After the truncated 2020 season and the purgatory of waiting for the government to allow sporting activities to resume due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole of Malaysia’s football community heaved a collective sigh of relief as the 2021 season was finally announced.
Relief soon changed to excitement as team after team introduced their newly acquired stars which they hope will push them towards glory.
Not to be overshadowed, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), arguably Malaysia’s biggest football club and the reigning 7-time league champion, waited until the last minute to introduce their latest star.
And in typical JDT fashion, lacking any hint of nostalgia or humility, his introduction video showcased his status as a megastar. Rolled out in a stretch limo and greeted by uniformed personnel, he was then welcomed by the club’s smiling top brass. Soon after, he surveyed the majestic Sultan Ibrahim Stadium which is to be the stage for his theatrical displays.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Bergshow.
Bergson da Silva, not a typical Brazilian story
Fittingly, his “snazzy” video accurately depicts the euphoria over Bergson “Bergshow” Da Silva since he was signed from Fortaleza SC to lead JDT’s offense for the new season. The exuberant playing styles, combined with the ability to score goals in almost every game proves that he is not the typical South American signing who seeks a fresh start and hopes for a career reboot in another part of the world. He was the result of a recruitment exercise perfected by everyone in JDT’s scouting team. 7 games played, and 9 goals scored for JDT thus far. The Bergshow has truly dazzled the Malaysian Super League.
But before captivating his new found showgoers, JDT had to endure varying degrees of predicaments in its quest for the quintessential foreign striker. The manner of Bergson’s “eleventh hour” arrival was anomalous. It began with the snub from Camilo Sanvezzo of Mazatlan FC, who was initially ready to trade Mexican beaches over life in exotic Asia, only to have a rethink over the move. And then, it was the curious case of Jonathan Herrera, signed from Argentina, who despite being billed by pundits as “perfect” for JDT based on his playing style, was hurriedly flown back to Buenos Aires under ambiguous circumstances.
Enter Bergson to save the show in Johor, arriving on loan and at the close of the Malaysian transfer window. An unfamiliar quantity among football aficionados in Malaysia, Bergson made his name mostly in the Brasileirão Série B, Brazilian football’s second tier, but was definitely capable of performing well for any top tier Brazilian side. Nurtured during his youth by one of Brazilian football’s best sides, Gremio, Bergson was the top scorer in Brazil’s U20 league in 2010. His talents, in addition to being in the good graces of then Brazil’s youth coach Luiz Antonio Verdini earned him several Seleção call ups and featured for the team during the 2010 Latin American Integration (McDonalds Cup) Under-20 tournament in Paraguay. The Bergshow appeared destined for primetime European football viewership.
Other than a brief spell with SC Braga B in 2012, the important European calls never came, but Bergson remained in the crosshairs of many top coaches in the country. It was Rogerio Ceni, former Brazilian international and current manager of Brasileirão champions Flamengo that brought Bergson to Fortaleza in October 2020 as its then Coach, with the objective of making him a key figure for his side. Yet, several factors impeded this from happening. After Ceni left for Flamengo, life was never the same again for Bergson under the new coach Enderson Moreira but his other obstacle was also Wellington Paulista’s dominance in the squad as its principal marksman, deeming less starts for Bergson. It became apparent that the Bergshow’s run appeared to have come to a halt at the Tricolor. It was then that JDT’, through the impressive work of its technical team and their expansive network in Brazil, decided to move for Bergson and work on a deal to bring the Bergshow to Malaysian audiences.
Johor Darul Ta’zim and the art of players recruiting
In recruiting a forward for the club, the principal requirement given to JDT’s technical team was clear: find someone who could fit well into the team’s playing style. This was the challenge when Bergson’s predecessor, Diogo Luis Santo left for BG Pathum United in the Thai League. The effective 4-3-3 formation deployed by JDT requires its principal attacker to not just score goals but drop deep during plays, break the opposition’s defensive lines and allow other offensive players a shot at scoring. That role truly made Diogo a joy to watch in his 2 seasons at the club. But if the 7 games Bergson has featured in are to be the judge, JDT fans have no reason to fear with life post Diogo.
Understanding Asian football
Despite his dominant performances in the domestic competitions, the bigger question remains as to whether Bergson is able to replicate the same form in Asia’s premier club competition, the AFC Champions League (ACL), which JDT will be competing in this June. After all, this tournament was one of the prime reasons for JDT to recruit Diogo from Buriram United in 2019, whose success in Thailand and the ACL itself was largely attributed to his understanding of how Asian football “works”.
Many Brazilians have graced the ACL over the years, lighting up the competition through their impressive performances, even helping their teams defy the odds. From Elkeson’s magical displays with Guangzhou Evergrande (Now Guangzhou FC), to Diogo’s brilliant run with Buriram United in 2015, and Júnior Negrão who became a serious revelation for Ulsan Hyundai, aiding them to the ACL title last year. For Bergson, his potential debut in the tournament would provide him with the opportunity to not just introduce the Bergshow to a larger Asian audience but like the other talented Brazilians, be the difference-maker for JDT and lead them to the knockout rounds of the ACL for the first time since their debut in 2015.
For now, Bergson’s stay with JDT is still in the balance. He is a few months away from the end of his four months loan tenure and remains eyed by several Serie A sides in Brazil. However, the recent contract extension of Wellington Paulista by Fortaleza until 2022, in addition to Bergson’s own goalscoring streak that knows no stopping would boost his chances to cement a permanent stay with JDT for the rest of the season.
Back in Brazil, the Bergshow debate lingers. Several Fortaleza fans are torn between wanting Bergson to return, yet accepting the notion that “there is always a platform for someone somewhere.” But given how he has eased extremely well into his new life in Malaysian football, Bergson’s destiny may well lie here. For his new legion of followers, they have every reason to believe that the Bergshow is poised to become a monumental show in Asian football.
Photo via Johor Darul Ta’zim Southern Tigers official Facebook page.
