JDT Legends Safiq Rahim, Farizal Marlias Bid Farewell To Southern Tigers
JOHOR BAHRU, June 18 (Bernama) – Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) stalwarts Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias have bid farewell to the club after years of dedication to the 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.
bootstrap slideshow
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Ratchanok's recipe for smashing success: Less sugar, more oomph!
The 30-year-old revealed that she has had to cut back on sugary drinks as part of her efforts to stay fit and competitive on the international stage. 21 Jun 2025 05:00pm The 30-year-old revealed that she has had to cut back on sugary drinks as part of her efforts to stay fit and competitive on the international stage. - Bernama file photo KUALA LUMPUR - Thai badminton sensation Ratchanok Intanon's goal of staying at the top of her game at this stage of her career is no longer just about intense training but also about sacrifices, like giving up her favourite beverage - the Thai milk tea. The 30-year-old revealed that she has had to cut back on sugary drinks as part of her efforts to stay fit and competitive on the international stage. The 30-year-old revealed that she has had to cut back on sugary drinks as part of her efforts to stay fit and competitive on the international stage. - Bernama file photo "I usually drink it with a normal amount of sugar but now I ask for less. I don't drink it every day but, if I do, it's maybe just half a cup. "I also had an injury about two or three months ago and I had to make a comeback. Sometimes, you want to win, and you do win, but your condition still isn't really good,' she told reporters after her Malaysia Masters women's singles quarter-final match at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil recently. The women's singles champion in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Malaysia Masters defeated Michelle Li of Canada 24-26, 24-22, 21-12 in a gruelling 77-minute quarter-final clash and will face either top seed Wang Zhi Yi of China or Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh in the semi-finals. "She (Michelle) played quite well and was strong mentally at the start. I tried to get a big lead but she was calmer than me and that put extra pressure on me,' said Ratchanok, who doesn't like to focus too much on past results or head-to-head records. She said her main priority is to always concentrate fully on her own game and ensure she gives her best on the court, regardless of the opponent. Asked about her preparations for the highly anticipated semi-final showdown, Ratchanok kept it simple. "My preparation starts today by eating well and sleeping well. That's very important. If I meet the Chinese player, I know she's strong and likes to play long rallies, so I need to be really fit,' she said. - BERNAMA More Like This
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Pahang's absence a big loss, says former great Zainal
KUALA LUMPUR: Pahang's decision to skip the 2025-2026 Malaysia League (M-League) season is a big loss to Malaysian football, said former Pahang coach Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan. Zainal, who was also a legend of the Elephants squad, admitted to being affected by the development, as the team not only have a long history in Malaysian football – including winning the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup – but have also produced many national players. 'This is a sad decision... however, we must respect it (the decision not to compete). But it's a great loss. 'A huge loss for the country's football, the league and Pahang. I hope the situation will recover and Pahang will return,' he said after attending the WRA Academy Football Clinic at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Stadium yesterday. However, the Football Association of Malaysia executive committee member believes that talent development in Pahang will not be affected by this. 'In my view, what's missing is the senior team, but the youth teams are still active. That's a positive move. 'I hope these young players won't give up and will work hard to restore Pahang's image until the team return to the top league,' said Zainal, who won the Malaysia Cup with Pahang in 1983 and 1992 as a player. On Friday, the Malaysian Football League announced in a statement that Pahang, despite having obtained the 2025-2026 National Licence, had submitted a confirmation letter dated June 16, 2025, stating their decision to withdraw from the M-League. Pahang finished eighth in last season's Super League with 29 points. The last title won by them was the 2018 FA Cup. — Bernama
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Shuttler Yew Sin has no plans to quit after tying knot with Ohori
Looking resplendent: Ong Yew Sin posing with his wife Aya Ohori. — Yew Sin's Instagram PETALING JAYA: Professional men's doubles shuttler Ong Yew Sin is on cloud nine after tying the knot with his sweetheart, former Japanese women's singles ace Aya Ohori. The couple were officially married in a civil ceremony at the National Registration Department (JPN) in Melaka on Thursday. The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Yew Sin shared that he was warmly welcomed by his in-laws, with his father-in-law Hitoshi Ohori, who is also the head coach of the Japanese national team, giving his blessing to the union. 'Thankfully, everything went smoothly, though the language barrier did make things a bit tricky,' said Yew Sin. 'I wouldn't say it was easy or difficult, but I was definitely nervous when I decided to propose.' Yew Sin said he would continue to be based in Malaysia to focus on his career with men's doubles partner Teo Ee Yi, while Ohori may travel back and forth to Japan if any job opportunities come her way. Ohori retired from international competition at the end of last year. Earlier this year, she took up a journalism role covering the Sudirman Cup in Xiamen in April. 'After the wedding, I'll still be based here most of the time as I want to continue playing for a few more years. As for her, she might be flying back to Japan for some work opportunities.' Yew Sin's wedding ceremony took place at the Marriage and Divorce Division of the JPN, where the pair exchanged vows before assistant registrar Nur Fatehah Razali, witnessed by members of both families. Yew Sin admitted that the process wasn't entirely smooth sailing as he had to handle a fair amount of paperwork since his wife is not a Malaysian citizen. Still, he was grateful for the support he received, which helped ease the process. 'It was a bit of a headache, not because of anything major, but simply because this was something new for me. 'I had to ask a lot of questions and settle many things since my fiancee (now wife) is not a local, so the process was quite different compared to what my friends experienced when they got married. 'Each country has its own procedures, but slowly and surely, everything fell into place,' added Yew Sin.
