Great news Malaysia football fans.

Malaysia’s national football team, Harimau Malaya returns as a playable team in video games after significant absence for over 12 years. Having last appeared in a football game via FIFA 2002 (we stand corrected should this info is erroneous), Harimau Malaya is now playable in eFootball following the recently minted two-year license agreement between the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Konami, the developers and publishers of the long-standing football video games franchise.

The team roster will also be updated constantly to reflect real-life national team selection, especially during international tournaments.

This will also mark the debut of Harimau Malaya in a Konami football game. In short, the team roster, official jersey design and player likeness will be fully realised in the game which is available for free on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and mobile.

In celebration of this announcement, Konami and FAM are also set to launch exclusive and interactive campaigns aimed to connect eFootball with Malaysia’s football-loving community. Special activations, competitions, and events designed to engage fans in unique ways and highlight the pride and passion that define Malaysian football culture are already planned.

Konami Digital Entertainment Limited Managing Director, Mr. Michio Takahashi, shared his excitement saying “Konami remains committed to delivering meaningful and innovative ways for fans to engage with eFootball while fostering the universal love of the sport that transcends borders.”

“Collaborating with FAM, one of Southeast Asia’s most renowned football associations, and the iconic Harimau Malaya, allows us to celebrate Malaysian football’s vibrant energy. This partnership also gives eFootball players a unique opportunity to connect with and represent the pride and passion embodied by Harimau Malaya on the global stage.” he added.

Deputy President of FAM, Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Haji Mahadi thanked Konami for their unwavering support and dedication in working closely with FAM to further enhance the gaming experience and placing Malaysian football on the global stage. He also confirmed that this is an exclusive licensing agreement between FAM and Konami.

When asked about the inclusion of Malaysian leagues and clubs into the game, FAM Secretary General, Datuk Noor Azman said that discussions of it will be brought forward between the Malaysian Football League (MFL) and Konami.

This would definitely be a welcomed step forward having last seen Malaysian league teams and clubs feature in a video game going all the way back to 1997.

More recently, legendary striker and the national hero following his illustrious career and exploits at the 2010 Suzuki Cup, Safee Sali was accorded a special EPIC-status player card in eFootball. The EPIC-status card, part of the Harimau Malaya Stars series, highlights his enduring legacy and showcases the partnership’s commitment to honouring Malaysian football excellence.

Safee Sali shared his pride:

“I’m truly honoured to receive this EPIC-status card in eFootball™. It’s a proud moment for me and for Malaysian football. I encourage Malaysians to join the game and play as our national heroes—Arif Aiman, Dominic Tan, Paulo Josué, and myself. Together, let’s show the world what Malaysian football is capable of and continue to ignite passion in fans everywhere.”

While on the other hand (more like foot) Konami has been making some great strides recently, most significantly having scored a deal with FIFA as an official esports partner. Their most recent update also saw a special collaboration with the hugely popular football manga and anime, Captain Tsubasa. 

Football games is in a good state right now, with all the big players; Konami and EA Sports welcoming debutants UFL, developed by Strikerz Inc.  Having more developers competing for football fans’ attention will only bring good competition for the video games and esports scene in general.