Arriving in the southern Malaysian city of Johor Bahru in summer 2021, the high humidity was a shock. “It’s nasty to play football in,” Hong said. “But you get used to it. I actually miss the cold English weather, I can’t wait to go home in the off-season and enjoy it.”
There’s also the monsoon period, which runs from November through to March, which sees matches occasionally called off. Then there are the stray monkeys and “odd snake here and there” that Hong certainly didn’t encounter in his time in Wolverhampton.
Hong was quickly struck by the ability on show at JDT.
“I feel like when you’re in England, you’re quite ignorant to the quality of anywhere else. I had to adapt quickly, I couldn’t walk in and waltz it,” he said. “Malaysian football is really good, especially in Johor. It’s surprising how much quality there is in these players, and the national team is climbing the rankings. It’s a good time for Malaysian football.”
It’s an exceptional time for JDT. Since taking over as owner in 2016, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim has helped to revolutionise the squad, finances, facilities and its fortunes. They catch the eye on and off the pitch, with their 40,000-capacity state-of-the-art stadium and club theme song, rapped by Snoop Dogg.
The owner’s input has been key.
“He gives us everything we need and pushes us,” Hong said. “He’s driving us to never be content with winning one- or two-nil. This year, we pretty much battered all the teams and he’ll still be demanding more. I think the culture of the club comes from the owner down.”
The Crown Prince attends every home match and was in the dressing room before the Malaysian FA Cup final, giving a rousing pre-game talk “sending us out to war” that still gives Hong goosebumps.
It did the job: Hong scored the opening goal, his first in senior competitive football, with a fierce 25-yard strike into the top right corner. “I never shoot. I’m pretty sure when I got the ball, my team-mates were like, ‘What are you doing?'”
As a teenager, Hong looked up to long-time Barcelona midfield star Sergio Busquets. “You don’t necessarily have to run a lot,” Hong said. “Just being in the right positions at the right time, with your brain working more than your whole body. It helps dictate everything.”
At JDT, Hong is also learning from players with Premiership and Championship pedigree, such as former Swansea defender Jordi Amat, ex-Millwall player Shane Lowry and Watford cult hero Fernando Forestieri, one of the Malaysian Super League’s top scorers.
