Safirul Sulaiman Explained

Safirul Sulaiman
Fullname:Safirul bin Sulaiman
Birth Date:12 October 1992
Birth Place:Singapore
Currentclub:Tampines Rovers
Clubnumber:6
Position:Left midfielder
Youthclubs1:National Football Academy
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:Young Lions
Caps1:24
Goals1:1
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:LionsXII
Caps2:23
Goals2:0
Years3:2014–2015
Clubs3:Young Lions
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–2017
Clubs4:Geylang International
Caps4:24
Goals4:0
Years5:2018–2020
Clubs5:Tampines Rovers
Caps5:12
Goals5:0
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Geylang International (loan)
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2012–2014
Nationalteam1:Singapore U22
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–
Nationalteam2:Singapore
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Pcupdate:4 October 2013
Ntupdate:13 June 2017
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:South Avenue SC
Caps7:0
Goals7:0

Safirul Sulaiman (born 12 October 1992) is a Singaporean professional footballer who last plays as a left midfielder for National Football League Two club South Avenue SC and the Singapore national team.

Club career

Young Lions

Safirul began his professional football career at S.League club Young Lions in 2010.

LionsXII

In December 2011, the Football Association of Singapore announced that Safirul had been signed on to the newly formed LionsXII in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. He played in 7 games as the Lions finished runners-up in their debut season.

Safirul was handed the number 11 jersey at the beginning of the 2013 season. He began to see more playing time, making 16 appearances in the league as LionsXII clinched their first Malaysia Super League title.

After 2 seasons with LionsXII, Safirul failed to make the squad for the 2014 season.

Return to Young Lions

On 21 February 2014, the FAS revealed that Safirul had made a return to former club Young Lions.[1]

Geylang International

Safirul went to sign for Geylang International for the 2016 S.League in 2016.

Tampines Rovers

On 31 December 2017, Safirul joined rivals, Tampines Rovers.

Loan to Geylang International

On 2 October 2020, Safirul joined his former club for the 2020 Singapore Premier League on loan.

South Avenue SC

In 2022, Safirul joined National Football League Two club, South Avenue SC.

International career

Safirul made his international debut and first start in a friendly match against Hong Kong on 1 June 2012.[2]

Personal life

Safirul graduated from the Singapore Sports School in 2009.[3]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonS.LeagueSingapore CupSingapore League CupAsiaTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Lions20100010--10
2011241241
Total241100000251
ClubSeasonMalaysia Super LeagueMalaysia FA CupMalaysia CupAsiaTotal
LionsXII2012[4] 1600000160
2013[5] 702090180
Total230209000340
ClubSeasonS.LeagueSingapore CupSingapore League CupAsiaTotal
Young Lions20140000--00
20150000--00
Total0000000000
Geylang International20165050--100
20172001020230
Total250602000330
Tampines Rovers20183000--6090
20191000--0000
20201000--1020
Total50000070120
Geylang International20205000--0050
Total5000000050
Career Total471309000591

U23 International goals

No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2011 0-2 0-2 2011 Southeast Asian Games
2 8 June 2015 1-0 3-1 2015 Southeast Asian Games

Honours

Club

LionsXII

2013Tampines Rovers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Courts Young Lions Reveals Squad for 2014 S.League Season and Renewal of Sponsorship from Courts for Fourth Year. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311151838/http://www.fas.org.sg/newsroom/press-release/courts-young-lions-reveals-squad-2014-sleague-season-and-renewal-sponsorship-. dead. 11 March 2014. Football Association of Singapore. 10 March 2014.
  2. Web site: Six months and it's a world of change for new Lion, Safirul Sulaiman. Football Association of Singapore. 10 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200346/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/six-months-and-its-world-change-new-lion-safirul-sulaiman. 4 March 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Elite Student-Athletes. Singapore Sports School. 11 March 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140311134134/http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsFootballDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=4. 11 March 2014.
  4. Web site: LionsXII fixtures and results for 2012 season. LionsXII official website. 6 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180729050118/http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2012. 29 July 2018. dead.
  5. Web site: LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season. LionsXII official website. 6 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180216204656/http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2013. 16 February 2018. dead.