Safuwan Baharudin

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

This is a Malay name; the name Baharudin is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Safuwan.

<templatestyles src="Module:Infobox/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Safuwan Baharudin
200px
Safuwan with LionsXII in 2012
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Safuwan bin Baharudin[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-22) 22 September 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Singapore
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Centre-back / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 PDRM FA
Number 21[3]
Youth career
2005–2009 National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Young Lions 57 (9)
2012–2015 LionsXII 48 (10)
2015 → Melbourne City (loan) 6 (2)
2016– PDRM FA 11 (2)
International career‡
2010– Singapore 53 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:09, 25 May 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:21, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

Muhammad Safuwan bin Baharudin (born 22 September 1991) is a Singapore international footballer who currently plays as a defender or midfielder for PDRM FA in the Malaysia Super League. He is known for being a technical player with good pace, excellent reading of the game well and a ball-playing defender. He also has a knack for scoring goals.

Predominantly a centre-back, his attributes and versatility also allow him to play as a defensive midfielder or as a forward when required.

Club career

Early years

Safuwan started out playing as a striker during his Institute of Technical Education years and subsequently as a midfielder at the National Football Academy (NFA).[4][5] Salim Moin, his NFA Under-17 coach, was credited with switching him to the centre-back position he currently plays in.

Young Lions

Safuwan began his professional football career with S.League club Young Lions in July 2009, after he was promoted from the National Football Academy Under-18s.[6]

Safuwan was one of the Young Lions players that got involved in an on-pitch fight with several Beijing Guoan Talent players in their S.League match on 7 September 2010. He was charged by the FAS for gross misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute, and was fined S$2,000 for his part in the brawl.[7]

LionsXII

In December 2011, the FAS announced that Safuwan will join the newly formed LionsXII in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. The Lions finished runners-up in their debut season.

File:Starting eleven of the LionsXII against Kuala Lumpur FA during the Malaysia Super League, Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore - 20120117.jpg
Safuwan in the starting eleven of LionsXII playing against Kuala Lumpur FA, 17 January 2012

Safuwan formed a strong understanding with Baihakki Khaizan in central defence as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League with the competition's best defensive record. He contributed with five goals in 26 matches. Amid interest from Thai, Indonesian and rival Malaysia Super League sides including T-Team, he put pen to paper in a new two-year deal with LionsXII in November 2013.[8][9][10][11]

Safuwan capped off his league performances by becoming the first male recipient of the annual Straits Times Athlete of the Year award in 2013.[12]

Following the departure of regular defensive partner Baihakki in 2014, Safuwan formed a new partnership with new LionsXII recruit Afiq Yunos. He also showed his versatility with lauded displays in advanced midfield and attacking roles.[13][14] Safuwan's performances up front and LionsXII's poor goal scoring form led to head coach Fandi Ahmad having to consider playing him as a forward in more games.[4] Safuwan started in an advanced midfield role behind striker Khairul Amri in a Malaysia Super League match away to Sarawak on 15 March.[15] On 25 March, he scored a late winner over Perak to send LionsXII up to 5th in the league table. He scored his second goal in as many games four days later as LionsXII drew 1–1 with T-Team and followed it up with the opener off a Shahfiq Ghani cross against Sime Darby on 5 April.

Melbourne City

On 29 January 2015, it was announced that Safuwan had signed a 3-month loan contract with A-League team Melbourne City.[16]

Safuwan earned the contract after his standout performance at a MCFC's training camp in Abu Dhabi, which was held from 10 January 2015 to 19 January 2015. He attended the training camp as part of a development opportunity arranged with the FAS. The club substantiated the decision to take Safuwan on loan with his impressive performances during the training camp, both as a centre back and as a full-back during the club's two friendly matches in the UAE. In the friendly matches, he was pitted against several notable players, such as former Juventus striker Mirko Vučinić. He played as a substitute in the side's second friendly match with Ukrainian Premier League outfit FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, with the match concluding in a 1–1 result.

Safuwan made his debut for Melbourne City in the A-League on 7 February 2015 for the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Victory. Safuwan scored his first goal for the club against Adelaide United on 27 February 2015.[17] He scored his second goal just a couple of weeks later, against Western Sydney Wanderers to hand his side a 1-0 lead although they could not hang on to the lead and crash to a 3–2 defeat in the end.[18]

Following a spine injury that he sustained in a competitive match against Wellington Phoenix, Safuwan's loan contract was allowed to lapse and was not renewed, despite earlier rumours stating that the club was interested in offering him a permanent contract.[19] After his release, Safuwan returned to play for the LionsXII in the 2015 Malaysia Super League season.

