Finding that Silva shine: Bergson the attacking spark Cheng Hoe’s seeking in national team

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Malaysia's national football team will feature naturalised players Bergson da Silva and Brad Tapp in the upcoming Asean Cup after FIFA confirmed their eligibility. Their inclusion aims to strengthen Malaysia's attack and defense as the team competes in Group A against Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh in the September tournament in Jakarta.

Malaysia’s national football team will include naturalised Brazilian forward Bergson da Silva and defender Brad Tapp for the upcoming Asean Cup, following clearance from FIFA. The tournament is scheduled from September 24 to October 5 in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Malaysia drawn in Group A alongside regional rivals Indonesia, Singapore, and invited South Asian team Bangladesh.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed that FIFA’s review of the eligibility of both players, who are currently with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), has been completed positively under international regulations. Bergson, 35, and Tapp, 25, will now be available for selection as the national team seeks to enhance its attacking and defensive options.

Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe expressed optimism that Bergson’s inclusion would address a longstanding need for a prolific goal scorer, referring to the forward as a potential solution to Malaysia’s goal-scoring challenges. “He needs to play as a team player and gel with the others, but having spent a long time in Malaysia, integrating into the national team won’t be a problem for him,” Cheng Hoe said. On Tapp, the coach highlighted the defender’s physical presence as a boost to the team’s stability at the back, though he acknowledged that Tapp remains new to the Malaysian league and will need time to adapt.

The addition of these two players is part of a broader strategy to refresh the squad, with Cheng Hoe hopeful they will bring new impetus to the national side. However, the status of two other naturalised JDT players—Argentinian winger Manuel Hidalgo and Australian centreback Shane Lowry—remains uncertain as FIFA continues to verify their eligibility. FAM is awaiting official confirmation and has committed to full cooperation with FIFA, including the timely submission of all requested documentation.

Cheng Hoe indicated that Hidalgo, known for his technical ability and speed, could further strengthen the squad if cleared. Lowry, meanwhile, is sidelined due to a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the international window. The coach said squad finalization is nearly complete, pending decisions on Hidalgo, and emphasized the need to maintain a broad pool of players given ongoing domestic league commitments.

Veteran Kuala Lumpur and national team striker Paulo Josue endorsed the selection of the naturalised players, noting Bergson’s strong performances in the Malaysian league. Josue described the attacking combination of Bergson, Arif Aiman Hanapi, and Faisal Halim as formidable and expressed willingness to support the team from the bench.

Malaysia’s progression in the Asean Cup will depend on topping their group to secure direct entry to the final, while group runners-up will contest a third-fourth place playoff. The inclusion of Bergson and Tapp reflects Malaysia’s efforts to bolster their competitiveness in the regional tournament.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.