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Tag: Fandi Ahmad

  • Football: Five Things To Know About Irfan Fandi, Eldest Son Of Singapore Football Great Fandi Ahmad

    Football: Five Things To Know About Irfan Fandi, Eldest Son Of Singapore Football Great Fandi Ahmad

    Irfan Fandi, eldest son of former Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad, has followed in his famous father’s footsteps by representing the Lions as a senior international.

    The 19-year-old was named in national caretaker coach V. Sundramoorthy’s starting line-up for the international friendly match against Hong Kong on Tuesday night (Oct 11).

    Here are five things to know about the teenager.

    Name: Irfan Fandi

    Born: Aug 13, 1997

    Height: 1.87m

    Club: Home United

    Position: Striker/ centre-back

    1. BRIGHT TALENT

    Irfan is widely considered one of Singapore football’s brightest prospects.

    In 2014, he was named by British newspaper The Guardian as one of the top 40 young talents in world football.

    He was also part of the SEA Games team that crashed out of the group stages in Singapore last year. But he impressed whenever he played, particularly when he set up a goal for forward Faris Ramli against Cambodia in the Under-23 competition.

    He is currently serving full-time national service.

    2. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

    The public first caught a glimpse of Irfan’s talent at the 2013 Lion City Cup at Jalan Besar Stadium.

    Despite the pressure on him because of his famous father, Irfan did not disappoint as he scored against the Under-15s of Arsenal and German club Eintracht Frankfurt.

    Apart from his finishing, the teenager impressed with his physical strength, aerial power and sound technique.

    Just like his father, Irfan ha previously worn the No. 17 jersey. Fandi picked it as his lucky number as he believes that one and seven adds up to eight, which means prosperity in Chinese.

    3. STRONG PHYSIQUE

    While Fandi was a pure goal poacher, his son Irfan has begun learning how to terrorise opposing strikers.

    Despite his tender age, the Home United player has a strapping physique and has been playing more as a centre-back in the last 12 months.

    His aerial ability has come in handy on either end of the pitch and he has impressed Sundram with his defensive abilities.

    4. CELEBRITY BABY

    His birth made headlines because a parenting magazine paid a five-figure sum to have exclusive publicity rights to the newborn.

    Hours after he was born, dad was on the pitch again, playing for S-League club Singapore Armed Forces FC (now Warriors FC). Fandi scored the winner in a 3-2 win over Balestier Central (now Balestier Khalsa) and promptly dedicated the goal to his newborn son.

    5. FOOTBALLING SIBLINGS

    Singapore football star Fandi Ahmad and South Africa-born model Wendy Jacobs married in 1996 and their first child, Irfan, was born a year later.

    Following Irfan are four more siblings – brothers Ikhsan, Ilhan and Iryan, and sister Iman.

    Ikhsan, 16, is a striker noted for his ability to dribble at defenders and beat them with individual skill. Ilhan, 13, is named after former Turkey international striker Ilhan Mansiz. In 2013, he scored all four goals for Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) in the National Primary Schools Football Championship final, helping his team beat Henry Park 4-3.

    Iryan, born on National Day in 2006, is an attacking midfielder who idolises Brazil star Neymar.

    Iman’s favourite sport is tennis, but she has also played football as a defender. Her former primary school (CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity) offered neither and she took up sprinting instead. In 2012, she won the 100m final in the National Inter-Primary School Track and Field Championships in 13.68sec. The 15-year-old is now a Singapore Sports School student.

     

    Source: The Straits Times

  • Fandi’s Third Son, Ilhan, 13, Heading For English Football

    Fandi’s Third Son, Ilhan, 13, Heading For English Football

    Both his two elder brothers have done it, and now, Ilhan Fandi (picture), the third son of local football icon Fandi Ahmad, is set to follow in their footsteps and head overseas to continue his footballing development.

    TODAY understands that Ilhan, 13, will travel to England with his parents next week to find a suitable school for him. He will then be able to stay in the country and join an English club’s youth academy in due time.

    In the meantime, Ilhan will train with the England-based i2i Football Academy, which has partnerships with both York College and York St John University and will assist in linking up players with English professional and semi-professional clubs.

