Malaysian naturalized player regrets not winning in Vietnam

Hector Hevel, among the seven Malaysian players accused of illegal naturalization, stated that Johor Darul Ta'zim deserved victory over Nam Dinh in the Shopee Cup.

With a draw against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Johor Darul Ta'zim finished the group stage of the Shopee Cup in Group B as runners-up, thereby officially securing a spot in the semi-finals.

However, Hector Hevel expressed dissatisfaction with the result achieved at Thien Truong Stadium. The player, part of the seven cases accused of improper naturalization in Malaysia, felt that Johor Darul Ta'zim dominated most of the match and showed regret that the team could not leave Vietnam with a full three points.

Specifically, the 1996-born star said: "The positive thing is that we passed the group stage. Honestly, I think we deserved more. The first goal we conceded was from a counterattack that we should have stopped earlier, and the opponent's penalty was really disappointing.

I believe it wasn't even a penalty, but luckily our goalkeeper performed excellently. Although the draw secured our advancement, I think today we deserved a better result."

Since FIFA's sanction enforcement at the end of September 2025, Hector Hevel and the other six naturalized players have had their penalties temporarily lifted at the end of last January. Since then, Hector Hevel has played three matches for Johor Darul Ta'zim and immediately made an impact with two assists.

Commenting on his performance since returning, Hevel shared: "Everything is fine, but it could be better. I've just come back and played three matches. I gave my all, and I think today's performance was decent."

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of FIFA's temporary lifting of the ban: "It means a lot to me, especially after sitting out for four months. Being back on the field and continuing to do what I love is truly a very positive sign."

In this match, Joao Figueiredo, one of the seven players accused of illegal naturalization in Malaysia, was also brought on. The 1996-born forward entered at the 40th minute and quickly made an impact with a shot that hit the opponent's hand, earning Johor Darul Ta'zim a penalty in the final minutes and securing a crucial point.

Meanwhile, the possibility of Hector Hevel and Joao Figueiredo returning to the Malaysian national team to face Vietnam for the second time in the final match of Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers remains uncertain. Everything depends on the final ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, expected to be announced at the end of February.