At just 18 years old, former JDT player Paarveen Waran has taken a major step in his football journey, making his professional debut in Europe. On August 9, the young talent was named in the starting eleven for Vizela Football Club in Portugal’s second division, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.
Standing at 1.94m, the towering defender enjoyed a promising start to his journey in Portuguese football when he was included in the starting lineup for Vizela’s opening clash against GD Chaves. Paarveen featured for 45 minutes in the match, which concluded in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
Paarveen’s father, Shanmugesh Waran, shared that his son described the 45 minutes on the field as an experience that would remain etched in his memory forever.
Paarveen’s football journey took off in 2018 when he earned a spot with Perth Glory, one of the leading clubs in Western Australia’s capital. During his time there, he also represented the Western Australia state team and even captained the side in 2022.
The following year, a training stint with Singapore’s Lion City Sailors opened the door for Paarveen to join Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Under-17 squad. According to his father, Shanmugesh, JDT scouts had first taken notice of him during a friendly match in Singapore.
“They first offered him an Under-17 contract, followed by a full deal to play with the Under-23 squad,” said Shanmugesh, adding that Paarveen did not hesitate to take up the challenge.
At the end of last year, JDT proposed a contract renewal, but Paarveen turned it down, believing his path to achieving his European dream would be clearer if he continued playing in Perth.
The move was made easier by the fact that the family was already settled in Australia. Shanmugesh, 46, who works as a power engineer, relocated his family to Perth in 2009, though they have remained Malaysian citizens. After leaving Johor, Paarveen joined Olympic Kingsway, another leading club in Australia.
“This was where Portuguese scouts noticed him in February and recognized his potential. They invited him for a two-week trial with FC Vizela, and their report on him convinced the club’s officials to bring him on board. Since he only turned 18 in July, he had to wait until then to officially sign his contract,” Shanmugesh explained to FMT.
Now, with his European debut under his belt, Paarveen stands at the threshold of what could be a remarkable career. From Perth to Johor and now Portugal, his journey reflects both perseverance and passion for the game. As he begins this new chapter with Vizela, the young defender carries not only his own ambitions but also the hopes of those who have supported him along the way—proof that dreams, with determination and sacrifice, can indeed become reality.
Source: Free Malaysia Today, Malaysia Football League
