In the wake of Gambian-born Mohamadou Sumareh donning Harimau Malaya colours as a naturalized Malaysian in the recent AFF Suzuki Cup competition there could be more foreigners in the national team.
Several names have been bandied as “future Malaysian footballers” who could be in the Harimau Malaya squad.
Among the names mentioned are Terengganu FC’s Lee Tuck, former Kedah player Liridon Kraniqi from Kosovo and former Selangor and Kuala Lumpur player Guilherme De Paul who hails from Brazil.
Age is no barrier for Lee Tuck who has Malaysian roots as his grandmother is a Malaysian and has shown keenness to be given a chance to be a Malaysian. He hopes the FA of Malaysia (FAM) will open the door for him to be tucked in Harimau Malaya colours.
“Age is no barrier…it is just a figure. I still have competitive years in football and it is my wish to be given the opportunity,” said Lee Tuck, 31, who will once again play for the Turtles in the new M-League season.
The Terengganu midfielder has been an inspiration to the Turtles and has a large following in the country even when he played for Negri Sembilan in 2017.
The new wave of “foreign interest” in wanting to don Harimau Malaya colours come in the wake of Sumareh’s “Malaysian status” after he was given the Malaysian citizen early this year.
Sumareh was a star attraction in the AFF Suzuki Cup although he failed to get his name into the score sheet. He, however, played an instrumental part in Malaysia finishing runners-up to Vietnam in the two-leg finals. Vietnam won 3-2 on aggregate. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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