Pahang FA have got themselves a brand new acquisition and it comes in the form of ex-Perth Glory right-back Matthew Davies. But here’s the thing. He isn’t joining them as a foreign player; in fact he will be classified as a local player and is currently in contention for the Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s SEA Games squad.
Last week, the Tok Gajahs confirmed their decision to secure the signature of Davies; a player that they have been monitoring for quite some time due to his Malaysian roots, which ultimately qualified him for a Malaysian passport. Upon getting the documents processed, Zainal Abidin swooped quickly to add Matt into his roster and the 20 year-old is already excited about life in this country.
“The idea of moving to Malaysia has been in the works for months, between myself and my agent,” he told FourthOfficial.com
“But we only started listening to clubs as soon as the immigration documents were cleared and I immediately felt Pahang was a good fit for me. They are ambitious and they also have a strong culture within the club.
“Initially, the idea of living in another country excited me and when I researched more on the footballing style here, I realised that the teams are really exciting to watch and there’s plenty of end-to-end stuff as well. That would certainly suit my playing style.
Matt emerged through the FFA Centre of Excellence in Australia before eventually being snapped up by Perth Glory in 2013. He initially featured for their youth team, though he made his debut for the senior team later that year.
His move to Malaysia though, makes him the third Eurasian player within the national set-up, following in the footsteps of Kelantan’s Brendan Gan as well as Johor DT’s Junior Eldstal. The element of time also means that he’s moved over at a time where Datuk Ong Kim Swee is forming the squad for the upcoming SEA Games and it’s no surprise that the 20 year-old has been included in the 30-man preliminary squad.
“I didn’t speak to any of them [Junior & Brendan] directly, although I hear they are having a great deal of success. I certainly am hoping to achieve the same.
“I also heard that the Malaysian scouts were monitoring me while I was in Australia and the thought of possibly competing in the SEA Games is really exciting. It will be a privilege. The tournament is crucial for all South East Asian nations and irrespective of whether I’m involved or not, I wish Malaysia all the best.”
Pahang haven’t exactly been ruthless this season, which doesn’t reflect their solidarity throughout 2014, in which they lifted three trophies. But as far as Matt is concerned, he’s got two things on his mind at the moment. Firstly, he’s determined to settle down quickly and secondly, he’s keen on helping Pahang get back to their best.
“I have distant relatives in Sabah that I intend to reconnect with. Living and experiencing a new culture is certainly a new prospect for me and while I will miss my family and friends, I’m already settling in and enjoying Malaysia at this moment.
“Ultimately, I’m confident in my own ability as a player and I definitely believe that I’d be able to contribute to the success of the team. To replicate last year’s success or better it would be a tough ask but nonetheless, certainly achievable.”
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