The little Birkirkara striker with the big, complicated name is giving opposing defenders all sorts of problems.

At Valletta, I had many problems... I was unhappy and I preferred to leave and seek a new challenge

Jhonnattann Benites de Conceicao is in the third month of his first season in Maltese football but the Brazilian has made an instant impact with a series of electric performances.

His superb hat-trick in the Stripes’ 3-0 victory over Floriana last weekend took his tally to four in four games.

No surprise then that the 23-year-old is pleased that his first experience outside his home country is going well.

“This is the first time I’m living and playing outside Brazil,” Jhonnattann told yours truly with the assistance of Spanish team-mate Alejandro Mendoza Corujo who acted as an interpreter.

“It’s been a good experience so far... I feel comfortable here.”

Like many other foreigners, Jhonnattann’s decision to leave his homeland for Malta was motivated by his ambition to play in Europe.

“In Brazil, the players who grew up at the club I was were not really appreciated by the administration,” Jhonnattann said.

“Also, my dream was to play overseas and I believe that coming to Malta gives me a better chance of moving to a top European league.”

Jhonnattann’s introduction to Maltese football was anything but plainsailing as the nimble striker was supposed to join Valletta in the summer along with two other Brazilian players, Ricardo, who has stayed, and Jusselio.

Valletta had high ex-pectations that their new signings, especially Jhonnattann, would enhance the potential of their already strong base but they eventually decided to part with the striker.

It would be unfair to say that Jhonnattann failed to impress as he struck three goals in Valletta’s 9-0 drubbing of FC Lusitans in the first qualifying round of the Champions League but that was not enough to persuade coach Mark Miller to keep him.

It had been suggested at the time that, as Valletta already had two nimble first-choice forwards in Michael Mifsud and Denni, they wanted to bring in a towering striker to vary their options.

News that Jhonnattann was on his way out of Valletta alerted Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit who wasted no time in inviting the striker to train with his team before offering him a contract.

“At Valletta, I had many problems,” Jhonnattann said.

“I was unhappy and I preferred to leave and seek a new challenge. I felt happier at Birkirkara from the first day of training. I mean the coach showed faith in me and all the players made me welcome.”

Jhonnattann can also play on the wing but he sees himself as a striker.

“I’m a forward and forwards live on goals,” he observed.

“But the team comes first and winning is my priority.”

Jhonnattann, who turned out for Volta Redonda before coming to Malta, said the championship in Brazil is more balanced than our Premier League.

“In Brazil, the teams are, more or less, of the same level but here there’s a gap between the top sides and the rest,” he observed.

Malta and Brazil have little in common but both have a hot climate which helps South American players adapt quickly.

“I’ve been here three months and the weather has helped me to settle easily because it’s hot, like in my country,” Jhonnattann said.

“Before I came here, I received offers in other countries but, as this was going to be my first experience outside Brazil, I chose Malta because I felt that here I would find it easier to settle.”

Although the league is still in its infancy, Birkirkara look to have the credentials to mount a serious challenge for the title.

Jhonnattann agrees.

“I knew Birkirkara had a good team that can fight for the title,” he said.

“After four league matches, our chances look good.”

Jhonnattann is not looking beyond this season, insisting that he’s only focusing on doing his best to help Birkirkara be successful.

“I live the moment and I’m just thinking about Birkirkara.

“My objectives are to win everything there is to win with my club,” he said.

Finally that name.... where is it derived from?

“It’s a difficult name, also in Brazil,” Jhonnattann said with a smile.

“Everyone says that it’s very complicated.

“My father gave me the name... he got it from a magazine.”

Statistics

Scorers, red cards

Balzan FC: Pedrinho 2; Mendy, Licari, Elton.
Red card: Conceicao (vs Ħamrun).

Birkirkara: Jhonnattann 4; Jose-lito 2, Shodiya 2 (1 pen); Muscat, Vukanac, Mifsud Triganza.
Red card: Scicluna (vs Balzan).

Floriana: Darmanin 2; Alhinho, Verma, Cilia.

Ħamrun Spartans: Grima 2 (1 pen); Scerri, Calabretta, Bozhov.
Red cards: Fenech (vs Floriana), Cassar (vs Tarxien).

Hibernians: Lima 4 (1 pen), Dias 3; Cohen 2; Pisani, Soares, Levnaic, Pulis.

Melita: Armaro Negrin 2; L. Micallef, Galea, Vukanic (pen).
Red card: Vukanic (vs Valletta).

Mosta: Mitev 3, Obiefule 3; Ba-jada, Campagnoli, Aboulezz.
Red card: Grech (vs Sliema).

Qormi: Spiteri 2; Chetcuti, Pisani, Bello-Osagie.

Rabat Ajax: Astrauskas 2; Fuster.

Sliema Wanderers: Ciantar 2; Woods, El Ghaouti, Barbetti.

Tarxien Rainbows: Danilo 2, Bueno 2; Evaldo.
Red card: Danilo (vs Sliema).

Valletta: Mifsud 3 (1 pen); Gabriel 2, Fenech 2; Caruana, Ricardo, Borg, Briffa.
Own goal: Tufegdzic (vs Melita).

Next fixtures
Sept. 22 (Tedesco Stadium)
Floriana vs Rabat Ajax - 17.00
Birkirkara vs Sliema - 19.15

Sept. 23 (National Stadium)
Balzan vs Hibernians - 17.00
Mosta vs Qormi - 19.00

Sept. 24 (National Stadium)
Tarxien vs Melita - 18.00
Ħamrun vs Valletta - 20.00

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	4	4	0	0	12	2	12
Birkirkara	4	4	0	0	11	1	12
Hibernians	4	4	0	0	13	5	12
Mosta	4	2	0	2	9	7	6
Qormi	4	2	0	2	5	8	6
Floriana	4	1	2	1	5	6	5
Tarxien	4	1	1	2	5	6	4
Sliema W.	4	1	1	2	5	7	4
Hamrun	4	0	3	1	5	8	3
Balzan	4	0	1	3	5	9	1
Rabat Ajax	4	0	1	3	3	9	1
Melita	4	0	1	3	5	15	1