1. Early Life and Background
Pratama Arhan Alif Rifai was born on 21 December 2001, in Blora Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. His formative years in football began early, with a structured youth career that saw him develop his skills at several local clubs. He played for SSB Putra Mustika from 2012 to 2015, followed by SSB Terang Bangsa from 2015 to 2018. From 2018 to 2019, he further honed his abilities at the youth academy of PSIS Semarang, preparing him for his eventual professional debut.
2. Personal Life
Pratama Arhan's personal life has drawn public attention, particularly his marriage and the subsequent scrutiny regarding his relationship with his father-in-law, a prominent political figure.
2.1. Marriage and Family
Arhan married Nurul Azizah Salsha, the daughter of Andre Rosiade, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, on 20 August 2023. The wedding ceremony took place at the Indonesian mosque in Tokyo, Japan, where Arhan was playing professionally at the time. The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Erick Thohir, who was then the Chairman of the PSSI and served as a witness to the marriage. Arhan is of Javanese ethnicity.
2.2. Relationship with Andre Rosiade and Controversies
Arhan's marriage to Azizah Salsha, whose father Andre Rosiade is a politician, has led to public speculation and controversy in Indonesian football circles. Some Indonesian football enthusiasts have alleged that Arhan has been used as a "political tool" by his father-in-law. These allegations intensified following reports of a "marriage contract" which purportedly stipulated that Arhan was obliged to pursue his football career abroad for ten years. This perceived demand for his career to be played overseas, rather than allowing him to return to Indonesia, has raised questions among fans about whether his professional decisions were being influenced by external pressures, rather than purely footballing considerations. Critics often pointed to his subsequent limited playing opportunities at foreign clubs as evidence of this alleged influence.
3. Playing Style
Pratama Arhan is widely recognized for his distinctive playing style, primarily characterized by his exceptional ability to deliver powerful and long throw-ins. This unique attribute allows him to turn defensive situations into dangerous attacking opportunities, with throws capable of reaching opponents' penalty boxes from significant distances. He is often nicknamed pelempar lembingjavelin throwerIndonesian in Indonesia due to the power and accuracy of his throws, and even compared to players like Trent Alexander-Arnold by some media outlets for his ability to create goals from wide positions.
Beyond his renowned throw-ins, Arhan possesses strong free-kick abilities, contributing to his team's offensive output from set pieces. While primarily a left-back, he is a versatile player capable of operating across various defensive and midfield roles. He can effectively play as a wing-back, right-back, or even as a midfielder. His versatility is complemented by his capacity to score goals from long-range shots outside the penalty area, a skill he has demonstrated on several occasions.
4. Club Career
Pratama Arhan's professional club career has seen him play for teams in Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, with varying degrees of success and playing time.
4.1. PSIS Semarang
Arhan made his senior debut for PSIS Semarang during the 2021 Menpora Cup, a pre-season tournament for the 2021 Liga 1 season. He played all 90 minutes in each of his team's four matches in the tournament, demonstrating his immediate impact. During this competition, he scored two goals, one of which was a notable free-kick widely regarded as one of the best goals of the tournament. His impressive performances earned him the Best Young Player award for the 2021 Menpora Cup.
He made his official league debut in Liga 1 on 4 September 2021, in a match against Persela Lamongan. Arhan's journey with PSIS Semarang concluded after the 2021-22 Liga 1 season, with his final match being a narrow 0-1 defeat against Bali United at Ngurah Rai Stadium in Bali.
4.2. Tokyo Verdy
On 16 February 2022, Pratama Arhan officially signed with J2 League club Tokyo Verdy on a two-year contract. The transfer was a free one, facilitated by a special clause in his contract with PSIS Semarang that allowed clubs from Thailand, Japan, and Europe to acquire him without a transfer fee. Tokyo Verdy's interest was significantly sparked by Arhan's impressive performances for the Indonesian national team during the 2020 AFF Championship.
Arhan made his league debut for Tokyo Verdy on 6 July 2022, in a 1-0 victory against Tochigi SC. On 19 January 2023, his contract was renewed by Tokyo Verdy ahead of the 2023 season. Despite the renewal, his playing opportunities remained limited. He participated in two matches of the 2023 Emperor's Cup, where Tokyo Verdy eventually lost to their capital city rivals, FC Tokyo, in the third round on 12 July 2023. On 6 August 2023, Arhan played for 10 minutes in his second league match overall and his first in a year, during a 0-1 home loss to Shimizu S-Pulse at Ajinomoto Stadium. Ultimately, due to a lack of playing time, Tokyo Verdy announced his contract termination on 13 January 2024, as he was no longer part of the club's plans for the upcoming season.
4.3. Suwon FC
On 16 January 2024, Pratama Arhan signed with K League 1 club Suwon FC for an undisclosed fee, marking his move to the South Korean top flight. This transfer made him the first Indonesian player to join a K League 1 team and the second Indonesian player to play in the K League overall, following Asnawi Mangkualam who played for Ansan Greeners FC and Jeonnam Dragons in the K League 2.
His debut for Suwon FC occurred on 26 May 2024, as a substitute against Jeju United. However, his appearance was short-lived; he entered the field in the 73rd minute but was immediately shown a red card just three minutes later, making for a regrettable K League 1 debut. This incident, combined with extremely limited opportunities, meant he did not play significant minutes for the club. His contract with Suwon FC was not extended, and his departure was officially announced on 2 January 2025, after having only played a total of 3 minutes for the club throughout his tenure.
