Mohamad Sahil bin Suhaimi (born 8 July 1992) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Tanjong Pagar United and the Singapore national team. He was best known for outstanding performances during his time at LionsXII.

Sahil Suhaimi
Sahil with Hougang United in 2023
Personal information
Full name Mohamad Sahil bin Suhaimi[1]
Date of birth (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Tanjong Pagar United
Number 32
Youth career
2004–2010 National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Courts Young Lions 32 (10)
2015 LionsXII 17 (3)
2016 Geylang International 22 (5)
2017 Tampines Rovers 0 (0)
2017 Sarawak FA 12 (2)
2018–2019 Warriors FC 44 (6)
2020–2023 Hougang United 53 (7)
2024– Tanjong Pagar United 3 (1)
International career
2013–2014 Singapore U23 17 (5)
2013– Singapore 23 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Singapore
Sea Games
Bronze medal – third place Sea Games 2013 Football
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 November 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2019

Club career

edit

Young Lions

edit

Sahil Suhaimi made his S.League debut as a 17-year-old against Étoile FC in 2010 as a midfielder and impressed against the more physical French side but National Service restricted further appearances.

Breakthrough

edit

During the 2012 Inaugural Nexlions Cup in December 2012, the then 20-year-old Sahil made appearances for Singapore U23 against Liverpool's and Manchester United's U23 teams, where he scored the team's only goal in their tournament against Manchester United. Despite rumours of Warriors FC scouting Sahil during the tournament, the Courts Young Lions signed Sahil while Warriors FC signed Sufian Anuar from LionsXII instead.[3]

It proved to a breakthrough for Sahil as he impressed after signing for the Courts Young Lions during the football season in 2013. Even during friendlies, Sahil scored in both games against Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta'zim who boasted a side with former Italian, Spanish and Malaysian internationals, in both home and away games which ended 1–1 for the Young Lions. Throughout the 2013 S.League season, Sahil impressed with his flair, technical ability, dribbles and his willing attitude to pressure opposing defenders."[4]

LionsXII

edit

Having impressed during the 2014 S.League Season, Sahil was signed up to the LionsXII for the 2015 Malaysian Super League Season.[5] He made his competitive debut as a substitute in the opening game of the season and scored with a brilliantly taken freekick.[6] On 28 February 2015, Sahil then went on to notch a brace in the LionsXII's opening game of the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup, after coming as a half-time substitute, to help the Lions win 4–0 against Kedah United and send the Singaporean outfit into the Round of 16.[7] The Lions then went on to win the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup in a 3–1 win against Kelantan in the finals, where Sahil had scored the final two goals during the 82nd and 92nd minute.[8] Sahil managed to score 7 goals (4 from the Malaysia FA Cup and 3 in league matches) in 26 appearances for the LionsXII, despite making most of his appearance from the substitute bench.

Geylang International

edit

In December 2015, after the disbandment of LionsXII, Sahil joined Geylang International for the 2016 S.League season. He scored his first goal for the Eagles in a 1–1 draw against Brunei DPMM.[9]

Tampines Rovers

edit

Sahil has signed for Tampines Rovers for the 2017 S.League season but was not registered in the club S.League squad, but only for the 2017 AFC Cup squad as he was in negotiations with overseas clubs when the Stags finalised their roster for the league campaign.

Trials at Burnley

edit

On 8 April 2017, Sahil joined Burnley of the English Premier League for a month long training stint which he became the third Singaporean to train with an English Premier League club after Lionel Lewis and Shahril Jantan.[10][11]

Sarawak FA

edit

After returning from England, on 23 May 2017, Sahil secured a move to Sarawak FA as one of their foreign players ahead of the 2017 Malaysia Super League season playing alongside former Tampines Rovers striker, Mateo Roskam.[12][13] He made 12 appearances for the Borneo club, scoring two goals in the process. On 15 July 2017, He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat to Johor Darul Ta'zim. [14]

Warriors FC

edit

On 6 February 2018, Sahil joined Warriors FC making 51 appearances for the club.

Hougang United

edit

On 6 January 2020, Sahil joined Hougang United. During the 2022 AFC Cup group stage match, he scored a brace against Laos club, Young Elephants in a 3–1 victory. In the 2022 Singapore Cup 1st leg of the semi-finals fixture, he scored a brace against league champions, Albirex Niigata (S) which Sahil went on to win the 2022 Singapore Cup with Hougang in their first ever piece of silverware in the club history.

Tanjong Pagar United

edit

After being out of contract for nearly 6 months, Sahil joined Tanjong Pagar United on 14 June 2024. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 lost against Young Lions on 22 June.

International career

edit

Youth

edit

During the 2013 SEA Games, Sahil played a key role as the Singapore U23 team won the Bronze, and finished as joint top scorers in the tournament.

Sahil was once against selected to play for Singapore U23 in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Coach Aide selected him as part of the squad along with stars Irfan Fandi. However, he disappointed throughout the tournament only managing to find the net once against Cambodia in a breakaway, as Singapore were knocked out in the group stages after losing 0–1 to Indonesia and Myanmar 1–2. He had also missed several opportunities notably against Philippines in a 2–0 win which one of the effort was saved and had 2 shots hit the bar, several slightly over the bar.[15]

Senior

edit

Sahil earned his first international cap against Laos on 10 October 2013, as a substitute in the second half after Singapore national team head coach, Bernd Stange was impressed with Sahil's performance in the 2013 S.League season.[16]

On 6 September 2014, Sahil scored his first international goal against in a friendly match against Papua New Guinea at the Hougang Stadium.

