Hidalgo set for Harimau Malaya debut after FIFA clearance

Petaling Jaya: Argentine-born winger Manuel Hidalgo is set to debut for Harimau Malaya after FIFA officially granted clearance for him and two other players. The news comes after days of anticipation following the Malaysian FA (FAM) confirming the eligibility of JDT duo Bergson da Silva and Brad Tapp. Hidalgo's status had been pending verification, but FIFA's Zurich office has now granted the necessary documentation clearance.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman announced that the clearance was received yesterday, and the official list of players is expected to be released soon, likely tomorrow. While three players were processed for clearance, defender Shane Lowry was excluded from the application due to an injury. Lowry was not included as he cannot play due to his injury.

FAM's newly elected president, Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, expressed optimism that domestic clubs, including JDT, would cooperate in releasing their key players for upcoming national assignments. Ghani set an ambitious benchmark for Harimau Malaya, stating that the team must aim for the top and reach the final whenever they enter a tournament.

However, Ghani also acknowledged that football has its ups and downs and emphasized that they will field the best squad available.