Safuwan makes Melbourne City debut

MELBOURNE – Singapore national defender Safuwan Baharudin made his long-awaited debut for Melbourne City in a 3-0 defeat to city rivals Melbourne Victory today (Feb 7).

Goals from Besart Berisha, Kosta Barbarouses and Fahid Ben Khalfallah gave Victory the bragging rights in the Melbourne derby, which was watched by 40,000 fans at Victory’s Etihad Stadium.

Wearing the number 29 jersey, Safuwan was deployed in an unfamiliar holding midfield role but his touches were calm and composed. He was also on the receiving end of a late tackle by Victory’s Brazilian midfielder Guiherme Finkler in the first-half.

Safuwan’s debut lasted 60 minutes before City coach John van’t Schip replaced him with forward Joshua Kennedy.

Van't Schip said on Safuwan’s debut: “I think Safuwan is a very positive player; he can play in different positions as a full back, as a centre back and in the midfield."

“He has to first of all get used to his own teammates and secondly to the A-League, but he’s a player we rate highly from what we have seen and we think he can still make big steps," said the coach. “Looking at him today… he was not afraid to challenge, he was not afraid to coach (provide directions), he wanted to have the ball; he was strong in the air defensively but also when we go forward, so all those things we have to improve and he has to get used to our way of playing.”

The 23-year-old is on a three-month loan at Melbourne City from Singapore side LionsXII after an impressive showing during the Australian club’s training stint of the United Arab Emirates last month.

He was on the bench in City’s match against the Western Sydney Wanderers last week but did not play.

Melbourne City will next travel to the Hutt Recreational Ground to face Wellington Phoenix in their next A-League match on Feb 14.