HARIMAU FROM BRAZIL
Striker from Sao Paulo joins national team for training in Johor Baru
ON Monday, it was history in the making for Malaysian football when Guilherme de Paula, a former Brazilian, joined the national team for training at the JDT centre in Johor Baru.
Striker de Paula, from Sao Paulo, thus became the latest in the list of Brazilians who have decided to wear the colours of other national teams.
Among those from the world’s most successful football nation who swear allegiance to other countries in recent times are Thiago Motta for Italy, Pepe and Deco for Portugal, Diego Costa and Thiago Alcantara for Spain, and Eduardo da Silva for Croatia.
In Asia, Wagner Lopes and Alessandro Santos have turned out for Japan while Alberto Goncalves da Costa is in the Indonesian camp.
De Paula, known for his prolific scoring in the M-League in the past five years, has met Fifa’s eligibility ruling to play for another country’s national team.
And he is expected to add much bite to Harimau Malaya in their pre-World Cup campaign in June.
De Paula, in a press conference yesterday, said he felt the warm welcome of his adopted national team.
The 35-year-old said he is aware of the expectations of being a Brazilian footballer, and he is ready deliver the goals that Pele’s country is known for.
“I hope to fulfil the expectations of Malaysian fans and the national team,
“I want to give something to the team and I love to be here. I consider Malaysia my home.
“It will not be easy to play for Malaysia but I know that only my hard work can prove my critics wrong.”
De Paula acknowledged the issue raised over his age by the critics but he is ready to prove his worth to Malaysians.
“I am not old... old is gold. In Europe, you can see players who are my age still doing well.
“I am keeping myself fit and strong, and I know what I am capable of doing.
“For me, age is not a problem at all.
“For the national team, and even in training, I will give my 100 per cent.
“I know my style and I want to bring that to the team.”
De Paula, who came under fire this season after shooting blanks in Perak’s opening four matches in the Super League, showed he could still deliver the goods by firing a brace in the 2-2 draw with JDT last week.
The 2017 Premier League Golden Boot winner said his track record in the M-League proves his ability.
“I have been a top striker. When I played for Selangor, I won the Malaysia Cup. When I played for Police, I was their leading scorer.
“When I was with Kuala Lumpur, I became their highestscoring foreign striker and second
on the all-time list.
“I am aware of the criticism against me... Everybody can talk, and I have no problem with it.
“I take the good things out of criticism and motivate myself to be better.”