Serious battle: JDT’s Arif Aiman Hanapi (right) vying for the ball with Ulsan’s Kim Min-woo. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) East Zone seems to be a fun playground for Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) mercurial winger Arif Aiman Hanapi.
Despite being just 22 years old and playing in a team filled with foreigners and mixed-heritage players in their starting eleven, Arif has been the standout player for the giants in the premier Asian competition.
He produced a man-of-the-match performance in their 3-0 demolition of K-League 1 champions Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday.
The 1.70m tall player scored the first goal in the eighth minute and assisted Spanish-Filipino wingback Oscar Arribas’ goal in the 67th minute. The third was scored by Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva in the 88th minute.
The youngster has now scored four goals and made one assist in four matches in the ACLE campaign.
He is just two goals shy of current top goalscorer Jasir Asani of Gwangju while Al-Hilal’s star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic also has four goals to his name.
In Tuesday’s match, the Kelantan-born had a passing accuracy of 89%, won 100% of his duels, and created six chances and three shots on target.
Though Arif makes football look so easy with his deft touches, dribbling and calm finishes, he says it is indeed a challenge to play in a top-level competition like the ACLE.
“It is not easy to perform at the highest level, especially in the ACLE competition and the opportunity was used as best as possible to score goals,” said the three-time Malaysia Football League (MFL) Most Valuable Player.
“Honestly, I admit that preparing to face such a big match requires confidence in myself and I am grateful when I can score goals and we play as a team which is our strength.
”Being the only player who doesn’t speak Spanish on the field, many wondered how Arif communicates with his teammates, with the majority of them speaking Spanish or Portuguese including South Korean centreback Park Jun-heong.
Jun-heong speaks Portuguese as he used to play in Portugal for clubs like Pinhalnovense, Armacenenses, Atletico CP and Academico de Viseu.
But Arif said it was not an issue at all.
“On the field, yes, there are Spaniards and Brazilians, they will speak their languages but when on the field, when I speak directly to them, it is in English, so there are no issues in it.
“I was told there were more than 34,000 fans for the game against Ulsan.
“I am happy to be part of such an atmosphere and the team are also glad to give happiness to them.”
