As we approach the start of the much-anticipated A-Leagues season for 2023/24, we sat down with Western United’s Daniel Penha in his new surrounds of Melbourne to discuss the upcoming season, his love for Australia and the importance of happiness.

“I love it here, I love Australia” says Daniel Penha, who has settled into Melbourne nicely, following his transfer to Western United on loan from his parent club Atletico Miniero in Brazil.

This is the first time we’ve seen Daniel on our shores since the 21/22 A-Leagues season, where he took the competition by storm playing for the Newcastle Jets. That season culminated in four goals, eleven assists and a spot in both the PFA A-League Men’s Team of the Year and the A-League All Star line-up.

Although he loved the relaxed lifestyle of Newcastle, he has already noted that Melbourne is a different beast entirely, “whatever you want, you have it here, it’s been great so far”.

Perhaps nothing exemplified the differing scale of the two locations better, than when a compatriot recognised Daniel, as he walked past us. The pair then chatted in Portuguese about where they were respectively from in Brazil and what they were doing now. “That’s unbelievable, how is that possible?” Dan laughed, an example of the melting pot of culture in his new city.

Although loving life in Melbourne now, the last twelve or so months haven’t been smooth sailing for Dan. He spent the last year playing for Daegu FC in Korea where he had a fair share of challenges both on and off the field.. Not only did the season end prematurely with Dan rupturing his ACL in September, but mixed results, and living alone meant an extremely tough and emotional year for the Brazilian. Daniel’s wife Larissa unfortunately was forced to remain in Brazil for treatment, for her ongoing battle with Cancer. Penha is however, hopeful, that Larissa will be able to join him here in Melbourne in the not-too-distant future.

“It was such a hard time in Korea, and with the injury too…but this happens in life, you need to prepare for everything mentally.”


“I realised in Korea that the most important thing is happiness, you can have money but at the end of the day, money is nothing without happiness” a lovely sentiment and yet such a considerable learning experience for the young Brazilian, who is clearly wise beyond his years, perhaps as a result of the challenges he has faced to get to where he is now.

Penha is looking forward to putting the tribulations of the past year behind him and is confident about both his body and the Western squad ahead of the season. “My body is feeling good, I’m feeling strong and ready to start now”. Daniel netted in a pre-season friendly just last week as his side defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1, “I have great confidence in the team. We have a really young team but a strong one”.

He also spoke highly of his Western teammates, some of whom he is reuniting with from the Jets. “Angus (Thurgate) is such a good signing for us, he is so good, his touch, his strength, everything”. Daniel is looking forward to reigniting a connection which Jets fans came to know and love, with the pair linking up for numerous goals in the 21/22 season.

Daniel also mentioned the strong pre-season work of Ben Garuccio, Lachie Wales and Sebastian Pasquali, highlighting them as three players to keep an eye on when the season starts in just over a fortnights time.

If Daniel were able to replicate the form from his inaugural season in the A-Leagues, who knows where the ceiling is. When quizzed on what might be further down the track for the young star, he was keeping an open mind, but is confident that it will be in this country. “I want to stay in Australia forever and I want to enjoy the Australian lifestyle, everyone knows here what I can do for the league”.





 

So given he wants to stay in Australia for the foreseeable future, it was only right to ask him whether he would ever think about representing Australia at a national level, and Penha wouldn’t rule it out. “This is the plan, but it would be a long time down the track. If I’m here for the next few years, this can certainly happen.”

While the thought of Daniel one day donning the green and gold jersey is one that will excite many a fan, it will be just as thrilling to see him wearing the green and black of Western United in the upcoming A-Leagues season. He just might be the nicest guy in the A-League, and it will be a pleasure to see him back doing his thing week in and week out.

You can catch Daniel in action when Western United face off against Melbourne City at AAMI Park in the first round of the A-League men’s season on Saturday 21st October at 5pm.



Photos by Aleksandar Jason