JDT legends Safiq Rahim, Farizal Marlias bid farewell to SOUTHERN TIGERS
The club announced the duo's departure via a tribute on its official Facebook page, recognising their years of commitment, leadership, and achievements that helped shape JDT into a dominant force in Malaysian and regional football.
Safiq, 37, joined JDT in 2013 and has been instrumental in the team's success, including captaining the side to the historic 2015 AFC Cup victory, the first time an East Asian club clinched the prestigious continental title.
Over the course of 270 appearances, the attacking midfielder netted 59 goals and provided 68 assists, helping the club secure an impressive list of honours - nine Malaysia Super League titles, seven Charity Shields, four Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups, and one AFC Cup.
Farizal, 38, who donned the JDT jersey in 2015, on the other hand, established himself as one of the country's finest goalkeepers, keeping 102 clean sheets in 222 appearances.
His tenure saw him win 10 league titles, nine Charity Shields, five Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups and the historic AFC Cup in 2015.
The Johor-born duo are widely regarded as legends, not only for their on-field success but also for their leadership and influence within the club.
Yesterday, JDT confirmed the release of 11 players ahead of the 2025–2026 M-League season through a post on social media.
Among those released were goalkeepers Farizal Marlias and Izham Tarmizi, as well as midfield legend Safiq Rahim.
The Southern Tigers also parted ways with seven foreign players, Jordi Amat, Jese Rodriguez, Murilo Henrique, Jonathan Viera, Alvaro Gonzalez, Roque Mesa, and Anselmo de Moraes, as the club looks to refresh its squad for the upcoming campaign.
The eleventh departure is Ramadhan Saifullah, who has completed a permanent transfer to Kuching City FC, officially bringing his journey with the Southern Tigers to a close.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Amri's famous goal still haunts Van der Sar after 16 years
KUALA LUMPUR: "I know you — I think I've seen you before." That was the reaction of former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar when he met his old tormentor, Amri Yahyah, at a recent event in Johor Bahru. It was their first encounter in 16 years — since Amri scored that memorable long-range strike past the Dutchman during a friendly between Malaysia and Manchester United at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in 2009. In a video shared by a TikTok user, Van der Sar was seen shaking hands with Amri before immediately recognising the Malaysian forward. "I was told he (Amri) would be coming. My friend showed me the video (of the goal). It was an amazing strike," said the former Champions League winner. "I understand why you're so proud of it. All the fans were celebrating the goal. I think it's one of the best goals I've ever conceded. It's great to see you again." In 2009, Van der Sar looked stunned and in disbelief after being beaten by Amri's left-footed volley — a goal still fondly remembered by Malaysian fans. United had taken a 2-0 lead in the opening 30 minutes of that match through goals from Wayne Rooney and Nani, but Amri pulled one back just before half-time with a thunderous effort. He then added a second after the break to level the match 2-2. Michael Owen eventually netted a late winner to seal a 3-2 victory for the Red Devils. In May, Manchester United returned to Malaysia for the first time since 2009, but were stunned 1-0 by the Asean All-Stars in Bukit Jalil.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'Only JDT look serious': Analyst slams sorry state of Super League
KUALA LUMPUR: The new Super League season kicks off on Friday — but the domestic campaign is already under threat, with poor pre-seasons, lack of ambition, and fading interest raising serious concerns. While defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) look sharp after a solid pre-season tour in Spain, many other clubs appear unprepared — a worrying sign for both the league's competitiveness and the national team's preparations. The curtain-raiser comes in the form of the Charity Shield clash between JDT and Selangor at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, but critics say excitement around the new season is notably lacking. "There's a lot of uncertainty in the Super League, except for JDT," said football analyst Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim. "It feels like some clubs are participating just for the sake of it. Pre-season has been subdued, with hardly any teams going abroad like they used to." Zulakbal warned the domestic league's stagnation could lead to a slow start, with players lacking sharpness, low crowd turnouts, and financial hits due to poor gate receipts. "Clubs don't seem to have the funds for proper pre-season prep," he added. "Some don't even bother because they believe no one can challenge JDT. That kind of mindset is damaging for Malaysian football." JDT's dominance — 11 titles in a row — has made the M-League highly predictable, with many clubs seemingly surrendering before a ball is even kicked. The deeper concern is the impact this may have on Harimau Malaya, with two crucial friendlies coming up during the Fifa window against Singapore (Sept 4) and Palestine (Sept 8). National coach Peter Cklamovski has already warned that he needs players to arrive fit and match-ready as the games are warm-ups for the Asian Cup qualifiers. "If players arrive unfit, low on confidence, or carrying knocks, it will hurt the national team," said Zulakbal. "Singapore are always a tough derby, and Palestine narrowly missed out on the 2026 World Cup. We need our best players at their peak."
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Two 'bogey pairs' loom for Wei Chong-Kai Wun in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's doubles Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are no longer flying under the radar, but the rising Malaysian pair still have two towering obstacles standing in their way at the upcoming World Championships in Paris. The world No. 7 have enjoyed a remarkable season, winning the Indonesia and Malaysia Masters and breaking into the world's top 10. Yet they remain winless against the two dominant forces in men's doubles — South Korea's world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae and China's world No. 5 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang. Wei Chong-Kai Wun have lost both of their matches against the Korean pair, including a three-game defeat in the Japan Open quarter-finals last month. Their struggles against the Chinese are even more pronounced, having fallen short in all five meetings so far. Their most recent clash came at last year's Arctic Open quarter-finals, where they pushed Wei Keng-Wang Chang to three games before bowing out. "The Chinese pair... we've never beaten them. But that doesn't mean we're afraid or don't like facing them," said Kai Wun. "We've lost to Won Ho-Seung Jae twice already too," he added. "Every time we play them, we give our all. Maybe luck just hasn't been on our side." Now ranked inside the world top eight, the Malaysians are bracing for the possibility of facing one of these top seeds as early as the quarter-finals in Paris. "Anyone in the top 10 can win. So we can't say too much. But of course, our target is to try and bring back a medal from the World Championships," said Kai Wun. The pair resumed training on Monday following a week-long recovery after competing in the China and Japan Opens where they reached back-to-back quarter-finals. Despite their growing reputation, Wei Chong-Kai Wun are well aware that their physical conditioning and consistency need to improve if they are to challenge the sport's elite. "There's no such thing as being satisfied. We're still chasing bigger goals. Besides the World Championships, we also want to qualify for the World Tour Finals," said Kai Wun.
