Junior Eldstål

Junior Eldstål

Eldstål at the Asean Games 2014, Incheon, South Korea
Personal information
Date of birth16 September 1991
Place of birthKota Kinabalu, Sabah
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionDefensive midfielder/Centre Back
Club information
Current team
Johor Darul Takzim
Number25
Youth career
2004-2007Aldershot Town
2008-2011Farnborough
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010-2013UWE Hartpury Football
2012-2013Slimbridge11(2)
2013-2014Sarawak55(2)
2015-Johor Darul Takzim10(2)
National team‡
2013–Malaysia U-2311(1)
2013–Malaysia XI3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 August 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 August 2014

Junior Gunnar Putera Eldstål (born 16 September 1991) is a Malaysian-Swedish footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for a Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim FC and the Malaysian national team.

A defensive midfielder by nature, he can also appear as a central defender. Eldstål is known for being pacy, a fluid force from box to box, decent tackler and blessed with a good shot, passing and huge natural stamina.

He started his career with Aldershot Town F.C, but represented mostly the reserve team, going on to have a three-year spell with Farnborough F.C. in England league. In May 2013, he signed with Sarawak FA after a successful trial then to be bought by JDT after the 2014 transfer window.

Eldstål represented Malaysia at various levels, namely appearing with the under-23s at the 2013 Pesta Bola Merdeka.

Currently, he has been looking to emphasise the importance of grassroots football in Malaysia and has become involved with 1 Malaysia Connecting Communities (1MCC)[1][2]- an organisation that looks to football as a catalyst to provide a pathway to support young people in Malaysia to reach their potential through football development and education.

Early life

Born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Eldstål's family moved to Sweden when he was at the age of two, then onto England.[3]

At a young age, Eldstål found a love for sport, particularly in football and tennis. By the age of six, he had joined his first football club. He played regularly for his primary and secondary school team and also for his local club. At 19, he moved to UWE Hartpury Football Academy Club where he studied for his degree. Before studying for his degree he was at Aldershot Town FC. He played a number of games for Farnborough FC Football Academy there after.

His parents were his great supporters who would frequently travel to his football matches everywhere around the South East England. Young Eldstål had trials with his local club Guildford Saints, Burpham Juniors FC, Aldershot F.C., Reading FC and Farnborough Town FC. Aldershot FC was the first club he played for. During a three-year period in which Eldstål played for Aldershot Towns' youth team, he was named Under-13 Player of the Year in 2004 and for three consecutive years. He also attended summer soccer schools at Manchester United and subsequently learned the importance of techniques in football.

Club career

Youth Academy

Eldstål previously played in the Vauxhall Football League also known as Football Conference before having a trial with Malaysian outfit. With a Swedish father, Eldstål holds a Swedish passport but decided to pursue Malaysian citizenship because his mother is Sabahan.[4]

He was with Aldershot from 2004 to 2007, then he joined Farnborough from 2008 to 2011. When he turned 19, he was enrolled in UWE Hartpury College Football Academy, where he studied a Sports Coaching degree while also being a part of the elite football programme. The facilities and quality of coaching available has proved him as a player with great stamina and strength.[5][6] During his time with UWE, he also played for Slimbridge FC in 2012 on a part time basis in the Hellenic Football League before he decided to play for Sarawak in the Malaysia Premier League.

Sarawak FA

Season 2013-2014

In April 2013, Eldstål signed with Sarawak FA and made his league debut on 17 April 2013 in a second leg FA Cup Malaysia 0–2 home defeat against Kelantan FA as a last minute substitution.[7] Since Eldstål joined the Crocs in April, he helped Sarawak FA win their first premiership domestic trophy in almost 16 years. Sarawak FA had an unbeaten run which was the league record.[8] Eldstål, who had yet to score his first goal for Sarawak, had the distinction of providing two assists leading to two goals as the other goal scored by Zamri Morshidi was a similar result provided by his back-flick again. Sarawak officially booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Malaysia Cup as they smashed in six goals against Perak to secure an impeccable 6–1 win.[9]

