KUALA TERENGGANU: Newly signed T-Team midfielder, George Boateng who dismissed notion that he was here for fun, remains optimistic of helping the club side to win on all fronts when the M-League starts next season.
Boateng, 37, a former Dutch International who played for Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam as well as English Premier
League (EPL) clubs Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Hull City and Nottingham Forest said he was looking forward to prolong his career with T-Team.
“I was the first Boateng to play for Holland. I was also once the record holder of most games played by a foreign player in the EPL (388 games).
“My name means more to me than money and holiday… I want to look back at my career in Malaysia and hear people saying that I was a good player,” he told reporters after a contract signing ceremony held at Wisma Darul Iman here yesterday.
Born in Nkawkaw, Ghana, Boateng explained that he was attracted to the T-Team club as it was run properly and coached by an Englishman, Peter James Butler.
“Having coach Butler here is important as he knows how I play… he also knows how football should be played. I stopped playing because of money since I was 26…I am playing to make history and because I love football,” he said.
Boateng, who has vast experience in European leagues, expects playing in Malaysia to be a tough challenge.
“Maybe the pace is slower here but it will still be tough. I probably have more time on the ball but I shall not take anything for granted,” he said.
Asked on Johor FC signings Daniel Guiza from Spain and former Lazio player Simone Del Nero, Boateng, who has played against many stars in EPL and as a Dutch national team player (2001–2006) said he would play without fear.
“I have played against the best in the world so I am up for any challenge.
My opponents can be Spanish or Brazilian but I will show what I can do when given the ball,” he said.
“I can’t wait to share my knowledge of football with them. There is no ‘I’ in team…it will take all of us to make this club a great one,” he said. — Bernama