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Diminutive Hami has no fear of mixing it with the big boys

Team Singapore heads to the 29th SEA Games this month with a roster of established athletes, as well as several youngsters who will be looking to make a name for themselves in Kuala Lumpur. TODAY is counting down to the event by profiling some of our stars of the future. The focus today is on footballer Hami Syahin.

1.66m-tall midfielder Hami Syahin grew up playing regularly against players older and bigger than him, but he was undaunted. Photo: Robin Choo

1.66m-tall midfielder Hami Syahin grew up playing regularly against players older and bigger than him, but he was undaunted. Photo: Robin Choo

Team Singapore heads to the 29th SEA Games this month with a roster of established athletes, as well as several youngsters who will be looking to make a name for themselves in Kuala Lumpur. TODAY is counting down to the event by profiling some of our stars of the future. The focus today is on footballer Hami Syahin.

 

SINGAPORE — It was a fateful meeting with Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad more than 13 years ago that led him to take his first steps in the sport.

Just five years old then, Hami Syahin was out with his family to register his elder brother for the now-defunct Team-17 Soccer Connection academy when they ran into the ex-national striker.

After being persuaded by Fandi himself, Hami’s mother decided to enrol Hami in the academy as well.

Fandi did not know it at the time, but he had just set the stage for the development of one of Singapore’s brightest young footballing talents today.

Such is Hami’s ability that the 18-year-old, who eventually went on to join the Singapore Sports School (SSP) and the National Football Academy (NFA) set-up, was called up to the national senior team two months ago.

The Republic Polytechnic student is expected to play a key role for the Young Lions at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, where his association with Fandi will be renewed through his link-up with his sons Irfan and Ikhsan.

Despite his rapid rise, Hami knows he still has much to do to become one of the Republic’s best.

“One of the biggest challenges that I need to overcome is being able to recover quickly from a bad performance,” said the 1.66m-tall playmaker, who plays for S.League side Garena Young Lions.

“When I play badly, it’s hard for me to regain my confidence, and that affects how I perform in the subsequent games. This is something that I have to work on if I want to reach the top.”

Young Lions head coach Richard Tardy also highlighted consistency as an area to work on, and cautioned the midfielder not to be taken in by the hype.

The Frenchman told TODAY: “I can understand why people are expecting great things of Hami, but we must be careful. He’s a good player today, but he hasn’t proved anything yet at a high level.

“Occasionally, young players think they’re the finished article when they’re actually just halfway there, especially when they’re subject to a lot of media attention at this age.

“If they’re not mature enough mentally to handle that, they go downhill very fast.

“Top players must always yearn to improve. Their attitude must be top-class. The problem with Hami right now is consistency.

“We need him to be at 100 per cent in every game, because if not, he’s just like any other player.”

Nonetheless, Tardy, who previously coached the Rwanda national under-17 football team to the Fifa U-17 World Cup finals, believes Hami has the potential to ply his trade overseas.

He added: “If all he wants is to play in the S.League, then he can just cruise along and he’ll still be able to achieve that. However, I think Hami should set his sights higher because of his quality.

“But to achieve that target, sacrifices will have to be made. He will have to work hard, be professional, look after himself in terms of his diet and lifestyle, and then he’ll have a chance of going far and playing in a higher-level league overseas.”

Hami will get to showcase his talents on an international stage starting today, when the Singapore Under-22s kick off their SEA Games campaign against defending silver medallists Myanmar at the Selayang Stadium.

Many are expecting the Young Lions to struggle to advance from their group, which also comprises hosts Malaysia, Laos and Brunei.

But defying the odds to overcome stronger opponents is something that Hami is no stranger to.

After all, that was how he cut his teeth in the sport, playing in his brother’s Sunday social league team as a young boy.

“I was so small then, and I was going up against adults who were twice my age and size,” the youngest of four children revealed.

“Of course, I was scared, but my elder brother reassured me and told me to just play my own game and have fun ... it was those experiences that helped me gain more confidence on the ball and shaped me into a better player.”

It is this can-do attitude that Hami plans to bring to the tournament.

“As a team, our aim is to reach the semi-finals. We know it will difficult but not impossible,” he said.

“Yes, other countries in the region have improved. So this means we have to work even harder to bring ourselves back up.”

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:

* Ikhsan Fandi (Singapore) Two years ago, Ikhsan played a starring role as he helped the Singapore Under-16s finish third at the Lion City Cup. Blessed with pace and technical abilities, the 18-year-old is a clinical finisher who will be expected to lead the line for Singapore.

* Muhammad Akhyar (Malaysia) Tipped for a bright future by Malaysia Under-22 head coach Ong Kim Swee, the 19-year-old midfielder is a tricky dribbler whose agility and composure on the ball makes him a tough player for defenders to mark.

* Aung Thu (Myanmar) The 2015 AFF Youth Player of the Year is regarded as one of South-east Asia’s brightest talents, and has made over 20 appearances for the national team. The 21-year-old’s intelligent running off-the-ball, coupled with a powerful shot from range, makes him a danger from both inside and outside the penalty box.

* Sittichok Kannoo (Thailand) The 21-year-old, who previously trained with English Premier League side Leicester City, has the potential to become Thailand’s next chief striker. Hard working and aggressive, he is an all-rounded player who is not afraid to put his body on the line.

 

Catch the delayed telecast of Singapore vs Myanmar on okto today at 9.10pm

 

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