Bergson Da Silva, the newly naturalised Brazilian striker for Malaysia’s national football team, has expressed a sense of responsibility rather than pressure ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The 35-year-old forward, who plays for Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the Malaysian league, is viewed as a key figure expected to address the Harimau Malaya’s longstanding goal-scoring challenges.

Da Silva, who has been in the Malaysian league for six years and has scored over 200 goals for JDT, acknowledged that representing the national team was an unexpected milestone since joining from Brazilian club Fortaleza in 2021. “It’s a true pleasure to represent this country,” he said, emphasizing the high expectations and unique atmosphere that come with wearing the national jersey. He credited JDT for supporting his naturalisation process, which has enabled him to compete for Malaysia at the international level.

The striker highlighted the significance of Malaysia’s upcoming group stage matches in the ASEAN Cup. Placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh, the Harimau Malaya will open their campaign against Bangladesh at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Friday. Their toughest test is anticipated to be against regional rivals Indonesia, also at the same venue on September 28, followed by a final group match versus Singapore at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on October 1.

Only the top team from each group will advance directly to the final, while the runners-up will compete in a third-fourth place playoff. Da Silva described the Indonesia match as a major rivalry but said the team remains focused on its own motivation and collective strength. “I trust in our squad, and I will give my best alongside my teammates to win,” he stated.

As Malaysia looks to improve its performance in the championship, Bergson Da Silva’s inclusion brings both experience and goal-scoring prowess that the team hopes will translate into success on the regional stage.