MALAYSIA midfielder Shello Silverius could only wish he had led Malaysia to a better finish in the World Cup.
But the 23-year-old Sabahan has already done more than enough in his debut, given the condition he had to play in.
Performing with a customised brace fitted to his left arm due to a fracture suffered during the Nations Cup last month, Shello was a workhorse for the Speedy Tigers in India, even scoring three goals in the process.
His industry and courage were exemplary as there were matches where Shello fell on the pitch while challenging the opponents, eliciting grimaces on the faces of fans and reporters who feared that he would hurt himself.
The skilful playmaker, however, just picked himself up and got on with his business. His standout displays culminated in a two-goal show in the 3-2 win over Japan in the 13th-14th classification stage where he was named man of the match.
Shello, who dedicated the win to the supporters, said his focus now is to get into the best physical condition to help Malaysia qualify for the Olympics next year.
‘’Now that the World Cup is over, I want to head back home, play in the league and work on my weaknesses,’’ he said.
“Our next aim is to get to the Olympics next year. It’s a dream for all of us to be part of it.”
