Arif Aiman ready for more responsibilities after Spanish stint
Appointed as Puma Football's latest ambassador today, the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) star said the training camp in Europe had given him renewed belief.
"The (M-League) season is about to start, and I've prepared intensely. I spent pre-season in Spain and gained a lot of experience and confidence from it," said the 22-year-old.
"I learned a lot facing strong and competitive European teams. Preparation is always the key to my success, not just for every season, but for every moment ahead."
Arif, who captained the JDT team in Spain, said the armband had only inspired him to grow further.
"It was an honour, and I'm proud of the trust given to me. I didn't see it as pressure, but as an opportunity to showcase myself as a player and as a captain. I've learned a lot from it."
On the presence of naturalised heritage players in the national team, Arif said: "The arrival of new players and heritage players helps me to become a better player. These are guys who've played in top leagues like Turkey and Portugal, and I'm learning from them."
He also addressed the growing debate among fans over Harimau Malaya's recent withdrawal from the Central Asian Football Association Nations Cup in favour of friendlies against Singapore and Palestine on Sept 4 and 8 respectively.
"As a player, I don't focus on the outside noise. I'm just concentrating on what's ahead of me now," he said.
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