Following their parents' footsteps, Fandi's children Irfan & Iman step into the limelight

A Madame Tussauds waxwork of former Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad was unveiled at the ITE College Central football pitch earlier this month. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
A Madame Tussauds waxwork of former Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad was unveiled at the ITE College Central football pitch earlier this month. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
Fandi Ahmad with daughter Iman Fandi and wife Wendy Jacobs, during The New Paper New Face 2014 Grand Final. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
Iman Fandi Ahmad, The New Paper New Face 2014 finalist. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
Irfan (left) and Ikhsan Fandi, sons of Singapore football legend and LionsXII head coach Fandi Ahmad, inked a one-year athlete sponsorship agreement with Malaysian bank CIMB on July 31, 2014. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER FILE
Irfan Fandi, son of Fandi Ahmad, inked a one-year athlete sponsorship agreement with Malaysian bank CIMB on July 31, 2014. -- PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN FILE
Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad (centre) with his sons Ikhsan (left) and Irfan at the airport. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The month of October has been an exciting one not only for local football legend Fandi Ahmad, but also for at least two of his five children.

Earlier this week, the LionsXII head coach's eldest son, Irfan Fandi, was named one of The Guardian's 40 best young talents in world football.

The 17-year old forward was the only one from Singapore to make it to the list. In it, writer John Duerden describes him as having "a good touch", with football bosses here having "high hopes that he can be the striker they have been searching for".

His younger brother Ikhsan, 15, has been showing promise on the pitch too.

In August, Irfan and Ikhsan inked a one-year athlete sponsorship agreement with Malaysian bank CIMB. The cash deal is worth six figures.

The brothers have also been training with top Chilean club Universidad Catolica since last December.

Their sister Iman may be only 14 but she is already turning heads, and seems keen to walk in mum and former model Wendy Jacobs' footsteps.

The Singapore Sports School student may have been the youngest contestant in the recently-concluded The New Paper New Face 2014, but she did make it to the top 20 finalists.

That's not all though. She was also awarded Miss Popularity and New Look Miss Fashionista.

In an interview with The Straits Times last year, Iman said she was proud of her family, and was quoted as saying: "I think it's very cool to be Fandi's daughter. When we go out as a family, people recognise my dad. That makes me feel so proud of him."

A Madame Tussauds waxwork of the former Singapore captain was unveiled at the ITE College Central football pitch earlier this month. It will be on display at the sporting hall of fame at its Singapore museum, which will open at the Imbiah Lookout in Sentosa later this month.

brynasim@sph.com.sg

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