By Andre Yeo

HE is considered one of the bright hopes of local soccer, and recently played in the Singapore Selection team against the Brazil Olympic team.

But a few days after that match on 28 Jul, in which Singapore lost 0-3, Shahril Ishak fell ill and was warded at Changi General Hospital on 31 Jul.

The 24-year-old was found to have a chest infection and was discharged on 3 Aug.

Since then, the Home United Football Club midfielder has not been for training under doctor's orders.

The New Paper had learnt he might have a tuberculosis (TB)- related illness.

When contacted, all Shahril would say was that the doctor had not confirmed it yet.

He said: 'My illness may cause it (TB).

'Not sure yet.'

He declined further comment.

The Straits Times reported in March that the rate at which people caught TB here last year dropped to an all-time low with 35.1 of every 100,000 residents catching the infectious respiratory disease.

This was slightly lower than the 35.6 in 2006.

Last year, 1,256 people caught the disease.

TB is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria.

It usually attacks the lungs, but it can attack almost any part of the body. Typical symptoms include persistent cough, constant fatigue, coughing up blood, fever, and weight loss.

If not treated properly, it can be fatal.

It is spread by tiny droplets exhaled by patients and is usually treated through daily doses of three or four different drugs over six to nine months.

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When asked if Shahril's illness was TB, Home United's first team head coach, P N Sivaji, said: 'We have not been told that.'

He said Shahril was resting at home because of the chest infection.

The player will be going for a follow-up check-up at CGH at the end of the month, he added.

He said: 'We have to assume he will be out of the team for the next two weeks.'

The Straits Times reported that when the first list of nominees was announced for the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year award in April, Shahril was one of three S-League footballers shortlisted.

The other two were his Home United team-mate, Indra Sahdan Daud, and Singapore Armed Forces FC's Aleksandar Duric.

Only 21 players had been named, including more famous Asian players like South Korea's English Premier League stars Seol Ki Hyeon (Fulham) and Lee Young Pyo (Tottenham). The winner will be announced in Shanghai on 25 Nov.

Home United currently sits third in the 12-team S-League table.

Shahril has missed his club's last three S-League matches, of which they won two and lost one.

He looks set to miss the next fixture, an away game to Sengkang Punggol on 28 Aug.

Shahril had shone at a young age and is a product of the S-League youth development programme, called the Centre of Excellence.

In January 2005, he was in the national team which won the Tiger Cup beating Indonesia 5-2 on aggregate.

He helped Singapore win a bronze medal at the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand, scoring the opening goal in the 5-0 win over Vietnam.

And during the 2007 Asean Championship, he also scored in the Lions' record win to date when they thrashed Laos 11-0.

In an earlier interview with The New Paper this year, Shahril said his late mother inspired him the most.

He said she was the one who took him to stadiums when he was younger.

This article was first published in The New Paper on August 19, 2008.