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After Asian Football Confederation (AFC) named Persib Bandung as Asia's most popular football club, the association named Bambang Pamungkas an Asian football Icon.
On its official page, AFC did a throw back on Bambang's football life when he played for Indonesia and his clubs, beginning from successfully taking Persija to win the 2001 Indonesian League to his international career.
"Bambang Pamungkas has played more times and scored more goals for Indonesia than any other player, boasting a hugely impressive strike rate of almost one every two games," wrote AFC on why they chose the 37-old-player.
Bambang has performed the most, compared to other players, for the Indonesian National football team with 86 caps. Even after hanging up his boots in 2013, the Salatiga Football Academy graduate remains to be Indonesia's top scorer for collecting 38 goals.
"Many consider the striker to be the Garudas best-ever player and Pamungkas is viewed with such esteem in his homeland that he was chosen to be flag-bearer at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, making him a worthy subject in this weeks edition of Asian Icons," wrote AFC.
Bambang has played for Persija Jakarta, EHC Norad (Netherlands), Selangor FA (Malaysia) and Pelita Bandung Raya through his entire career. Now, he has joined a series of world-class player who've been crowned as Asian Icons like Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Hao Haidong (China) and Sami Al Jaber (Saudi Arabia).
"A true legend for both club and country, and a true Asian icon," closed AFC.
(brl/red)
