Saifullah Akbar

Singaporean professional footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Muhammad Saifullah bin Muhammad Akbar (born 31 January 1999) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Geylang International, on loan from Tampines Rovers and the Singapore national team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Saifullah Akbar
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Saifullah bin Mohammad Akbar[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-31) January 31, 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Forward, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Geylang International (on loan from Tampines Rovers)
Youth career
–2016 Tampines Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Tampines Rovers 1 (0)
2018–2019 Young Lions 24 (3)
2020–2022 Lion City Sailors 47 (7)
2023– Tampines Rovers 21 (1)
2024–Geylang International (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2016–2017 Singapore U19[1][2] 4 (2)
2019– Singapore U23 10 (2)
2021– Singapore 5 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing SIN
Merlion Cup
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 December 2021
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Youth and early life

At the age of six, he started playing football and quickly gained entry into the then-called Five Star Football Academy.[3]

Club career

Summarize
Perspective

Touted as a prospective footballer ever since childhood,[3][4][5] Saifullah participated in the Lion City Cup with Ikhsan Fandi playing for the NFA U-16.[6]

Saifullah trained with Australian side Newcastle Jets in 2015, impressing their coaching staff.[7] However, no deal was surfaced.[8] Previously, he had a five-day training stint with Queens Park Rangers in England.[9][10][11] Also, he had a two-week stint at FC Metz, funded by the Singapore Sport School.[12][13]

On his debut, Saifullah scored a goal to secure a 6–4 win for Tampines Rovers over Hougang United in the Singapore League Cup.[4][14] After training daily with the first team throughout the 2015 S.League season, he joined their Prime League squad with the aim of making the Singapore roster for the biannual 2017 SEA Games.[15]

Saifullah joined Young Lions after his national service and played the out the remainder of the 2018 campaign. While on trial at Spanish club, CD Tenerife, he did enough to be offered a contract with the club's B team, however he chose to remain with Young Lions for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season due to developmental reasons.[15] Saifullah became a key member of the Young Lions squad that season, featuring regularly on the wing under Fandi Ahmad.

International career

Saifullah represented Singapore at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in China.[3] In 2016, he was called up for the Singapore U19s against Bahrain.[1][2]

On 17 May 2021, Saifullah was called up to the Singaporean national team for the Asian World Cup qualifiers in June.[16] On 3 June, he made his senior debut in a defeat to Palestine, coming on as a substitute for Hafiz Nor in the 65th minute.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of 25 October 2022[18]
More information Club, Season ...
Club Season League Singapore Cup League Cup AFC Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tampines Rovers 2016 S.League 1000520062
Total 1000520062
Young Lions FC 2018 Singapore Premier League 3000000030
2019 Singapore Premier League 213000000213
Total 243000000243
Lion City Sailors 2020 Singapore Premier League 112000000112
2021 Singapore Premier League 204000000204
2022 Singapore Premier League 161000000161
Total 477000000477
Tampines Rovers 2023 Singapore Premier League 211710010292
2024–25 Singapore Premier League 150000020170
Total 361710030462
Career total 1081171523012314
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Notes

    International

    More information National team, Year ...
    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Singapore 202150
    Total50
    Close

    U23 International goals

    As of match played 8 June 2019.
    More information No., Date ...
    No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    15 December 2019Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines Brunei
    3–0
    7–0
    2019 Southeast Asian Games
    211 May 2022Thiên Trường Stadium, Nam Định, Vietnam Cambodia
    1–0
    1–0
    2021 Southeast Asian Games
    Close

    U19 International goals

    Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[19]
    More information No., Date ...
    No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    14 September 2017Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar Laos
    2–0
    3-0
    2017 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
    28 November 2017MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Mongolia
    2–0
    2–4
    2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
    Close

    Personal life

    Saifullah's father is Akbar Nawas who helped him volunteer for early national service enlistment.[20] As a hobby, he plays guitar and sings and supports Chelsea.[21]

    Honours

    International

    Singapore U22

    Individual

    References

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