (2): 2010, 2012
Malaysia Charity Shield (1): 2011
Malaysia Super League (2): 2011, 2012
Malaysia FA Cup (2): 2012, 2013 Runner-up 2015
International
AFF Suzuki Cup:
Winners: 2010
Runner-up: 2014, 2018
2011 Southeast Asian Games – Football:
Gold Medal: 2011
Individuals
Best Young Players: 2010
Best Goalkeepers: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
Goal.com Asian Under-23 Best XI for 2011
Goal.com readers' Asian Best XI of 2011
Goal.com readers' Asian Best Goalkeeper of 2011
Notes
References
External links
Khairul Fahmi Che Mat at Goal
1989 births
Living people
Malaysian people of Malay descent
Footballers from Kelantan
Malaysian men's footballers
Malaysia men's international footballers
Kelantan F.C. players
Melaka United F.C. players
Sabah F.C. (Malaysia) players
Malaysia Super League players
Sportspeople from Kota Bharu
Men's association football goalkeepers
Footballers at the 2010 Asian Games
SEA Games gold medalists for Malaysia
SEA Games medalists in football
Competitors at the 2011 SEA Games
Asian Games competitors for Malaysia