Getting his kicks: Brunei’s hotshot Ramadhan Sananta (left) has already made waves in South-East Asia.
PETALING JAYA: Brunei’s Indonesian young attacking hotshot Ramadhan Sananta is ready to take on a new footballing frontier and has revealed why he decided to test himself in the Malaysian Super League.
The 22-year-old striker said that the presence of top-quality players in the league, particularly at clubs like Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Selangor, was a major reason in his decision to join the team coached by Englishman Jamie McAllister.
This marks Ramadhan’s first foray into Malaysian football and he is not just here to observe but to make an impact.
“My motivation to come here is because I know the level of competition in the Malaysian League is high,” said Ramadhan, who joined the Borneo club from Indonesia’s Persis Solo.
“The teams in the league have quality, good tactics and technique, and I’m still young.
‘‘I need to challenge myself outside of Indonesia and take this opportunity to grow.”
Ramadhan shared that names like winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi –Malaysia’s golden boy – and his former teammate Moussa Sidibe, now dazzling on the flanks for JDT, stood out as players he is excited to face.
“I can’t wait to meet my former teammate Moussa again at JDT. And Arif Aiman, he’s always talked about. There are so many quality players in this league,” he added with a smile.
A prolific striker known for his sharp instincts and cool finishing, Ramadhan has already made waves in South-East Asia.
He was instrumental in Indonesia’s U-23 squad clinching gold at the 2023 SEA Games, netting twice in a thrilling 5-2 final win over Thailand.
His rise continued on the senior stage, scoring in Indonesia’s 3-0 win over Vietnam during the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Now, at Brunei, he is expected to be a key figure in their attacking unit as they prepare to make a serious push in the Malaysian Super League.
With kick-off set for August, Ramadhan is ready to test himself against some of the region’s biggest names and possibly become one himself in Malaysia.
“I want to try something new and help this club succeed. I believe I can grow here and I’m excited to start this new chapter.”
