Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan, midfielder of Johor Darul Ta’Zim, said with BBC Sport, a sports news agency in the UK about decision to play in Malaysia, which him didn’t know much about Malaysian football and just knew JDT as the team that wins everything.
Hong Wan was born to a football-mad Chinese father and a Malaysian mother in south London and turned pro with Wolves in 2019 after youth spells at Charlton Athletic and Yeovil Town. However, aside from one EFL Trophy appearance, first-team opportunities for Wolverhampton Wanderers were not coming his way.
“It’s been a pretty crazy journey,” Hong said with BBC about the time JDT slid into his inbox in the winter of 2020 with an email asking if he would be interested in going over.
“I didn’t know much about Malaysian football; I just knew Johor as the team that wins everything,”
Arriving in the southern Malaysian city of Johor Bahru in summer 2021, the high humidity was a shock.
“It’s nasty to play football in,” Hong said.
“But you get used to it. I actually miss the cold English weather, I can’t wait to go home in the off-season and enjoy it.”
“I feel like when you’re in England, you’re quite ignorant to the quality of anywhere else. I had to adapt quickly, I couldn’t walk in and waltz it,”
“Malaysian football is really good, especially in Johor. It’s surprising how much quality there is in these players, and the national team is climbing the rankings. It’s a good time for Malaysian football.”
In addition, the BBC talked about JDT. Since taking over as owner in 2013, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim has helped to revolutionize the squad, finances, facilities, and fortunes. They catch the eye on and off the pitch with their 40,000-capacity state-of-the-art stadium and club theme song, rapped by Snoop Dogg.
“He gives us everything we need and pushes us,” Hong said about TMJ.
“He’s driving us to never be content with winning one- or two-nil. This year, we pretty much battered all the teams and he’ll still be demanding more. I think the culture of the club comes from the owner down.”
Hong Wan, satisfied with JDT after him, became a part of creating more history. for taking the 3 title of the league from the 10th title in a row and being ‘Quadruple’ champions in Malaysia 2 seasons in season 2022,2023.
“It’s a great thing to be part of, creating more history. This year is the 10th title in a row, which is pretty much unheard of in football.” Hong Wan said.
“No one likes to see a one-team league; I feel a lot of teams give up before they even play us, which is a bit frustrating. Because if the league’s standard improves, it helps us improve and prepare for high-intensity games in the AFC Champions League.”
“For a small club in Malaysia to do that against the giants of Japan and South Korea is unheard of. Now, the target every year is to step up and keep progressing,”
“I feel a lot of English players only think about England. There’s so many more opportunities all around the world, in Europe, Asia, America,”
“You can have a different lifestyle and it might be a good thing for your professional career. I’ve made the move over and I’m really happy.”
Source : BBC
Credit Photo : Jayden Seah/SNE-Photo
