PETALING JAYA: Nearly a year after a rare foot infection threatened to end his career, Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan finally made his long-awaited return to the pitch.
The 25-year Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) midfielder featured in his team’s 3-0 win against Immigration at the Batu Kawan Stadium on Aug 28.
He was greeted with warm applause from the fans as he stepped back into competitive action for the first time in 344 days.
And fittingly, the evening belonged to Nathaniel, whose comeback symbolised resilience, perseverance and the triumph of spirit over adversity.
“I’m happy to be back on the pitch with the boys after 344 days since the last time,” said the former Wolves Youth trainee on his social media account.
“Nearly a year ago I was diagnosed with a rare infection in my foot which kept me off the pitch for nearly a year.
“The last year has been one of the toughest of my life and I have many people to thank for even being able to play football again.”
Nathaniel endured a gruelling recovery process that included two surgeries, two months with a vacuum in his foot, three months of IV antibiotics and 10 months of oral antibiotics.
“Without the help of so many people - doctors, nurses, physios, my teammates, my family – I wouldn’t be standing here today,” he said.
Nathaniel was introduced in the 80th minute, slotting seamlessly back into the rhythm of JDT’s midfield.
His composure on the ball and eagerness to press showed little sign of rust despite his lengthy absence.
Before his injury last year, Nathaniel had been one of the standout defensive midfielders in the country and further enhanced his reputation when he scored a superb piledriver in JDT’s 2-0 win against Kuala Lumpur in the 2023 FA Cup final.
