Virus measures rule Hafiz out of Lions' Dubai trip

The Lions' preparations for next month's Suzuki Cup have again been disrupted by Covid-19, with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announcing that Hafiz Nor will not join the team for their ongoing training camp in Dubai.

It explained that the winger has been issued a health risk warning (HRW) as a member of his household is a coronavirus case on isolation order.

The team are already without captain Hariss Harun, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Nov 3. His withdrawal from the travelling contingent was announced last Sunday, a day before they departed for the Middle East.

"While Hafiz has returned negative test results since, he is currently in self-isolation and adhering to prevailing HRW guidelines as part of the precautionary measures," said the FAS.

Hafiz, 33, has been a regular in the national team since Tatsuma Yoshida took over in May 2019, and scored the winning goal in the Lions' 2-1 win over Yemen in Bahrain in a World Cup qualification match in November 2019.

That remains his solitary international strike in eight appearances for the country.

FAS statement said it will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that the health and safety of the national team are prioritised as they continue their preparations for the Dec 5-Jan 1 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup, which Singapore will host.

The world No. 160 Lions played the first of two friendlies in Dubai yesterday, losing 2-1 to Kyrgyzstan (96th), at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium. Kyrgyzstan were 2-0 up by the ninth minute thanks to goals from Aizar Akmatov and Ernist Batyrkanov, but Shahdan Sulaiman pulled one back for the Lions in the 20th minute.

Kyrgyzstan goalkeeper Erzhan Tokotaev was sent off for a challenge on Ikhsan Fandi in the 55th minute, but they held on for the win after a goal by Ikhsan in stoppage time was disallowed.

The Lions play Morocco 'A' in another friendly match next Tuesday before returning home the next day.