Latest news with #Hariss
New Paper
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
ACL2 trophy is 'something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old with the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the midfielder, now 34, has the chance to scale the pinnacle of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: "Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. "With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal." With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. They include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup - the previous iteration of the ACL2 - with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends. He added: "Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. "I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. "We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans." The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high-stake matches. They include several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to "do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore". Lion City Sailors captain Hariss Harun and centre-back Bailey Wright at a training session on May 17. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: "We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. "We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and, if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time." Echoing those sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 17, Hariss said: "For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. "It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football." Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: "It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. "It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us." The ACL2 winners will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
ACL2 trophy is ‘something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Hariss Harun will lead the Sailors in their quest for the ACL2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC on May 18. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old representing the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the 34-year-old central midfielder has an opportunity to score the best moment of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League 2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: 'Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal.' With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. These include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone in their campaign by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup – the previous iteration of the ACL 2 – with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends at home. He added: 'Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. 'I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. 'We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans.' The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high stakes matches, including several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to 'do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore'. Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: 'We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time.' Echoing these sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 18, Hariss said: 'For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. 'It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football.' Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: 'It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us.' The winner of the ACL Two will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money. Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Lions captain Hariss Harun happy to take on role of FAS VP
Since incoming Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li announced his slate - which included Hariss Harun as one of his four vice-presidents - over a week ago, the Lion City Sailors and national skipper has been inundated with calls and messages asking if he was retiring. With a hearty laugh, the 34-year-old told The Sunday Times before the new council is sworn in at the FAS extraordinary congress on April 28: "I'm not retiring, and I want to play for many years more. "I will know when the time comes for me to hang up my boots, but it's not now because I feel I still can contribute on and off the pitch." Hariss, believed to be the first active player on the FAS council, added: "I was surprised when I was approached, because it's unheard of for an active player to be part of the council. "But it's refreshing to know that they want me to be a voice for the players. "I understand that the FAS council role comes with a lot more responsibility, and there will be a lot on my shoulders also being the national team captain and an active player. But I will have to learn to juggle and play each role as perfectly as I can when the time comes." One of Singapore's most successful footballers, Hariss has won the Asean Championship with Singapore, the AFC Cup, Malaysia Super League (MSL) and Malaysia Cup with Johor Darul Takzim, the MSL with LionsXII, and the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup with the Sailors, who are also in the AFC Champions League Two final. He has been known to be not just a model professional since his national team debut at 16, but also one who cares deeply about Singapore football matters and is vocal about them. This is why he decided to step up after being approached by Li, despite having a busy schedule as a player for club and country, father of three and property agent. Hariss, who has 140 caps and 11 international goals, said: "I feel very strongly about things on and off the pitch for Singapore football, and even more so as I grew older because I started to understand more certain things. "I see that I have the capacity to help Singapore football. Having said that, our team acknowledges this is not a one-man job, that's why there is a diverse portfolio of people involved and everybody has to play a part to improve Singapore football." Li, founder of home-grown tech firm Sea and chairman of SPL club Sailors, has assembled a slate of nine with lawyer and BG Tampines Rovers chairman Desmond Ong as deputy president. Besides Hariss, the other three vice-presidents are Bill Ng, founder of private equity firm Financial Frontiers and chairman of Hougang United and Tiong Bahru FC; Sailors general manager Tan Li Yu; and Sean Bai, chief of staff at Burnley, who have just been promoted to the English Premier League. Hariss hopes his experience and influence as Lions skipper will help him represent local footballers and advocate for their interests, as he remains concerned that football is still not seen as a viable career in Singapore, with many dropping out in their 20s. He said: "It's understandable if footballers retire early because of injuries, but it's sad if they do so because they don't see a future in Singapore football. "I hope to make football a more attractive career for people who are serious about turning professional, to show that there is a pathway for them even after they retire in their 30s. "We are a small country with a small talent pool, so we need to retain all the quality we have and I hope I can help in this aspect." When asked if there would be concerns about potential conflicts of interest when the FAS council meets to decide on issues pertaining to the national team, he said he would recuse himself if necessary. He added: "We are all very well aware of this. This is why we have a diverse group of people in the team who can make decisions and there will be systems in place to avoid possible conflicts of interest in certain topics." He also cited Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings, who was appointed one of three independent non-executive directors on the board for Euro 2028 - which will be co-hosted by Britain and Ireland - as an example of an active player making a difference off the pitch. Hariss said: "This shows we are keeping up with the times and it can be done. It's something new in the Singapore context, but I'm really looking forward to contributing to Singapore football."
