News Singapore Premier League • August 23, 2022
Hafiz Sujad announces retirement
Hafiz Sujad’s professional playing career spanned 13 years
SINGAPORE, 23 AUGUST 2022 – Hougang United midfielder Hafiz Sujad has confirmed his retirement, bringing an end to a professional football journey that began in 2009.
The 31-year-old announced the news on Sunday afternoon via his Instagram account, one day after playing the final match of his career as a 67th-minute substitute in Hougang’s 5-1 victory over the Young Lions in the AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL).
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The son of former Singapore international Abu Sujad, the nephew of Singapore legend Mohamed Noh Hussein and the cousin of Fandi Ahmad, Hafiz was perhaps destined to carve out a path in football from young.
Hooked onto the sport from the age of six, Hafiz progressed through the National Football Academy before starting his professional career with the Young Lions in 2009. Following in the footsteps of elder brother Nadzi Sujad, who donned Balestier Khalsa colours, the dynamic midfielder was highly regarded and impressed many with his displays in the centre of the park.
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Hafiz went on to captain the Young Lions and enjoyed a breakout 2012 season, which saw him being nominated for the then S.LEAGUE Young Player of the Year accolade and earn his maiden Singapore cap. The LionsXII came calling the next year and Hafiz, by now a versatile player who was also comfortable on the left side of both midfield and defence, spent three seasons with the Malaysia Super League side. There, he won the 2013 league title as well as the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup.
Hafiz Sujad during his Young Lions days, 2010
A return to Singapore came with Tampines Rovers in 2016 and a stellar campaign led to a S.LEAGUE Player of the Year nomination and an approach from Thai second-tier side Big Bang Chula United. Unfortunately, the club ran into financial difficulties and Hafiz returned to Tampines after half a year. Bar a brief spell with Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim II at the start of 2018, Hafiz spent the rest of his career in Singapore with Hougang United, which saw him amass a total of 172 career SPL appearances and 15 goals. At international level, Hafiz went on to accumulate 44 caps for the Lions and last donned the Singapore jersey in June 2021 against Saudi Arabia in an away World Cup qualifier.
The Football Association of Singapore thanks Hafiz for his contributions and service over the past 13 years to Singapore football, and wishes him a fulfilling retirement!
