Alan da Silva Souza’s outstanding performances have boosted Balzan’s hopes of winning their maiden top-flight title this season. Kevin Azzopardi spoke to the Brazilian winger who joined the Premier League high-fliers last month

Since his brief but successful stint with Valletta in the second half of season 2013/14, Alan da Silva Souza had been persistently linked with a return to Maltese football amid reports that the country’s leading clubs were keen to sign the Brazilian.

His name resurfaced during every transfer window before Balzan made the decisive move last month by agreeing a deal with Da Silva Souza.

The initial impression that Balzan had secured an excellent player has been vindicated in the last four weeks as Da Silva Souza’s electric performances have rekindled the team’s title hopes.

His instant impact has also banished any fears about his level of fitness but Da Silva Souza insisted that his form is down to hard work in training.

“It was not an easy job as I had just come to a new club but I’ve been working hard in training to be in good shape during games,” Da Silva Souza told Times of Malta.

“I knew some of the Balzan players from my time with Valletta. The players in our squad are good persons and we are like a family. There’s a very good atmosphere.”

After helping Valletta to win the championship in that famous title showdown against Birkirkara in May 2014, Da Silva Souza moved to Greek club Ergotelis.

When his contract with Ergotelis expired last July, Da Silva Souza headed to Spain where he spent a few months training with a club as he was recovering from a minor injury before deciding to continue his career with Balzan.

“The first time I came to Malta, I liked the island,” Da Silva Souza said of his decision to sign for Balzan.

“The country is nice and, as I said, I knew some players here. When I came to Malta in 2014, I won the championship and I want to do that again. This is why I chose to return to Maltese football.”

Da Silva Souza was aware of the interest from a number of Maltese clubs, including his former team Valletta, but added that, at the time, he was still tied to Ergotelis.

“I couldn’t come here earlier because I was still under contract with the Greek club,” the 28-year-old said.

“My contract finished in July. Balzan contacted me in December and I accepted their offer to join them in January as I was a free player.”

Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri was careful not to rush Da Silva Souza into action in the first weeks after his arrival but the Brazilian didn’t take long to break into the team, so much so that last week he was named BOV player of the month for January.

“I’m very pleased to have won the player of the month award,” Da Silva Souza said.

“I’m also delighted to be back in Malta and I’m happy at Balzan.

“The player of the month award is not just for me, it’s also for my team-mates because without their help, I wouldn’t have won it.

“The award is also for the club and the people who work so hard for Balzan… they have also played a part in this.”

When Da Silva Souza turned out for Valletta, Premier League clubs were only allowed to field five foreigners but the quota has now risen to seven.

The Brazilian believes that the increase in the number of foreigners has raised the level of the Premier League.

“The level has definitely gone up,” Da Silva Souza, who started his senior career with Brazilian club Matsubara, said.

“The championship is more competitive because there are good foreign players here.

“The league is also more difficult as there are four clubs who can win the title.”

Balzan are widely considered as one of the teams who can mount a serious challenge for the title after bringing in a host of quality players this season.

Their 1-0 win over Birkirkara on Saturday moved them up to fourth in the standings, level with their neighbours on 42 points, eight adrift of leaders Valletta with only a game left before the points are halved.

With players like Da Silva Souza, Pedrinho, Alfred Effiong and Lydon Micallef leading their attacking charge, Balzan have good reason to be optimistic about their chances of winning their first Premier League title and their Brazilian livewire believes they can do it.

“I think we can win the league,” Da Silva Souza said. “I’m not saying it will be easy but we’re slowly getting there (back into contention).

“I play to achieve success, I always go on the pitch to win and my target is to reach the top.

“We are doing well this season. There have already been some surprises but there are many teams who can win the league. This is good for Maltese football.”

Future plans

On the back of his dynamic displays in recent weeks, Balzan are likely to move quickly to offer Da Silva Souza a new deal but the Brazilian stressed that he was only focusing on this season.

“I’ve signed a contract with Balzan until the end of the season, after that we will see,” he said.

“I’m happy here and I’m giving my best to help the team. The people around the club, the president and all, want to do well for this club.

“I just want to focus on doing well this season.”

Da Silva Souza has been something of a journeyman in his career after playing for several clubs. While he’s reluctant to look beyond the end of the current campaign, he is not averse to the idea of settling at one club.

“I’ve been to many countries and maybe now I want to be at one club, also to settle with my family, but I don’t want to think a lot about the future,” he concluded.