F Is For Fandi

The Fandi siblings are quickly making moves to write their narratives as stars and talents in their own right. We speak to them to learn more about who they are as a family and individuals - shooting for the stars.

- Charmaine Tan

Humidity was at an all-time high on this swelteringly hot Saturday afternoon in the middle of June. Streaks of sunlight spilt through what could have been visible heat waves, but a shoot involving all five of the Fandi siblings- who live across multiple countries and timezones - was not going to happen on any other day, thanks to the scheduling magic of longtime family manager Adrian Oh.

Irfan, Ikhsan, Iman, Ilhan and Iryan Fandi (in order of birth) - children of celebrated Singapore footballing icon Fandi Ahmad and South African model Wendy Jacobs have collectively schooled and lived across Singapore, Indonesia, Chile, the UK, Norway, Belgium and Thailand since young. Couple that with the fact that Irfan, the oldest, is only turning 26 this month, and one can get a slight sense of why each sibling is able to take ownership of their futures from the young ages that they did.

Surely, it is easy to accord this as a result of their genes. Being children of two highprofile public figures comes with a lot of benefits. While learning the extent of their parents' fame was slightly belated, these instances of "advantage" became especially apparent for all four boys who chose to follow in their father's footsteps for a footballing career.

Today, Irfan and Ikhsan play for the Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United F.C., Ilhan is gearing up for his debut season with Belgian club K.M.S.K. Deinze, while the youngest, Iryan, plays for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United. Even Iman, who had grown up with the same disposition for physical activities, had now carved a name for herself in the local creator scene as a natural in front of the camera, on stage and off, citing an early interest in the field that came from tagging along when her mother went for photoshoots and other modelling gigs.