Arif makes history with fourth straight MVP crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) star Arif Aiman Hanapi made history by becoming the first player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for a fourth straight time at the 2024-2025 National Football Awards (ABK) on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old dazzled this season with 12 goals and 13 assists, powering the Southern Tigers to the Super League and FA Cup titles and into Saturday's Malaysia Cup final against Sri Pahang at Bukit Jalil.
Arif's fourth MVP crown breaks the previous record held by former national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, who won three in a row from 2010 to 2012.
It was a night to remember for Arif, who also scooped three more awards — Best Midfielder, Best Goal and a place in the Fans XI.
Teammate Bergson da Silva also stole the show by bagging the Super League Golden Boot with a staggering 32 goals.
The Brazilian forward completed his hat-trick of Best Foreign Player titles.
Kuching City boss Aidil Sharin Sahak stunned many by being named Best Coach, edging out Hector Bidoglio (JDT) and Selangor's Kinoshi Katsuhito.
Nominated in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Aidil finally got his hands on the award after guiding Kuching to a shock fourth-place finish in only their second Super League campaign.
Overall, Super League champions JDT dominated the ceremony with eight main awards.
Arif picked up four, Bergson bagged two, while Ahmad Syihan Hazmi retained his Best Goalkeeper title for a third straight year and Feroz Baharudin was named Best Defender for the first time.
JDT also walked away with the Best Team accolade after claiming their 11th league title in a row.
JDT II's Gabriel Nistelrooy Tamin won both the MFL Cup Golden Boot and Best MFL Cup Player, beating Selangor's Haizon brothers, Haykal Danish and Harry Danish.
KL City captain Paulo Josue was named Best Forward and picked up the Super League Golden Boot (Local) with 17 goals.
His teammate Haqimi Azim Rosli won the Best Young Player award.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Best Goalkeeper: Syihan Hazmi Mohamed (JDT)
Best Defender: Feroz Baharudin (JDT)
Best Midfielder: Arif Aiman Hanapi (JDT)
Best Striker: Paulo Josue (KL City)
Best coach: Aidil Sharin Sahak (Kuching City)
Best Foreign Player: Bergson Da Silva (JDT)
Best Young Player: Haqimi Azim Rosli (KL City)
Best MFL Cup player: Gabriel Nistelrooy Tamin (JDT II)
Most Valuable Player: Arif Aiman Hanapi (JDT)
Fairplay Award: Terengganu FC
Best team: Johor Darul Ta'zim
Best Goal: Arif Aiman Hanapi (JDT)
MFL Golden Boot: Gabriel Nistelrooy Tamin (JDT II) – 24 goals
Super League Golden Boot: Bergson da Silva (JDT) – 32 goals
Super League Golden Boot (local): Paulo Josue (KL City) – 17 goals
Best Supporters: Boys of Straits (JDT)
FAN XI
Coach: Aidil Sharin Sahak (Kuching City),
Goalkeeper: Syihan Hazmi Mohamed (JDT);
Defenders: Feroz Baharudin (JDT), Park Jun Heong (JDT), Jimmy Raymond (Kuching City);
Midfielders: Nooa Laine (Selangor), Juan Muniz (JDT), Danial Amier (Kuching City), Nando Welter (Kuching City);
Strikers: Faisal Halim (Selangor), Bergson da Silva (JDT), Arif Aiman Hanapi (JDT).
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