SHAH ALAM – Malaysia’s international football aspirations are gaining momentum thanks to the rising influence of heritage players in the Harimau Malaya squad.
These players are not only delivering results on the field but also elevating the nation’s visibility in global football.
According to football observer Azlan Johar, the inclusion of players with Malaysian roots has significantly improved the team’s tactical strength while accelerating the country's push onto the global football map.
He believes that players with Malaysian roots will help the team improve its world ranking, simultaneously increasing opportunities for local players to play in European clubs.
“We want to put Malaysia’s name in the global spotlight and this is the way...through the presence of many heritage players. We must accept the fact that heritage players can help the team achieve positive results and success.
“When we consistently secure positive results, we will achieve excellent outcomes in the tournaments we participate in.
"In fact, our FIFA ranking will also improve. Specifically, when we reach a ranking below 70 or 80 one day, the chances for our local players to play in Europe will be much brighter.
"Most European leagues have certain eligibility conditions for foreign players based on their country’s FIFA ranking.
"So when Malaysia succeeds in climbing the rankings through the outstanding performance of heritage and local players, opportunities like our star player, Arif Aiman Hanapi, moving to Europe to play for top clubs won’t be impossibl," he told Sinar when contacted.
Recently, several new heritage players have donned the Harimau Malaya jersey, clearly bringing a new dimension to the national team’s strength in their mission to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.
Among the newly joined heritage players under the guidance of head coach Peter Cklamovski are Gabriel Palmero, Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Facundo Garces.
Their combined efforts with local players led to a historic 4-0 victory over Vietnam at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in a Group F Asian Cup Qualifier. This win ended a decade-long wait to overcome their regional rivals.
This success signalled a turning point, proving that integrating heritage players can provide Harimau Malaya with a crucial edge as they pursue success on the Asian stage and, in the future, on the world stage.