KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The wealth of talent in the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) team has been a blessing for the national men’s football team on the international stage.
JDT’s pool of talented local, naturalised and heritage players has helped raise the standards of Harimau Malaya, contributing to the team’s climb of six spots to be ranked 125th in the latest FIFA world rankings.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said this also benefits Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski when it comes to closely monitoring the performances of the national players, a majority of whom represent JDT.
“The presence of JDT players only strengthens the national squad,” he told reporters at the FAM-Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad strategic cooperation signing ceremony here today.
JDT, who have won the Super League 11 consecutive times, recently signed four new heritage players - midfielder Nacho Mendez, striker Joao Figueiredo, defender Jon Irazabal and midfielder Hector Hevel - for the new Malaysia League (M-League) season.
However, only Figueiredo, Irazabal and Hevel have donned the Harimau Malaya jersey, so far. They were in the team that trounced Vietnam 4-0 in the 20207 Asian Cup Qualifiers here last month.
Asked if the wealth of talent available to JDT was unfair to the other M-League sides, Mohd Yusoff admitted that that was true and that the Southern Tigers are miles ahead of their domestic rivals.
“JDT has had to do that (bring in naturalised and heritage players) because they are competing at the highest level, such as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite competition and have trained their sights on the FIFA Club World Cup competition.
“JDT’s preparations are definitely right on track and we, as the national team, must take advantage of the situation. The presence of so many talented and skillful players in the JDT team gives us the opportunity to build a solid national team as well,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
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