Two Arema Academy Students Chosen In Garuda Select 3

Mohammad Dzulfikar Maliki and Muhammad Iqbal Priambudi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Two young players from the Arema Academy were selected to participate in the Garuda Select 3 program, which is a prestigious program from the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).

Media Officer Arema FC Sudarmaji said the two young players were Mohammad Dzulfikar Maliki who played as a midfielder and Muhammad Iqbal Priambudi who played as a striker.

"Both are among the 26 lists of players who have successfully passed the final selection. Arema Academy continues to strive to contribute to Indonesian football," said Sudarmaji, in Malang City, East Java, as quoted by Antara, Thursday, November 5.

Sudarmaji explained that the entry of the two young players was the second time that Arema Academy contributed to the Garuda Select program. Previously, two Arema Academy players were also included in the program.

"This is the second time that Arema Academy has contributed to the Garuda Select program, previously in the second edition, there were two Arema Academy students who were elected," said Sudarmaji.

Sudarmaji added, in fact, apart from Mohammad Dzulfikar Maliki and Muhammad Iqbal Priambudi, there is one more name, namely Yuniar Eka Firmansyah. However, Yuniar failed to qualify after advancing to the final selection.

Sudarmaji advised the two Arema Academy students not to be complacent because the journey is still long. What the young player will undergo, continued Sudarmaji, is the first step to become a successful footballer.

"Of course we advise not to be easily satisfied with the results achieved, this may be just the first step, there are still thousands or even millions of steps that must be taken to become a successful soccer player," said Sudarmaji.

On the other hand, Sudarmaji hopes that this will be a big motivation for other Arema Academy students. It is hoped that the current Arema Academy students can spur themselves to show their best potential.

"Hopefully this will be a big motivation for other Arema Academy students to be more active in practicing and to work harder," said Sudarmaji.

The choice of these two names is also proof of the existence of the Arema Academy at the Garuda Select event which cannot be underestimated, in the previous edition, Garuda Select 2, there were two Arema Academy players, M Ridyan Taufiq and Muhammad Afin Bahrani.

Garuda Select is a prestigious program from PSSI. The selected players will later attend a training camp in England for six months.