KUANTAN, May 4 — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM ) has never discussed the recruitment of naturalised players to strengthen the national squad, said FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. He said it was rather the individual’s needs and not FAM’s policy. “We have never talked about it (naturalisation) in the FAM, I’m not saying it will not take place, but we cannot rule out the possibility, no matter whoever the next president (FAM) may be,” he said after closing a coaching seminar program, here today .
Tengku Abdullah was commenting on the 29-year-old Brazil-born player Paulo Rangel’s desire to don a national jersey, if given a chance. “He must be an extraordinary player, nevertheless, simply granting Malaysian passport to foreign players is inadvisable,” he said.
Despite having positive comments from Malayan Tiger Squad coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it could ‘kill’ the career of local players and athletes.
Kim Swee said, the player who had scored 10 goals in 13 appearances during the super league season was able to spice up the attack machinery. Meanwhile Tengku Abdullah, who is also the candidate for FAM’s Presidential post, ahead of the FAM’s 50th congress on May 25, reminded affiliate members to elect the best candidate to lead the football body, ‘without fear or favour’. “All the candidates have their own merit, the voting power is in the hands of members. I will not campaign and there should be no force, but on based on merit,” he said. — Bernama
