Malaysia team beat Vietnam thanks to effective naturalization

Malaysia team convincingly defeated Vietnam. Photo: FA M

The 4-0 victory over Vietnam at Bukit Jalil Stadium on June 10 made the public look at the Malaysian team from a different perspective. Previously, the last time Malaysia defeated Vietnam was 11 years ago. Since then, the team has suffered 7 defeats and only 1 draw after 8 encounters in all competitions.

To achieve success like in the last match, Malaysia had to go through painful failures due to an inappropriate naturalization strategy.

The rut

Football is one of the most popular sports in Malaysia, a country of over 30 million people. However, at the international level, Malaysia is still a dwarf. The last time Malaysia reached the final of a major tournament was at the 2018 AFF Cup, where they met Vietnam.

Malaysian fans had high hopes when the authorities launched a player naturalization program in 2018, ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Many foreign-born players were granted citizenship with the ambition of strengthening Malaysian football.

However, after a long period of testing and perseverance, this project was suspended in August 2021 with humiliating failures.

Mohamadou Sumareh, a Gambian-born player, was the first to be granted citizenship and play for Malaysia. He made his debut for the national team in 2018 and made a small impression. However, that was not enough to elevate Malaysia. Many new faces appeared and then disappeared just as quickly, leaving behind a trail of disappointment.

Malaysia has failed in its naturalization strategy before. Photo: FAM

Santokh Singh, a former Malaysian international in the 1970s and 1980s, even suggested that football leaders should focus on developing local players.

"We have many excellent domestic players who are capable of playing better than foreign players, but they don't have the opportunity to play," he said.

Many believe that Malaysia needs to focus on addressing the root problems instead of just focusing on the failures of the citizenship project.

Malaysia is not the only country looking to boost the quality of its national teams by granting citizenship to foreign players. From China to Japan, Mexico and even Spain, it is a growing trend. However, Malaysia’s approach has been criticized for being both incorrect and ineffective.

Turning Point

Ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Malaysia has decided to strictly control and develop a new strategy for recruiting naturalized players. The quality of the "input" players must be improved, to avoid the mistakes of massive naturalization like in the past.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) naturalization criteria stipulate that players must have played in the national league for at least five consecutive years under FAM management, starting at the age of 18, and must not have represented another country. This group includes the likes of Paulo Josué, Endrick (both Brazilians) and Romel Morales (Colombian).

Malaysia has also expanded its search for players with roots around the world , especially in Europe’s top leagues. Joao Figueiredo, a striker for Basaksehir in the Turkish Super League, and Rodrigo Holgado, a key striker for America De Cali in Colombia, have both scored in the win over Vietnam on June 10.

Many new naturalized faces are also playing in Europe in lower divisions such as the Spanish second division.

Vietnam's defense struggled to fend off Malaysia's attacks. Photo: Tam Minh.

The fact that the above mentioned group of players are of Malaysian origin helps this country in the process of applying for a license and being approved by FIFA. The victory over Vietnam is not only on the field, but also the result of a successful strategy, strong investment and clear direction.

Malaysia is not ready to stop there. The media reports that many players with Malaysian heritage are still waiting for approval to play for Malaysia. This is even more beneficial and increases the depth of the team.

With positive changes bringing satisfactory results, Malaysian fans are hoping for a brighter future for the country's football. The 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers are a springboard for Malaysia to aim for higher and more difficult goals.

Close-up of the $50 million stadium of Southeast Asia's richest club JDT's Sultan Ibrahim Stadium is considered one of the most modern football stadiums in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-malaysia-thang-viet-nam-nho-nhap-tich-hieu-qua-post1559913.html