KUALA LUMPUR: Two Brazilian-born footballers, Paulo Josue and Endrick Dos Santos, have earned national call-ups for Malaysia's international friendlies against Turkmenistan (March 23) and Hong Kong (March 28) in Johor.
Newly naturalised Josue and Dos Santos were among 14 new faces drafted in by national coach Kim Pan Gon. Nine players from the previous national team were retained.
The South Korean surprisingly put naturalised players Lee Tuck and Sergio Aguero on the standby list with 11 other players although the duo have been regulars in the Super League.
Among the newcomers were goalkeepers Damien Lim and Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, Fayadh Zulkifli Amin, Daniel Ting, Feroz Baharudin and the Finland-born Nooa Laine.
The 20-year-old Laine previously trained with the national team for the Under-23 Asian Cup. However, his citizenship documentation could not be completed in time, and he missed out on the assignment.
Johor Darul Ta'zim players dominated the national call-up list with 11 players, including Syamer Kutty Abba who is making a return from injury.
The national team will begin centralised training in Johor Baru on Saturday.
THE 23-MAN SQUAD — Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed, Shahrul Mohd Saad, La'vere Lawrence Corbin-Ong, Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, Akhyar Abdul Rashid, Matthew Davies, Syafiq Ahmad, Syahmi Safari, Syamer Kutty Abba, Feroz Baharudin, Endrick Dos Santos, (JDT); Darren Lok, Dominic Tan, Stuart Wilkin, Daniel Ting, Damien Lim (Sab); Brendan Gan, Faisal Abdul Halim, Quentin Cheng Jiun-Ho, Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee (Sel); Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi, Fayadh Mohd Zulkifli Amin (Ked); Nor Azam Abdul Azih (Sri Pahang); Paulo Josue (KL City); Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman (NS); Dion-Johan Cools (Buriram United); Nooa Laine (Sjk Seinajoki).