KUALA LUMPUR – Harimau Malaya is planning to strengthen its squad with the addition of Yuki Tanigawa from Kuching City FC in December.
The 27-year-old centreback, originally from Japan, has been playing in the M-League for almost five years and is anticipated to receive naturalisation from his club around the middle of this year.
Speaking to Scoop, Kuching CEO Iswandi Ali Hassan said that the player has caught the attention of scouts from the FAM because of his outstanding performance in the Super League.
Kuching is currently in fourth place in the Super League, with Tanigawa playing a key role in helping them achieve the third-lowest number of goals conceded, trailing only JDT and Selangor FC.
“Tanigawa has been in excellent form this season for our club, and he will be a great addition to the national team in the future. He is monitored by the FAM scouts, and it seems they are interested in bringing him on board.
“He has yet to make an appearance for Japan, and he has been living in Malaysia for nearly five years now. We will begin the naturalisation process by the end of this year. He would be a valuable asset for FAM if they require his services for the national team.
“From our side, we will do our best to support the national team in any way we can. Whether it’s Tanigawa or any other player in our squad, we will proceed with naturalisation if they are part of FAM’s plans,” said Iswandi when contacted.
Tanigawa first came to Malaysia in 2020 when he transferred to Kuching from the Japanese club Kyoto Sangyo on a free deal. He played for Kelantan United in the 2021 season before returning to the Cats in 2022.
As reported by Transfermarkt.com, Tanigawa’s current market value is €200,000, which is approximately RM994,344.
Iswandi has also verified the rumor that Jordan Mintah, who was born in Ghana, is undergoing the naturalisation process and will be eligible to play for Harimau Malaya in December of this year.
“Yes, the rumours are true. We are currently working on his naturalisation process. It will take a few months, and he will be available for the national team if needed by December,” Iswandi added.
Mintah has been a part of the M-League since 2020 and has now met the five-year residency requirement for naturalisation. He initially started with Terengganu II, then moved up to the senior team.
In 2022, he had a loan period with KL City before signing with Kuching City for the current season. – April 9, 2025