KUALA LUMPUR – An Instagram post by Portuguese club Portimonense S.C. claiming that their midfielder, Hector Hevel, has been selected for Harimau Malaya has sent Malaysian football fans into a frenzy.
The post describes Dutch-born Hevel and his teammates, Tamble Monteiro and Kristofer Kait, as the pride of the club after being called up for international duty.
Meanwhile, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, also shared an Instagram story featuring a photo of himself, Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski, and a player believed to be Hevel.
In the image, Cklamovski and the player are seen wearing baju melayu while holding a Harimau Malaya jersey. The post was captioned: “January 31, everyone has reported, only waiting for government approval. Not keen to make a fuss. #merekatakbiasa.”
At a press conference announcing Malaysia’s 27-man squad for the Asian Cup Qualifiers Group F match against Nepal on 25 March, Cklamovski confirmed that three new heritage players are expected to join next week, with their registration process in its final stages.
Previously, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was reported to be awaiting government approval to grant citizenship to four new heritage players for Harimau Malaya. FAM was also said to be finalising documentation for four additional players.
For context, Terengganu FC midfielder Muhammad Safawi Rasid was loaned to Portimonense in 2020 but never made a senior appearance for the club. — March 14, 2025