source: bolaindo.com
After spending 2 seasons for Arema Cronus, Alberto ‘Beto’ Gonçalves Da Costa refused to extend his contract and decided to join Penang FA. “I just want a new atmosphere. Playing in Malaysia will give me a new experience after 8 years playing in Indonesia,” told the Brazilian forward to Goal Indonesia.
At Penang FA, the 34-year-old reunited with his former gaffer, Jacksen F. Tiago, – both of whom won the 2008-09 Indonesia Super League (ISL) with Persipura Jayapura. Jacksen loved to play Beto as a centre-forward. In his favoured number 9 role, Beto scored 85 goals for The Black Pearls, including the 25 goals that crowned him as Top Scorer in 2011-12.
However, while wearing the blue Jersey of Arema, Beto was posted as a wide forward, which is not his natural position. Both Rachmad Darmawan and Suharno as Arema managers, preferred Cristian Gonzáles as targetman upfront. With his pace and dribbling skills, Beto usually drifted inside diagonally from the flank into the penalty area before placing a shot rather than to cross the ball to his teammate. Actually, his out-of-position role was a little bit awkward.
source: carigold.com
His statistics during the 2014 ISL shows it all. Beto just netted 12 goals from 26 appearances. It was a worse scoring record than other Singo Edan forwards, Gonzáles (15) and Samsul Arif (16), who actually has played less minutes than the Brazilian. He also got the worst shooting accuracy (52.5%) and conversion rate of shots on target (37.5%).
During his career at Arema, Beto has just recorded 0.47 goals per game – worse than he has made for Persipura (0.63). The numbers didn’t lie. It was statistically proven that the wide forward role was less effective for him.
source: fapenang.my
Jacksen keen on using a lone striker in his formation. After Beto left Persipura, Jacksen had Boaz Solossa to play the role. With both Brazilians reunited in Penang, it’s no surprise that Jacksen would put Beto to fill the position upfront.
Along with fellow compatriots: Reinaldo Lobo and Hilton Moreira, Beto is responsible to take Penang FA to the Malaysia Super League. His primary objective as the spearhead is to score many goals. He has proven his quality in Indonesia. Surely, his actions with Penang is worth the wait.
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