Zainal: A good lesson for locals to match the level of talent

New Straits Times

12-06-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Football legend Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan said the presence of seven newly naturalised national players has set the benchmark for local players hoping to wear the Malaysia shirt.
Zainal's comments come after Malaysia's emphatic 4-0 win over Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier in Bukit Jalil last Tuesday, their first victory over the Southeast Asian powerhouse in 11 years.
Heritage players Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero all played crucial roles in helping Malaysia overpower the Red Star Warriors.
Figueiredo, Holgado, Dion Cools and La'Vere Corbin-Ong were all on target for Malaysia.
Zainal said he was impressed by the team's midfield dominance, a long-standing weakness for world No. 131 Malaysia.
Zainal said local players should start working towards matching the standard set by their "heritage" teammates if they hope to break into the starting 11.
"After more than a decade, we finally defeated Vietnam.
"And this time, we did it in style.
"With the heritage players mixing well with the locals, this is a very high benchmark set by the national team.
"This is where the other players must strive to reach a good level. It's a perfect start, and I hope it continues.
"Hopefully, we will soon be known once again as giants in Asia."
How can local players catch up? Zainal believes the answer lies in gaining experience and learning from playing in the same league as these naturalised stars.
"It's an education, a field of learning that's valuable for our players.
"We don't know how long this opportunity will last or how many more heritage players are out there waiting to be discovered.
"But what we have now is a good example, a valuable lesson for those already playing in our league to raise their game.
"They have a chance to challenge for every position in the national team, but this is the benchmark, this is the target.
"They have to get there. And by doing so, our football will improve because our players will start fighting harder for a place in the team."
On the critics questioning Malaysia's inclusion of naturalised players, Zainal said the other countries are also doing the same thing.
"Take Japan, for example. They used to have heritage players. Once their football evolved to a certain level, their local players improved, and now look at where Japan are now, ranked No. 15 in the world.
"This is a good sign for those playing now, especially our local players.
"They can finally see the standard required to represent Malaysia. And they now know, this is what it takes."