By October 2017, after almost a year of hard work and patience, Brendan was back to his functional best and felt confident enough to start talking to football clubs in Malaysia. He was a couple of months away from being fully fit to play football at a competitive level, but having survived the previous eight months, Brendan was more than positive about being able to reach said fitness levels. It was hardly a surprise that a significant number of clubs in Malaysia were interested in acquiring his services, but the midfielder eventually decided to move to the quaint city of Ipoh and sign for Perak The Bos Gaurus, due to several key reasons.
“It was all a bit of a whirlwind moment, because I had previously spoken to a few potential clubs and gained an understanding of who wanted my services and who didn’t. Then coach Mehmet called me and we discussed the possibility of working together, he told me about the club, the supporters and the city. Three days later, the deal was done!
“I love when I can gauge a feel for the club, a feel for what the coach wants and the feel for a club wanting me to be apart of the family and the success. Wherever Mehmet goes the team always looks united. He creates players who feed off of each other and allow each other to play to their true potential. That is why he has had success everywhere he has gone.
“Since joining Perak, everything has been amazing, from the lifestyle, to the players and coaches, to the management and most importantly the fans. I could not have asked for anything more and I feel so honoured to wear the badge of The Bos Gaurus.”
But now that he’s back, Brendan has been slowly easing himself back into action. He hasn’t played in every single Perak game so far, but when he has, the former Sydney FC midfielder has impressed at the heart of their midfield. After seven matches in six weeks, the team currently sits sixth on the table and they are also through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Brendan dreams of achieving big things with Perak, and wants to help the team win silverware but for the time being, he is determined to not get carried away.
“I don’t know if there is a way to describe the feeling of being back on the field amongst brilliant players and not wanting to let anyone down. It’s a real blessing. I haven’t shown anything yet this season, as I’m still working my way back in. The fans have been amazing in supporting me and allowing me to find my feet as well. Without a doubt, I give 100% in every game and I never hold back, but it takes time to get that feel for the game back.”
In all fairness, the nature of Brendan’s story means it would have made total sense had he opted to walk away from football in 2016. He was 28, had picked up a second ACL injury, and was left to fend for himself by the club and the national team he proudly represented, while being thousands of kilometres away from his loved ones. Sure, football is a beautiful game. But is it really worth all the pain, struggle and sacrifice Brendan had to live through? Is it really worth it?
“In my mind, there was never a time where I thought of quitting football altogether. I knew I could make it back and I knew deep down inside that I wanted to continue fight for a job I love doing. People talk about the perks of the job all the time, but trust me, the best thing about being a footballer is getting on that field in front of a full stadium. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, and it ever stops feeling amazing. I would give anything to play in any game, whether a league match, or a cup game or a national team fixture.
“But more importantly, the two battles I’ve gone through were very personal. I was never going to let an injury set the terms for the end of my career. This is a career I’ve fought so hard for and I want to finish it and put an end to it on my own terms. That desire alone drove me through the difficult days and brought me where I am today.” he added.
Thank you for being an absolute inspiration, Brendan!
