Happy, hot-scoring Ilhan Fandi out to beat India in Asian Cup qualifiers
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Lions forward Ilhan Fandi says he will keep his moustache and stubble as long as he plays well.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Follow topic:
- Ilhan Fandi's improved form for Singapore comes after struggling in Belgium. He has scored in both the Lions' last two friendlies.
- He attributes his national team form to happiness training at Buriram despite limited playing time with the Thai champions
- Coach Gavin Lee values Ilhan's positivity and scoring ability as Singapore need goals and wins to secure maiden qualification for the Asian Cup as group winners.
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SINGAPORE – Ilhan Fandi is sporting a somewhat odd look these days – on his baby face now sits a moustache and facial stubble. For the 22-year-old, this new image is part superstition, part coming of age.
With his trademark cheeky smile, he told The Straits Times: “I started growing them before the Malaysia friendly and I scored. Then I scored again in the Myanmar friendly.
“So I’m going to keep the look as long as I keep playing well.”
Having scored twice in his previous 17 appearances, Ilhan made a big impact during the September international window.
Coming off the bench on both occasions to replace his older brother Ikhsan Fandi, he scored a screamer in the 2-1 defeat in Malaysia
Ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers Group C double-header against India at the National Stadium on Oct 9 and in Goa on Oct 14, Ilhan finds himself in an unusual situation.
The lanky attacker has more minutes and goals this season for the national team – two goals in 42 minutes across two games – than his goalless 23 minutes across two matches at club level with Thai champions Buriram United, whom he joined on loan from BG Pathum United.
But he looks happy and ready to contribute, after further developing his game playing alongside top Thai players such as Theerathon Bunmathan, Supachai Chaided, Suphanat Mueanta, Brazilian forward Guilherme Bissoli and Australian midfielder Kenny Dougall.
Ilhan noted that he is running behind the lines more and becoming faster, although he admitted he could contribute more in team defence.
This positive attitude is poles apart from the frustration he felt during his ill-fated time at second-tier Belgian side Deinze in 2023 and the first half of 2024
Hit by a serious knee injury, he could not get minutes with the first team and lost the joy of playing football.
He said: “I took quite some time to get back to my rhythm, but now I’m surrounded by positive people to keep me going.
“I have had great support from my teammates in training and I know they want me to play as well. It’s just that the time hasn’t come.
“It’s been hard not playing too much, but that’s when I have to be strong and keep on working on the pitch and in training, to show up every time and be ready for the national team.
“The reason behind my good form for the national team is just me enjoying myself at Buriram. And when I’m happy, I perform. I think I have that sharpness going into these matches against India and I’m feeling confident.”
With the Lions listing just three other forwards in Shawal Anuar, Ikhsan and versatile defender Jordan Emaviwe, interim national coach Gavin Lee is happy to have Ilhan in the squad.
He said: “Ilhan is a man with so much positivity and he has already managed himself quite well with what he faced.
“Two goals in two games is nice, but I know he would argue he could have scored more, so our job here is to maximise his abilities so that we can be successful as a national team.
“Football is now 100 minutes with the extra time, so you want to be able to be the better team for 100 minutes. In order to do that, you need a squad and not just 11 players.
“We are very fortunate to have someone like Ilhan to call upon and deliver when it’s needed. It makes my job easier because it’s never a bad thing to have a good player. Hopefully, he brings on these qualities again in these two games against India.”
With world No. 158 Singapore leading Group C on goal difference with four points from two games, they need goals and victories to stay ahead of Hong Kong (146th), India (134th) and Bangladesh (184th) to secure their maiden Asian Cup qualification as group winners.
Ilhan said: “We have a big target to reach the Asian Cup and these games against India will be a key point in the qualifying campaign because if we can get good results, we will be a step closer.
“We need to score and whoever is in that striking position will have to take ownership of that chance, and I’m ready to take on any responsibility.”
