WISER FARIS FIRED UP

Winger returns in Ogura’s first squad, says being dropped is a wake-up call

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Seated among the Singapore supporters in the 29,644-strong crowd at the National Stadium last November, Faris Ramli could only watch on helplessly as the Lions were outclassed and outmatched in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Thailand.

Four months later, the BG Tampines Rovers winger has a chance to make a difference on the pitch after he was handed a recall to the national team on March 8, following new Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura's announcement of his 26-man squad.

The Republic, who are bottom of Group C after losses to South Korea (5-0) and the Thais, host China on March 21 with the reverse fixture five days later.

Faris, who has 11 goals in 77 caps since making his international debut in 2014, was dropped from the last two squads of Ogura's predecessor, Takayuki Nishigaya.

Missing those four games against South Korea, Thailand and a double-header with Guam - in the previous qualifying rounds was "a wake-up call to not take things for granted" for the 31-year-old.