PETALING JAYA: Striker Paulo Josue (pic) had a brief time on the field but played a significant role in Malaysia’s 2-0 victory against Nepal in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Josue attributed the win to a positive environment during a short training stint under national coach Peter Cklamovski in Johor Baru before the Group A match.
“I played a few minutes, which is great, it was a fantastic experience. There was always something to learn and improve,” said Josue, who contributed for 20 minutes against Nepal.
“It was interesting to see how a new coach operated and shared his ideas during the game and training sessions.
“Coach Peter did not only emphasise on high intensity play but inspired us to enjoy the game, which we appreciated.
Josue is hoping to get another chance to play when Malaysia face Vietnam in June but for now, he is focused on the Super League with Kuala Lumpur.
He showed his commitment to the team by taking only one off day before returning for training ahead of the City Boys’ next league match on April 6 against Perak at Cheras Football Stadium.
Josue is currently the second leading goalscorer in the Super League with 15 goals.
“One day rest is enough, afterall, I only played briefly for the national team. I can now focus on the last three matches of the league,” said the naturalised Brazilian, who celebrated his 36th birthday on March 13.
“I strongly believe we can defeat the teams ahead of us, earn more points, and keep climbing the league table.
Despite a six-point deduction imposed by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) due to poor financial documentation, Kuala Lumpur remained in a commendable position in the league, sitting sixth with 28 points from 21 games.
On his switch in position, Josue said he was adapting well.
“Although I’ve moved from midfield to striker, I believe I’ve adapted well. I’ve adjusted quickly, and scoring goals certainly boosts my confidence to keep performing,” he said.
“This is my first full season as a striker, and based on the numbers and statistics, it’s probably the best season of my entire career, so I can’t complain,” he added Josue, who also boasts seven assists in the league.
As for the club’s financial problem, Josue said the current management had been paying, but there were still outstanding payments from last year and the year before.
“I believe all the players are waiting for the management to resolve it and ensure everyone starts the new season without any pending payment.”
