Giovane Gomes celebrates a goal during a friendly game. - Photo by Penang FC
PETALING JAYA: Brazilian Giovane Gomes has returned to add more bite in the Super League with his new team Penang.
Gomes, who played for half a season with Melaka in 2021 before returning home to play for Caxias for a year, hopes to be a fearsome striker to help the Panthers restore their battered image by finishing in the top 10.
The Panthers finished 12th in the Super League last year.
“I was playing in Brazil when an offer to return to Malaysia came by. I didn’t think twice. This is another opportunity to show my football skills and become the league’s top player,” said Gomes.
“I gained a lot of experience during my time in Melaka. When I came (in 2021), the team were in the Super League relegation zone.
“The players were also bogged down with issues regarding outstanding salary payments, but we did not let it affect us or let the team get relegated to the Premier League.”
Gomes played in eight Super League matches and scored one goal. He was instrumental in helping the Mousedeer reach the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup.
But now, he is bent on giving his full attention to the Panthers.
“We’ll focus on success with Penang and build a solid family. Everyone should be considered as an important asset in the team.”
The other strikers are Lebanese international Soony Saad, Filipino international Curt Dizon, Nur Izzat Che Awang and Faizat Ghazali.
Gomes’ style of play is similar to a target man. He does not only have the knack of scoring goals but can also lead others into attacking positions with his hold-up plays, movements off the ball and sharp passes.
Gomes said he was looking forward to work under coach Manzoor Azwira.
“I can combine with anyone upfront, I’m ready to score goals. I want to help in the best possible way.”
Besides Gomes, Saad and Dizon, the other new foreign signings are Myanmar international centreback Zaw Min Tun, South Korean centreback An Sae-hee, Brazilian playmaker Adriano Narcizo, French midfielder Ousmane Fane and Japanese defender Ryu Yamaguchi.
Only Brazilian centreback Rafael Vitor was retained from last season’s squad.
