I’m still good enough: Mustafic

SINGAPORE — Following his earlier shock and anger at being left out of Singapore national coach Bernd Stange’s plans, Tampines Rovers midfielder Fahrudin Mustafic appears to have accepted that he may have played his last game for the Republic.

But the 32-year-old insists he is still good enough for international football.

Speaking to TODAY earlier this week, Mustafic, who has won 79 caps and scored eight times for Singapore, remains hopeful that he will, at some point, earn a recall from Stange. “Sure, I am not in the team now. But who knows what the future holds. It’s the coach’s right to pick the players he want and I am not part of the team,” he said.

“I am disappointed but what can I do? Playing international football is the lifeblood of a player’s career. Every professional aspires to play international football. That’s the highest level you can reach.

“But I have to accept the coach has different plans. He is new and he wants to try new things. I wish him well, but I am ready to play for Singapore again, if he needs me. I am only 32 and good enough for international football for at least another year or two.”

Since his national debut seven years ago, Serbia-born Mustafic — he became a Singapore citizen in 2005 — was a regular with former Lions coach Radojko Avramovic, whom Stange replaced in May.

Mustafic helped the Lions side win the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2007 and last year, he was one of the tournament’s outstanding performers as they beat Thailand 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final to lift a record fourth AFF Championship.

But, he was surprisingly left out of Stange’s national side for last month’s friendlies against Myanmar and Laos, which the Lions won 2-0 and 5-2 respectively.

“I will miss playing for Singapore because I have been part of the team for the past seven years,” he said.

While the 65-year-old German, who wants the national side to play quick, passing football, stressed the door is not closed on players like Mustafic, the former Hertha Berlin and Iraq coach had hinted he wants to give younger players an opportunity.

Already, veterans Qiu Li and Indra Sahdan — who last played for Singapore in 2010 — could be axed if they fail to perform in the crucial 2015 Asian Cup qualifier against Oman on Aug 14.

But for Mustafic’s Tampines team-mate Alexander Duric, his international career is definitely over.

Duric, 42, received his Singapore citizenship in 2007 and went on to earn 54 caps and score 27 goals. He was also part of the AFF Suzuki Cup winning sides of 2007 and 2012. Duric retired from the national side after last December’s Suzuki Cup triumph.

But he said: “I will always be willing and ready to serve in any other capacity. If the new coach needs my help in any specific coaching role, I’m ready to offer my services.”