Staying alive: Melaka goalkeeper Samuel Somerville may be making his debut against Brunei in today’s Super League clash at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
PETALING JAYA: Samuel Somerville has spread his wings to the historic city of Melaka, hoping to re-establish himself as one of the Super League’s goalkeepers to watch.
Playing time had been hard to come by at Selangor, where Kalamullah Al-Hafiz and Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman were preferred as the club’s first-choice custodians.
As a result, Somerville made only two domestic appearances this season.
When the opportunity arose to join Melaka on loan, the 31-year-old was quick to seize what he believes could be a career-reviving move.
He is now in line to make his debut against Brunei in today’s Super League clash at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
“It is an important loan for me,” said Somerville.
“It’s no secret that my game time at Selangor was limited over the past year, and at this stage of my career, I need to be playing regularly.”
The English-born goalkeeper, who is eligible to represent Malaysia through his grandmother, believes the switch benefits all parties.
“When the opportunity came to help Melaka for the second half of the season, it felt like the right move for everyone involved.”
Melaka coach E. Elavarasan played a crucial role in convincing Somerville to join the club.
“The conversation with Ela (Elavarasan) was very clear and honest,” said Somerville.
“He spoke about the direction he wants to take the team, the signings he’s brought in during this window to strengthen the squad, and why he felt an experienced goalkeeper was important at the back. That trust meant a lot to me.”
A native of Farnborough, England, Somerville first rose to prominence during his stint with Penang from 2020 to 2021, which earned him a high-profile move to Selangor in 2022.
At Melaka, he will compete with young goalkeepers Haziq Aiman Esa, 21, and Firdaus Irman Fadhil, 24.
“There are good young goalkeepers here, and competition is healthy,” he said.
“My focus is to play regularly, help the team get results, and perform at a level that reflects who I am.”