    “Ilhan must get into a school first. He can’t get into a English football club yet because he’s underage and we (his parents) are not working there,” Fandi told TODAY.

    “So we’ll need to get him a school before looking for a club for him, but I have some contacts who can recommend a suitable academy for him to join. I think he’s very talented, so I want to give him the same opportunities like what his brothers had.

    “It’s all about experience for Ilhan, and he’ll probably spend about three to four years overseas, depending on how fast and strong he grows.”

    Fandi is confident Ilhan can cope with the difficulty of staying overseas alone at such a young age.

    “He has that mentality, he’s got the passion, he’s got the character and the skills are there,” explained Fandi.

    “It’s his own desire to go to England, although we know it will be hard for him. Irfan and Ikhsan went together so at least they had each other when they were in Spain and South America. But I believe Ilhan has what it takes.”

     

    Source: TODAY Online

  • Football: Fandi Ahmad Named FAS’ Head Coach Of Youth

    Football: Fandi Ahmad Named FAS’ Head Coach Of Youth

    Local football icon Fandi Ahmad has been named the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) new head coach of youth.

    The announcement was made by FAS vice-president Edwin Tong during a media conference on Tuesday (Oct 4).

    Fandi has signed a three-year plus three contract with the FAS.

    He will take charge of the 2018 Asian Games, 2019 and 2021 SEA Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic teams.

    The 54-year-old’s current contract as FAS staff coach is set to end in December.

    The Straits Times had reported last month that Fandi was understood to be mulling over an offer from Malaysia Super League side Pahang FA. He had played for the state team in 1991 and 1992, winning the Malaysian league and Malaysia Cup double in 1992.

    On talk regarding that possibility, Fandi said “the links to Pahang were serious but my heart was always to stay in Singapore”.

    The former national football captain had also previously coached the Young Lions, then the national Under-23 team, from 2003 to 2006, leading them to two third-placed finishes in the S-League – their best-ever showing.

    He rejoined the FAS in late 2013, succeeding current national caretaker coach V. Sundramoorthy as coach of the now-defunct LionsXII. Last year, he led the team to victory in the Malaysia FA Cup.

    On his long-held ambition to coach the senior team, Fandi said: “I still want to coach the national team but maybe in four or five years when this project is over.”

    National youth coach Richard Tardy will remain in charge of the 13- to 18-year-olds, while Fandi will work with those aged 18 to 23 in his new role.

     

    Source: The Straits Times

  • Selamat Tinggal Fandi? Pahang Dilapor Berminat

    Selamat Tinggal Fandi? Pahang Dilapor Berminat

    Ikon bola sepak tempatan, Fandi Ahmad, bakal meninggalkan Persatuan Bola Sepak Singapura (FAS).

    Ia sekaligus mengosongkan jawatan jurulatih dalam pasukan bola sepak negara sebelum berlangungnya perlawanan Piala Suzuki Persekutuan Bola Sepak ASEAN (AFF) November ini.

    Kontrak bekas bintang pasukan Singa itu dengan FAS akan berakhir pada November ini, dan penolong jurulatih pasukan negara itu dipercayai tidak dapat mencapai persetujuan dengan FAS untuk melanjutkan kontrak itu.

    FAS AKAN BERTEMU FANDI PADA 8 SEP

    Mediacorp difahamkan bahawa FAS akan bertemu dengan Fandi pada Khamis ini (8 Sep) dalam percubaan terakhir untuk mengekalkan legenda bola sepak itu.

    Dalam satu kenyataan, jurucakap FAS berkata: “FAS sudah berunding dengan Fandi selama beberapa bulan. Kami melihat Fandi sebagai seseorang yang terus memainkan peranan penting dalam bola sepak Singapura, namun masih terlalu awal untuk memberikan komen kerana rundingan kami masih diteruskan.

    “Oleh itu, butiran-butiran kontrak masih harus dirahsiakan. Kami akan membuat pengumuman sebaik sahaja ada sesuatu yang sudah dimuktamadkan dan boleh diumumkan.”

    Fandi, 54 tahun, yang kini berada di Indonesia, tidak dapat dihubungi untuk memberikan komen hari ini.