In 2014, Sarawak FA is back in the Malaysia Super League since 2012, Eldstål was awarded a new, improved contract for his progress that would keep him at Sarawak FA until the end of 2014 season, but his debut for the league was delayed after suffering a back injury setback on 14 September 2013 followed by his operation in November then a 2 months program of rehabilitation. His first full start for the season started in March and assisted a good few goals for Suppiah Chanturu and Ryan Griffiths (footballer). In April 15, he produced a display with influential in scoring a goal to a 3–2 win at home over ATM FA.[10] Eldstål subsequently ended 2013–14 season with 55 appearances in all competitions and showed his class of techniques and skills with endless crosses and passes during the season.[11]

Johor Darul Ta'zim FC

On 11 November 2014 (2014 season), Eldstål announced that he had signed a contract with one of the top teams in Southeast Asia, Johor Darul Ta'zim FC under coach Bojan, playing in the Malaysia Super League[12][13] until 2015.[14] On his move, he was promptly inserted into the starting eleven playing as a Centre Back for the first pre-season matches against Johor Darul Ta'zim II F.C., PKNS F.C. and Penang FA. He was most comfortable playing centre in midfield, though he could play rather well as a defender. Eldstål would also like to break into the Malaysia national football team, unfortunately being unselected to Dollah Salleh's squad for this month's 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup.[15] Despite all that, Eldstål has made an impressive debut against Pahang FA in the MSL 2015[16] opener, led the team to their first Silver wear of the season winning the Charity Shield Malaysia.

On 14 March, JDT fell behind to a 35th minute goal by Sime Darby to trail 1-0 at half time, Eldstål was then played in midfield again alongside central midfielder Hariss Harun and regular defender Marcos António, where Junior scored his first-ever Super League[17] goal of this season in the 61st minute equaliser in a 1-1 away game over Sime Darby F.C..[18]

International career

Malaysia XI

In July 2013, Eldstål was called up to join the Harimau Muda A squad for the World University Games in Kazan, but due to some technical issues he was not allowed to be registered for the tournament.[19] On 11 July 2013, Eldstål was named in the senior squad for the first time in K. Rajagopal 23-man shortlist for the upcoming July friendly against Chonburi FC in 16 July 2013.[20] He later received a call-up for a match against Chelsea and Barcelona.[21]

Malaysia U-23

In 7 September 2013, Eldstål[22] earned his first under-23[23] cap in a game against Singapore U-23 and scored his first goal for the squad on 14 September 2013 in the Merdeka cup final against Myanmar U-23 and Malaysia emerged as Asia Cup Champion after defeating Myanmar 2–0 at the Darul Makmur Stadium, which concluded with his goal in the 90th minute.[24][25]

In September 2014, Ong Kim Swee named Eldstål in his final 23-man squad [26] for the 2014 Asian Games, playing in Group A for the tournament in Incheon, South Korea. Eldstål played just 2 games in the tournament, a 3-0 lost in the first round match against the host South Korea.[27][28] He missed the second round match against Laos with a 4-0 win, due to a minor calf injury.[29]

With only playing two games during the tournament, Malaysia finished third in the group after being knocked out of the tournament as they lost 0-3 to Saudi Arabia on the September 21st.[30]

Personal life

Eldstål was born to a Swedish father and Malaysian mother, who hails from Sabah. Eldstål has a little brother and sister, Joshua and Jessica.

He first became involved in football when he was six years old. A boyhood fan of Manchester United. Football became more serious for him at the age of 8 when he was selected for tournaments to his local football club then continuing to become a football captain for his secondary school George Abbot and Surrey under the age of 14. He was also coaching the under-6s and under-10s at Planet Soccer UK whilst studying at Woking college and then, UWE Hartpury. He is a qualified FA Skills Coach Level 1.

