16-06-2025
Malaysia must adopt Japan's vision to sustain football growth, says former Socceroo
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's football revolution is gathering steam, and former Australian international Scott Ollerenshaw believes it's not just hype, but a glimpse into what could be a golden era for the national team.
With Harimau Malaya's stunning 4-0 win over Vietnam in Tuesday's Asian Cup qualifier, powered by a new wave of naturalised and heritage players, Ollerenshaw says Malaysia may finally be on the right track if they keep their eye on both the present and the future.
"The short and medium term is about these mixed-blood players creating hysteria, and that's not a bad thing," said Ollerenshaw, who has been involved in Malaysian football for over two decades.
"They're winning, playing in top leagues, and getting 61,000 fans into Bukit Jalil. You can't ignore the energy that creates. This is essential groundwork."
Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces and Imanol Machuca starred in the blowout against Vietnam — a match that many believe has changed public perception overnight.
But Ollerenshaw said naturalisation is not the ultimate solution.
"This isn't about passports. It's about building something lasting," he said.
"Yes, they came in and made a difference — physicality, tempo, technique — it was next level. But we need to back it with structure, coaching and development."
He hailed coach Peter Cklamovski's ability to integrate the newcomers quickly.
"To get that kind of performance after five, six days together — pressing hard, winning the ball back, attacking with hunger — it was exceptional," he said.
"I've never seen Malaysia play like that. Credit to the staff. That jigsaw puzzle came together fast."
Ollerenshaw compared Malaysia's evolution to other Asian nations. He cited Japan and South Korea as gold standards, having moved beyond naturalisation by investing in elite youth pipelines and footballing ecosystems.
"Look at what Japan did in the 1990s with the Japan FA reform. Or Korea after the 2002 World Cup. They now produce world-class players through their own systems," he said.
"That's what Malaysia must aim for. Naturalisation is a spark, but you need the engine behind it."
Indonesia have reaped quick gains from their naturalised Dutch-Indonesian influx, while Singapore once flourished with foreign talent under the FA of Singapore's merit-based selection.
But others, like China, have since pulled back due to integration issues and local development concerns.
Malaysia's National Football Development Programme (NFDP) is a good first step, he added, but more is needed, especially with club-linked academies, coaching pathways, and grassroots integration.
"Some Malaysians say they want the team to move forward. But for that to happen, everyone must move forward," said Ollerenshaw.
"The players are showing the way. Now it's time for the fans, the clubs, and the system to follow."
