Harith Haiqal Explained

Harith Haiqal
Fullname:Harith Haiqal bin Adam Afkar
Birth Date:2002 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
Currentclub:Selangor
Clubnumber:55
Position:Centre back
Youthyears1:2017–2019
Youthclubs1:Mokhtar Dahari Academy
Years1:2020–
Clubs1:Selangor II
Caps1:27
Goals1:4
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Selangor
Caps2:29
Goals2:4
Nationalyears1:2019–2021
Nationalteam1:Malaysia U19
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2021–
Nationalteam2:Malaysia U23
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Malaysia
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:1
Club-Update:7 October 2024
Nationalteam-Update:14 October 2024

Harith Haiqal bin Adam Afkar (born 22 June 2002) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Malaysia Super League club Selangor and the Malaysia national team.[1]

Early life

Harith start beginning of his career football with been spotted by the NFDP officials while he was playing for his school's under-12 before joining the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD). He was a striker at the beginning of his football journey, but his talent in handling the defense line as a central defender started with the AMD team and shines in that position up until now.[2]

Club career

Selangor

Harith became one of the AMD players who signed his first professional contract with Selangor after graduating from high school. He then managed to be listed with the Selangor II team after displaying an impressive performance during the three cornered match against the other young Selangor players handled by German coach, Michael Feichtenbeiner at the end of 2019.

On 31 July 2021, Harith made his debut for the first team in the 2021 Malaysia Super League matches against Penang; which he came on as substitute.[3]

On 25 November 2021, Selangor confirmed that Harith would be definitely promoted to Selangor's first team for 2022 season.

During the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two fixture against Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on 23 October 2024, Harith was chosen as the captain during the match as both club captains, Safuwan Baharuddin and Noor Al-Rawabdeh was out due to injury. Harith went on to score the opening goal in the match and guided the team to a historic 2–1 win against the Korean club.

International career

Youth

Harith was part of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship squad.[4] He was later selected for the national under-23 team for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification, helping the squad to reach the final tournament.[5]

Senior

In March 2024, Harith was called up to the Malaysia national team for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. He made his debut for Malaysia on 14 October 2024 during a friendly match against New Zealand at the North Harbour Stadium.

He scored his first international goal on 14 November 2024 in a friendly match against Laos at the PAT Stadium.

Career statistics

Club

[6]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Selangor II2020Malaysia Premier League100100
2021Malaysia Premier League174174
Total274000000274
Selangor2021Malaysia Super League20002040
2022Malaysia Super League80001090
2023Malaysia Super League1132031164
2024–25Malaysia Super League8100000081
Total294206100375
Career total568206100649

International

International goals

Honours

Malaysia

2024[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet Harith Haiqal - Malaysia's answer to Joe Gomez who's ready to show what he can do at the highest level. 20 April 2020. 20 April 2020. Goal. Ooi. Kin Fai.
  2. Web site: Know Me Better: Harith Haiqal. 4 December 2021. selangorfc.
  3. Web site: Penang vs. Selangor. 31 July 2021. Soccerway.
  4. Web site: Senarai 23 Pemain Skuad Malaysia Ke Kejuaraan B-16 AFC 2018. 14 September 2018. Football Association of Malaysia.
  5. Web site: Malaysia ke pusingan akhir Piala Asia B-23. 31 October 2021. 31 October 2021. Berita Harian. Syafiq. Aznan.
  6. Web site: Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar. Soccerway.com. 18 November 2021.
  7. Web site: BERNAMA . 2024-08-09 . Malaysia Beat Lebanon 1-0 In Final Of 2024 Merdeka Tournament . 2024-09-08 . BERNAMA . en.