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Tag: Irfan Fandi

  • Irfan Fandi Not Living In Famous Father’s Shadow

    Irfan Fandi Not Living In Famous Father’s Shadow

    Irfan Fandi admits he did not expected to be called upon so early in the 28th SEA Games during their Group A opener against Philippines on Monday night.

    The forward had not been included in the starting line-up, but was thrown into the fray in front of a sold-out Jalan Besar crowd after 36 minutes with the match still scoreless.

    “Actually, I was quite surprised to come in so early as I thought the coach would put me in the second half to create more attacking options,” Irfan told the press on Wednesday at the team’s hotel base.

    The 17-year-old went on to impress throughout the game with some fine hold-up play, while also creating two good chances for Sahil Suhaimi. He came close to scoring as well, with the Young Lions eventually running out 1-0 victors.

    Fandi family cheers on Irfan

    Irfan also felt “very honoured” to play in front of his family, with father Fandi Ahmad in the stands while mother Wendy Jacobs watched from the VIP area with his siblings.

    “My whole family was there except for my brother (Ikhsan), who’s in Chile, so I just gave everything,” he recalled. “After the game, I saw them and I felt good, and my dad said I played a very good game and should keep on working harder.”

    Head coach Aide Iskandar was pleased with Irfan’s performance, adding that his 1.87m frame gives the team a different dimension in attack. The former Lions captain also believes that he is not living in the shadow cast over him by his famous father.

    “For Irfan, we must make sure that when he’s given a chance to play, he is able to contribute because there are a lot of expectations on his shoulders,” he explained.

    “I believe this boy is strong mentally… a lot of people are comparing him to his father, but I think he’s his own man.”

    While Aide remained coy on whether Irfan would start the next game against Myanmar on Thursday, the player himself is more than ready for it.

    “I just want to focus on my game,” said Irfan, who is the youngest squad member. “Hopefully, if I start or I don’t start, I will just give my best.”

    Adam Swandi (jersey number 5) celebrates as Singapore scores against the Philippines. Photo: SINGSOC/Action Images via Reuters
    Adam Swandi (jersey number 5) celebrates as Singapore scores against the Philippines. Photo: SINGSOC/Action Images

    Aide: Adam is like Pirlo

    However, another starlet in the side looks likely to retain his starting berth, with Aide set to continue using Adam Swandi in central midfield.

    It is a new role for the 19-year-old Adam, usually more accustomed to being deployed further upfront, but Aide is confident the skillful teenager can adapt – and drew comparisons between him and Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo.

    “For Adam, one thing about him is that he has sublime technique, quite similar to Pirlo,” he said.
    “He can orchestrate play from the back and if given a chance to play in front in the number 10 role, I’m pretty sure he can excel now because he knows how to attack and at the same time he also knows how to defend.”

     

    Source: https://sg.sports.yahoo.com

  • Irfan Fandi Makes S League Debut At 17 Years Old

    Irfan Fandi Makes S League Debut At 17 Years Old

    Just hours after signing for the Courts Young Lions, Irfan Fandi made his S.League debut as his team took on Tampines Rovers on Thursday night.

    The eldest son of Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad, who turns 18 later this year, will link up with what is essentially the national Under-23 side until 30 June in order to be part of their preparations for the upcoming SEA Games.

    Irfan, who stands at a strapping 1.86 metres despite his age, was deployed in a centre-back role instead of his usual position as a striker at Jurong West Stadium.

    The teenager acquitted himself well enough at the back with a few no-nonsense clearances, while weighing in with one or two solid tackles. He was also involved in some robust challenges and the number 23’s night ended when he was taken off after 62 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

    It was not Irfan’s first time playing as a defender, having been deployed in the position the Singapore U22s’ recent 3-0 loss to Cambodia’s senior side in a friendly a week ago.

    Irfan, who is on the books of Chilean top-flight side Universidad Catolica, noted that the style of play was different from what he had experienced in South America.

    “I think it was a very good experience for me because the way they play here is different,” he said. “It’s more physical, so I am going have to get used to that and just give my best every time I play.
    “I thought we played really well and I think everyone gave their best; we were just unlucky [to lose].”

    Coach Aide Iskandar explained after the game that Irfan was used as a makeshift defender as captain
    Shakir Hamzah was ruled out due to injury and he was satisfied with his display.

    “I think he did well and now he gives me good options [as] he can play [both] upfront and at the back,” the former national captain said.

    Irfan is likely to see action in his usual striker role as the season goes on, having already proven himself as a threat after scoring a goal each in his last two games for the U23s in their friendly defeats to Japan U22s and Syria U23s last month.

