KUALA LUMPUR – Daniel Ren Yi, who plies his trade for The Football Academy (TFA) Elite in the United Arab Emirates Professional Football League, would not say no if Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) came knocking on his door.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who competes in the third division of the UAE league, was one of the top findings of TFA’s talent showcase programme held in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Daniel, who is Australian with Malaysian parentage, made a total of 13 appearances for TFA Elite’s first team after spending six months with the club’s second team.
Prior to his participation in TFA’s talent showcase programme, Daniel had a short trial with JDT.
Speaking to Scoop from Perth, Daniel said that playing for the Southern Tigers would be his main destination if he ventures into Malaysian football.
“I had a trial with JDT in June last year and it went pretty well. I also played in a few friendly matches for them against the Akademi Mokhtar Dahari under-16 and under-17 sides, and it was a good experience for me.
“JDT wanted to sign me, but they couldn’t proceed because of issues with my citizenship. I had some paperwork ongoing and was still waiting for my identification card at that time.
“Representing the Malaysian national senior or under-23 team is my biggest goal, and I would love to play for JDT if I have a career in Malaysia.
“JDT is the biggest club in the country and they have the best facilities that I have experienced in Malaysia. It’s every player’s dream to play for a club that wins accolades and plays competitive football. I will definitely try my luck in the years to come,” said Daniel when contacted.
At the same time, Daniel also shared how much his life has changed since joining the TFA talent showcase programme and revealed that he has received several offers from Europe and the UAE since embarking on his career abroad.
“It was not easy playing in a foreign league and I struggled a bit as I was not able to cope with the intensity of the league. I started receiving several knocks when I went against a few African players, as they were physically superior to me.
“But I learned a lot from my head coach, Danny Guthrie (a former Liverpool player), who guided me to become a better player. I managed to train at the best facilities in the world and now I have become a more confident player, which is evident in my performances on the pitch.
“Since then, I have also received several offers from across the world, but my plan for now is to expand my career in Europe if possible. I personally believe that more Malaysian footballers should join TFA’s talent showcase programme, as it brings many benefits.
“My personal goal is to play for the national team and also try my luck with Paris Saint Germain or Real Madrid by the time I reach 20 years old,” Daniel added.
TFA, a club in the UAE’s Professional Football League – Division 3 and recognised by FIFA, competes in the league with a total of 14 clubs, including Al Ethihad, Al Gharbia, the Arabian Falcons, and Sporting Dubai. – May 19, 2024