Akram's Calm in the Fast Lane
The Straits Times
|March 15, 2025
Defender makes leap from Tanjong Pagar to Sailors and, now, Lions in three months
When Akram Azman was informed of his maiden national team call-up, he displayed the calmness and composure typically associated with a seasoned campaigner.
These are also the same qualities that have propelled the 24-year-old defender onto the fast track in his footballing career.
In less than three months, Akram has made an extraordinary leap from the Singapore Premier League's bottom club Tanjong Pagar United to the title-chasing Lion City Sailors (LCS) and, now, the national team.
As captain of the struggling Jaguars, he had caught the eye with his impressive performances, which led to the Sailors snapping him up in January.
On March 14, there was more good news, as he earned his first Lions call-up ahead of a friendly against Nepal and an Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong.
This story is from the March 15, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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