    Touted as one of local football’s brightest prospects and tipped to emulate his father, Irfan will be vying for a spot in the U23s team that will be gunning for a first-ever gold medal in football when the Games come around in June.

     

    Source: https://sg.sports.yahoo.com

  • Irfan Fandi Featured On Cover Of Latest Issue Of Manja Magazine

    Irfan Fandi Featured On Cover Of Latest Issue Of Manja Magazine

    Footballer Irfan Fandi, the 17-year-old son of football legend Fandi Ahmad and model Wendy Jacobs, got a taste of his mother’s profession when he posed for the cover of entertainment and lifestyle magazine Manja. Its 15th anniversary issue will be out on Friday (Jan 23) with two variant covers.

    “This is Irfan’s first ever magazine cover shoot. He is the youngest person ever featured on our cover. We chose him because he embodies our vision for Manja. He is young, very talented and faces up to new challenges. He is set to become an icon ten years down the road.

    “Our vision for Manja is similar – to face up to new challenges and remain an iconic magazine in the next decade,” said Manja editor Ruslina Affandi.

    She added that the first-time cover boy is “very good-looking”. “Irfan is hot both on and off the field!”

    Manja senior writer Aizam Omar revealed that Irfan had been looking forward to being featured in Manja. However, it took some time for her to make the footballer, who recently made it to a list of top 40 best young talents in world football, open up to her.

    “He isn’t quite like your average 17-year-old. He is very reserved and shy, different from the image he has on social media. It took a while for him to warm up,” said Aizam. But once he did, they spoke about everything from what food he can’t live without to the qualities he is looking for in a girlfriend, as well as his desire to play for a European football club.

    Manja’s associate art director Muhamad Azlin, who oversaw the photo shoot, shared Aizam’s sentiments.

    “Initially, Irfan was totally uncomfortable. He was very stiff. We couldn’t get him to smile naturally. I was like ‘Oh man, how is this going to turn out’. But after about half an hour, he warmed to us and became more relaxed,” he said. “The result was good. He has the potential to be a great model. He has the height and he is very good-looking.”

    The February issue of Manja goes on sale on Friday (Jan 23).

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Irfan Fandi To Work Even Harder After Top 40 Achievement

    Irfan Fandi To Work Even Harder After Top 40 Achievement

    SINGAPORE: Irfan Fandi, son of Singapore’s football icon, Fandi Ahmad, was recently named in a list of top 40 best young talents in world football. The 17-year-old was the only Singaporean among six Asian youngsters on the list that was posted on British news site, The Guardian.

    In an interview with Channel NewsAsia on Tuesday (Nov 11), the teenager, currently training in Chile, said he first got wind of it on social media.

    “My teacher from my old school, the Singapore Sports School, told me about this through Instagram,” said Irfan. “At first, I thought she was joking, then she sent me more links to it and then I realised that it was all real.

    “Then after a few hours, I got tweets from people and Instagram pictures, and I felt really happy because I have been working really hard for the past few years. This doesn’t mean that I stop working hard, it only means that I have to work even harder for the next upcoming years.”

    At 1.86 metres tall, Irfan has a significant height advantage over other Asian footballers. He is hoping to gain valuable experience from his training stint in Chile.

    “The biggest change for me is adapting to the weather and also adapting to the playing style here,” he said. “The style of play in Chile compared to Singapore is totally different. Here, it’s really fast, really technical. So I have to work really hard to be at their standard, and then be better than them to play in a higher level than them.”

    His father, Fandi, was the first Singaporean footballer to play in Europe, and said going west is the aim.

    “Definitely, their main target is to play professionally in Europe, anywhere in Europe,” said Fandi. “But because they love football too much, so much, that’s why they are on this path, and they want to carry the name of Fandi Ahmad.

    “Right now, I think focus is on Irfan, as he is already 17 years old. I know it’s not easy for a 17-year-old to sign a contract. It’s against the rules. But slowly, surely, I am sure he will get there.”

    CIMB has offered a 6-figure sponsorship deal to both Irfan and his 15-year-old brother, Ikhsan.

    “I am sure all soccer-loving Singaporeans must feel very proud that one of our home-grown young football talents has been voted one of the Top 40 best footballers,” said CIMB Bank Singapore CEO Mak Lye Mun. “I also read that Irfan’s stint in Chile has made him a better footballer and that was one of the reasons why he was voted, so CIMB is happy that we played a part in that sponsorship.”

    With football scouts sniffing around, there could be a chance that Irfan will eventually follow in his father’s footsteps and play for a European club.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com