Argentina-born Garces joins Harimau Malaya
Well, Facundo Garces does, and he's now officially part of the Harimau Malaya set-up, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed on Monday.
The 26-year-old centre-back, who hails from Santa Fe, began his career with Colon in Argentina and currently plays for Deportivo Alaves in Spain's La Liga.
Garces has been cleared to represent Malaysia and is expected to feature in a closed-door friendly against Cape Verde on Tuesday, ahead of the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10.
National coach Peter Clamovski welcomed the new addition, describing him as a calm, experienced presence in defence.
"Facundo is a fantastic character," said Clamovski.
"He's a composed defender with leadership qualities and top-level experience.
"More importantly, he's incredibly passionate about representing Malaysia and making the country proud."
Garces, clearly emotional about the opportunity, said pulling on the Malaysian jersey was a moment of great personal pride.
"Being part of this national team is an incredible honour," he said.
"Since arriving, I've felt the warmth, the family spirit, and genuine support from everyone here.
"If this is just the beginning, I can't imagine how powerful it'll be when the whole country is behind us.
"I'm ready to give everything for Malaysia."
With all his paperwork finalised, Garces is eligible for immediate selection and is currently training with the squad during the Fifa international window, which runs from June 2-10.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
SRG.OG pocket RM2.1mil but lose World Cup crown to Team Liquid
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Red Giants ( saw their Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Mid Season Cup x eSports World Cup (MSCxEWC) title defence come to a crashing halt at the hands of Team Liquid Philippines in Riyadh on Saturday. The Filipino powerhouse stormed to a 4-1 victory in the final to clinch their first MSCxEWC crown and pocket US$1 million (RM4.215 million) in prize money. last year's champions, took home US$500,000 (RM2.13 million) for finishing runners-up. Team Liquid entered the grand final as hot favourites, having gone unbeaten throughout the tournament and dropping just two games on their way to the title clash. the reigning Malaysian league champions and three-time domestic winners, endured a rocky group stage, including a shock defeat to Myanmar's Mythic Seal. But the Malaysian side roared back in the knockouts, stunning reigning world champions ONIC Philippines in the semi-finals. They made a flying start in the final, drawing first blood in just 16 minutes. But that was as good as it got as the Filipinos turned the tables and swept the next four games in dominant fashion. will now regroup and shift their focus to Season 16 of the MLBB Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY), which kicks off later this year.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
MLBB boosts Malaysia's esports and youth development, says Adam Adli
MOBILE LEGENDS Bang Bang (MLBB) plays a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia's esports ecosystem and advancing the national development agenda, says Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim. He said the government's support for MLBB stemmed not only from its popularity, but also from the significant impact it had brought to youth development and the digital economy. 'Governments all over the world, including Malaysia, continue to support MLBB because there's a significant contribution... to youth development. 'It is more than just a game—it has boosted digital economy growth, increased youth engagement, and serves as a platform for people to enjoy and truly understand the structured ecosystem of esports,' he said in a statement today. He noted that the Malaysian government had also integrated the game into national school programmes to harness its popularity and develop diverse talents in the industry. 'In Malaysia, for example, we have integrated the game into our national programmes in schools so that we will be able to capitalise on the popularity of the game to make sure our younger generations will be able to further develop their talents through the game. 'We're not just talking about gaming or as athletes... we're developing experts in many areas, broadcasting, coaching, even nutritionists,' he said. Malaysia's MLBB Esports scene has seen remarkable growth in recent years, as seen by the rise of Selangor Red Giants (SRG). The team made history by securing Malaysia's first international MLBB title at the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) 2024, bagging a third of the life-changing USD 3 million prize pool. - Bernama
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Luqman Hakim aims to honor late father by excelling in Super League
NEGERI SEMBILAN FC's (NSFC) new striker, Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin, is determined to fulfill his late father's dream of seeing him become the country's best player through his debut in this season's Super League. The 23-year-old Kelantan native expressed his regret at not being able to see his beloved father, the late Shamsuddin Mahmood, one last time last year. However, his father's hope and support has always been a source of strength for him to chase success in his football career. Luqman Hakim was the first Malaysian player to sign a five-season contract with a major European club, Belgium's KV Kortrijk (KVK), starting in 2020. During that period, Luqman played several times for both KVK's main squad and development team before being loaned to other clubs, such as Iceland's top-tier league team Njarovik FC and Japan's YSCC Yokohama. 'One of the reasons for my return to Malaysia is to be back with my family. Before this, I didn't get to spend time with my father, so this is a chance to spend time with my family, especially my mother. 'My father passed away on Nov 3, last year from a heart attack. At the time, I was busy with back-to-back matches in Japan. I hadn't been in touch with him for a week, only messaging my mother... that situation made me feel down for two months,' he told reporters at the NSFC Jersey Launch and Player Introduction Ceremony at AEON Nilai today. The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan and NSFC Chairman, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, and was also attended by the Tunku Besar Tampin and President of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS), Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri. The youngest of six siblings is determined to rise from the grief of losing a loved one by using the spirit of his late father as the main motivation to make the country proud on the football stage. Meanwhile, the former KVK striker said that despite being abroad for four years, he believes it is not too late for him to rekindle his passion and deliver a more convincing performance in this season's Super League. 'Alhamdulillah, I am very excited to play in the Super League with NSFC. This is an opportunity for me to get my own spirit back, and of course, the supporters in this state want to see positive results,' he said. At the player introduction ceremony, the squad, coached by Nidzam Jamil, also included several other new players, namely Muhammad Azri Abdul Ghani, Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee (captain), while retaining Muhammad Harith Samsuri, A. Selvan, and import player Takumi Sasaki (Japan). - Bernama
