Hanafi Akbar

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Akbar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Hanafi.
Hanafi Akbar
Personal information
Full name Mohamad Hanafi bin Mohd Akbar
Date of birth (1995-02-07) 7 February 1995 (age 29)[1]
Place of birth Singapore
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tampines Rovers
Number 2
Youth career
2008–2013 National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Balestier Khalsa 12 (0)
2018– Tampines Rovers 0 (0)
International career
2021— Singapore 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:57, 23 November 2014 (UTC)

Mohamad Hanafi bin Mohd Akbar (born 7 February 1995) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Singapore Premier League side Tampines Rovers and the Singapore national team.

Career

Youth career

Hanafi represented the Singapore national under-14 team at the 2009 Asian Youth Games, and was part of the national under-15 team which won the bronze medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.[1] He attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Juventus FC for his exploits at youth level.[2]

However, he failed to capitalise on his talents, choosing the influence of bad company instead, Hanafi skipped training with the National Football Academy and quit the team in 2013.[3]

Balestier Khalsa

He eventually signed a two-year contract with S.League club Balestier Khalsa in December 2013 after being written off as a "rebel" by many coaches.[2][4][5]

However, he was arrested for drug use in 2015 and was eventually sentenced for a year's imprisonment.[2][6] Hanafi rejoined the Tigers in 2017 after his release and made his return to football in a S.League game against Garena Young Lions on 2 April 2017. Coming on as a half-time substitute, Hanafi showed his early promise by playing a part in his team's solitary goal of the game. Hanafi controlled the ball on his chest before sending a glorious cross-field volley to teammate Hazzuwan Halim, who squared the ball for Myanmar forward Aung Kyaw Naing to slot home the winner from close range.[6]

Honours

Singapore U15

References

  1. ^ a b "Singapore finalises squad of 18 for AYG". Football Association of Singapore. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Hanafi Akbar arrested for drug offences". The New Paper. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  3. ^ Wang, Meng Meng (14 April 2013). "Hanafi's making up for lost time". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. ^ Kasim, Ali (29 November 2013). "A new beginning for Hanafi". The New Paper. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Balestier Khalsa Football Club have signed playmaker Mohamad Hanafi Bin Mohd Akbar from NFA Under-18 squad for 2014 football season". Balestier Khalsa FC. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Hanafi impresses on return after 3-year absence". The New Paper. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.


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