PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian football team seem to have found a solution to their lack of firepower up front after injured forwards Syafiq Ahmad and Darren Lok had to pull out of the squad for the remaining two World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan (June 6) and Taiwan (June 11).
Naturalised playmaker Paulo Josue could step up to be the Harimau Malaya’s assassin.
The 35-year-old Brazilian is no stranger to the striker’s role, having operated as a hitman for Kuala Lumpur in the Super League this season, where he managed to score two goals in two games.
Josue, noted for his set-piece speciality, has also shown that he is adept at hold-up plays and finishing off chances in the penalty box.
And he’s ready to be utilised in that capacity by coach Kim Pan-gon in the game against Kyrgy zstan in Bishkek.
“I’ve been deployed as a striker before in the KL team and I’m quite used to it. Kulio (current coach Miroslav Kuljanac) and even Bojan (ex-coach Hodak) have used me that way and I enjoyed the experience,’’ said Josue, who has been with the City Boys since 2017.
‘’So I don’t see an issue with me turning striker for Malaysia.’’
At the moment, the attacking players in the Malaysian team are Akhyar Rashid, Safawi Rasid, Engku Nur Shakir Nur Yakob and Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin.
But only Josue has the experience of having played as a striker, whereas the rest are natural wingers and playmakers.
Josue has earned 13 caps with Malaysia, scoring four goals in the process. He has a great chance to add to his goal tally in the next two matches.
