KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) is leaving the decision on whether to enlist more heritage players to strengthen Harimau Malaya in the hands of the national coaches.
The national body is closely monitoring mixed-blood players playing in various international leagues.
However, these players must take up Malaysian passports first to represent Harimau Malaya.
FAM secretary general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said requests for new players should be initiated by national coach Kim Pan Gon and his assistant, Juan Garrido, who also serves as the head coach for the national Under-23 and Under-20 teams.
"We have identified a few players with Malaysian ancestry, but we are open to information on other heritage players," said Noor Azman.
"The decision on whether to include these players rests with Pan Gon and Garrido."
Noor Azman said FAM has proposed three to four players to Garrido for evaluation.
For the record, Malaysia had 13 naturalised players in their team for the recent Asian Cup in Doha.
Key talents linked to Malaysia include Heracles Almelo's Sem Scherperman (21 years old) and Diego Van Oorshot, and Wigan Athletic midfielder Christopher John Bernard Sze, 20.
The others are striker Ethan Wheatly, 21, representing Manchester United's Under-21 team, Manchester City's Under-15 midfielder Daniel Batty and PSV Eindhoven's Jason van Duiven (18), and Robin van Duiven, representing the club's Under-18 squad.
