Zulfahmi Arifin

Muhammad Zulfahmi bin Mohd Arifin (born 5 October 1991) is a Singaporean footballer who plays as a Midfielder. He is noted for being a technical player with set pieces and playmaking abilities. He is also capable operating at full-back and center back.[2]

In this Malay name, the name Arifin is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Zulfahmi.
Zulfahmi Arifin
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Zulfahmi
bin Mohd Arifin[1]
Date of birth (1991-10-05) 5 October 1991
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team
 Suphanburi
Number 23
Youth career
National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Young Lions 46 (1)
2013–2015 LionsXII 12 (1)
2016–2017 Home United 23 (1)
2017–2018 Hougang United 21 (0)
2018 Chonburi 15 (0)
2019 Hougang United 20 (1)
2020– Suphanburi 4 (0)
National team‡
2013 Singapore U23 7 (0)
2013– Singapore 46 (1)
* 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

Club career

Young Lions

Zulfahmi began his footballing career with Young Lions in the S.League. After two seasons with the club, he was selected in the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season of the Malaysia Super League.[3][4]

LionsXII

Zulfahmi failed to play any part in the first 6 games of the season. He was given his first start against Pahang in the MSL on 16 February 2013. Two more appearances followed until a road traffic accident in mid-April set him back a month.[5] He managed one further start and a substitute appearance on his return as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.

Zulfahmi's potential was recognised as he had a run of six starts in the beginning of the 2014 campaign. Poor performances however meant that he was dropped to the bench in favour of Firdaus Kasman for the next three games.[6] He marked his return to the starting line-up on 22 March by curling a free kick into the PKNS net to score his first LionsXII goal.[7]

Home United

After LionsXII was disbanded, Zulfahmi went to sign for Home United for the 2016 S.League. He made 17 appearances for the protectors before leaving the club at the end of the season.[8]

Hougang United

Zulfahmi signed for the Cheetahs ahead of the 2017 S.League season, joining former coach Phillipe Aw.

Chonburi FC

Zulfahmi's journey to Thailand happened after he made contacts with a Thai agent. Zulfahmi was on trial with second-tier Angthong FC who had wanted to start negotiations after a day. However, Zulfahmi, on the advice of his agent, traveled to Chonburi instead for a 4-day trial. After playing 60 minutes in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Thai Port FC, Chonburi offered him a contract which is only slightly higher than what he received at Hougang.[9]

Zulfahmi became only the third Lion to play in the Thai top tier, after Hassan Sunny and John Wilkinson.[10] Zulfahmi made his debut in a 1-0 loss to Chiangrai United.[11] He has started Chonburi's first two games of the Thai League 1, helping them to a draw and a loss.[12]

Hougang United

After spending a season with Chonburi, Zulfahmi re-signed for Hougang United FC for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season.[13]

Suphanburi

After a year back in his native Singapore, helping Hougang to a 3rd place finish, Zulfahmi found himself back in the Thai League 1 after an agent contacted him about Suphanburi's interest. Suphanburi's coach Adebayo Gbadebo had watched videos of Zulfahmi's previous games before expressing an interest in signing him.[14]

International career

Zulfahmi was first called up to the Singapore national team for a friendly match against Thailand on 24 August 2011.[15] He was also part of the 2012 AFF Championship winning squad although he did not made any appearances in the competition.[9]

Zulfahmi was handed his first international start against Laos on 10 October 2013.[16]

Along with Hariss Harun, he has been identified by national coach Bernd Stange as the future of Singapore's midfield.[6]

Zulfahmi had also been part of the Singapore squad for the 2014 and 2016 AFF Championships.[17]

Zulfahmi finally got his first goal after winning 40 caps for the Lions in a 1-1 draw with Oman on 23 March 2019, scoring via a free-kick from about 23 yards out.[18]

Singapore Selection Squad

Zulfahmi was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor’s Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 29 Feb 2020. Caps and goals may not be correct.
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Lions 2010 12020--—140
2011 231———231
2012 110—40—150
Total 461204000521
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2013[20] 500030—80
2014[21] 1432000—161
2015 ????????????—????
Total 193203000241
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Home United 2016 2013000—231
Total 201300000231
Hougang United 2017 2105020—280
Total 210502000280
Club Season Thai League 1 Thai FA Cup Thai League Cup - Total
Chonburi (on loan) 2018 1500000—150
Total 150000000150
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Hougang United 2019 2013000—231
Total 201300000231
Club Season Thai League 1 Thai FA Cup Thai League Cup - Total
Suphanburi (on loan) 2020 400000—40
Total 3000000030
Career total 93510070001100
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
  • Young Lions withdrew from the 2011 and 2012 Singapore Cup, and the 2011 Singapore League Cup due to participation in AFC and AFF youth competitions.

International

International goals
As of match played 24 March 2019. Singapore score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zulfahmi goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 March 2019Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia40 Oman1–11–1Friendly

Honours

Club

LionsXII

International

Singapore

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References
  1. "FAS names 2014 LionsXII squad list". FAS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. "Sundram tips Zulfahmi to make LIONSXII impact". FoxSportsAsia. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  3. "LionsXII 2013 unveiled". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Zulfahmi 3rd LionsXII player hurt in motorbike accident". The Straits Times. 17 April 2013.
  6. "Football: Zul set to start for Lions". The New Paper. 28 February 2014.
  7. "LionsXII snap losing streak against PKNS". Goal. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  8. "Protectors strengthen with Izzdin and Van Huizen, Zulfahmi to Hougang". FourFourTwo. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  9. hermes (23 December 2017). "Football: Gaining experience is Zulfahmi Arifin's main objective in Thai adventure". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  10. "Zulfahmi Arifin to join Thai League 1 side". FourFourTwo. 18 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  11. "Singapore footballers make their debuts in Thai league". The New Paper. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. Munirah, Sharifah (23 February 2018). "Zulfahmi finds a mentor in S.League legend Therdsak". The New Paper. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. hermesauto (3 March 2019). "Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  14. Munirah, Sharifah (27 December 2019). "Zulfahmi Arifin returns to Thailand's top-tier league". The New Paper. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  15. "Football: Daniel Bennett set to play 100th match for Singapore in friendly against Thailand". Red Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  16. "Lions warm up for Syria with slender victory over Laos". FAS. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  17. "Zulfahmi Arifin ready for challenge at 'great' Chonburi - FOX Sports Asia". FOX Sports Asia. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  18. "Zulfahmi stunner earns Lions draw against Oman - Football Association of Singapore". Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  19. "SINGAPORE SELECTION SQUAD FOR THE SULTAN OF SELANGOR'S CUP REVEALED - The Football Association of Singapore". www.fas.org.sg. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  20. "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2014 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
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