More Singapore Lions may move to Thai second-tier league
Several Singapore’s national team players may join fellow Lion Hafiz Abu Sujad in the Thai second-tier football league.
Managing Director of Offside Sports, Abdul Halim, who brokered the deal for Hafiz to join Thai League 2 club Big Bang Chula United (BBCU), revealed that negotiations are ongoing to bring at least three more Lions to play in the league.
Halim was in Bangkok Tuesday (10 January) to witness the signing by midfielder Hafiz with BBCU in a one-year deal. Speaking to Yahoo Singapore via a phone conversation, Halim said he is planning to bring national striker Sahil Suhaimi for trials in Thailand.
“My partner, Abbey Jitiwat Youngket, and I are trying to get more Singapore footballers who can rise to the challenge of playing in the Thai League 2,” he said.
Yahoo Singapore understands that two of the potential signings are well-established Lions – a midfielder and a defender.
Hafiz will play in the upcoming season and follow in the footsteps of Singapore’s national goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, who spent a season with Thai premier league club Army United last year before he returned home recently to play for S.League club Home United.
Negotiations between Hafiz and BBCU had been smooth and the player’s commitment also helped seal the deal, Halim said.
“Hafiz was willing to travel to Thailand for trials. My company also has a good relationship with (Thai) clubs,” Halim added.
When asked if the move to the Thai League 2 is a step down from playing in the S-League, where Hafiz was playing for Tampines Rovers, the player said that he sees it as a new challenge in his career.
The 26-year-old, who is a cousin of Singapore’s football legend, Fandi Ahmad, pointed out that he will benefit from playing with skillful Thai footballers in a fast-tempo league.
Hafiz, who has won 34 caps as a Lion, said, “This is an opportunity for me to gain more experience and challenge myself. It is also a way for me to get out of my comfort zone and push myself further.”
Two other Lions are also currently playing in overseas leagues. National skipper Hariss Harun is playing for Malaysian Super League Champions, Johor Darul Takzim, while defender Safuwan Bahruddin is playing for PDRM in the Malaysian Premier League.