4.4. Bangkok United
On 7 January 2025, Thai League 1 club Bangkok United reached an agreement to sign Pratama Arhan, marking his move to Thai football. He made his debut just five days after the signing, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute during a 3-2 victory against Buriram United.
5. International Career
Pratama Arhan has been a key figure in Indonesia's national football teams, representing his country at both youth and senior levels and contributing to significant achievements.
5.1. Youth National Teams
Arhan first debuted for the Indonesia U-19 team on 5 September 2020, in a friendly match against the Bulgaria U-19 team in Croatia, during a two-month training camp. He later captained the U-19 team in another friendly match against the North Macedonia U-19 team, which ended in a draw.
His contributions extended to the Indonesia U-23 squad, where he made 10 appearances and scored 2 goals. Most notably, he played a pivotal role in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, helping Indonesia secure the gold medal in football. This victory was particularly significant as it marked the country's first SEA Games football gold medal in 32 years, and the first ever for the U-23 national team.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 September 2023 | Manahan Stadium, Surakarta, Indonesia | Chinese Taipei | 9-0 | 9-0 | 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification |
| 2. | 12 September 2023 | Manahan Stadium, Surakarta, Indonesia | Turkmenistan | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification |
5.2. Senior National Team
Arhan received his first call-up to the senior Indonesia national football team in May 2021. He earned his first senior cap on 25 May 2021, in a friendly match against Afghanistan in Dubai. On 19 December 2021, Arhan scored his debut goal for the national team with a powerful long-range shot against Malaysia in Kallang, during a 2020 AFF Championship match, where he was also named man of the match in Indonesia's 4-1 victory. He scored his second goal on 25 December 2021, against Singapore in the second leg of the semi-final, contributing to a 4-2 victory after extra-time. For his outstanding performances throughout the tournament, Arhan was awarded the "Young Player of the Tournament" and was also included in the "Team of the Tournament."
He continued to be a crucial player, making two assists on 24 September 2022, in a friendly match against Curaçao, one of which came from his signature long throw-in, contributing to a 3-2 win. Arhan was again called up for the 2022 AFF Championship. On 2 January 2023, he provided another assist from a long throw-in to Dendy Sulistyawan in Indonesia's 2-1 away win against the Philippines at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Arhan was also named in the final squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In the group stage match against Japan, his long throw-in led to a crucial moment where Sandy Walsh scored a goal after an erroneous header by Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, demonstrating the impact of his unique attacking weapon even against top-tier opponents. He also played a part in Indonesia's historic qualification for the AFC Asian Cup round of 16 for the first time, contributing to a 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the group stage.
6. Honours
Pratama Arhan has accumulated several team and individual honours throughout his burgeoning career.
6.1. Team Honours
- Southeast Asian Games gold medal: 2023 (with Indonesia U-23)
- AFF Championship runner-up: 2020 (with Indonesia)
6.2. Individual Honours
- Menpora Cup Best Young Player: 2021
- Menpora Cup Best Eleven: 2021
- AFF Championship Young Player of the Tournament: 2020
- AFF Championship Team of the Tournament: 2020
7. Career Statistics
7.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PSIS Semarang | 2020 | Liga 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 2 | 13 | 2 | |||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 2 | 13 | 2 | |||
| Tokyo Verdy | 2022 | J2 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Suwon FC | 2024 | K League 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| Bangkok United | 2024-25 | Thai League 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | |
| Career total | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 2 | ||
The "National cup" column includes appearances in the Emperor's Cup and Thai FA Cup. The "Other" column for PSIS Semarang includes appearances in the Menpora Cup. The "Continental" column for Bangkok United includes appearances in the AFC Champions League Two.
7.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 2021 | 14 | 2 |
| 2022 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 18 | 0 | |
| Total | 54 | 3 | |
7.2.1. International Goals
Indonesia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Arhan goal
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 December 2021 | National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore | 12 | Malaysia | 3-1 | 4-1 | 2020 AFF Championship |
| 2 | 25 December 2021 | National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore | 14 | Singapore | 2-2 | 4-2 - | 2020 AFF Championship |
| 3 | 27 January 2022 | Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, Indonesia | 16 | East Timor | 2-1 | 4-1 | Friendly |
8. Evaluation and Impact
Pratama Arhan has emerged as a significant figure in Indonesian football, primarily due to his highly distinctive and impactful playing style. His powerful and accurate long throw-ins are considered a unique weapon that can disrupt opposition defenses and create direct goal-scoring opportunities, earning him the nickname pelempar lembingjavelin throwerIndonesian. This ability has not only made him a fan favorite but has also drawn comparisons to renowned players like Trent Alexander-Arnold for his offensive contributions from a full-back position.
Despite his notable contributions and successes with the Indonesian national teams, including a SEA Games gold medal and runner-up finish in the AFF Championship, his club career, particularly his recent stints in Japan and South Korea, has been challenging due to limited playing time. This situation has led to public debate, with some segments of Indonesian football fans expressing concern that his career trajectory may have been influenced by factors beyond purely sporting merit, particularly in light of allegations regarding his father-in-law's involvement and supposed contractual demands for him to play abroad. Such discussions highlight the complex interplay of personal, professional, and societal pressures faced by prominent athletes. Regardless of these challenges, Arhan's unique skills and contributions to the national team continue to make him an influential player and a symbol of pride for Indonesian football.