Kuala lumpur: Young footballers should emulate and draw inspiration from the achievements of Harimau Malaya ace Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi in their quest to reach the highest level, said Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Yusoff added that the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player’s nomination for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year award is proof that local talents are capable of competing on the Asian stage if they possess a high level of discipline and work ethic. He emphasized that this nomination is a first for a Malaysian player and highlights the capability of local players on an international platform.

Mohd Yusoff expressed his belief that young players must make Arif Aiman their role model, suggesting that with hard work, they too can achieve success comparable to the best in Asia. He stated that Arif Aiman’s achievements demonstrate that factors such as origin or lineage are not definitive in determining a player’s ability to represent the national team.

He further noted that while there is often a focus on heritage players, the critical aspects in football are quality and performance. Mohd Yusoff reiterated that many local players have significant potential but need to enhance their discipline, hard work, and commitment to reach higher levels.

He hopes that Arif Aiman’s historic accomplishments, including his four consecutive wins as the National Football Awards (ABK) Most Valuable Player (MVP), will inspire young players to aim for greater achievements. The winner of the 2025 AFC Award will be announced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, tomorrow.