Malaysian international midfielder Gary Steven Robbat is set to join German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund on a three month training stint as part of the collaboration between the Bundesliga giants and Robbat's club, 2013 Malaysian Super League (MSL) champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT).
The initiative is a timely one for Bojan Hodak's club after the midfielder was slapped a three month ban and a Malaysian Ringgits 50,000 fine last week by the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) player status committee who found him guilty of signing multiple contracts with JDT and Pahang FA despite being on the books of Harimau Muda A.
"The Dortmund stint is a pleasant surprise for me. Initially, I was quite worried with my fitness as I was informed that I'm banned from training as well. I find it strange," Robbat told The Star."The JDT management told me they would take care of me during the suspension. They are keeping their word and I'm grateful. Now, I want to come back a better player from the stint to serve them well."
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder has experienced life as a footballer in Europe in 2010 and 2013 when Ong Kian Swee took his Harimau Muda A squad to Slovakia to prepare for their Southeast Asian Games assault.
"I'm looking forward to train at Dortmund's world class facility and learning from one of the best teams in Europe. I can't believe my luck. I went through the worst period in my football career last week, but it's all changed now."
Robbat's three month ban will end on Mar. 16 and the midfielder is aiming to be part of Hodak's team for the second half of the MSL season as well as Southern Tigers' Malaysia Cup campaign.