Joseph Kalang Tie: Could he be Malaysia's next blessing in disguise?
Having made his international debut against Australia, the 24-year-old midfielder is certainly on track to stardom for both club and countryOct 25, 2011 3:55:00 AM
EXCLUSIVE
By Keeshaanan Sundaresan
http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2011/1...ext-blessing-inThere is a saying that goes… ‘Fortune favours the bold’. Some say 'None but the brave deserve the fair'. Well for Joseph Kalang Tie, he was presented with a raw deal of hard cheese. For a lad, who grew up in the rural regions of Miri, which is located in Sarawak, the aspiration of playing football on an international scene would have been a mere dream. The endeavours of scaling the impeccable heights of Malaysian football would have remained an insignificant hope.
Nonetheless, adversities were part of Joseph Kalang's journey and he has faced each and every one of them with fire in the belly in his journey towards achieving his dream of featuring for the Malayan Tigers. From the village areas of Marudi to making his Malaysian debut in Canberra, Joseph's determination advocated football as his personal undertaking.
Highly regarded for his monumental shooting abilities, Joseph Kalang was a revelation even as a teenager making his impression in Miri. He was part of the Malaysian football team that participated in the Asean School competition back in 2004 and since then, there hasn't been any turning back. Joseph's versatality in midfield immediately caught the eye of Sarawak FA coaches and soon enough, he was integrated into the Malaysian club's first team set-up.
His impeccable playing style meant that he was always destined to be a leader and soon enough, Joseph was elected as the youngest ever Sarawak captain at the age of 21. Evidently, it remained the proudest moment in his career until his recent inauguration for the Malayan Tigers.
In an exclusive interview with Goal.com, Joseph said: "Obviously I was very proud to have captained my state football club with my boyhood hero, Pengiran Bala as the coach. Coming from a rural area, showcasing my talent was not an easy task. But strong support from my mother urged me to push my limits. My father passed away when I young, but his words remain an inspiration to me till today."
Being an influential figure in the Sarawak team, his stock began to rise immensely and interest was being shown from Western Malaysian clubs, who form a majority of the Malaysian Super League. That wasn't before he travelled to Slovakia for a training stint with the Malaysian Under-23 team back in 2008. Well, it wasn't quite the highlight of the year for Joseph as English League One club Hartlepool United came in calling for a two-month trial stint in November and December of that year, something that has deeply influenced his overall style of play.
"The Hartlepool United opportunity was a real-eye opener for me as I learnt about what fast-paced football is all about," he revealed. "It was an experience that changed my style of play and I have worked towards adding more pace into my game ever since."
Terengganu FA signed the multi-faceted midfielder in 2010, fighting off competition from numerous other clubs and Joseph has established himself as an important part of Irfan Bakti's side since then. Regardless of whether he plays on the wing or in the middle, the ex-Sarawak player is someone capable of dictating the dynamism in midfield and his consistent performances provoked interest from the Malaysian national football team coach, K. Rajagopal.
"It was a dream come true for me, regardless of the score and I'm confident that this is the beginning of many other milestones as far as my career is concerned."
- Joseph on his international debutHe was then put to test in the exhibition match against Chelsea last July, in which he shined industriously throughout the match, claiming bragging rights after the match. Subsequently, the 24-year-old received a call-up for the friendly match against the Socceroos, and Joseph has vowed to strive positively for both club and country, having made his bow on the international scene.
"It was a dream come true for me [playing for Malaysia], regardless of the score and I'm confident that this is the beginning of many other milestones as far as my career is concerned," he said. "I have worked hard to come this far and will continue to work harder to make history, both for club and country. I want to leave a legacy in Malaysian football."
The Borneo-born player lifted the Malaysian FA Cup with Terengganu earlier this year, playing an essential role in their triumphant role and with the Turtles set to take on Negeri Sembilan in the Malaysian Cup final later this month, history certainly beckons for Joseph.
Essentially, Malaysian football is currently in a revival stage and the production of exciting talents like Joseph Kalang is certainly encouraging. Seasoned campaigners like S. Kunalan and Amirulhadi Zainal can no longer expect to hold on to a regular spot with competition increasing dramatically. Expect Joseph to be in that mix very soon because the Turtles' midfield maestro is definitely on the rise.
Rumours are already claiming that he could be set for a sensational return to Sarawak FA next season but for now though, Joseph remains an asset for Terengganu and certainly, Malaysian football.
This post has been edited by aressandro10: Oct 27 2011, 12:21 AM