JDT GRATEFUL TO HARIMAU MALAYA FOR RELEASING PLAYERS EARLY DUE TO AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE TRAVEL PLANS

Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) requested the early release of Arif Aiman Hanapi, Feroz Baharudin and Matt Davies due to travel arrangements ahead of our AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) match against Shandong Taishan.

We are scheduled to leave for China on November 21, which is only day (Nov 21) after the players return from national team duty following Harimau Malaya’s international friendly against India on Nov 18.

JDT are taking the continent’s elite competition seriously after big investments for this season in hope that a successful campaign will not only elevate the status of the club in Asia but also improve Malaysia’s ranking in Asian club football, which will inevitably benefit Malaysian football as more teams could play on Asia’s elite stage in coming seasons.
We reached an agreement with the Harimau Malaya set-up for goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi to remain with the national team as the Southern Tigers have utilised Andoni Zubiaurre in the ACLE thus far.
We are grateful to the National Team Head Coach Pau Marti and the FA of Malaysia for supporting our cause in the ACLE, and JDT will continue to support Malaysia’s attempt to qualify for 2027 Asian Cup.

Alistair Edwards, Johor Darul Ta’zim FC Chief Executive Officer
Hidup Johor Demi Johor