Arif sets off in search of fame
They are so close a band of brothers that you would expect Hong Kong hockey's famous Ali foursome to live by the musketeers' motto of 'All for one and one for all', right? Yes, they are a tight unit at home, which is right next to the historic mosque in Shelley Street, Central. But on the pitch the youngest of the litter lives by the creed 'Ali for one'. Arif Ali that is.
Maybe this is why he is now getting ready to pack his bags and leave the comforts of home and family for Malaysia, where he will become Hong Kong's first fully fledged professional hockey player. 'I will leave by the middle of this month. I'm very excited at the prospect of becoming the first Hong Kong player to play full-time hockey in Malaysia. It is a high standard and it can only help me improve my game playing against some of the best in the world,' says Arif.
At 22, the world is still at Arif's feet. The youngest of the Ali brothers will play for Army side, the Malay Regiment Force, in the Malaysian national league, which boasts such illustrious names as Pakistan's Sohail Abbas, one of the best flickers in the world, and India's sensational centre forward Dhanraj Pillay. 'The Malaysian league is one of the best, if not the best, in Asia. They get a lot of top players from India, Pakistan and Korea and it is highly competitive. Playing there will help Arif as a player and in turn help Hong Kong's national team,' says SAR coach Mark Bailey.
Bailey hopes Arif, a midfielder, will become the torch bearer Hong Kong need to transform themselves from an Asian second-tier side into an outfit to match the likes of Malaysia, who have made massive strides in recent years. 'His move is very good for local hockey. Arif can be a role model and, who knows, maybe others might follow suit,' Bailey says optimistically.
Hong Kong-born Arif was never a follower. He was a rebel, willing to break ranks and do it his way. So it came as no surprise when, early in his career, he decided against following his three elder brothers - Asghar, Akbar and Asif - into the ranks of Hong Kong's top club, Shaheen.
'I always liked the challenge of playing against my brothers, so I started playing hockey for Kowloon Cricket Club,' Arif relates. 'But then I left them and joined Shaheen in 1997, which was also the year I first played for Hong Kong. That season we made history as Shaheen won all their matches. But then I left Shaheen and rejoined KCC. I have been with KCC ever since.'