Muhammad Alfharezzi Buffon, known simply as Ezzi, never imagined that his middle name, inspired by Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon, would eventually symbolize his own story of resilience. The name was chosen by his father, a former goalkeeper himself and an admirer of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad. Born on April 28, 2006, in Jakarta, Ezzi grew up not with a golden ticket in hand, but with a condition that made every breath a battle: asthma.
Ironically, that very illness became his gateway to football.
Back in elementary school, I joined a football academy to help treat my asthma. It’s hereditary. The doctor said I needed physical activity, something outdoors. So I gave it a shot and joined Maesa Cijantung Football School. I already liked football, so it just clicked. At 12, I was scouted by a local club.
From that local team, Ezzi eventually earned a trial with Borneo FC U-16, one of the top youth squads at the time. He made the cut.
That’s when things started to get serious, around 2018. After some time in the youth squad, I got a shot with the senior team. I passed the trial and made my Liga 1 debut at 16.
That debut came on March 4, 2023. Just a teenager, Ezzi found himself playing in Indonesia’s top-tier league, something most kids his age only dream about.
But Ezzi’s biggest breakthrough came not from club football, but from the three times he failed to make the national team. Each failure left a scar, and eventually, fuel for something greater.
The first rejection came during the AFF U-16 selection. Ezzi tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss out. The second was even harder to swallow, he didn’t make the final cut, and Indonesia went on to win the tournament.
I thought to myself, I could’ve been part of that team.
But the hardest hit came when he was dropped from the U-17 World Cup squad. Indonesia was hosting.
I went through the entire selection process and made it through. But just days before we were supposed to fly to Germany for training camp, I was told I wasn’t selected for the final 23. I didn’t even feel disappointment anymore. I just felt a fire to prove I belonged. So I kept training. I kept working.
Back at Borneo FC, his fight continued. Though officially promoted to the senior squad, match minutes were hard to come by. His coach offered him a choice: drop down to the junior side to get regular playing time.
In the senior team, I didn’t play much. The coach said if I wanted to play more, I should rejoin the youth squad for the Elite Pro Academy. I agreed. I played regularly, and during the semifinal, the U-19 national team coach happened to be watching. That’s how I got scouted. I was invited to the national camp again, and this time, I made it. I debuted with the U-19 national team in the AFF tournament, and we won.
That debut was nothing short of spectacular. In the AFF U-19 Championship 2024, Ezzi scored the winning goal against Malaysia in the semifinal. Despite sustaining a head injury and playing with his head wrapped in bandages, he pushed through, becoming a symbol of grit. That goal sent Indonesia to the final, where they clinched the title.
Even with the victory, Ezzi remains grounded. He knows he still has a long way to go.
I still have to learn a lot and get more playing time. For role models, I look up to Sergio Ramos internationally. But in Indonesia, I admire Rizky Ridho.
At just 18, Ezzi’s mental fortitude already mirrors that of a seasoned pro. He’s been shaped by rejection, held steady by patience, and driven by a quiet but unshakable will.
I never thought I’d get this kind of opportunity at such a young age. Of course, I’m proud.
His story isn’t just about football. It’s a story of transformation, from a boy wrestling with asthma to a young man carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. And he’s only just begun.
