The latest YOU.C1000 poster was released on Monday and it featured a new face - DPMM FC centre-back Wafi Aminuddin. The 19-year-old has represented Brunei at every level and the new poster boy took a quick timeout to have a chat with BruSports News about his career so far.
Q: How do you feel about being selected as the YOU.C1000 ambassador this season?
A: I feel honoured and humbled for being selected as their ambassador this year. I’m grateful to be recognised for the thing that I am passionate about and love, which is playing football
Q: How did you get yourself into playing football? What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
A: I started playing football since I was five. My mum is a big football fan so she sent two of my elder brothers for training every week. That’s when I started to watch them play and followed them to every training session.
My earliest memory was joining the youth national team for in Bangkok when i was only 12.
Q: Can you share a bit about your family? Looks like all your siblings are also into football?
A: I come from a big family. I have five older siblings (three sisters) and one younger brother.
All four boys play football. My eldest brother Ulfi plays in both the football and futsal national teams while the second eldest Afi is currently playing for Kota Ranger and is also a national player.
The youngest one, Bazli, is now in DPMM U-19 and playing for national team as well.
Q: Your mum has been very supportive of you pursuing the sport. How has she helped you grow as a person?
A: She is my number one supporter since day one. She motivates me to never give up and she pushes me to train every single day. Believe me, she never misses a single match. She is even willing to travel and sacrifice her time and energy to watch my match outside the country.
‘Believe in yourself and always think positive’ is what she keeps reminding me. I am who I am now because of her. There are not enough words to describe just how important she is and what a powerful influence she continues to be.
Q: If you didn’t play football, what would you be doing?
A: It would still be in the same sport but coaching.
Q: What is your favourite team and who is your favourite player? Why?
A: To be honest, I don’t really watch EPL or La Liga, hence why my favourite team is DPMM FC but besides that, JDT and Juventus are a few teams that I follow.
My favourite player is Thiago Silva, because he is a captain and he has effective techniques of defending while leading the team from behind. I hope to be like him.
Q: What is the best moment of your football career so far and why?
A: There are a few great moments throughout my career. One was joining Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP), where I won both the u10 and u12 leagues. I was also awarded the top scorer for u12 category.
At the junior level, I would say being the captain for U18 team during the AFF U18 Championship 2017 in Myanmar and winning 3-2 against the Philippines was by far the best moment.
At the senior level, winning against Mongolia (in the World Cup qualifiers) at home was something special, but unfortunately the win was not enough for us to advance to the next round.
My debut for DPMM FC in the Singapore Premier League last year was also memorable as we won 7-1 against Balestier Khalsa FC.
Q: What is the ultimate goal for you in football?
A: My dream would playing in the top football club in the world and achieving the highest level in both club and national team.
Q: You got the call up to play for the national team at such an early age. How is the experience like?
A: It has been a valuable experience for myself and the opportunity to learn from a more experienced player is a great way to better myself.
Q: How do you compare that to playing professionally with DPMM FC?
A: There is actually not much difference because both have experienced players and most DPMM FC players also play for national team. However, DPMM FC have import players and we can learn even more from them.
Q: What is your favourite position to play in and how do you compare them? Think you have played in quite a few positions right?
A: I did play in quite a few positions. I grew up playing striker and central midfielder, and from there i transitioned to play in centre back, which is my favourite to date. I even got a chance to play on the right back position during the AFC Solidarity Cup in Aceh.
Q: Any advice to give to any up and coming footballers?
A: Work hard, keep striving for your goal and always stay DISCIPLINED.
Q: Want to share with us something that we don’t know yet before we end this interview?
A: Fight me but I am and will always be mummy’s boy.
