KUALA LUMPUR, 11 July – Malaysia remains a prime destination for foreign footballers who are lured by the big bucks in the M-League – reportedly the highest in this region and ahead of Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
This is despite the fact that a handful of teams have run foul over the non-payment of salaries to its players, both local and foreigners with some having taken the matter to Fifa – the world football governing body.
Putting that aside, there are a number of players who claim to have heritage links with this beloved country called Malaysia and want to play for the county. One such player is African Marcel Kasongo Kalonda.
The towering defender, who claimed that his father and later said it was his grandfather who was born in Sabah, submitted his documents to the FA of Malaysia. That was as far as his ‘ancestral’ claims went.
The National Registration Department said, one of the documents were not authentic. That gave away his ruse and FAM wasted no time to put a stop the Kalonda bid. Hats off to the FAM for that.
FAM, however, should also take strong measures not to be carried away with fake agents, especially those who make full use of the social media frenzy, which seems to be the latest trend, and gain support with the hope of making a fast buck.
Of late, even fans have become the ‘voice’ of Malaysian football. It is an unhealthy trend in Malaysian football.
It could be that someone gives them the backing – someone who probably has football links that gives them some sort of assurance and confidence to try their luck.
For the record, Kalonda, 22, plays for Zesco United in the Zambian league.
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