Voices From The Ground - A Chat With Hafiz Sujad On The Past, The Present and The Future
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| Hafiz (second from left) has been in fantastic form for the Stags since rejoining them in the mid-season. |
Columnist
The Unofficial S.League Podcast
sleaguepodcast@gmail.com
Our writer catches up with Tampines Rovers and Singapore midfielder Hafiz Sujad and they have a chat about his past, present and what the future bodes for him.
Chris (C): You came from a football family, how much of a role did your family play in terms of your growth as a footballer?
Hafiz Sujad (H): Football runs in my family. My late father, uncle and cousin (Fandi Ahmad) all played football. They were national team players in the 70s, 80s and 90s. All of them inspired me but I remember Fandi most vividly. As for my late father and uncle, I may not have had the privilege of watching them play but people around them, such as their friends, frequently shared their tales to me.
On a more recent note, my brother (Nadzi Sujad) also played in the S.League with Balestier Khalsa. I remember taking a bus alone to Toa Payoh Stadium to watch him play. These four relatives served as a source of motivation to me, to push me to play at their level.
C: That covers a lot of the next question, who were your footballing heroes when you were young? Since we have discussed your relatives, let’s look abroad. Someone from the English Premier League (EPL) perhaps? Did you model your play after any of them? (peering at Hafiz’s Liverpool jersey) An Ian Rush or Robbie Fowler perhaps?
H: (Nods) I started watching the EPL because of Liverpool (Football Club). Michael Owen played a big part, He’s really fast and really petite in stature, (Writer’s note: Hafiz Sujad is fairly small-sized for a footballer too.) When I grew older, I generally played as a central midfielder so Steven Gerrard was my idol. He’s very simple but hard, full of technique.
C: Just like plenty of idol worshipping fans, did you try to emulate him stylistically?
H: (Laughs): I try to! His ball distribution is top notch.
C: In the whirlwind of the last few months, you were nominated as the S.League player of the year, went to Thailand and returned to the S.League. Life is unpredictable, what are your thoughts?
H: My life recently is just like a soccer game, the ball is round. You could be leading by a goal to nil and your opponent can score two last minute goals to deny you the win. It was a great honour and achievement to be nominated. Not long after, I was sent off during the first game in the Suzuki Cup, subsequently, I had the chance to play in Thailand.
That was a big step up for me as a local player. I wanted to improve myself by testing out my abilities overseas. So when the move materialised, it was a dream come true. What comes up must come down, after finally getting the chance to play overseas, the club closed down not long after. Luckily for me, quite a few clubs approached me and were willing to help me out, that being said, I feel that I owed Tampines Rovers something as they had been supportive of my move abroad. Even as a youngster, I remembered how Tampines was like as a team. I attended matches at the old Tampines Stadium. I am thankful for all the approaching clubs, especially Tampines.
C: When you went from the Young Lions to LionsXII, how big was the jump for you, in terms of standards, conditions and fan support?
H: When the LionsXII joined the Malaysian League, it was exciting. I wasn’t in the team but went to the games. Even as a fan it was clear that it was a big deal. It proved to be a huge motivation for me to get into the team, to be able to play in front of thousands of fans both home and away. To me, that’s what being a real footballer should be like. As you can imagine, when (then LionsXII coach) Sundram(oorthy) called me to join the team the following year, I was delighted and resolved to give it my very best. The first few matches weren't easy but I fought on to learn as much as I could. I had good role models to look up to. Baihakki (Khaizan), Shahril (Siahk), Fazrul (Nawaz) and even Isa Halim. I was playing in different positions but for me, it’s all about being hard and tough. That’s how I overcame my problems.
C: Let’s take a time machine back to your first game, your debut in the Malaysian League, what went through your mind?
H: The first emotion was the nerves. That’s normal for a human being. Staff and players encouraged me to focus when the game starts. We shouted at one another when needed, as a way to block off external influences, especially when I get cursed at during away games.
C: What about the playing standards?
H: The Malaysian League is more aggressive. It could be due to the state rivalries. If you look at Singapore, a country of small geographical size, a match between Hougang United and Tampines Rovers is just a battle between different estates. In Malaysia, it’s an entire state against another, fans do back them up and everything is on the line.
C: Could it be the fact that the LionsXII represented Singapore which played a part in how the matches went along?
H: There is certainly a rivalry. Every time one of their state teams came up against us, they will be as dirty or aggressive as they can. They will give it their hundred percent. We are aware of it, used to it and handled it well. Sometimes their referees were a bit biased as well.
C: Let’s switch our focus to the Thai League, Hassan Sunny and you did Singapore proud in Thailand. Obviously, he also gave you lots of advice about Thailand. How important was it?
