Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
SETBACKS, BUT IRFAN COMES BACK STRONGER
The Straits Times
|November 22, 2024
He scores on Lions return, hopes good show for Stags will see him in AFF squad
Since June 2023, Irfan Najeeb had not played for the national team. The BG Tampines Rovers defender, whose last international call-up came four months later, even found himself playing against the Lions in a friendly on Sept 6, 2024.
Worse, he sprained his right ankle in the 3-0 loss, and looked set to extend his international exile.
Through sheer grit, though, the 25-year-old not only worked his way back after a six-week layoff, but his composure and reading of the game also caught the eye of Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura, who included him in his recent 26-man squad.
On Nov 18, Irfan came on as a 60th-minute substitute in the friendly against Chinese Taipei for only his fourth cap, and made an impact with his first international goal via a sweeping right boot in the 3-2 defeat at the National Stadium.
Ahead of Tampines' Singapore Premier League (SPL) match against bottom side Tanjong Pagar United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Nov 22, he told The Straits Times: "Whenever I don't get selected for the national team, I will feel disappointed.
"But I also have to recognise I have weaknesses to work on, and I try to focus on improving, rather than who the coach picks.
This story is from the November 22, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Thousands brave the cold to protest against ICE crackdown in Minneapolis
V-P Vance defends agents’ detention of migrant boy whose dad rar’ from them
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Confront criticism and learn from it
Nearly one year into the job at South-east Asia's largest bank, DBS CEO Tan Su Shan tells Sumiko Tan how life has changed and reflects on her leadership style and the mantra she lives by.
10 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Palmer a 'huge part' of Blues' long-term plans
LONDON Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has poured cold water on reports linking Cole Palmer with a move away from the English Premier League club, saying that the attacking midfielder was \"very happy\" at Stamford Bridge.
2 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
(CENTRAL) KITCHEN AID
Central kitchens help food businesses save on time, space and manpower. Can they also help to save the food industry as a whole?
11 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Crooks are using AI to up their game in cyber crimes
One reason cybercrime appears to get worse every year is that hackers continually shift their tactics and cannily adopt new technologies.
5 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Is travelling with kids and parents still a holiday?
Intergenerational family trips can be testing. But for the writer, the rewards make it worth it.
5 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Karachi mall inferno: Years of fire safety warnings were ignored
Mr Muhammad Imran did not take the fire seriously at first, thinking it was another small spark at the Karachi mall that would be quickly extinguished by fellow shop owners.
4 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Fantasy debut a love letter to civil service
Jared Poon has penned an urban fantasy which follows a bureaucrat engaging with supernatural inhabitants
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Will the US stock market continue to be red-hot in 2026?
The US stock market turned in an eye-popping performance in 2025, for the third consecutive year.
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Excessive device use often a coping mechanism for deeper issues, say experts
They say it cannot be treated on its own, and it is important to find the root cause
4 mins
January 25, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size