Darren Lok
Darren Lok Yee Deng (born 18 September 1991; simplified Chinese: 陆伊腾; traditional Chinese: 陸伊騰; pinyin: Lù Yīténg) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Malaysia Super League club Sabah. Born in England, he represents the Malaysia national team.[1]
| Lok playing for Malaysia in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Lok Yee Deng | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Hailsham, England | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sabah | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2012 | Eastbourne Borough | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Eastbourne Borough | 140 | (23) |
| 2012 | → Horsham (loan) | 2 | (1) |
| 2016 | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | 26 | (5) |
| 2017–2019 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | 5 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Johor Darul Ta'zim II (loan) | 22 | (9) |
| 2020 | Terengganu | 4 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Terengganu II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Petaling Jaya City | 33 | (15) |
| 2023– | Sabah | 24 | (11) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016– | Malaysia | 25 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023 | |||
Early life edit
Born in Hailsham, East Sussex, Lok is of Chinese Malaysian and English descent.[2] His father is from Tengkera in Malacca.[3]
Club career edit
Eastbourne Borough edit
Lok began his career with the Eastbourne Borough Academy. Later, he was promoted to the senior squad in 2012. Darren Lok was working shifts in an NHS psychiatric hospital as a psychiatric support worker[4] in the south of England while also playing part-time football for Eastbourne Borough of the National League South, the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.[5] At the start of the 2012–13 season, he was loaned to Horsham. He impressed at Horsham,[6][7] but was recalled by Eastbourne after 2 games, due to a player shortage at the club.[8]
Early in his Borough career, Lok gained a reputation as a 'super-sub' due to the late goals he would score after coming off the bench.[9]
Johor Darul Ta'zim edit
At the end of the 2015-16 season, Lok left Eastbourne to sign for Johor Darul Ta'zim II of the Malaysia Premier League. His registration was delayed, due to having to apply for a Malaysian passport. In September 2016 he received his Malaysian passport, which enabled him to play for JDT II as well as the Malaysia national football team.[10] Darren Lok only managed to appear twice for the JDT II Team before the season ended.
For the 2017 Malaysia Super League, JDT Coach Mario Gómez announced that Lok would be promoted to the JDT first team from JDT II for the upcoming 2017 season.
Terengganu FC edit
In January 2020, Terengganu FC has signed Lok to be with the team for the Malaysia League 2020 season.[11] He only managed to make 4 league appearances for the team.[12]
Petaling Jaya City FC edit
Petaling Jaya City FC announced the signing of Lok from Terengganu FC in December 2020. He cited a lack of playing time as one of the reasons for his decision to join PJ City FC after a one-year stint with Terengganu FC.[13]
International career edit
Born in England, Lok was eligible for Malaysia through his father.[5]
Lok made his Malaysian national football team debut against Singapore in 2016 and scored his first international goal against Syria in 2017.[5] Lok was also part of the Malaysian team that qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup and scored the fourth goal in their last qualifier, his second international goal.
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of 23 May 2023.[14]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Eastbourne Borough | 2012–13[15] | Conference South | 31 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 36 | 7 | |
| 2013–14[15] | Conference South | 38 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | 3[b] | 0 | 44 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15[15] | Conference South | 38 | 8 | 5 | 1 | — | 4[c] | 1 | 47 | 10 | ||
| 2015–16[15] | National League South | 33 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 8[d] | 4 | 44 | 9 | ||
| Total | 140 | 23 | 14 | 5 | — | 17 | 5 | 171 | 33 | |||
| Horsham (loan) | 2012–13 | Isthmian League Division One South | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim II | 2016 | Malaysia Premier League | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | |||
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2017 | Malaysia Super League | 3 | 0 | — | 5[e] | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | Malaysia Super League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||
| Johor Darul Ta'zim II | 2018 | Malaysia Premier League | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 8 |
| 2019 | Malaysia Premier League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[g] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 | ||
| Terengganu FC | 2020 | Malaysia Super League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Terengganu FC II | 2020 | Malaysia Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Petaling Jaya City | 2021 | Malaysia Super League | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6[e] | 3 | — | 15 | 6 | |
| 2022 | Malaysia Super League | 20 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0[e] | 0 | — | 22 | 12 | ||
| Total | 29 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 18 | ||
| Sabah | 2023 | Malaysia Super League | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 4 | |
| Career Total | 219 | 51 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 22 | 5 | 280 | 69 | ||
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances and one goal in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
- ^ Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, four appearances and three goals in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
- ^ a b c d e Appearances in Malaysia Cup
- ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs and appearances in AFC Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in Malaysia Challenge Cup
International edit
- As of 6 September 2023[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | |||
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | |
| Total | 23 | 5 |
International goals edit
- Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first.[16]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 22 August 2017 | Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, Malaysia | Syria | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 2. | 14 June 2022 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Bangladesh | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 3. | 14 December 2022 | Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Maldives | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 03 January 2023 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Singapore | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2022 AFF Championship |
| 5. | 6 September 2023 | East Town Sports Park Stadium, Chengdu, China | Syria | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
Honours edit
Johor Darul Ta'zim
Johor Darul Ta'zim II
International
- King's Cup runner-up: 2022[17]
References edit
- ^ Darren Lok at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ Shamsudin, Shaiful (3 July 2021). "Euro 2020: Setiap kejohanan utama 'it's coming home', kata Darren Lok". stadiumastro.com (in Malay). from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "JOHOR Southern Tigers". Facebook. from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ The Armchair Malaysia Ep 10 | Darren Lok and Building Lok-al Stars!, from the original on 18 April 2022, retrieved 18 April 2022, Minute 3:15.
- ^ a b c "Darren Lok: The phone call that turned non-league player into Malaysia international". BBC Sport. 8 October 2019. from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Whitstable Town 2-2 Horsham". Horsham F.C. 11 September 2012. from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Whitstable Town 2-2 Horsham - We're not finishing teams off, says Whitstable boss Justin Luchford". Kentish Football. 11 September 2012. from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Lok's the key as Borough end their losing streak in style". Eastbourne Herald. 18 September 2012. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Lok aims to be more than an impact sub". Eastbourne Herald. 16 October 2014. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Darren Lok granted passport - eligible to play for Malaysia and JDT II". Nicolas Anil. ESPN. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "DARREN BAKAL MEMBERIKAN PILIHAN BUAT NAFUZI ZAIN DALAM VARIASIKAN JENTERA SERANGAN TFC". Terengganu FC. 30 January 2020. from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Malaysia - Darren Lok - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". my.soccerway.com. from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Monday, 14 Dec 2020 05:27 PM MYT (14 December 2020). "Darren Lok among three new signings of PJ City FC | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ a b Darren Lok at Soccerway
- ^ a b c d "D. Lok: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Lok Yee Deng, Darren". National Football Teams. from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ Fai, Ooi Kin (25 September 2022). "Harimau Malaya lose King's Cup final after penalty shootout heartbreak". nst.com.my. Chiang Mai, Thailand: New Straits Times. from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
External links edit
- Darren Lok at Soccerway