H: The main issue is about the food. We were based in Bangkok and Halal food wasn’t hard to find, the only issue is the fact that the eateries close really early, around 3pm. As a result, we have to prepare dinner ourselves.
Thailand is a big country and often, we had to take flights or have long bus rides to travel to an away stadium. So based on Hassan’s advice, I often brought along biscuit, eggs, rice and chicken and it’s perfectly edible once I microwave it.
During our bus rides which can last for hours, I'll eat my food on the bus. I am thankful for his advice, if not I may not be prepared for matches. We don’t always stay in hotels before a match. Sometimes we travel there, play immediately and return the same way at night. On the way back, I'll need food too. Dinner isn’t always available if games end late.
We do have access to convenience stores but the food is always the same, it’s mundane. Sometimes my wife will prepare food, it’s simple fare like sardines.
C: Trying to play in the Thai League is due to ambition, bouncing back from your Suzuki Cup setback showed us resilience, while being willing to be a trialist showed us humility. Do these traits describe you?
H: That’s how I am brought up. Compared to the other players in the S.League, I might not be the most technical or the best attacker. My core characteristic is hard work and I won’t stop running.
During the Suzuki Cup, I was optimistic of doing well, I wanted to prove that sheer hard work is capable of overcoming any issue. Unfortunately, I got a red card in the first game, when I went back to the changing room, I started crying. I knew that if we didn’t qualify for the next stage, that will be it. I knew that scouts from other countries would be following the Suzuki Cup and my dreams (of playing abroad) were just crushed. I was devastated but my friends, teammates, girlfriend and family all started giving me emotional support. I am a religious person and pray daily. Thank God, he answered my prayers and I got to have a trial in Thailand.
Some players asked me why I wanted to go for trials, after all, I am a national player. To me, it was a necessary step to take. It’s not possible for foreign clubs and scouts to offer me a contract after seeing me play for a mere thirty minutes in the Suzuki Cup. I felt that there’s nothing for me to lose. I wanted to go on a trial and show them my abilities. I saw it as an opportunity. I went along, pretty clueless about what’s going to happen, and thankfully, I found a team.
C: Stipe Plazibat used to play in the second tier in Japan, he feels that the main difference between their league and ours is speed. The speed of movement and thinking. You were one of the four Player Of The Year nominees last year and you benefited from your time in Thailand, the home of the superior Thai League. Do you feel faster and better this year?
H: It’s true, they are really fast in Thailand. I struggled tremendously for the first few training sessions, they also displayed a high level of fitness even with the ball. They really weave speed into how they counter-attack and go on an anti counter-attack. After a few weeks, I settled down and managed to cope. After my Thai club (Big Bang Chula United) dissolved, I returned to Singapore and did some training with sports trainer Sasha (Aleksandar Bozenko) to maintain my fitness, not much more could be done. Thereafter i returned to Thailand to have a trial with another club, i felt that things went downhill due to the period of time i was in Singapore. My physical and mental speed dropped like a rock. Once again i wasn’t able to cope, it was deja vu for me. I realised that it was a matter of consistency and it was quite alarming for me to see that i am very capable of losing what i gained after a lull period.
Some of our local clubs in the S.League can be competitive against Thai teams, but we can’t hold a straw to them in terms of speed.
C: You are a very versatile player, given a choice, what’s your preferred position? Or is it a case of playing wherever the coach wants?
H: For me, it’s all about simple running and simple passes in the middle of the park. However, size and height are pivotal elements towards a successful stint in the middle. Hence due to tactical reasons, I have been placed in other positions. It can be frustrating at times but since I was young, I resolved to give my best no matter where I am placed.
C: So given a choice, where’s your ideal position?
H: In the middle.
C: Despite size and height issues?
H: Yes, defensively, I can close down opponents as long as I take on good positions.
C: You played as a defender rather than a winger in Thailand, obviously you can be creative, gathering 10 assists in 2016. Was it tough switching to a defender in Thailand? Did it in part lead to your early yellow cards?
H: When I was a trialist, I played on the wings, hence the switch was unexpected. At that point in time, the head coach wasn’t in place yet, when the head coach came in, they also got a Korean winger so I had to play as a left back, a position which the club was lacking numbers in. While I can play that role, I didn’t do that often back in Singapore so I had to re-adjust myself to suit this situation. As a foreigner, I knew that i had to be above average so I tried to cope as quickly as possible. The coach also gave me a hand with regards to my positioning.
As for the yellow cards, partially it was linked to the speed of the matches. I needed time to adapt, some other times, the yellow cards are a little soft. Of course, as a defender, I had to make my presence felt to the opposing offensive players and the cautions were at times inevitable.
C: This inevitability reminds me of Emmeric Ong’s red card against Hong Kong. He knew that he made a mistake and didn’t want the opposing striker to have a one-on-one situation against Hassan Sunny, so he felt that he had to take one for the team, to stop the opponent.
