Cooly executed: Arif Aiman converting a penalty for Malaysia during their Asian Cup Group E match against South Korea in Doha, Qatar, on Jan 25. — AFP
Under-23 team coach Garrido says young JDT star more suited for senior side
PETALING JAYA: It may not be wise to leave out a player like Arif Aiman Hanapi for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, especially when the talented Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger is still eligible to feature in the competition.
But Malaysia Under-23 football team coach Juan Torres Garrido has a reasonable explanation for not including the 21-year-old sensation.
Garrido said that given Arif’s calibre, he’s more suited for the senior side under South Korean Kim Pan-gon. Besides that, the Spaniard has also finalised his squad for the tournament in Doha from April 15-May 3.
While many fans will insist that Arif can play a vital role in Garrido’s team, who have been set a quarter-final target in the Under-23 Asian Cup with the hope of advancing to the last four which could book them a spot in the Olympics, the Spaniard said he can rely on the boys he has selected for the Doha mission.
“Arif has shown his quality for the national team. For me, he is above my team’s current level. He is meant for the Harimau Malaya first eleven,” said Garrido.
“He is a player who can make a difference, and every coach would love to have him but we won’t call him up since he is a regular in the senior team.”
On whether there are any players in his side who are comparable to Arif, Garrido said there were a few who could reach that level.
Among the promising wingers in the team are Pahang’s T. Saravanan, JDT II’s Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan and Najmudin Akmal Kamal Akmal, and Selangor II’s Aliff Izwan Yuslan and Mohd Abu Khalil.
Some of the Under-23 players reported for the first day of the centralised training camp on Sunday as they prepare to play two games against their Indian counterparts on March 22 and 25.
Once the team arrive in Doha on March 31, they will play two more friendlies against the Under-23 sides of China (April 3) and Qatar (April 7).
“Some players have joined the centralised camp, and there will be a few more joining on March 26. The aim of those in the camp right now is to improve their fitness because their last Under-23 call-up was four months ago,’’ added Garrido.
“It is also good to see four of our players (centreback Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, rightback Azam Azmi Mura and midfielders Nooa Laine and Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi) in the national team for the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 second-round qualifiers against Oman.
“Once they are back, the squad will be revitalised and stronger thanks to their experience in the qualifiers.’’