Eldstål was raised Christian despite having an Islamic Malaysian sounding name Putera.[31][32]

Outside Football

Eldstål's appearance in Malaysia extends beyond the pitch; Junior has already appeared on the articles of a few magazines such as FourFourTwo - Malaysia Edition and Dunia Sukan. In 2014, Eldstål has been appointed by Nike Malaysia with so many great athletes to be a part of its family by representing the brand to the world of football.

Honours

Eldstål received the FAM Most Promising Player Award 2013

Club

Sarawak FA
Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.

International

Malaysia under-23

Individual

Football Association of Malaysia Award 2013

References

  1. ↑ http://1mcc.my/
  2. ↑ http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/1mcc/
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlr-wXJBWWY – Junior Interview
  4. ↑ Sarawak may enlist M'sian-born footballer in England – New Straits Times, 30 March 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.hartpury.ac.uk/news/december-2014/from-hartpury-to-malaysia-junior-s-star-is-on-the-rise/
  6. ↑ http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Hartpury-College-pupil-Junior-Eldstal-rises/story-25701848-detail/story.html
  7. ↑ http://www.stadiumastro.com/Arena/BolaSepakMalaysia/Artikel/tabid/464/ArticleID/80817/Alberts-kecewa-Bojan-puji-anak-buahnnya.aspx – Alberts disappointed, Bojan praises his boys
  8. ↑ http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/17/junior-eldstal-back-for-crocs-clash-with-lions/#ixzz2fhiMGIlY – Junior Eldstal back for crocs clash with lions.
  9. ↑ http://www.goal.com/en-my/match/120571/sarawak-fa-vs-perak-fa/report – Sarawak 6–1 Perak: Crocs tear Seladangs apart on home turf
  10. ↑ http://www.matchendirect.fr/live-score/sarawak-atm.html
  11. ↑ Seng-Foo Lee (7 October 2014). "Junior Eldstal: "I'm Malaysian, lah!"". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoQ9GZ0SJqc
  13. ↑ http://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/news/jdt-sign-junior-eldstal
  14. ↑ http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2142955/junior-hopes-move-to-jdt-will-boost-his-malaysia-hopes
  15. ↑ Jason Dasey (12 November 2014). "Junior hopes JDT move will boost his Malaysia national team hopes". ESPN.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  16. ↑ http://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/features/fourfourtwo-preview-jdt-vs-pahang
  17. ↑ http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2015/03/14/JDT-draw-with-minnows-Sime-Darby/
  18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk1PvV7w5RE
  19. ↑ Eldstål the unknown to make Malaysia proud – Sports 247, 11 July 2013.
  20. ↑ http://www.goal.com/en-my/match/116816/malaysia-xi-vs-chonburi-fc/report? -Malaysia XI 0–0 Chonburi FC: Dominant Tigers stumped by the Sharks
  21. ↑ Croc gets national team call-up – Borneo Post, 11 July 2013.
  22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlr-wXJBWWY
  23. ↑ http://pestabolamerdeka.my/?p=456
  24. ↑ http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/malaysia-beat-myanmar-to-clinch-merdeka-cup-22226 –Malaysia beat Myanmar to clinch Merdeka Cup
  25. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpysVv0-a84
  26. ↑ http://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/features/2014-asian-games-review-south-korea-u23-3-malaysia-u23-0
  27. ↑ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1659484&page=4
  28. ↑ http://article.wn.com/view/2014/09/30/South_Korea_seeking_Asiad_football_finals_berth/
  29. ↑ http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/coach-says-red-card-cause-of-harimau-mudas-failure-at-incheon
  30. ↑ http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2014/09/18/Junior-Eldstal-banking-on-birthday-luck-to-beat-Saudi-Arabia/
  31. ↑ Matthew T. Umpang (30 July 2013). "Junior Eldstal: From Japan with thanks". Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  32. ↑ "Open letter from Malaysia's Junior Eldstal". Goal.com. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  33. ↑ "Most promising Malaysian player goes to Junior Eldstal!". Retrieved 17 January 2014.

External links