Make Safuwan a Libero

SINGAPORE - Maybe Fandi and Sundram had more lucrative deals when they were in their pomp, but Baihakki Khaizan signed one of the biggest contracts involving a Singaporean footballer when he joined Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) after last year's Malaysian Super League (MSL) campaign.

It is believed the 30-year-old inked a four-year deal worth around $1.5 million.

After three months of the 2014 MSL season, the defender is back with the LionsXII. The saga surrounding Baihakki and his position at moneybags JDT must have hurt the player.

Anyone who watched it unfold, and tracked developments right up to the announcement that he had signed for Fandi's LionsXII outfit, will realise how much more needs to be done to make club football in South-east Asia truly professional.

At least Baihakki will now be able to play top-flight football, although he would have been hit by a big pay cut.

Fandi will now have Safuwan Baharudin, Afiq Yunos, Madhu Mohana and Baihakki vying for the starting centre back roles as the team gear up for the business end of this season's MSL campaign, and the Malaysia Cup battle that will follow.

As long as Safuwan is fit and in form, I hope Fandi plays him as a central defender from now on.

Much has been made of Safuwan's versatility.

The talented footballer has a great first touch, good vision, dominates in the air and reads the game well.

He has pace, is brave, plays with his head up and drips determination.

And his best position is as a libero, a ball-playing defender who keeps opposing attackers quiet and who is also the one who begins his team's forward thrusts with an astute pass.

He needs to play in that position week in, week out and be helped by coaches like Fandi and Bernd Stange to realise his full potential.

DESPERATE

Former national coach Radojko Avramovic threw Safuwan up front only when desperate for a goal, knowing how effective he was in winning headers.

Fandi has done the same, but has also surprised this season by pushing the 22-year-old into midfield, or even starting him in the engine room.

There are rumblings that some consider his best position to be in the heart of the midfield.

For someone so young, he already has 34 caps.

Considering his talent, I am not surprised Safuwan has performed ably whether in midfield or as an extra attacker.

But there is no doubt his best position is at the heart of the defence and it should be made permanent.

National coach Stange has instructed all Singapore teams to play the pass and move football that has once again become fashionable after all the success of Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.

That means the defenders are often called upon to collect the ball from the goalkeeper, they have to be cool and comfortable on the ball and be able to pick out a pass as his side build their attack.

Safuwan is the best footballer of the four central defenders with the LionsXII now and would be the ideal springboard for the team's attacks.

He is not afraid to receive a pass and can easily carry the ball forward on his own.

The last Singapore defender with that kind of ability was Razali Saad. It his later years, Terry Pathmanathan led Singapore from the heart of the defence, but he was at his most potent as an attacking midfielder. In the region, Malaysia's Soh Chin Aun would be the benchmark for a libero. At his peak in the 1970s and early 80s, "The Towkay" was one of Asia's best, leading a Malaysian team rated as one of the continent's best. He was style and grace, easy on the eye and never flustered as Malaysia and Selangor's football-playing defender.

Safuwan has similar qualities and he needs to be given every opportunity to perhaps one day become our "Towkay". The Football Association of Singapore did well to bring Baihakki back. I just hope his return to the LionsXII does not mean more juggling with Safuwan's position.

This article was published on May 8 in The New Paper.

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