Arif Aiman! Ubi mewakili pasukan futsal Milo Malaysia 2018

Perlawanan malam tadi, nama Arif Aiman muncul sebagai penjaring tunggal pada minit yang ke-19 bagi melayakkan Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) ke peringkat suku akhir. Arif Aiman atau nama penuhnya Arif Aiman Bin Mohd Hanapi merupakan pemain termuda yang beraksi dalam perlawanan malam tadi menentang Kuching FA. Tahniah JDT dan coach Benjamin Mora yang berani mempetaruhkan bakat muda untuk beraksi.

Awal kariernya dalam bola sepak, dia telah menyertai Program MyKids 2011/2012 dan kemudiannya memenangi IberCup Costa Del Sol 2015. Pada penghujung 2018, Arif Aiman atau digelar Messi membuat keputusan untuk meninggalkan Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD).

Dalam pada itu, dia sempat mengaktifkan diri dalam futsal di Karnival Futsal Milo Hidup Bola pada tahun 2018 di bawah kendalian Coach Chiew Chun Yong. Dan terpilih untuk mewakili pasukan futsal Milo Malaysia bermain di kejohanan jemputan di Australia.

Namun, minatnya yang lebih mendalam terhadap bola sepak. Dia memilih untuk meneruskan kariernya dengan menyertai skuad Akademi JDT bagi mendapatkan peluang bermain di sana. Nyatanya, dia seperti langkah kanan apabila mendapat perhatian daripada jurulatih skuad Malaysia B18 iaitu Bojan Hodak selepas penampilannya memukau di JDT dalam Piala Belia dan Presiden.

Pada 14 Mac 2020 merupakan first debutnya bersama JDT dalam perlawanan Liga Super menentang Felda United.Untuk perlawanan pertama JDT di TM Piala Malaysia 2020, sekali lagi Arif Aiman diberi kepercayaan untuk berada dalam first eleven skuad JDT dan muncul sebagai penjaring termuda untuk skuad tersebut.

Kami sempat menghubungi Pengarah Teknikal /Ketua Jurulatih Malaysia Coach Chiew Chun Yong jurulatih yang mengesan bakat beliau dari kejohanan Hidup Bola Milo 2018 Bawah 16 tahun

Arif Aiman – I noticed him during Milo Hidup Bola for the selection to participate in MILO Cup held at Australia in 2018. He was selected in my final squad and during all previous training, he and his teammates understood my tactical very well to prepare for the tournament in Sydney. The best impression of him is he able to follow the requirement and the roles as ALA (Flank in football), he performed well in every matches by scoring many goals & assisted some important goals in the competition even though against technically stronger and physically taller of Australian youth players. His INSIGHT ability is special.

Malaysian boys performed well in the competition especially when in 1 v 1 situation, wall pass, support in tight situation and positioning play in attacking as a team. I like their defending character the most during that competition. Arif gained a lot of benefits by involving in FUTSAL tactical training & technical aspects since young age, he almost got into my national team U20 but unfortunately the competition is cancelled. For me he can perform in both sports with his abilities. This is just beginning for him and I believe more to come from Arif Aiman in his football career if he maintain his discipline and character he possessed now.