Shello hopes to inspire more athletes from his state to excel in sports

Inspirational: Shello Silverius is likened to a warrior in his hometown of Keningau.

KUALA LUMPUR: Keningau warrior Shello Silverius is one who stands out with his patriotism and battling qualities.

And the 25-year-old Shello will be out to display them and inspire his young teammates in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh next month.

Shello, who comes from the central Sabah town known to produce sporting talents, used the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup as the stepping stone to rise to stardom as he was named “Player of the Tournament” in his debut in 2022.

It was an unforgettable outing for the midfielder, then playing as a striker, as he played a key role in helping Malaysia win the home event for the first time since its inception in 1983.

Shello, who played his first international match against Ireland in Hillsborough in 2021, has earned 44 caps and has always stood up to the challenge for the Speedy Tigers.

His steely willpower that he cultivated from childhood while growing up in Keningau was best showcased when he was forced to undergo surgery after fracturing his left arm (ulna) during the Nations Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa in November but made a comeback in just one month.

Playing with a specially designed brace from National Sports Insitute (NSI), Shello strengthened A. Arulselvaraj’s squad for the World Cup in Bhubaneswar in January 2023, without showing any ill effects of the surgery.

“The spirit and the determination to play for the country at the World Cup, was the driving force for me to come back in just one month after the surgery,” said Shello.

“I do feel some pain sometimes but I play without fear as we are serving the nation and I hope to do battle at the Azlan Shah Cup with the same way if I’m selected this time.

“Although we will have a young team this time, it doesn’t matter if we are the seniors or juniors, we have to fight all the way.

“I’ve returned to play in my attacking midfielder’s role now where my job is to create a lot of chances for my teammates.

“It always helps if you can play in two different positions (striker and midfield) as I can contribute more to the success of the team.”

A naturally gifted sportsman, Shello was a jack of all trades before he focused on hockey at the age of 12 and a year later, was recruited to the national junior training school, Sekolah Sukan Tengku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI) in 2012.

The rest was history as Shello is currently the most recognised hockey player from Sabah and he wants to also inspire the younger generation in his state to take up the sport and make a name for themselves.

“I’m proud to be a Sabahan and I hope to see the youngsters not only in Keningau but from every part of my state to make it big in the sport,” added Shello.

“They don’t exactly have to be like me but they can take inspiration from my progress. I will be happier if they can achieve greater success than me.”

Shello already has goalkeeper Adrian Andy Albert, 27, and youngster Alfarico Lance Liau Jr, 22, for company in the national squad.

And he hopes to continue with his exploits to open the doors for more compatriots from Sabah to make the grade as national players.