PETALING JAYA: At 38, Natxo Insa is the oldest player in Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) star-studded squad, but the Spanish-born Malaysian midfielder continues to marshal the engine room like a true general.
As JDT gear up to face Pahang in the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight, many eyes will be on Natxo, who is expected to lead the Southern Tigers to another glorious finish.
With his 39th birthday coming in June, questions are arising over whether this could this be his swansong in Malaysian football.
The former Celta Vigo player, however, isn’t entertaining any thoughts of retirement just yet.
“I’m going to treat this final as if it’s my very first game,” said Natxo.
“I want to enjoy it, and I want to win. At this stage of your career, you learn to appreciate every moment, because you never know when it might be your last. So you push yourself to the limit.”
Despite his age, Natxo shows no signs of slowing down.
“I still enjoy football a lot. I feel energised every time I step onto the pitch. The motivation to give 100 pe rcent is always there, because the future is never guaranteed.”
Tonight, Natxo is expected to partner Afiq Fazail in midfield, a duo crucial to JDT’s hopes of controlling the tempo and rhythm of the game.
