‘Tusty’ buckets ‘best foreign player’ award in Malaysia again

Former St Vincent and the Grenadines senior football captain Marlon “Tusty” James has latched on to another “Best Foreign Player” award in the Malaysian Football League.{{more}}

James, who plays for Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), which is also known as Malaysian Armed Forces, gained the award last Saturday night, but was not on hand to receive the accolade, as he was here in St Vincent on vacation.

Adjudicated by coaches and team managers of Super League and Premier League teams, it was the second year in succession that James was pouching the award, having done so in his debut season with ATM.

Not new to such awards, James copped the award in 2006-2007 and repeated in the 2007-2008 season, then on the roster of Kedah.

The 37-year-old James gained his latest the award on the back of another top season with his club.

James netted 16 goals in the Malaysian Super League and nine in the Malaysian Cup, which made him the top goal scorer in both competitions.

He, however, shared the latter accolade with Matias Conti.

But the accolades are secondary to James, as he has once again been able to retain a contract to ply his trade in the Malaysian football set-up. Without disclosing the figure, James told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday that the contract for the 2013-2014 season has been his best ever.

A smiling James remarked: “I have been awarded a contract, the best ever, one that is quite acceptable by me and others around me who deal with the details”.

James disclosed that he is experiencing some of his best times in Malaysia, despite his advanced age.

“…Several other teams wanted me, but it was my decision and I decided to stay with ATM”, James mentioned.

He is now in the twilight of his professional football career, which started in the semi-pro league in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1990’s.

James began his international pro career in Ireland with Bray Wanderers in 2000. He transferred to Tirense in the Portuguese Second Division in 2001, and later played for Sabah FC and MK Land in Malaysia, before another Malaysia sojourn with Kedah.

In 2008, James was forced to quit the Malaysian scene, because of a ban on foreign players.

He then turned to the United Soccer League of North America in 2008, where he played for the Vancouver White Caps, but was released in August 2010.

With the ban lifted, James moved back to Malaysia last year, where joined the Malaysian Armed Forces.(RT)