Club Brugge defender Dion Cools has turned down the chance to represent Malaysia in the 2017 SEA Games, Malaysia U-22 team head coach Frank Bernhardt confirmed.
The 20-year-old footballer was born in Malaysia to a Malaysian father and a Belgian mother. He has played for the Belgium U-19 and U-22, but as long as he has not played for any country at a senior level, he still can choose between Belgium and Malaysia.
However, coach Bernhardt confirmed that the half-Malaysian defender won’t be playing in the 2017 SEA Games, which will be held in Malaysia in August.
“We were told about a player in Belgium. I tried to contact him but it’s hard to get the player to play for the U-23 and U-22 teams because he’s only thinking about the national team,” Bernhardt told reporters.
Cools joined Club Brugge in 2015 and has made 15 league appearances for the club.