Football can sometimes be a roller-coaster ride but as far Pahang FA’s Zesh Rehman is concerned, 2015 has been nothing short of stupendous.
Zesh, the 1st British Asian player to play in the Premier League and all four leagues in the UK, knew there was added pressure on Pahang this year. They clinched a historic treble in 2014 including the prestigious Malaysia Cup title, but heading into the off-season, rivals in the form of Johor DT, Terengganu and even Kelantan for that matter, were all beefing up their squad – reshuffling their foreign quartet in the process.
But the Elephants kept faith in Zesh and co and the decision paid handsome dividends as Pahang secured their strongest MSL finish for the last 10 years, besides making history by progressing into the quarter-final of the AFC Cup for the first time in their history.
“It’s been decent so far. 2015 has been absolutely exciting and I’ve loved every minute of it. Last year, things were a little difficult with the quota system that meant only three of the four foreigners could be on the pitch at one time,” he told FourthOfficial.com
“This year the quota rule is better as it’s the same as all AFC competitions, whereby there’s a 3+1 system, with the Asian quota player being allowed to play. I’ve played every game, apart from one match when I was suspended, and we’ve had some real solid performances in that time.
“We could have done better here and there, but on an overall basis, I’m pleased with how things have gone,” he added.
Pahang finished second on the league table, though they pushed eventual champions Johor DT all the way. Only two points separated them heading into the last matchday, but with both sides losing on the night, JDT remained on top and retained their MSL title.
“Yes, as much as it has been satisfying, it would have been nicer to top it off with the league title. It was frustrating to drop the ball at the end, but we did well throughout the season to remain consistent with a small squad.
“More importantly, the team spirit within the dressing room was amazing. So even when we lost the final game, every single one of us had our heads held high, because we worked hard all season and gave our last drop of sweat.
But as the classic saying goes, all is not lost, yet. Zainal Abidin Hassan’s troops are currently competing in the Malaysia Cup, and they are perfectly positioned to secure a slot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
If the 31 year-old continues his terrific form, no one will be undermining their ability to retain the Malaysia Cup this year. Besides having played full 90 minutes in 38 of their 39 matches in all competitions this year, Zesh was also the highest scoring defender in the MSL, netting six times besides notching four assists along the way.
Zesh proved his credibility in both boxes and showcased tremendous versatility by playing as a center back, as well as a holding midfielder, and became a pivotal part of the team’s consistent form throughout the season.
Predictably enough, his form hasn’t gone unnoticed as he’s already attracting plenty of offers from Asian clubs looking to sign a proven Asian quota player with top-level experienced. The commanding Pakistani international however, expressed his desire to remain in Pahang, and reaffirmed that any talks with the management would only take place after the Malaysia Cup.
The towering centre back said, “We’ve not discussed the future yet, we are all focused the Malaysia Cup right now. We’re merely looking to win the tournament, and I’ll probably sit down with the management after it ends, to discuss what the future holds.”
According to sources, Bahraini outfit Riffa SC are keeping close tabs on him, with their manager Mohammed Al Shamlan known to be a huge admirer of the 31 year-old, having previously been in charge of the Pakistan National Team, where Rehman was his captain. In fact, Al Shamlan was even quoted as saying that he would love to see Zesh plying his footballing trade in the gulf, back in August this year.
“I’ve heard the rumours of the interest from Bahrain but to be frank, I’d love to stay in Pahang for many more years and am fully focused on whats happening here.
“I love the team, the family spirit at Pahang and the passion for football in this country is amazing. I’ve played in Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia, and I’ll safely say that the atmosphere at the Darul Makmur Stadium, during big games, is unbeatable.
Having played in four countries and notched over 350+ career games, he on the verge of finishing his fifth year in Asia and has won an impressive amount of 7 trophies in the region. And he seems to have found a new place to call home, as well.
“My family loves it here. My son was born here in Pahang, and my daughter goes to pre-school here. Kuantan is a nice place to for my family to live in. As a Muslim, I feel very comfortable with the access to halal food, mosques and other things. Having played and lived in big cities like London, Bangkok and Hong Kong, me and my family are loving life on the East Coast of Malaysia.
He went on to sing praises of head coach Zainal Abidin and all the Pahang FA staff.
“Zainal is a top coach, a great guy and someone I have great respect for. The coaches, the management, physio, secretaries and all staff members have always been helpful from Day One. It would be an honour for me to end my career in Malaysia and there’s only one team I would ever want do that with – Pahang FA,” he concluded.
To find out more about Zesh, visit his website and follow him on Twitter/Instagram
www.zeshrehman.com
Twitter: @Zesh_Rehman
Instagram: @Zesh_Rehman
Other posts by Keeshaanan Sundaresan