Moving on, the Thai League is known for its passion, how were the fans and the banners?
H: It’s something beautiful, back in 2015, my Thai team was in the Premier League and we had full houses. In 2016, we got relegated into Division One but we still had a good number of fans. One aspect of the Thai fans which i really like is that they are really supportive even after we lost a few games. I went on Facebook but read very few criticisms. Encouraging comments were far more common. The sportsmanship extended to the terraces too, as the home team, we would go over to the away fans to applaud them before returning to our home fans.It’s a normal yet pleasant experience, happens regardless of the results on the pitch.Here's hoping that this will happen in Singapore as well.
C: What’s the average crowd attendance in Thailand's Division 1?
H: Not that big but bigger than what we have over here. That being said, when we started to play in the newly built Our Tampines Hub, it was a really good atmosphere. When I stepped out there for the first time, I was happy, i felt like "This is it.". I'm hoping that other clubs can follow in a such a positive vein.
C: Coach Jürgen Rabb concurred with that and he’s hoping for a similar wave of positivity for the other clubs.
H: Honestly we cannot blame the Singaporean fans. Games do happen on weekdays and in Singapore, we lead a stressful lifestyle where work is a big priority. Fans and friends do want to support me but if they need to be up early the next day, they will rather stay home to watch online. The culture in Thailand is different, the pacing is slower, they tend to end work early and start work late. (Hence it’s easier for the Thai fans to attend matches)
C: The lifestyle in Singapore was equally hectic 21 years ago when the League started. Yet, fans packed the Stadiums and there were times where tickets would be sold out and fans had to watch games by gazing down from HDB blocks. The difference is in the quality of the product, it’s up to us to make things enticing for them to show their support in person and to make a little sacrifice to be part of the fraternity.
H: Indeed. To share a bit more about the Thai fans, they are vocal and supportive. AfterIi returned to Singapore, a Thai friend of mine wanted to see if I was willing to auction off my jersey in support of a terrible flood in Thailand. I was happy to help but I didn’t expect the auction to be so successful as it raised S$400! I didn’t know if they still remembered me after I left and I really appreciate their support
C: I'm glad to hear that, the fact that it’s done to help their fellow countrymen couldn’t have hurt. After all, the Thais are known to be passionate and kind, Moving on, after experiencing the gridlocks on Thai roads, how do you feel about local traffic?
H: I ride a bike in Singapore, definitely it’s easier. I had to drive a car in Thailand and it takes me one and a half hour to get to training! That being said, while the traffic in Thailand is haywire, people are more patient and kind to one another. They do give way to others and do not sound the horn unnecessarily. In Singapore, while the traffic is more systematic with the traffic light and all, people tend to be more prone to flaring up.
C: Due to the faster pace of life in Singapore perhaps, we have to try to understand as fellow Singaporeans. Moving on, recently and locally, you played under Sundram, Akbar (Nawas) and now Jürgen. How do you feel about their respective coaching styles?
H: They have their respective strengths.
Most of us know Sundrum since our younger days and have seen him as a player. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, he is tactically strong and knows when and where to deploy us.
As for Akbar, he’s a great man-manager. He knows how to motivate and comfort us.
Last but not least, for Jürgen, I’ve been under him for six months and he brings a different kind of play. He’s really into build ups and pressing football. Physicality and quality are very important to him, he demands a high standard even for simple drills such as ‘monkey in the middle’.
C: Albirex Niigata (S), Home United and Tampines, do you think that it is indeed a three horse race?
H: There’s still a chance and we still have 5 games. Home United still has games in hand too while Albirex certainly has the upper hand so for the rest of us, we can only take things one game at a time to pressurise each other.
C: Are you hoping for Albirex to stumble?
H: Indeed.
C: Home United has taken over some of the hype with regards to having a large number of national team players.That being said, I can still count approximately 10 players in Tampines who have been capped.
Do you think that it is in a way less pressurising now that Home United is sharing the burden of challenging Albirex? Even if you are just fighting for second spot, it means a qualifying place to enter the AFC Champions League, a big deal.
H: We have 8 National players, quite a lot to me. As a national team player, fans expect us to perform. The pressure is still the same. Not to forget that we represent Tampines Rovers, a great club since the days of Aleksandar Đurić.
C: Other than your stint in Thailand, you also won the Malaysian League and played against Japan. Is it hard to lift yourself now that you are back with the Stags?
H: To be honest, in terms of family and food, i missed (Singapore). My wife did follow me overseas but we needed time to adapt. So the familiarity here reduced some of the heartaches we had to endure when we had to return to Singapore. (from Thailand) . In terms of playing style, it’s not a step down. It’s not as good as it was during its heydays but it’s still competitive. I am in my prime age right now and of course I would have loved to stay in Thailand to improve myself. Things are also different in the sense that Thai teams had 4 to 5 physiotherapists, 2 to 3 kitmen and 4 to 5 coaches. Back in Singapore, there are some things that we need to do ourselves.
