PETALING JAYA: Mixed-heritage players Richard Chin and Kobe Jae Chong are set to make their debuts with Harimau Malaya.
Both the England-based players are going through the documentation process to be Malaysian citizens, which will allow them to play for the age-group sides or national team in the future.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin revealed that all due processes could be completed in a month or two.
“The home ministry is processing it,” said Hamidin after a Townhall session with the fans at the Raia Hotel in Terengganu on Thursday.
Plying his trade with Charlton Athletic, Richard, 20, made his bow in the English League when he played for 72 minutes in the club’s 1-1 draw with East Green at the Valley Stadium in London on Sept 13.
He became the first player of Malaysian descent to feature in the English League.
Richard is born to a Malaysian father and mother who hails from Seychelles.
Richard has been with Charlton since he was six and made his first team debut in 2021 when he played against Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy.
Kobe, 21, has played for several English League and non-league clubs since making his professional debut in 2019.
He has played for sides like Redditch, Banbury, Peterborough United, and Telford United and his last club was Nuneaton. He is currently a free agent and is on the lookout for a club.
Hamidin also vowed to maintain the quality and standard when picking naturalised players.
“They must have class and standard, and be able to add depth to the national team,” said Hamidin, who also assured that the positions of locals will not be affected despite the influx of naturalised and mixed heritage players in the national team.
It is learnt that Terengganu’s Montenegrin centreback Argzim Redzovic and Kuala Lumpur’s Colombian midfielder Romel Morales have also applied to be Malaysian citizens after playing for more than five seasons in Malaysia.
In the current squad, the naturalised players are midfielders Paulo Josue, Lee Tuck and Endrick Dos Santos. The mixed heritage players are defenders Matthew Davies, Daniel Ting, La’Vere Corbin Ong, and Junior Eldstal; and midfielders Nooa Laine, Stuart Wilkin and Natxo Insa.
