Since June 2023, Irfan Najeeb had not played for the national team. The BG Tampines Rovers defender, whose last international call-up came four months later, even found himself playing against the Lions in a friendly on Sept 6, 2024.
Worse, he sprained his right ankle in the 3-0 loss, and looked set to extend his international exile.
Through sheer grit, though, the 25-year-old not only worked his way back after a six-week layoff, but his composure and reading of the game also caught the eye of Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura, who included him in his recent 26-man squad.
On Nov 18, Irfan came on as a 60th-minute substitute in the friendly against Chinese Taipei for only his fourth cap, and made an impact with his first international goal via a sweeping right boot in the 3-2 defeat at the National Stadium.
Ahead of Tampines' Singapore Premier League (SPL) match against bottom side Tanjong Pagar United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Nov 22, he told The Straits Times: "Whenever I don't get selected for the national team, I will feel disappointed.
"But I also have to recognise I have weaknesses to work on, and I try to focus on improving, rather than who the coach picks.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 22, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 22, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Star producer of NewJeans quits after legal spat with BTS agency
The South Korean super-producer behind the chart-topping girl group NewJeans resigned from her label on Nov 20, following a protracted legal battle with Hybe that has rocked the country's K-pop industry.
One Direction stars attend Liam Payne's funeral in UK
Family and friends of One Direction star Liam Payne, who died in October after falling from a Buenos Aires hotel room, gathered for his funeral in Britain on Nov 20.
Composer A.R. Rahman and wife separate after 29 years of marriage
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and his wife, Saira, have announced their decision to part ways after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Audemars Piguet joins hands with Kaws for groovy new drop
Audemars Piguet has teamed up with contemporary American artist Brian Donnelly - better known by his pseudonym Kaws - to create the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion, a 43mm titanium horological knockout which groovily fuses high watchmaking and pop art.
LOCAL DESIGNERS GET WICKED
Singapore fashion designers have created clothes and accessories in a Wicked collaboration between Design Orchard and NBCUniversal
Captain America excited to flaunt new powers
No serum? No problem. New Captain America Anthony Mackie goes on a different flight path in upcoming movie
SBA RESHUFFLE NETS KIM
S. Korea's ex-Asiad champ will become Singapore women's singles head coach
Yeo targets top-l O spot after maiden win over Sindhu
As far as giants go, they do not come taller in the badminton women's singles circuit than India's 1.79m P. V. Sindhu, who has a 2019 world title and an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and bronze (Tokyo 2020) to match her stature.
Hearing-impaired Audelle, 10, is rising chess star
It was only when Audelle Sim was six years old that her parents found out that she has a hearing impairment.
THE BEST OF CHESS AND MORE
S,pore world c'ship's side events include fan zones with grandmasters and exhibitions
