Safuwan Baharudin

Muhammad Safuwan bin Baharudin (born 22 September 1991) is a Singaporean footballer who currently plays as a defender or midfielder for Selangor. He is known for being a technical player with good pace, excellent reading of the game and ball-playing capabilities. He also has a knack for scoring goals.

In this Malay name, the name Baharudin is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Safuwan.
Safuwan Baharudin
Safuwan in 2012
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Safuwan bin Baharudin[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-22) 22 September 1991
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Midfielder, defender, forward
Club information
Current team
 Selangor
Number 21
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)
2016–2017 PDRM 35 (14)
2018–2019 Pahang 36 (2)
2019– Selangor 2 (0)
National team‡
2010– Singapore 96 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 November 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 November 2019

Starting off his professional career as a centre-back, Safuwan's attributes and versatility also allow him to play as a midfielder or 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).[3][4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

LionsXII

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

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.[7][8][9][10]

Safuwan capped off his league performances by becoming the first male recipient of the annual Straits Times Athlete of the Year award in 2013.[11]

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.[12][13] 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.[3] Safuwan started in an advanced midfield role behind striker Khairul Amri in a Malaysia Super League match away to Sarawak on 15 March.[14] 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, Safuwan signed a 3-month loan contract with A-League team Melbourne City.[15]

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.[16] 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 onto the lead and crash to a 3–2 defeat in the end.[17]

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.[18] 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.[19] Although Safuwan stated that 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.[20] Safuwan signed a one-year loan deal with PDRM FA for the 2016 Malaysia Super League season.[21] The transfer fee was initially estimated as being about S$45,000,[22] but was found later to be closer to S$32,000. This deal was extended for a year despite PDRM FA's relegation into the Malaysian Premier League.[23]

Pahang FA

In 2018, Safuwan signed a contract with Malaysian Super League runners up Pahang FA and was presented alongside Malaysian forward, Norshahrul Idlan. He scored his first goal in a 2-1 victory against ATM FA in the 2018 Malaysia FA Cup. During his time with Pahang, he helped the club win the 2018 Malaysia FA Cup Final before being released at the end of the 2019 Malaysia Super League season despite being contracted until 2020.[24]

Selangor FA

Safuwan signed for Selangor FA for the 2020 Malaysia Super League season, ensuring that he will be playing in Malaysia for the 9th season.[25] Safuwan made his debut for Selangor FA in the opening match of the 2020 Malaysia Super League season against his former club, Pahang FA.[26]

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
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 19 in a King's Cup match against Thailand on 17 January 2010.[4][27]

Safuwan contributed to Singapore's then-record fourth ASEAN Football Championship win in 2012. He found himself increasingly paired with Baihakki Khaizan as regular centre-back Daniel Bennett was gradually phased out of the national team set-up.

On 31 August 2017, Safuwan scored from the penalty spot to help Singapore snatch a draw against Hong Kong.[28]

He scored his first international hat-trick on 21 November 2018, helping Singapore to a 6-1 demolition of Timor-Leste in the 2018 AFF Championship.[29]

Singapore Selection

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,[30] a pre-season friendly match against Juventus,[31] as well as in the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy held in Singapore at the National Stadium.[32]

Personal life

Safuwan is a close friend with fellow footballer, Aqhari Abdullah. Both of them became friends during their teenage years. though Aqhari rarely appeared. Safuwan is also a husband to stewardess, Alia Qistina, whom he married in 2013.[33] His father, Baharudin Abdul Ghani is a friend of Malaysia former national coach, Dollah Salleh. They grew up together in Singapore during their childhood days but stayed apart after Dollah moved to Malaysia.[34]

Safuwan was the first Singaporean to be featured in FIFA 15.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 Mar 2020[35][36][37][38][39]
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Lions 2009 1510000—151
2010 2645000—314
2011 164———164
Total 579500000629
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2012[40] 1332041—194
2013[41] 1831072—265
2014[42] 1742100—195
2015[43] TBC — TBC TBC
Total 481051113006414
Club Season A-League FFA Cup Asia Total
Melbourne City (loan) 2014–15[44] 62——62
Total 6 2 — — 6 2
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
PDRM 2016 16 3 4 1 8 3 — 28 8
2017 19 11 1 0 1 0 — 21 11
Total 35145183004919
Pahang 2018 1926100—253
2019 1705000—220
Total 3621110000473
Selangor 2020 100000—00
Total 1000000000
Career total 165372131960020546
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.

International
Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[45]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.1 February 2013Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Bahrain1–21–3Friendly
2.7 June 2013New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos Laos3–05–2Friendly
3.17 November 2014Yishun Stadium, Yishun, Singapore Cambodia4–24–2Friendly
4.11 June 2015Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Cambodia2–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.3–0
6.17 November 2015National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Syria1–11–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.1 September 2016Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Bahrain1–11–3Friendly
8.31 August 2017Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Hong Kong1–11–1Friendly
9.21 November 2018National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Timor-Leste1–06–12018 AFF Championship
10.2–1
11.6–1
12.10 September 2019Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Palestine2–12–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

LionsXII

Pahang FA

  • FA Cup Malaysia: 2018

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
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References
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  4. Lim Say Heng (27 December 2011). "Gritty Safuwan wants to repay father's sacrifices". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  5. David Lee (3 January 2013). "Safuwan has little rest for four years". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  6. "Young Lions, Beijing Guoan players banned, fined". AsiaOne. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
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