The start of the 2019 season saw JDT embarking on a new journey in the AFC Champions League, creating history to be the first Malaysian team to be in the group stage proper but there was also a seismic change with the regards to the squad that has not been seen since the rebranding of the team from an association to a club structure.
Since 2013 when JDT was introduced to the world, Safiq Rahim has always been the fulcrum of the team and the number one man when it comes to the creative side of things.