While Southeast Asia is getting better at finding footballers, Malaysia is getting worse at producing them.
That may be the more uncomfortable lesson from the Fifa Asean Cup.
The tournament showed how quickly national teams are widening their talent pools. Heritage players, diaspora footballers and naturalised recruits have become an important part of the equation.
Harimau Malaya had 12 such players in its squad — nine with heritage links and three naturalised through residence. They finished third.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that. A player with genuine family ties can represent a country with every right to do so. A footballer who has made Malaysia his home can also become a legitimate member of its national team.
