PETALING JAYA: From an ice-hockey player to a solid defensive midfielder, Canadian Albert Kang (pic) is proving to be a prized catch for Kelantan in the Super League.
The 24-year-old stood tall for the Red Warriors in their 0-0 draw against Sabah at the Likas Stadium on Saturday, anchoring the team’s resilience against one of the league’s most physical sides.
“It was a tough game as Sabah are a strong side, but we had good moments as a team even though we didn’t get the three points,” said Kang.
Born and raised in Canada, Kang’s football journey has been anything but conventional. He only picked up football seriously at the age of 12, having spent his early sporting years on the ice rink.
“I was playing ice hockey before that ... it’s very popular in Canada,” said Kang.
“My pro career also started a bit late because I went to university in the United States and played the NCAA Division I football for Loyola University Maryland and Hofstra University.
“But some of my favourite moments have been signing my first professional contract and scoring my first professional goal.”
His first professional stint came in Bosnia with HNK Tomislavgrad last season, which gave him a taste of European football.
When the opportunity to join Kelantan arose, though, he did not hesitate.
“The strong history of Kelantan and the plan to rebuild the club made me interested, and the chance to play in the Malaysia Super League was very appealing,” he said.
Kang added that he has settled in quickly, thanks to the guidance of Kelantan coach E. Elavarasan.
“Coach Ela is obviously a very high-level coach, so I’m learning a lot from him and trying my best to fit into his system,” said Kang.
“I’ve enjoyed playing in the league as it’s competitive, and the fans create a fantastic atmosphere.”
Kang, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Finance, Information Systems and Data Analytics from Loyola University, is eager to keep growing with the Red Warriors.
Their next game is against Penang at the City Stadium in Georgetown on Saturday.
