Football: Singapore teen footballer rejects deal with Spanish fourth-tier team

Saifullah Akbar, according to Tenerife sporting director Juan Jose Rivero, has the "potential to improve" but his agent Ashikin Hashim says "if an offer does not help the player get to a level he should be at, then we will always look for better oppo
Saifullah Akbar, according to Tenerife sporting director Juan Jose Rivero, has the "potential to improve" but his agent Ashikin Hashim says "if an offer does not help the player get to a level he should be at, then we will always look for better opportunities".
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He could have been the first Singaporean footballer to ply his trade in Spain, with fourth-tier side Tenerife B offering him a contract.

But 19-year-old Saifullah Akbar opted to sign for Singapore Premier League side (SPL) Young Lions, because the Spanish move will not aid the player's development at this stage, according to his agent Ashikin Hashim.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 22, 2018, with the headline Football: Singapore teen footballer rejects deal with Spanish fourth-tier team. Subscribe