KUALA LUMPUR: Dutch footballer Ferdy Druijf may take a DNA test to see whether the rumours of him having any Malaysian ancestry are true.
Fans have been speculating that the 27-year-old, who plays in the Dutch Eredivisie for PEC Zwolle, could be eligible to play for Harimau Malaya as they claim that his grandmother has Malaysian roots.
Druijf, in an interview with ESPN Netherlands, claimed that a DNA test kit was on his table.
“We don’t know the results yet, but why not? If it’s true that my grandmother has Malaysian ancestry, then of course, I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said.
Druijf has been left puzzled after being linked to the Malaysian team as a potential heritage player.
He was caught off guard by the speculation, which stemmed from a social media account claiming that his grandmother had Malaysian ancestry.
“Yes, this is quite crazy, to be honest. An Instagram account suddenly came up with this (rumour about having Malaysian roots),” said Druijf.
“I didn’t do anything about it, but then everyone started spreading it, and I actually gained more followers on Instagram.
“The account also claimed that my grandmother has Malaysian lineage. But to be honest, they might know more about it than I do.
“Even my parents don’t know much about it.
Previously, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, had identified six to seven heritage players who could strengthen the national squad under head coach Peter Cklamovski.
Harimau Malaya chief executive officer Rob Friend also revealed that a heritage player from Holland is set to join the team soon, with the process of obtaining his Malaysian passport now in its final stages.
With Druijf’s clarification, attention has now turned to the identity of the new heritage player who will be part of the national squad as they prepare to face Nepal on March 25 in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
