KUALA LUMPUR – As the joyous festivities of Chinese New Year envelop families in heartfelt reunions across the globe, Sabah FC goalkeeper Damien Lim once again finds himself separated from his loved ones, dedicating his holiday to the rigorous demands of his football career.
For the fifth consecutive year, Damien Lim has chosen to prioritise his team’s commitments over personal celebrations, forgoing the traditional gatherings and cherished moments with family.
This year, instead of indulging in customary festivities, Damien will embark on a journey with his fellow teammates to Australia for a crucial match in the AFC Cup Asean Zone semifinals against Macarthur FC on February 13.
Speaking to Scoop, Damien expressed the bittersweet sentiment of missing out on cherished family time year after year.
However, he underscored his unwavering dedication to his profession, emphasising his commitment to advancing his football career.
“Deep down, I do miss the times not spending my time with my family because we only get to meet once a year in my hometown in Melaka. I miss my mother’s cooking the most as she would usually prepare some of the best cuisines for our reunion dinner.
“I also miss the great times of interacting with my father, Lim Seng Koon, and my uncles Lim Teong Kim, Lim Chuan Chin, Lim Kim Choon, and Lim Hong Guan – who all once represented Harimau Malaya.
“They always tend to give me advice and tips on how I can improve my game. They are my biggest support.
“All these worries were running through my mind during the earlier stages of my career, but now I have moved on as it’s a norm for athletes like myself to go through these phases in life.
“My full focus for the past five years has been to focus on giving the best for the team that I represent and also on ways to elevate my career through the game,” said Damien.
The 26-year-old who won the Malaysia Premier League with Negeri Sembilan FC in 2021 also said that under the guidance of head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, the preparations have been going well for the Rhinos in their hopes of booking their berth in the AFC Cup Asean Zone finals.
“Myself, including my teammates, have been training vigorously to achieve our goal as this has been one of the tournaments that we have always wanted to excel in over the years.
“The synergy within the team has been great and all of us are fully fit for the semifinal match against Macarthur FC.
“It’s not only me that’s sacrificing for the club to excel, even coach Kim Swee, Dominic Tan, and Darren Lok have also sacrificed their festive seasons so that we can prevail in this tournament. We are hoping for the best in our match in Australia,” Damien added.
Damien also has the experience of donning the iconic black and yellow jersey for the national U-23 team.
He made his first debut for Harimau Muda in a 1–1 draw against Australia in 2019 and was also selected for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Kim Swee’s charges finished third in the Malaysia Super League last season with 54 points. – February 9, 2024