Malaysia's Brazilian-born naturalized player sends a firm statement to Vietnam's national team

Paulo Josue – Malaysia's naturalized player has shared notable remarks ahead of the match against Vietnam's national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Brazilian-born naturalized forward did not hide his disappointment as recent upheavals have significantly altered his career plans. He admitted he was once very excited about the prospect of participating in another AFC Asian Cup, but things are no longer as planned.

At the 2023 Asian Cup, under coach Kim Pan-gon's guidance, Malaysia left a memorable impression, especially the 3-3 draw against South Korea's national team. In that match, Josue was the one who assisted Romel Morales to score the equalizer in stoppage time. However, "Harimau Malaya" still had to stop at the group stage.

Josue revealed he had considered retiring after the next Asian Cup, but developments off the pitch forced him to reconsider. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Malaysia's national team, the veteran midfielder still hopes to continue contributing, starting with the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup scheduled for September.

“I will be 42 years old when the 2031 Asian Cup takes place, so it's hard to predict anything. But if there is still an opportunity, I want to continue wearing the national team jersey,” he shared.

Additionally, Josue also expects the rise of the next generation from Malaysia's youth teams. He hopes players from U17 to U19 will mature soon to help the national team pursue long-term goals.

Despite the controversies surrounding eligibility casting a shadow over Malaysian football, Josue maintains a professional perspective: “The only way is to play, train, and give your best. Other issues belong to the management.”

The midfielder living in Kepong also expressed gratitude for being recalled to the national team by coach Peter Cklamovski, and hopes to make his 28th appearance for Malaysia in the encounter with Vietnam's national team.

Regarding this match, Josue believes Malaysia may opt for a defensive counter-attacking style due to a shortage of forwards. Nevertheless, he still trusts attacking talents like Safawi Rasid, Luqman Hakim, and Faisal Halim.

“This time, the squad called up is somewhat different. There aren't many forwards, but we have many defenders, so perhaps we will adopt a tighter defensive tactic and rely on quick counter-attacks,” he said.

“After defeating them 4-0 in Kuala Lumpur last year, Vietnam will certainly seek revenge despite the issues in Malaysian football. But regardless of the difficulties, we want to fight to the fullest,” Paulo Josue mentioned Vietnam's national team.