PETALING JAYA: After a season spent searching for a reliable finisher, Terengganu may have finally found their answer for the new Super League campaign, in the form striker Yan Mabella of Congo.
The 29-year-old international arrives with pedigree, hailing from the prestigious Olympique Lyon Academy, which has produced elite forwards such as Karim Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette, and Sidney Govou.
French-born and boasting a reputation as a clinical goalscorer, Mabella brings both experience and ambition to the east coast.
“I want to score goals. I want to be a goal machine,” said a confident Mabella, who joined Terengganu in training this week.
“But more than just goals, I’m about the team. I play with intensity and energy. I defend, I press, I give my all every time I’m on the pitch. That’s who I am.”
Across a career that’s taken him through stints at Nancy, Tours, and most recently Racing Union Luxembourg, Mabella has played 209 professional matches, scoring 104 goals and registering 25 assists.
His last season in Luxembourg was particularly prolific, 26 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions, including 22 goals in the league, making him joint top scorer alongside Brazilian striker Matheus in the BGL Ligue.
Mabella said he was adapting well despite it being his first playing stint outside of Europe.
“I’ve felt nothing but warmth since I arrived. The club feel like a family. The support staff, the players, everyone’s been so welcoming. That unity makes adapting easier,” said the striker, who began playing football at age five and went all in at 13.
“I’ve watched a few games and spoken to players who’ve played here. It’s a great opportunity and a competitive league. I’m excited. I know Terengganu fans are passionate, and I’ll give my best to win their hearts.”
Mabella isn’t the only new face in Terengganu’s attacking line. The club have also signed Brazilian striker Gabriel Silva from Cambodian Premier League champions Svay Rieng.
Silva, 28, made an impression on Terengganu fans during last season’s AFF Club Championship, when Svay Rieng defeated the Turtles 3-2 at the Sultan Mizan Stadium, a match where Silva opened the scoring.
“I’ve been here before, and I remember the fans. They were electric,” said Silva, who previously played for Flamengo and idolises Neymar.
Joining Mabella and Silva in Terengganu’s new-look squad are Cameroonian winger Junior Ngong Sam, local midfielder Saiful Jamaluddin, and dynamic winger Baqiuddin Shamsudin, as the club aim to rebuild and challenge strongly in the upcoming season.
