GREEN LIGHT FOR IMPORT PLAYERS
PM: Hire naturalised footballers but don't sideline local talents
THE national football team can hire naturalised players but must not sideline local talents, the prime minister said yesterday.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there are many other countries who take on naturalised players to join their national teams.
“Currently, national teams hire players from many countries.”
Tun Mahathir said as a result, European teams have many black players.
“So if we have them (the naturalised players), it's fine.
“But we can’t have all eleven players from other countries.
“We must have local talents playing as well,” he said at a press conference in the Parliament yesterday.
Meanwhile, FA of Malaysia president Datuk Hamidin Amin was a happy man yesterday after receiving the news that Tun Mahathir was open to including naturalised players for the national team.
Hamidin said a committee, headed by FAM deputy president, Datuk Yusoff Mahadi will be mobilised to fine tune the plans to naturalise foreign players.
“I am moved, because Tun Mahathir has always cared and followed the national team’s progress and development.
“It shows the government is playing a positive part in developing the national sport.
“However, FAM will still strengthen grassroots development as recommended by Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Rahman as a long term measure.
“This is to make sure we have a pool of talent in the long run, while naturalisation will help in the short run,” said Hamidin.
Hamidin came up with the naturalisation plan during a dialogue with fans in Kuala Lumpur on July 21, and it has received positive as well as negative responses from many quarters.
Currently, national teams hire players from many countries. So if we have them (the naturalised players), it's fine. But, we can’t have all eleven players from other countries. We must have local talents playing as well,”