FAM rejects Congolese player who claimed Sabah heritage
There have been
concerns over foreign players claiming Malaysian heritage seeking to enter
Harimau Malaya or state and club teams.
PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has
rejected an attempt to obtain citizenship by a Congolese defender claiming
Malaysian heritage.
FAM secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam said Marcel Kalonda, 22,
claimed that his father and grandfather were from Sabah.
However, the National Registration Department found that Kalonda
had used an invalid document in what FAM said was an attempt to enter the
national team.
Ramalingam said FAM had also sought the assistance of the Congo
Football Association and consulate to verify Kalonda’s claim.
Kalonda’s case caused worry over video gamers acting as talent
scouts to bring foreigners with ancestral ties to Malaysia into Harimau Malaya
as well as state and club teams.
Kalonda, who turned out for Zambia’s Zesco United in the
Confederation of African Football Champions League, was recommended by a local
gamer, Zulkifli Malik.
Zulkifli had written about Kalonda in an entry in a football
blog titled “A Malayan tiger in Zambia. My name is Marcel Kalonda and I am
Malaysian”.
He also recommended a player from New Zealand, Harry Edge, while
another unidentified gamer chanced on England-based Kobe Jae Chong.
Ramalingam yesterday advised football fans against getting
overly excited about a player with Malaysian ancestral background, saying
foreign players seeking Malaysian citizenship would be subject to strict
screening.
He said their performance would also be evaluated by technical
experts.
Under Fifa rules, players must have a parent or grandfather born
in the country that they wish to represent.
Foreign-born players must live in the country of their choice
for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 without having played for
another national team.
BLOG VERSION
Tony Mariadass
The FA of Malaysia have issued a stern warning to video gamers and
anyone on the hunt for foreigners, hoping to turn them into Malaysia’s next
football stars, in the wake of of important document submitted by Marcel
Kasongo Kalonda from Congo with claims
to have mixed blood of Malaysia, was found to be unlawful after a review with
the National Registration Department (NRD).
In a statement released by FAM general
secretary Stuart Ramalingam, it was stated: “FAM would like to advise everyone,
especially netizens and football fans not to be overly enthusiastic or overly
excited when they hear the news of a player having mixed blood Malaysian
ancestral background, as they need to go through the process of verifying
documentation before the player can be considered for wearing a Malayan Tiger
shirt.
FA of Malaysia also warned any individual not
to commit offences such as falsifying documents of Malaysian citizenship and
national sovereignty.
FMT
had reported on June 21 that a local gamer,
Zulkifli Malik, had recommended a Kalonda, and a New Zealander, Harry Edge, to
the Football Association of Malaysia while another unidentified gamer alerted
FAM to England-based Kobe Jae Chong.
Zulkifli had wrote about Marcel in a football blog - The
Football Pink: “A Malayan tiger in Zambia. My name is Marcel Kalonda and I am
Malaysian.”
These video gamers comb the databases of games like “Football
Manager” to locate foreigners who have an ancestral background in Malaysia.
These gamers have added a worrying dimension to the question of
allowing foreigners into the national team.
FA
of Malaysia in their statement released last night said: “After the story of
Kalonda allegedly having mixed blood with Malaysian ties was widely reported on
social media and followed by news reports citing Kalonda herself claiming his
father and grandfather were from Sabah, the first step FAM took was to contact
Kalonda for confirmation.
“FAM informed Kalonda on the eligibility of
players to represent the Malaysian national team, the Tiger of Malaya, under
the rules set by the International Football Federation (FIFA) and had provided
a checklist for the player to submit the necessary documents to FAM for the
purpose of its verification and validity study.
“Upon receipt of the required documents from
Kalonda, FAM took the next step of contacting the relevant parties for validity
of the documents received, including sending a letter to the Federation of
Congolese Football (FECOFOOT) and representatives of the Congo Consulate in
Malaysia, as well as contact the NRD for review and confirmation of related
documents.
“Subsequently, yesterday (Monday, July 6,
2020), FAM received a letter from the NRD informing that upon review and
investigation, one of the documents was found to contain invalid information.
“After contacting Kalonda to inform the NRD of
the review and investigation, FAM hereby decided to close the proceedings and
next steps.
“FAM are strict in the process of verifying
player status and we do not compromise on the terms and methods that must be
followed, before technical experts evaluate the level and performance of the
player.
“It is the responsibility of the FAM upon
receipt of such information on any said player, to take necessary steps by
conducting investigations, investigations and confirmations before making any
official statement and for that reason FAM has never made any official
statement regarding Kalonda.”
Stuart when contacted, reiterated that FAM applies strict vetting on foreign footballers seeking
Malaysian citizenship.
Stuart had earlier described the case of 22-year-old Kaloda, who
plays in Zambia, as a “social media drama”.
Marcel turned out for Zambia’s Zesco United in the Confederation
of African Football Champions League.
Under Fifa rules, players must have a parent or grandfather born
in the country that they wish to represent.
Foreign-born players must live in the country of their choice
for at least five years, after reaching the age of 18, without having played
for another national team.
Ends.
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