Now, the national women's football team want foreign-based players too
Theree foreign-based players are expected to join the Malayan Tigress for the 2026 Under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
FAM women's football committee chairman Datuk Suraya Yaacob revealed that the "foreign trio" will join the national team for the Asian qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 6-10.
She said the recent Constitutional (Amendment) Act 2024, which allows children born abroad to Malaysian mothers and non-citizen fathers to automatically receive Malaysian citizenship, will help expand the national talent pool.
Suraya said the recent success of the national men's team — who included several foreign-based players — has sparked interest from overseas-based women's footballers.
"The citizenship amendment widened the talent pool for us, and we are grateful to the government. We will be getting three foreign-based players to join our national Under-20 team for the Asian Cup qualifiers," said Suraya.
"We are open to foreign-based players, but they still need to be assessed before representing our national teams. We've received a lot of applications from players abroad, including from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
"These foreign-based players are interested in playing for Malaysia after seeing the progress made by the men's team. Now that they can represent Malaysia despite being based abroad, it also opens up more opportunities for their football careers."
The Malayan Tigress bowed out of the 2026 women's Asian Cup qualifiers last week. They eked out 1-0 wins over Palestine and hosts Tajikistan, but suffered a 6-0 defeat to Group H champions North Korea.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysian junior chess star Shen Ree Herng wins PMX Cup
NATIONAL junior chess talent Shen Ree Herng secured the PMX Cup for Best Overall Performance by a Malaysian at the 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships. The 15-year-old from SMK Damansara Jaya in Selangor was honoured during the event's closing ceremony, attended by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib and Nurul Nuha Anwar, daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Shen, ranked 22nd nationally, expressed surprise at the win after placing fifth in the Under-16 category. 'I didn't expect this award since I finished behind players from Vietnam and the Philippines,' he told Bernama. The young player aims to earn the FIDE Master title and compete in more international tournaments to refine his skills. Having started chess at age seven, Shen trains under a personal coach. The championship featured over 400 participants from 21 countries, including ASEAN nations and global chess powerhouses like China, Russia, and India. The event also offered FIDE-recognised titles, boosting young players' professional prospects. - Bernama
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
National junior chess player wins PMX Cup at 23rd Asean Age Group Championships
GEORGE TOWN: National youth chess player Shen Ree Herng was announced as the recipient of the PMX Cup for "Best Overall Performance By A Malaysian" at the 23rd Asean+ Age Group Chess Championships, which took place here. Shen Ree Herng, 15, a Form Three student from SMK Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, received the cup from Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib during the championship's dinner and prize-giving ceremony tonight. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar accompanied Ramli for the cup presentation along with the President of the Penang Chess Association, See Swee Sie. Shen, currently ranked 22nd, said he did not expect to receive the Prime Minister's Cup as he only placed fifth out of 30 participants in the Under-16 category. However, he expressed happiness and hoped it would motivate him to work harder to win future chess championships. "Honestly, I never expected to receive the Prime Minister's Cup at tonight's event because I only came in fifth place, with the top three participants from Vietnam and the fourth place from the Philippines. "My next goal is to achieve the FIDE Master title and continue to participate in various international tournaments to hone my skills and strategies in chess," he told Bernama at the event held at the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society here. Shen, who represented Selangor in the championship, began playing chess at the age of seven and is currently training with a personal coach for guidance. The championship, which started on July 1, gathered over 400 young chess talents from 21 countries, including Asean member states and dialogue partners such as the United States, China, Russia, India, South Korea, and Japan. The tournament also offered direct titles from FIDE, providing a golden opportunity for ambitious players to advance their chess careers to a higher level. –BERNAMA
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Syamer ready to fight for greater role and more playtime after joining KL
New challenge: Syamer Kutty Abba posing for a photograph after signing for Kuala Lumpur. — Kuala Lumpur City PETALING JAYA: Syamer Kutty Abba is ready for the grind, and he's picked the heart of the city to prove he belongs at the top. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has made the move to Kuala Lumpur, on-loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), in search of greater responsibility and consistent game time. 'I was encouraged by JDT to join KL's challenge for the new season,' said the 42-cap Malaysian international. 'When I heard their plans, I was all in. It's a new challenge, and it pushes me to fight for my place.' That fight won't come easily. The competition in KL's midfield is fierce, with established names like Kenny Pallraj, Zhafri Yahya, Ryan Lambert, and Arif Syaqirin already in the squad. On top of that, two foreign midfielders, both reportedly from Spain, are set to join the fray. But for Syamer, that only raises the stakes and his drive. 'All the midfielders here are versatile and bring different strengths. I know I have to be at my best every day to earn my spot in the starting eleven.' In just five days of training, Syamer has already made his presence felt with his trademark intensity and tactical discipline. Kuala Lumpur's coaching staff see him as a potential midfield enforcer, a hardman who can dictate the tempo and break up opposition play. For Syamer, the bigger picture remains clear, he wants to be back in the Harimau Malaya jersey. Despite the emergence of several mixed heritage players and new options in central midfield, Syamer believes his experience and hunger still give him a seat at the table. 'When it comes to the national team, I'll do whatever it takes to wear that jersey. 'It's a pride and honour. From the day I turned professional, my goal has always been to represent Malaysia.' And the credentials are there. He was part of the side that lifted the 2024 Merdeka Tournament, finished as runner-up in the 2019 AFF Suzuki Cup, and was even named in the tournament's best XI. 'In life, you've got to keep pushing to be better. In football, there's always something to learn. At KL, I want minutes, I want growth, and I want to fight my way back into the national team.' With his mindset and motivation, Syamer's return to the top could just be a matter of time.
