Irfan, Ikhsan Fandi wanted in Chile

SINGAPORE — Fandi Ahmad’s two eldest sons Irfan and Ikhsan could turn out for one of Chile’s top-flight clubs in 2018, with a professional football career in South America on the cards for the duo after they complete National Service (NS).

Former Singapore striker Fandi revealed on Friday (March 17) that Chilean side Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica have been in touch regarding the possibility of a return for Irfan, 19 and Ikhsan, 17.

The pair had spent two years with title holders Catolica from 2014 to 2015, before they returned to Singapore last January to sign with S.League giants Home United. n April 2016, they enlisted for NS, with Irfan in the Singapore Police Force and Ikhsan in the army.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Milo event at Plaza Singapura, Fandi said the family had been contacted by Catolica’s technical director of youth development.

“They’ve still got about 11 months (left in NS),” said the 54-year-old. “I’m not sure (whether we will accept) ... we will see what happens, because Irfan is doing not too badly with Home and also training with the national (senior) team. I hope he gets better and gets more exposure, and for Ikhsan as well. At the end of the day, we can only advise on what is best for them.”

Irfan, who had previously turned down a four-year contract offer from Catolica in favour of returning to fulfil his NS obligations, has started five of Home’s six games this season. The striker-turned-defender has also been called up to the Lions squad for their upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

Ikhsan, a striker, has been registered with the Garena Young Lions for 2017, though he has yet to make an appearance.

Fandi also confirmed that there are plans to send his third son, 14-year-old Ilhan, to England this September to study, and also eventually enrol at an English club’s academy.

The Milo event on Friday saw local football icon Fandi interacting with fans at Plaza Singapura, where he was joined by his youngest son Iryan, 10 and daughter Iman, 17.

Fandi, who is an ambassador for the upcoming Milo Cup, a football tournament for children aged six to 14, is hopeful that tourney will be the start of more football-related initiatives from the popular beverage.

Fandi said that the now-defunct Milo Soccer School programme had played a big part in his early developmental years, as he added: “I hope they can organise more Milo tournaments or (even revive the) Soccer School again to give kids, especially underprivileged kids, (the chance) to have fun.” TEO TENG KIAT