PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Dream remains alive for Kobe Jae Chong.
After featuring for several English League clubs for two years, the midfielder is looking for a Malaysia Super League move, as he looks to be a heritage player for Malaysia one day.
Since making his professional bow in 2019, the player, whose father is Malaysian and his mother Jamaican, has played for several English clubs like Sollibull, Banbury, Redditch, Peterborough, Kettering, Barwell, Alvechurch, Nuneaton, Telford and Sutton.
During his youth days, he trained with Italian Serie A side Cagliari and Championship club West Bromwich Albion.
It is with King Lynn’s, that his stock rose with some eye-catching displays in the English League.
The 22-year-old last played for National League North side King’s Lynn in England and arrived in Malaysia two days ago. He believes playing in the Malaysian League would improve his chances of representing Harimau Malaya.
Asked if coming to Kuala Lumpur was to finish his passport process, he said: “Regarding the passport, I don’t have a date for when it will be completed, I know it was being processed before when I was going to join Pahang last year.
“But that move did not happen. It would take another club to help me with the process,” he said.
“There have been a few Malaysian Super League clubs in contact with me but I can’t comment any further than that.”
“I have enjoyed my stint so far in England. Last season, I scored seven goals and had six assists and I got my move back into professional football with Kings Lynn Town.
“My goal is to represent the Malaysian national team and make my Super League and Asian Champions League debut.”
Malaysia has seen an influx of mixed heritage players playing for the national team, with the prominent ones being striker Darren Lok, wingbacks Daniel Ting, Matthew Davies and La’vere Corbin-Ong, and midfielders Brendan Gan and Stuart Wilkin.
Kobe’s arrival has got many interested but the player knows he needs to be at his best if he wants to feature for Kim Pan-gon’s brigade in the future.