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lions captain Hariss Harun happy to take on role of FAS vice-president
Hariss Harun will not be retiring any time soon despite his impending appointment as Football Association of Singapore vice-president. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – Since incoming Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li announced his slate – which included Hariss Harun as one of his four vice-presidents – over a week ago, the Lion City Sailors and national skipper has been inundated with calls and messages asking if he was retiring. With a hearty laugh, the 34-year-old told The Straits Times before the new council is sworn in at the FAS Extraordinary Congress on April 28: 'I'm not retiring, and I want to play for many years more. I will know when the time comes for me to hang up my boots, but it's not now because I feel I still can contribute on and off the pitch.' Hariss, believed to be the first active player in the FAS Council, added: 'I was surprised when I was approached because it's unheard of for an active player to be part of the council, but it's refreshing to know that they want me to be a voice for the players. 'I understand that the FAS Council role comes with a lot more responsibility, and there will be a lot on my shoulders also being the national team captain and an active player. But I will have to learn to juggle and play each role as perfectly as I can when the time comes.' One of Singapore's most successful footballers, Hariss has won the Asean Championship with Singapore, the AFC Cup, Malaysia Super League (MSL) and Malaysia Cup with Johor Darul Takzim, the MSL with LionsXII, and the Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup with the Sailors, who are also in the AFC Champions League Two final. He has been known to be not just a model professional since his national team debut at 16, but also one who cares deeply about Singapore football matters and is vocal about them. This is why he decided to step up after being approached by Li, despite having a busy schedule as a player for club and country, father of three and property agent. Hariss, who has 140 caps and 11 international goals, said: 'I feel very strongly about things on and off the pitch for Singapore football, and even more so as I grew older because I started to understand more certain things. 'I see that I have the capacity to help Singapore football. Having said that, our team acknowledges this is not a one-man job, that's why there is a diverse portfolio of people involved and everybody has to play a part to improve Singapore football.' Li, founder of home-grown tech firm Sea and chairman of Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors, has assembled a slate of nine with lawyer and BG Tampines Rovers chairman Desmond Ong as deputy president. Besides Hariss, the other three vice-presidents are Bill Ng, founder of private equity firm Financial Frontiers and chairman of Hougang United and Tiong Bahru FC; Sailors general manager Tan Li Yu; and Sean Bai, chief of staff at Burnley, who have just been promoted to the English Premier League. Hariss hopes his experience and influence as Lions skipper will help him represent local footballers and advocate for their interests, as he remains concerned that football is still not seen as a viable career in Singapore, with many dropping out in their 20s. He said: 'It's understandable if footballers retire early because of injuries, but it's sad if they do so because they don't see a future in Singapore football. 'I hope to make football a more attractive career for people who are serious about turning professional, to show that there is a pathway for them even after they retire in their 30s. 'We are a small country with a small talent pool, so we need to retain all the quality we have, and I hope I can help in this aspect.' When asked if there would be concerns about potential conflicts of interest when the FAS Council meets to decide on issues pertaining to the national team, he said he would recuse himself where necessary. He added: 'We are all very well aware of this. This is why we have a diverse group of people in the team who can make decisions, and there will be systems in place to avoid possible conflicts of interest in certain topics.' He also cited Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings, who was appointed one of three independent non-executive directors on the board for Euro 2028 – which will be co-hosted by Britain and Ireland – as an example of an active player making a difference off the pitch. Hariss said: 'This shows we are keeping up with the times and it can be done. It's something new in the Singapore context, but I'm really looking forward to contributing to Singapore football.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