C: I guess that is inevitable due to the disparities between the two leagues. Both (Stipe) Plazibat and (Tsubasa) Sano have scored more goals than Ivan Dzoni, Khairul Amri, Ryutaro Megumi and you combined. Is goal scoring a problem?
H: For me, as long as someone scores, it’s good enough for me. Of course as a striker, one would aim to be a top scorer. I am sure that (Khairul) Amri and Fazrul (Nawaz) would have had such goals.
However, let’s not forget that Fazrul has just returned from a long term injury while Amri is still injured. So we haven’t got that one man to hog the goals, hence we have to spread out our goals.
We just try to play well and finish whatever opportunities come our way. We try to be unselfish and pass to teammates in a better position. For example, for the match against the Warriors, our striker Fazrul willingly provided an assist for me to finish. We are experienced enough to make decisions. When we take a shot, we are responsible to ensure that it hits the back of the net. Of course our finishing can always improve, as our coach may have mentioned in the press conference. I agree completely. I need to improve my own finishing as well.
C: You featured in the League Cup. Do you feel that it has been a good journey, especially for the younger players?
H: It was good for us to get some much needed match fitness. There were some frustrations too, other than the match against Balestier Khalsa, we did relatively well even with the young players. Personally, I want to win trophies and the League Cup was a trophy that we could have won, or at least made further headway. That being said, the coach has the final say. He decided to field the Prime League players primarily. Surely, they would have been delighted to get that golden opportunity. For us, we can only be patient and do what we are told.
C: So if you were the coach, what would you have done?
H: I would have rotated the players. We did have experienced players such as Jamil Ali and Hafiz Rahim on the bench.
C: Other than winning titles, what other goals do you have for the season?
H: It would have to be finishing in second place, to be in the hat to try to qualify for the AFC Cup.
C: That is completely logical. Any thoughts about Singapore’s AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign, particularly the draws against Turkmenistan, Bahrain and loss to Chinese Taipei?
H: For the next encounter against Turkmenistan, it will be very challenging. The challenge will extend beyond the 90 minutes and the added time and the weather will require some work to overcome.
That being said, most of us are experienced enough to cope with away games of such magnitude, like the one against Japan for instance.
I don’t think it’s impossible to get a positive result there. Like I said, Coach Sundram will work his magic and for the rest of us, we’ll simply have to focus to get the win. Yes, we will need the win to have a greater chance of proceeding further.
C: Coach Sundram did change his style of play for the last few matches and it’s paying dividends. we obtained credible results against Hong Kong and Turkmenistan, as a result our world ranking rose from the 170th to the 161st.
H: As a whole, our age group and youth teams are not doing well, taking some defeats in the process. It’s up to us senior players to step up, to do something positive for local football.
C: It’s not that bad, we are recovering from the Chinese Taipei debacle, that’s our lowest point. The fans and the media have found the last two matches encouraging. We are interested to see whether Coach Sundram plays in a similar manner away from home. Moving on, it seems like your stint in Thailand had to double up as a honeymoon as people often underestimate the importance of a supportive spouse. How important is her role in your career and life?
H: Indeed her importance cannot be overstated, we got married earlier this year and she left her job to follow me overseas. After training, whether it went well or poorly, it helps to see that your wife had prepared food for you. I really appreciate what she went through for me. When we were in Thailand, she was my number 1 supporter and motivator. When i was injured, she was there to soothe me. When my career was left in limbo following the cessation of my club, she was there yet again. She was such a pillar of strength.
C: Sounds like a soulmate, one doesn’t need to be a soccer fan to appreciate the importance of a good partner or spouse. I am very happy for you that you have found the one. Congratulations.
Last but not least, Hassan’s comfort food recommendation in Thailand was Usman Halal Restaurant at Sukhumvit Soi 22. What is yours?
H: I certainly eat to live, I am not the kind to venture out to look for specific good food and I am not too picky.
C: Surely your wife is a good cook!
H: Okay, so far so good.
C: A disclaimer huh! Sounds like you will get some ear pulling if your wife reads this.
H: Okay okay! There’s nice Nasi Bryani at Sukhumvit Road, near Nana BTS Skytrain Station. which is their version of the Arab Street. They sell the most tender meat possible! Whenever I have friends and family visiting me, i’ll bring them there. Locally, we love the Mee Goreng at Simpang Bedok. For a special event, we visit the likes of Aquamarine at the Marina Mandarin Hotel.
C: On behalf of our readers, i will like to wish you all the best for club and country.
H: Thanks for that and thanks for the coffee!
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