Wishlist ticked and Carlos aims to make the best of it
Brazilian striker Ivan Carlos (pic) earned the plaudits when he played for top clubs Persela Lamongan and Persija Jakarta in the Indonesian league from 2016 to 2018.
Now, he yearns for the same adoration with Pahang in the Super League.
The 30-year-old, who signed a deal with the Elephants at the end of 2019, has done well so far having scored three goals in four matches before the league was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Carlos is just happy with his stint in Malaysia after his Indonesian sojourn.
“When I played in Indonesia, I heard great things about Malaysian football, and I told myself that playing here would be a great prospect,” said the 186cm tall striker.
“For years, I was waiting for that opportunity, and it came in the form of Pahang. I’m happy that it came true.
“My teammates have welcomed me quite well and coach Dollah (Salleh) is a legend in Malaysian football, so I am learning a great deal about the game here through him,” said Carlos.
Signed to partner Nigerian striker Dickson Nwakaeme, the Brazilian can be characterised as a fox-in-thebox (a term for a player who is deadly and sharp inside the box) type of striker.
“I feel that my performances have been good, but we have to work harder because we are in the beginning stages of the league.
“We won our last two matches but now, the movement control order (MCO) has affected the momentum.
“The coaching staff sent us some programmes to do at home to keep us on our toes. However, I have added some extra training, thanks to a friend, who is a fitness coach.”
Besides the indoor workouts, Carlos also has a favourite pastime which he enjoys.
“I love to play console games, especially the PlayStation. I have a PlayStation Four, and I play lots of FIFA on it. I even consider it as a hobby,” he said.
“It is not just a game, as you can also understand the various tactics and plays. Hopefully, my prowess in FIFA would help me score more goals.
“I also hope that I can help Pahang win titles this season. As a player, to be remembered, I must help the team win silverware.”