Naturalized Malaysian players are additions, not replacements
In the article: "Open letter to head coach Harimau Malaya, Cklamovski" - "Harimau Malaya" is the nickname of the Malaysian team. Journalist Rizal Hashim of The Star , who has worked and reported on Malaysian football for more than 30 years, wants the Australian coach to make public all current problems in the team. Among them, the most controversial is "the presence of naturalized players - although they have unclear ancestral ties to Malaysia".
Coach Cklamovski is under great pressure because of his shocking statement that has caused a stir within Malaysian football.
Photo: Ngoc Linh
“So far, although FIFA may not have looked into the matter if the government had issued the necessary documents (on Malaysia’s recently naturalised players), fans still question the criteria behind such decisions,” Rizal Hashim expressed.
Previously, Coach Cklamovski was upset and made shocking statements after the Malaysian team won the Vietnamese team 4-0 in the second round of the third qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on June 10, saying that there was "internal sabotage" and " political interference" in the team. And if Harimau Malaya did not win against the Vietnamese team in this match, he and the Regent of Johor state, Tunku Ismail, owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim Club, would be criticized by many people and considered "a very bad coach".
The President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Joehari Ayub, has asked Coach Cklamovski to explain his statements. But so far, this coach has not given any answer, leaving everything unclear.
“There is a lack of transparency. Rob Friend, chief executive of Harimau Malaya, has also not been clear about naturalised players or their residency pathways (whether they have any links to Malaysia or not), despite media campaigns to gloss over the issue.
This lack of transparency risks alienating fans and undermining the development of homegrown talent. Naturalisation must be guided by integrity, fairness and a genuine connection to Malaysia. It must complement – not replace – the much-needed nurturing of homegrown stars like Arif Aiman Hanapi and Ahmad Syihan Hazmi. The national team must be a source of pride and identity for Malaysians,” stressed journalist Rizal Hashim.
There are too many naturalized players who are said to have unclear origins, making even Malaysian fans disappointed and possibly boycotting the team, according to The Star newspaper.
Photo: Ngoc Linh
Also according to journalist Rizal Hashim: "The ambiguity from FAM, the Malaysian team's coaching staff, has led to widespread speculation on social media that FAM may have violated naturalization rules. Whether true or not, the lack of clear communication will increase suspicion."
Recently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary, Mr. Seri Windsor Paul said that the agency has not received any complaints about the issue of naturalization of Malaysian players. But he added: "This issue is under the management of FIFA".
According to FAM Secretary General Noor Azman Rahman, the agency has not received any information from FIFA so far, so they believe that all procedures regarding naturalized players are valid and correct.
However, as journalist Rizal Hashim questioned, the ambiguity of information about naturalized players not being announced continues to cause doubts for fans in this country. Because in reality, many recently naturalized players have no connection with Malaysia - they come to play 1-2 matches and then leave quickly. Even Malaysian fans feel that they are very strange and unlike previous cases of naturalized players whose origins are clear and transparently announced, according to The Star .
"Vague innuendos erode trust and morale. The days of confusing statements are over. FAM President Joehari Ayub has publicly urged him (Coach Cklamovski) to clarify his statements, rightly pointing out that speculation without context only causes division. Malaysian football deserves something better than that," journalist Rizal Hashim concluded.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ly-do-bao-malaysia-doi-xac-minh-nguon-goc-cau-thu-nhap-tich-du-fifa-van-im-tieng-185250707100212797.htm
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