    SUMBER: FAS TIDAK DAPAT CAPAI PERSETUJUAN DENGAN FANDI

    Isu utama nampaknya tidak ada kaitan dengan kewangan, sebaliknya sumber-sumber mendedahkan bahawa FAS tidak dapat mencapai persetujuan dengan Fandi tentang peranannya di persatuan itu pada masa depan.

    Dalam mesyuarat-mesyuarat sebelum ini sejak awal tahun ini, Fandi menyatakan peranan masa depan yang diingininya dan membentangkan rancangannya kepada FAS.

    Dipercayai bahawa Jurulatih Terbaik Liga S Tahun 2000 itu mahu fokus terhadap membangunkan pemain-pemain muda. Terutamanya, beliau melahirkan minat membentuk satu pasukan yang layak ke Sukan Olimpik Tokyo 2020.

    Namun, meskipun setelah berbulan-bulan berunding, tiada persetujuan dicapai.

    FANDI DIKATAKAN PERTIMBANG TAWARAN DARI KELAB M’SIA

    Kini, Fandi dikatakan sedang mempertimbangkan beberapa tawaran lumayan dari kelab-kelab bola sepak Malaysia. Beliau dikaitkan dengan jawatan ketua jurulatih di kelab Liga Super Malaysia di Pahang, di mana beliau memenangi Piala dan Liga Malaysia sebagai pemain pada 1992.

    Beliau juga dikatakan mungkin kembali ke Johor sebagai jurulatih kelab Liga Premier Malaysia, Johor Darul Ta’zim II.

    Langkah Fandi meninggalkan FAS mungkin akan menjejas persiapan pasukan negara menjelang Piala Suzuki AFF pada November ini.

    Beliau sudah memegang jawatan sebagai penolong jurulatih Singa – pertama bagi warga Jerman, Bernd Stange dan kemudian penggantinya Sundram – sejak Jun tahun lalu.

    Fandi amat popular dan dihormati oleh pasukan Singa, di mana beliau memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan pemain-pemain muda negara seperti Gabriel Quak, Madhu Mohana, Izwan Mahbud dan Faris Ramli.

    Jika Fandi menyertai kelab Pahang, ia bukan kali pertama beliau akan menjadi jurulatih di kelab Malaysia.

    Beliau pernah berkhidmat di Johor Darul Ta’zim pada 2012 dan 2013, sebelum kembali ke Singapura pada 2014 dan menerajui kelab yang kini sudah dibubarkan, LionsXII hingga menjulang Piala FA Malaysia setahun kemudian.

    Pahang mencatat prestasi mengecewakan dalam Liga Super Malaysia musim ini, dengan pasukan pimpinan Razip Ismail menduduki tempat paling bawah dalam perlawanan 12 pasukan itu, dan hanya berjaya menang sebanyak tiga kali dalam 19 perlawanan sejauh ini.

    Source: Berita MediaCorp

  • Residents Should Be Tolerant Of Activities At Home United Youth Academy, Help Nurture Sporting Talents

    Residents Should Be Tolerant Of Activities At Home United Youth Academy, Help Nurture Sporting Talents

    Earlier we read how void decks were restructured to make it impossible for our kids to play anything there, especially football.

    Why?

    Because residents complained.

    Now…even when our kids play in the field, complains flood the authorities.

    We are not sure if the small minority who keep on complaining represents the silent majority, or simply the small minority is bullying the sports and the relevant authorities….

    Whatever the case, it’s sad to see how some Singaporeans have become less communal, less tolerant and more individualistic.

    The kind of intolerance demonstrated in this particular instance is simply intolerable if we want to see a more vibrant sporting scene in Singapore, or simply if we want to see our kids have a good weekend at sports or simply for them to have a good, clean and healthy fun with neighbours and friends.

    Even though the Home United Youth Academy is a business entity, it is running a cause for the national sports interests – football. If this level of intolerance and bullying continues, we can forget about seeing the return of the likes of Fandi Ahmad and his generation of foodballers in Singapore. It’s as good as dead.

     

    Source: Mohd Khair