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Hariss Harun to stay at Home until end of season

SINGAPORE – Home United have extended their loan deal for Lions star Hariss Harun until the end of this season.

Hariss Harun holding a Home United scarf during his unveiling by the S.League club in March. According to his parent club Johor Darul Ta'zim, he will continue to stay with the Protectors until a suitable overseas offer comes along. TODAY FILE PHOTO

Hariss Harun holding a Home United scarf during his unveiling by the S.League club in March. According to his parent club Johor Darul Ta'zim, he will continue to stay with the Protectors until a suitable overseas offer comes along. TODAY FILE PHOTO

SINGAPORE — Home United have extended their loan deal for Lions star Hariss Harun until the end of this season.

The Protectors have reached an agreement with the midfielder’s parent club, Malaysia Super League side Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), for him to remain at Bishan Stadium. 

However, there is a clause that allows the 26-year-old to leave if he receives a suitable offer from an overseas side before the transfer window closes, which is typically the end of August in Europe. 

Singapore vice-captain Hariss joined the S.League giants in a surprise move in March, after a proposed loan to Spanish third-tier side CE L’Hospitalet from JDT fell through because of tax issues.

The clause in the agreement was confirmed by Home head coach Aidil Sharin, who told TODAY: “If between (now and) August, if a club wants him, we have to release him. We will support (him if that happens). 

“We wouldn’t want to stop a player who can play in a better league and every player dreams of playing overseas. We spoke with (JDT sporting director) Alistair Edwards and since Hariss has no other offers at the moment, (this extension) enables him to play and gain match fitness so (that) if a club wants him, he will be ready.”

Hariss had not played competitively for close to four months before his initial loan move to Home, as he was not registered as one of JDT’s foreign players for this season. It meant that he could not return to play for them when his European move collapsed.

JDT had announced then that the plan was for Hariss to rejoin L’Hospitalet for pre-season this June, but the club is understood to have other plans for him after the Spanish side was relegated to the fourth tier at the end of last season.

Hariss, who has 75 caps for Singapore, has completed all eight of Home’s league matches since joining them. 

They sit third in the table, eight points off leaders Albirex Niigata but with a game in hand. 

In a further boost to Home, Hariss will also be eligible for their AFC Cup campaign. He sat out the club’s matches in the regional second-tier competition as he did not join in time to be registered.

Hariss, who won the AFC Cup in 2015 with JDT, is looking forward to being involved in Home’s two-legged Asean zonal final against Ceres-Negros FC in August.

“I am hoping to play and win the Zonal Final this National Day,” he said in a club statement. “I’d love to bring more joy to Singapore on this special day. I am glad that I am able to stay on with Home United. The team is doing well on the field … I am sold by the club’s level of professionalism and its football philosophy.”

With a berth in the Inter-Zonal semi-finals at stake, Aidil is pleased to have Hariss to bolster his options. “He has brought a lot of professionalism to the team,” he said. “We already have a leader in Hassan (Sunny), and with Hariss in the middle, the team is more solid and stable.”

Home will resume action on Friday (June 23) in a league clash with Albirex.

Hariss added: “I am hoping to win some silverware with Home United when the season ends.” 

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