National Team - Lions ● Jun 13, 2018
OVERSEAS WATCH: Lions in Malaysia and Thailand
A closer look at how our Singapore National Team players are doing in Malaysia and Thailand
Hariss Harun celebrates in JDT colours. (PHOTO: JDT)
Hariss Harun (Johor Darul Ta’zim) – Malaysia Super League (MSL)
The Singapore National Team skipper helped his club Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) bag seven points out of a possible nine in their three recent fixtures in the Malaysian Super League (MSL).
The central midfielder played the full 90 minutes in all three matches, including back-to-back home wins over title rivals Pahang FA and Perak.
JDT currently occupy the top spot in the MSL with 35 points and enjoy a comfortable eight-point cushion over second-placed Perak in the league standings.
Recent fixtures
27/5/18: PKNS 0-0 JDT (MSL)
2/6/18: JDT 2-0 Perak (MSL)
8/6/18: JDT 1-0 Pahang FA (MSL)
Safuwan Baharudin (Pahang FA) – MSL
JDT’s MSL title rivals Pahang FA, too, have a Singapore international on their books in Safuwan Baharudin. The 77-cap Singapore International earned a yellow card against Kedah FA on 22 May, when his team suffered a 2-0 defeat, their third of the league campaign.
The 26-year-old bounced back in convincing fashion, scoring a goal and helping Pahang keep a clean sheet as his club secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Kuala Lumpur FA in their next match.
Scoring against Kuala Lumpur meant that Safuwan has now scored against 20 different MSL clubs, a feat that no other player in his generation has achieved.
Safuwan faced fellow countryman Hariss Harun in their clubs’ most recent fixture, where JDT came up on top in a 1-0 victory.
Recent Fixtures
25/5/18: Pahang FA 4-0 Kuala Lumpur FA (MSL)
2/6/18: PKNP 1-2 Pahang FA (MSL)
8/6/18: JDT 1-0 Pahang FA (MSL)
Faris Ramli (PKNS) – MSL
PKNS are currently sixth in the MSL standings having topped the charts on Match Week 3. Faris Ramli has featured prominently for the club he joined earlier this year and scored in their latest victory on 13 May – a 3-2 success over Kuala Lumpur FA.
Faris’ PKNS are win-less in their last five matches having drawn three and lost two over that period. Their win-less run started on 23 May against Melaka United – whom fellow Lions Shahdan Sulaiman plays for as an ASEAN import.
Recent Fixtures
3/6/18: Negeri Sembilan 3-1 PKNS (MSL)
6/6/18: Selangor 2-1 PKNS (MSL)
10/6/18: PKNS 2-2 Selangor (MSL)
Shahdan Sulaiman (Melaka United) – MSL
Shahdan Sulaiman has enjoyed a decent debut season for Melaka United in his first overseas stint as a professional. The 30-year-old has featured regularly for his club, which currently lie 10th in the league standings following two away wins in their last three league matches.
Recent Fixtures
1/6/18: Kedah FA 0-2 Melaka United (MSL)
5/6/18: Kuala Lumpur 3-4 Melaka United (MSL)
9/6/18: Melaka United 2-4 Kuala Lumpur (MSL)
Zulfahmi Arifin in-action for Chonburi FC. (PHOTO: Chonburi FC)
Zulfahmi Arifin (Chonburi FC) – Thai League 1
Zulfahmi Arifin has played in 11 of Chonburi’s 18 league fixtures to date this term. The midfielder played 57 minutes in his clubs’ latest league match against Royal Thai Navy FC, whom fellow countryman Gabriel Quak represents at club level.
Recent Fixtures
19/5/18: Nakhon Ratchasima 0-1 Chonburi (Thai League 1)
26/5/18: Chonburi 0-1 Port FC (Thai League 1)
10/6/18: Royal Thai Navy FC 3-1 Chonburi (Thai League 1)
Gabriel Quak (Royal Thai Navy FC) – Thai League 1
Gabriel Quak started in two of his club’s last three league matches and scored a consolation goal – his second of the season – against Port F.C. in a 7-1 loss on 19 May.
The 27-year-old became the first Singaporean to score in the top flight of Thai football when he netted in a 3-2 win over Sukhothai in March.
Gabriel did not feature against Chonburi FC, which could have pitted him against fellow Singaporean Zulfahmi Arifin.
Recent Fixtures
19/5/18: Port F.C. 7-1 Royal Thai Navy FC (Thai League 1)
26/5/18: BEC Tero Sasana 6-3 Royal Thai Navy FC (Thai League 1)
10/6/18: Royal Thai Navy FC 3-1 Chonburi (Thai League 1)
Baihakki Khaizan (Udon Thani FC) – Thai League 2
Baihakki Khaizan was part of the Udon Thani FC defence that kept two clean sheets in the past three league matches. The veteran defender played the full 90 minutes in all three matches, helping his club secure back-to-back home wins against Sisaket and Samut Sakhon.
Udon Thani currently lie seventh in Thai League 2, having been defeated by Thai Honda FC in their latest fixture in the league.
Recent Fixtures
19/5/18: Udon Thani FC 2-0 Sisaket (Thai League 2)
27/5/18: Udon Thani FC 3-0 Samut Sakhon (Thai League 2)
9/6/18: Thai Honda FC 3-2 Udon Thani FC (Thai League 2)
Izwan Mahbud (Nong Bua Pitchaya) – Thai League 2
Izwan Mahbud joined Baihakki with two clean sheets in his past three matches, helping his club to top spot in the Thai League 2 standings with 31 points, one more than second-placed PTT Rayong FC.
Izwan’s good form this season is a huge reason that Nong Bua have conceded a league-low of just eight goals this season. Additionally, Nong Bua Pitchaya are the only club in Thai League 2 that have conceded less than 10 goals after 15 league matches.
Recent Fixtures
20/5/18: Rayong 0-2 Nong Bua Pitchaya (Thai League 2)
27/5/18: Nong Bua Pitchaya 4-0 Kasetsart (Thai League 2)
10/6/18: Lampang 1-0 Nong Bua Pitchaya (Thai League 2)
Hassan Sunny (Army United) – Thai League 2
Hassan Sunny has featured prominently for Army United this season. He kept a clean sheet against Lampang on 27 May in a stalemate away from home.
Army United are currently 11th in the Thai League 2 standings.
Recent Fixtures
19/5/18: Army United 3-3 Kasetsart (Thai League 2)
27/5/18: Lampang 0-0 Army United (Thai League 2)
10/6/18: Army United 1-6 Rayong FC (Thai League 2)
