ILHAN ON SONG WHEN HE ENJOYS HIMSELF

Positive environment at Thai club Buriram has S'pore forward smiling and firing again

- David Lee

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 before heading in a late equaliser in a closed-door friendly against Myanmar at the Kallang Football Hub which ended 1-1.

Ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers Group C doubleheader against India at the National Stadium on Oct 9 and in Goa on Oct 14, Ilhan finds himself in an unusual situation.