In July 2015, it was reported that there was interest from J.League club Yokohama F Marinos to sign Safuwan on-loan for the rest of the season.[20] Despite Safuwan stating he was open to a second move overseas, even if it was on a short-term contract, the move ultimately did not materialise, and Safuwan remained with the LionsXII.

PDRM FA

Upon the dismissal of LionsXII from the Malaysia Super League following the end of the 2015 season, Safuwan was linked with multiple Malaysian and Thai football clubs upon noting his potential availability.[21] On 18 December 2015, initial reports state that Safuwan was close to signing a one-year contract with PDRM FA for the 2016 Malaysia Super League season.[22] The move was officially confirmed on 22 December 2015, with the transfer fee estimated to be approximately S$45,000.[23]

International career

Youth

Safuwan was part of the Singapore national under-23 football team that won the bronze medal at the 2009 and 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

Senior

File:Giovinco 20140816.jpg
Safuwan keeping the ball off Sebastian Giovinco of Juventus in a pre-season friendly on 16 August 2014

Safuwan made his international debut for Singapore at the age of 18 in a King's Cup match against Thailand on 17 January 2010.[5][24]

Safuwan contributed with impressive displays as the senior team won the 2012 ASEAN Football Championship in a record fourth title. He found himself increasingly paired with Baihakki Khaizan with regular centre-back Daniel Bennett gradually phased out of the national team set-up.

National team coach Bernd Stange believes that Safuwan's best position will eventually be as a defensive midfielder. He stated, "With hard work, he can become a great defensive midfielder. By sitting in front of the defence, he can utilise all of his qualities – namely stamina, speed, football intelligence, finishing and brilliant heading ability."[25]

Apart from national team commitments, Safuwan was also part of the Singapore Selection XI squad on several occasions. The selected squad are made up of current Singapore international footballers, as well as players currently participating in the S.League. Safuwan has appeared in all four matches that the Singapore Selection XI has played thus far, such as in the Peter Lim Charity Cup match against 2013–14 La Liga champions Atlético Madrid,[26] a pre-season friendly match against Juventus,[27] as well as in the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy held in Singapore at the National Stadium.[28]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 May 2016[29][30][31][32][33]
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Lions 2009 15 1 0 0 0 0 — 15 1
2010 26 4 5 0 0 0 — 31 4
2011 16 4 — — — 16 4
Total 57 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 62 9
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2012[34] 13 3 2 0 4 1 — 19 4
2013[35] 18 3 1 0 7 2 — 26 5
2014[36] 17 4 2 1 0 0 — 19 5
2015[37] TBC — TBC TBC
Total 48 10 5 1 11 3 0 0 64 14
Club Season A-League FFA Cup Asia Total
Melbourne City (loan) 2014–15[38] 6 2 — — 6 2
Total 6 2 — — 6 2
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
PDRM FA 2016 11 2 4 1 0 0 — 15 3
Career total 122 23 14 2 11 3 0 0 147 28
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.

International

International goals

No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 Feb 2013 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa  Bahrain 2-1 3-1 Friendly
2[39] 7 June 2013 New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos  Laos 0–3 2–5 Friendly
3 17 November 2014 Yishun Stadium, Yishun, Singapore  Cambodia
4–2
4–2
 Friendly
4 11 June 2015 Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh  Cambodia 0–2 0–4 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round
5 11 June 2015 Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh  Cambodia 0–3 0–4 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round
6 17 November 2015 National Stadium, Singapore  Syria 1–1 1–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Second Round

Honours

Club

LionsXII

International

Singapore

Individual

  • 2014 Singapore Sports Awards: Meritorious Award
  • 2013 Goal Singapore Football Awards: Singapore Player of the Year
  • The Straits Times Athlete of the Year: 2013
  • Goal.com-Nike 2012 ASEAN Football Championship Under-23 Player of the Tournament
  • Goal.com 2012 ASEAN Football Championship Best XI
  • 2011 S.League People's Choice Award
  • 2015 Melbourne City Man of the Match vs Adelaide United

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Safuwan_Baharudin&oldid=722024754"