KUALA LUMPUR — Sabah FC and national team striker Fergus Tierney has credited his fluency in Bahasa Malaysia as a crucial factor in helping him settle into Malaysian football and forge closer relationships with local teammates.
Born in Scotland to Scottish parents, Tierney said learning the national language has enabled him to connect more naturally with players throughout his career, particularly during his time with Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II), where many of his teammates primarily communicated in Malay.
“Especially when I was in JDT II with mainly Malay players, it really helped me to be able to connect with my teammates more off the pitch than on the pitch,” he told Scoop at the Rexona x Clear Men 3v3 football tournament at MyTOWN Shopping Centre today.
“So, yeah, being able to speak Malay quite fluently has definitely helped me grow closer to the local players and I think it’s a very useful tool to have on and off the pitch.”
Tierney’s command of Bahasa Malaysia has frequently earned praise from supporters, especially given that he was raised outside Malaysia and does not come from a Malaysian-speaking household.
The 23-year-old’s experience comes as discussions continue over the integration of heritage players into the national setup, with language often viewed as an important bridge to local culture and dressing-room dynamics.
Although proud of his Scottish heritage, Tierney said representing Malaysia remains a privilege and a source of pride.
The Glasgow-born forward is also determined to earn a larger role under national head coach Peter Cklamovski.
Having yet to establish himself as a regular under the Australian, Tierney said he remains prepared for any opportunity that comes his way.
“I’ve not really been given a chance to play yet. Although I think once I get called upon, I’ll always be ready to give my best and hopefully I can get the chance soon,” he said.
At club level, Tierney is aiming to build on a productive season with Sabah, who lifted the MFL Challenge Cup.
He said his focus remains on improving his game while making a greater contribution to the team.
“I’m still, I guess, considered a young player, although I think I’m getting older too fast,” he joked.
“But personally, I just want to continue to contribute to the team and hopefully be able to improve on what we did last season.”
Tierney also hopes to cement his place as Sabah’s leading striker in the upcoming campaign.
“Of course, it would always be nice to be the number one striker in whatever team I’m in. So that’s the goal, to just continue to improve as much as I can,” he said.
For now, Tierney’s priorities are straightforward — continue developing as a player, help Sabah compete for more silverware, and secure additional opportunities to represent Malaysia on the international stage. – June 6, 2026