SINGAPORE – He just turned 39 last Saturday, but the fire for the Beautiful Game still burns brightly in Daniel Bennett.

The Singapore international is set to turn out for Tampines Rovers in the upcoming season, which will be his 19th campaign.

It will be the veteran defender’s first stint at the Stags, having previously turned out for Balestier Khalsa, Tanjong Pagar United, Warriors FC, Woodlands Wellington and Geylang International in a storied career. He is set to sign for them on Friday (Jan 13).

The move will also make him the oldest player in the S.League this year.

“Tampines is one of the top clubs in Singapore… so I am very happy to be joining them finally,” he told TODAY.

“I have options now outside and could have stopped easily now and moved into something else, but I am very passionate about playing.

“It’s not that I am desperate to play for the money. If I was. I think I’d be working outside! I am at a good club and this makes me want to continue playing, for sure.”

Bennett enjoyed an excellent 2016 season, where his sterling displays in Geylang International’s back-line led to a national team recall from Lions head coach V. Sundramoorthy after a three-year absence.

The England-born player, who was axed by previous national coach Bernd Stange who focused on bringing in younger players, completed all three of Singapore’s group games in last year’s Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup and was one of the few players to emerge with his reputation intact despite their early exit.

Tied on 132 caps with Shahril Ishak as Singapore’s most-capped player, Bennett said he has been “enjoying” his football in the last few years.

“I had a wonderful time at Geylang last year and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me,” he said. “It was really not easy to leave as the boys there made me feel welcome and I enjoyed the season there.

“As long as I can represent the country, I don’t want to give up club football. If one day I am not selected for the national team – it’s already happened and I’ll be ready for the second time - then I might have to start thinking it’s time to move on.”

Tampines head coach Akbar Nawas is pleased with the addition of the versatile Bennett, who can play anywhere across defence.

“We can now play with different formations and vary our play,” he said. “I think age is just a number. Daniel’s a model professional and has kept himself fit. He is a role model for everyone to look to on and off the pitch.”

Bennett, who will link up with Singapore international defender Madhu Mohana in defence, is looking to add a sixth S.League title to his trophy cabinet, which also boasts two Singapore Cups, three Suzuki Cups and his 2011 Player of the Year accolade.

“They probably feel they should have done (won) something last year,” he said of Tampines, who finished one point behind league champions Albirex Niigata last year amidst a trophy-less season despite having a star-studded squad which included former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant and national players Izwan Mahbud, Shakir Hamzah, Hafiz Abu Sujad, Shahdan Sulaiman and Izzdin Shafiq.

“Now that I am going, I hope this is the year we win something.

"When you build a strong team, when you are a team like Tampines, then you have to be challenging for everything - this is the way it is.”