Former Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Matt Acton insists he wants to stay in Asia and continue to develop as a player as his short-term deal with Myanmar champions Yangon United FC comes to an end.
Acton, who won three A-League titles as the Roar's No. 2 keeper, was offered the chance to join Yangon two days after the 2014 Grand Final against Western Sydney Wanderers in May.
And, while he admits he knew almost nothing about the land formerly known as Burma, Acton says the experience has left him wanting to extend his time in Asia after he started all 14 of Yangon United's league matches since his arrival, keeping five clean sheets.
"The decision to come here has proven to be the right one and helped me grow as a footballer as I've played every week for four months," Acton told ESPN FC. "As a foreigner, everyone looks at you for leadership and expects nothing but results and good performances. This has given me the chance to develop great mental strength which I intend to use to my advantage as I continue my career, hopefully in Asia."
Acton was born in the northern Queensland city of Townsville but moved south to Brisbane to further his football career as a 14-year-old. He was capped at the under-20 level by Australia, even though he was also qualified to play for either Finland or England through his parents.
While Acton is the first Australian goalkeeper to feature in the Myanmar National League, he has had the benefit of having an Australian head coach. Eric Williams, father of Socceroo international defender Rhys, has worked with the club since 2009.
Before his arrival in Myanmar, the 22-year-old lived in the shadow of veteran goalkeeper Michael Theo in the A-League. He made only two first-team appearances for Brisbane Roar, despite being at the club since 2007 and playing regularly for their youth team.
"I knew that the opportunity and the decision to play in Myanmar would have different reactions from people back home," Acton said. "But it offered me the chance to play every week and to experience the pressure that comes once you have been tagged as a foreigner. The passion shown here is incredible: you understand what it is like for people to need football in their lives. The rivalries mean that some crowds are deafening and you know that you're in a hostile environment when you play away from home. It's something that I never really experienced in Australia."
Acton has clearly enjoyed living in the former capital city of Yangon -- previously known as Rangoon -- and holds great affection for the country.
"When a local Burmese person realises that I am Australian, they straight away start pronouncing the names of Australian animals," he joked. "Myanmar is different to anything I've known before, but I'll never forget my time here."
The Myanmar National League replaced the Myanmar Premier League in 2009 to include clubs from outside of Yangon, and its increase in popularity -- including the influx of foreign players and coaches -- is mirrored by the growth of one of Asia's fastest growing economies.
"The fans here are so passionate that if you lose a football match, you will know how disappointed they are for a whole week until the next game, instead of just for a day or two," Acton added.
"Our supporters have every right to demand success and results, as they're the ones who use their hard-earned money each week to watch us play. That's not to say that Australian crowds don't care as much. It's just a different type of passion. Here, you really feel a responsibility to the fans which, at a dominant club like Yangon United FC, creates a real pressure-cooker atmosphere."
Acton has been a regular starter this season, with Yangon United finishing second in the league after representing Myanmar in this season's AFC Cup. They beat Magwe 3-1 in their final league match of the season at home on Sunday.
However, his short-term deal at Yangon United may not be extended for next season. So he is in contact with agents who are helping him in the search for a new Asian club after becoming only the second Australian import to appear in the Myanmar top flight.
"My ideal scenario would be either to stay in Yangon where I can play a lot of football or move to a stronger league and be a genuine competitor for a starting spot," Acton said.
"The biggest challenge for foreign goalkeepers is to get a chance to play in Asia in the first place as clubs are usually looking for strikers, attacking midfielders or defenders. But I am hopeful that something will come up, either here or elsewhere, because once you've experienced the intensity of Asian football, you're always hungry for more."