Saifullah Akbar

Saifullah Akbar is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays for Tampines Rovers FC.

Saifullah Akbar
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Saifullah bin Mohammad Akbar[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-31) January 31, 1999
Place of birth Singapore
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Home United FC
Number 43[2]
Youth career
20??–2016 Tampines Rovers FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Tampines Rovers FC 1 (0)
2018-2019 Young Lions FC 24 (3)
2020 Home United FC 1 (0)
National team
2016 Singapore U-19[1][3]
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Youth and early life

At the age of six, he started playing football and quickly gained entry into the then called Five Star Football Academy.[4]

Career

Touted as a prospective football player and one to watch for Singapore,[4][5][6] he participated in the Lion City Cup with Ikhsan Fandi playing for the NFA U-16.[7]

Trialing with Newcastle Jets FC in 2015, their assistant coach indicated that they were interested in a youth team deal with the youngster.[8] However, he couldn't transfer there as FIFA rules prohibit players under 18 from joining a club abroad unless their parents reside and work in that country.[9] Previously, he had a training stint with QPR along with three other Singaporean teenagers[10] that lasted for five days.[11][12] Also, he had a two-week stint at Metz, funded by the Singapore Sport School.[13]

On his first-team debut, he scored a goal to secure a 6-4 win over Hougang United FC[5] in the Singapore League Cup.[14] After training daily with the Tampines Rovers first team throughout the 2015 S.League season, he joined their Prime League squad with the aim of making the Singapore roster for the biannual 2017 SEA Games.[15]

He joined Young Lions FC after his national service and played the out the remainder of the 2018 campaign. While on Trail at CD Tenerife, he did enough to be offered a contract with the club's B team, he however chose to remain with Young Lions for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season due to developmental reasons.[16] Saifullah became a key member of the Young Lions squad that season, featuring regularly at the right wing position under Coach Fandi Ahmad.

International

He represented Singapore in the 2013 Asian Youth Games staged in the provincial city of Nanjing.[4]

In 2016, he was called up for the Singapore U19 team facing the Bahrain U19 selection.[1][3]

Career statistics

Club
As of 29 Sept 2019.[17]
Club Season League Singapore Cup League Cup AFC Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tampines Rovers 2016 S.League 1000520062
Total 1000520062
Young Lions FC 2018 Singapore Premier League 3000000030
2019 Singapore Premier League 213000000213
Total 243000000243
Lion City Sailors 2020 Singapore Premier League 0000000030
Total 00000000243
Career total 253005200305
Notes

    International Statistics
    NoDateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
    15 December 2019Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines Brunei7-0 (won)2019 Southeast Asian Games

    U23 International goals
    As of match played 8 June 2019.
    International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
    No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
    1 5 December 2019Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines Brunei3–07–02019 Southeast Asian Games

    Personal life

    Saifullah's father is Akbar Nawas who helped him volunteer for early national service enlistment.[18] As a hobby, he plays guitar and sings and supports Chelsea.[19]

    References
    1. "Singapore Under-19 to play Bahrain friendlies". Goal.com. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    2. "Saifullah Akbar". 31 January 1999.
    3. "Saifullah hoping for Young Lions' boost against Bahrain". Fourfourtwo.com. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    4. "Saifullah Akbar joins Young Lions with Tenerife move on hold till 2020". FoxSport.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    5. "Saifullah vows to fight on after 'dream debut'". 16 July 2016.
    6. "Lion City Cup". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    7. "Football: Saifullah Akbar, Ikhsan Fandi keen to show calibre at Lion City Cup". Straitstimes.com. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-18. Retrieved 2017-07-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    9. "No Jets deal for Singapore starlet". Fourfourtwo.com. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    10. "Off to London, to train with QPR - The Football Association of Singapore". Fas.org.sg. Archived from the original on 2014-09-29. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    11. "QPR, Day 5 + Saifullah Akbar's thoughts - The Football Association of Singapore". Fas.org.sg. Archived from the original on 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2017-07-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    13. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". Pressreader.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    14. "2016 League Cup: Young Player of the Tournament". FourFourTwo.com. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    15. "The Young Gun – Saifullah Akbar, Tampines Rovers". Fourfourtwo.com. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    16. "The Young Gun – Saifullah Akbar, Tampines Rovers". Fourfourtwo.com. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
    17. Saifullah Akbar at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
    18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2017-07-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    19. "The Boy's a Bit Special: Saifullah Akbar". Fourfourtwo.com. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
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