Sahil was also included in the 2022 VFF Tri-Nations Series tournament against Vietnam and India on 21 and 24 September.

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of 27 Feb 2022. Caps and goals may not be correct.
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup
Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Lions 2010 ?? ?? 1 0 ?? ?? 1 0
2011 ?? ?? 20 ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
2012 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
2013 14 1 1 0 3 1 18 2
2014 18 9 - - - - 18 9
Total 32 10 2 0 3 1 0 0 37 11
Club Season Malaysia
Super League
Malaysia
FA Cup
Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2015 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Total ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup
Asia Total
Geylang International 2016 21 5 3 2 0 0 24 7
Total 21 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 24 7
Tampines Rovers 2017 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Club Season Malaysia
Super League
Malaysia
FA Cup
Malaysia Cup Asia Total
Sarawak FA 2017 10 1 0 0 4 0 14 1
Total 10 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 14 1
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup
Asia Total
Warriors FC 2018 21 1 1 0 0 0 22 1
2019 21 5 5 4 0 0 26 9
Total 42 6 6 4 0 0 0 0 48 10
Hougang United 2020 4 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 8 1
2021 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 25 4 6 4 0 0 2 2 33 10
2023 24 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 25 2
Total 53 7 6 4 2 0 5 2 66 13
Career Total 109 21 16 10 4 1 2 2 131 34
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
  • Career total excludes LionsXII matches.

International caps

edit
No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
20 10 July 2016 National Stadium, Singapore   Malaysia 0–0 (draw) Friendly
21 21 Sept 2022 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Vietnam 0–4 (lost) 2022 VFF Tri-Nations Series
22 23 March 2023 Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong   Hong Kong 1–1 (draw) Friendly
23 26 March 2023 Macau Olympic Complex Stadium, Macau   Macau 1–0 (won) Friendly

International goals

edit
Scores and results list goal tally first.[17]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 Sep 2014 Hougang Stadium,Singapore   Papua New Guinea 1–0 2–1 Friendly

U23 International goals

edit
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2 December 2013 Hougang Stadium, Singapore   Philippines 6–0 Won International Friendly
2 8 December 2013 Zayyarthiri Stadium, Myanmar   Laos 1–1 Draw 2013 SEA Games
3 10 December 2013 Zayyarthiri Stadium, Myanmar   Vietnam 1–0 Won 2013 SEA Games
4 13 December 2013 Zayyarthiri Stadium, Myanmar   Brunei 2–0 Won 2013 SEA Games
5 6 August 2014 Al-Ahli Stadium, Qatar   Bahrain 3–2 Won International Friendly
6 13 December 2014 Hwaseong Stadium, South Korea   Oman 3–3 Draw 2014 Asian Games
7 8 June 2015 Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore   Cambodia 3–1 Won 2015 Southeast Asian Games
Singapore national team
Year Apps Goals
2013 2 0
2014 5 1
Total 7 1

Statistics accurate as of match played 5 March 2014

Honours

edit

Club

edit

Hougang United

International

edit

Singapore

  • Bronze Medal: 2013

References

edit
  1. ^ "Courts Young Lions Reveals Squad for 2014 S.League Season and Renewal of Sponsorship from Courts for Fourth Year". Football Association of Singapore. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Courts Young Lions – players' profile". Retrieved 26 November 2014. on Facebook
  3. ^ Farhan, Ismail (17 December 2012). "NexLions Cup: Singapore finish fourth as they lose 1-2 to Manchester United". Redsports.sg. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Aide: Sahil is a special player". Goal.com. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Football: LionsXII aim for top 3 MSL finish with fresh blood". Channelnewsasia.com. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ^ Kiat, Teng (9 February 2015). "New LionsXII striker Sahil revels in dream debut goal | Fit To Post Sports - Yahoo Sports Singapore". Sg.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. ^ Gary Koh (28 February 2015). "PB Melayu Kedah 0 LionsXII 4: Sahil brace ensures progression". FourFourTwo.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Football: LionsXII clinch Malaysia FA Cup with stunning 3-1 win".
  9. ^ http://gifc.org.sg/10-man-geylang-extend-unbeaten-streak-against-dpmm/ 10-Man Geylang Extend Unbeaten Streak Against DPMM
  10. ^ hermesauto (7 April 2017). "Football: Tampines striker Sahil Suhaimi to train at EPL club Burnley".
  11. ^ "Singapore flyer Sahil may move to Sarawak". ESPN.com. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  12. ^ Aziz, Sazali Abdul (24 May 2017). "Sahil joins Sarawak". The New Paper. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  13. ^ "FAS eyeing hopes on Mohd Sahil, Raickovic - New Sarawak Tribune". 23 June 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  14. ^ JDT vs Sarawak 3 - 1 | Liga Super 2017, retrieved 16 April 2023
  15. ^ "Sahil in misfiring line". Straits Times.
  16. ^ "Football: Singapore U-23 team thrash Philippines 6-0 in charity friendly". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  17. ^ Sahil Suhaimi at Soccerway
edit