I doesn't really matter if we are the 1st to do it.. from tht article we can clearly see that he's been to other places as well, Singapore for one. These naturalized athletes will only create controversy if they've won something, if they didn't win anything then I doubt anybody wud make any fuss about it.

From what I see, countries will use naturalized players once they see they can never, ever present a reasonable challenge to sports with local players. Singapore for example, started the trend (I believe) with badminton players, then soccer players, their table tennis players went to the finals last year (or the year be4) & scared the hell out of China. If they's won then definitely China will say tht it was actually China who won becoz all Singapore's players are from China.

If glory is the most important thing for these countries then just import the whole Real Madrid team, naturalize them & U can conquer Asia, but can those countries be proud of the team ? Local players will feel left out & they won't bother trying out for the national team becoz they know the FA will use naturalized players. So development is definitely out. If the local players can take up the challenge & try to be better than the naturalized team, tht's good la.

For the AFF I think the Malaysian team can stand tall & proud even if we lose the finals becoz we did it with 100% local talent & the only local coach in the region. I'm proud of that & I believe we ought to stand firm behind this team & not use naturalized players.

For the record, we also have Irina Maharani (naturalized Russian shooter) & Yuan Yu Fang (naturalized Chinese walker) for the Sukom 98, but they didn't win anything... only at Sea Games level...