PETALING JAYA: UPB-MyTeam’s towering Brazilian striker Edvaldo Goncalves Pereira is seeking a last hurrah.
The 34-year-old football nomad said that he had reached the tail end of his playing career and was contemplating to call it a day after having plied his trade in Portugal, Mexico, Switzerland and China.
“Things are going pretty well for me since I came here three months ago. I am hoping to play my last competitive match in Malaysia,” he said.
Staying put: Edvaldo Goncalves Pereira (behind) has snubbed an offer to play in Indonesia. He wants to play his last competitive match in Malaysia.“I am not getting any younger but I am still getting offers to play in Indonesia next season. I like it here and hope to give my best for UPB-MyTeam before I quit.”
Edvaldo has been a hit for the club side with his finishing prowess and have scored eight goals in as many matches.
“I think the team spirit is strong and from what I have gathered, the Malaysia Cup is the most prestigious tournament here. It would be nice to qualify to the knockout stage and make a strong claim for the trophy,” he said.
UPB-MyTeam lead the pack in Group C with maximum points from five matches. They defeated Perlis (2-1), Johor PG (3-2), Pahang (1-0) and Armed Forces twice by a 2-0 margin both at home and away. With five matches to play, UPB-MyTeam, who take on Perlis tomorrow, are virtually through to the quarter-finals.
Coach Bojan Hodak said that the team were more effective now than they were in the Super League in which they finished 11th in the 13-team competition.
“The players are more composed, making fewer mistakes and taking their chances well,” said Bojan.
The team also have influential hands in Croatian forward Sasa Branezac and centreback Mijo Dadic. The notable local players in their ranks are Bunyamin Umar, Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Syed Adney Syed Hussain, Mohd Zamri Chin, Mohd Kaironissam Sahabuddin, Irwan Fadli Idrus and Mohd Haris Safwan Kamal.
However, UPB-MyTeam would have to make do without Bunyamin, Syed Adney and Norsharul for the next two matches. The trio are now in training with the national Under-23 team for a friendly match against the Chinese Olympic side on July 13.
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