Zulfadli Zainal Abidin
Encyclopedia
Zulfadli Zainal Abidin (born 26 April 1988) is a professional soccer player who plays for the Singapore Armed Forces FC in the S.League
.
clubs Singapore U-17, Tampines Rovers FC
, Home United Football Club and Young Lions
.
Zulfadli came late to serious football, having initially kicked a ball around only with his friends and had done little beyond that until getting a chance at Bartley Secondary School
.
He must have shown promise as he was selected for the NFA Under 15, Under 16, Under 17 and Under 18 squads and also played a year for Tampines Rovers FC
in their Prime League side.
He had been spotted when appearing for Bartley Secondary School
during Sec 2 when playing in a pre-season friendly against the Under 15 NFA side.
The coach at the time, Rajendran, liked what he saw of the then striker, who also played as a centre-back at Tampines Rovers FC
, and based on his performance invited Zulfadli to play for his NFA Under 15s the following year.
In his Under 16 team the season after, Zulfadli played in left midfield under R. Suriamuthi and it seems this is the position he has leaned towards ever since.
After that V. Sundramoorthy
had the budding midfielder under his care at the Young Lions
.
Some of his team mates that year included Shahdan Sulaiman
and Khairul Amri
.
After two years there, Zulfadli was disappointed to learn that he was not being included for another season and was going to be without a club, prompting thoughts of even finishing with football.
It was then that Singapore Armed Forces FC stepped in and Richard Bok
, who had taken advice from Zulfadli’s former coach Raj, handed Zulfadli a lifeline, since the player had almost resigned himself to being out of the S.League; having tasted that after a previous experience in the Prime League, he had no interest in dropping down to that level.
The appearance in the Warriors' AFC Champions League
game in Japan
against Kashima Antlers
two years ago ranks as his career highlight.
National service came soon after the Kashima Antlers
game and the only way he could continue in the S.League was by switching allegiances and moving to Home United FC
.
Enlisting in the Singapore Civil Defence Force
in October 2009, he found things difficult, juggling training at Clementi Stadium
with his national service commitments.
Zulfadli suffered a serious hamstring injury, while jogging alone at the gym, and the hamstring problem affected both legs. He was advised to rest for six months and did not made it back until he played Woodlands Wellington FC
in 22 June 2011 at left left back and won 5-1. Having played against all of the big teams for Home United FC
and things were going well until he suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear while playing Hougang United FC.
Zulfadli made only one appearance for them before the end of national service, as a substitute against Etoile FC
in a Singapore Cup
Quarter Final second-leg game at Queenstown Stadium
, which he won 1-0.
Following his completion of national service, Zulfadli return to Singapore Armed Forces FC where the 23-year-old was on the bench against Home United FC
, as the Warriors lost 4-0 on Oct 16.
On his first start at the Hougang Stadium
three days later, he justified coach Richard Bok
's faith by netting the clincher in a 3-1 win with a cracking goal from 20 metres out on the left that left Fadhil Salim
sprawling.
On Oct 31, there was another goal to come for Zulfadli, this time off the bench, in a match at Bedok Stadium
against Geylang United FC
when the 83rd minute replacement netted the sixth goal in a 6-3 rout of the Eagles.
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
.
Club career
Zulfadli has previously played for S.LeagueS.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
clubs Singapore U-17, Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Tampines, Singapore, that play in the S.League. Founded in 1945, they have won the national league championship five times, the Singapore Cup thrice and the ASEAN Club Championship once...
, Home United Football Club and Young Lions
Young Lions (Singapore football team)
The Courts Young Lions are an under-23 football team from Singapore. Most of the members of the squad are players from Singapore's national under-23 team. The team comes under the direct control of the Football Association of Singapore , but is managed as a football club and has competed in...
.
Zulfadli came late to serious football, having initially kicked a ball around only with his friends and had done little beyond that until getting a chance at Bartley Secondary School
Bartley Secondary School
Bartley Secondary School is a co-educational neighbourhood secondary school in Singapore. The principal is Mrs Mary Bay.-History:The school was founded on 18 February 1952 with Mr Chua Leong Hean as the first principal who also designed the School Crest....
.
He must have shown promise as he was selected for the NFA Under 15, Under 16, Under 17 and Under 18 squads and also played a year for Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Tampines, Singapore, that play in the S.League. Founded in 1945, they have won the national league championship five times, the Singapore Cup thrice and the ASEAN Club Championship once...
in their Prime League side.
He had been spotted when appearing for Bartley Secondary School
Bartley Secondary School
Bartley Secondary School is a co-educational neighbourhood secondary school in Singapore. The principal is Mrs Mary Bay.-History:The school was founded on 18 February 1952 with Mr Chua Leong Hean as the first principal who also designed the School Crest....
during Sec 2 when playing in a pre-season friendly against the Under 15 NFA side.
The coach at the time, Rajendran, liked what he saw of the then striker, who also played as a centre-back at Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers FC
Tampines Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Tampines, Singapore, that play in the S.League. Founded in 1945, they have won the national league championship five times, the Singapore Cup thrice and the ASEAN Club Championship once...
, and based on his performance invited Zulfadli to play for his NFA Under 15s the following year.
In his Under 16 team the season after, Zulfadli played in left midfield under R. Suriamuthi and it seems this is the position he has leaned towards ever since.
After that V. Sundramoorthy
V. Sundramoorthy
V. Sundramoorthy is a retired Singaporean footballer in the 1980s and 1990s, and widely touted as one of the country's most skillful and talented footballers ever.-Playing Career:...
had the budding midfielder under his care at the Young Lions
Young Lions (Singapore football team)
The Courts Young Lions are an under-23 football team from Singapore. Most of the members of the squad are players from Singapore's national under-23 team. The team comes under the direct control of the Football Association of Singapore , but is managed as a football club and has competed in...
.
Some of his team mates that year included Shahdan Sulaiman
Shahdan Sulaiman
Shahdan Sulaiman is a professional soccer player who plays for the Young LionsHe is a natural playmaker.-External links:* http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=42208...
and Khairul Amri
Khairul Amri
Khairul Amri is a Singaporean professional soccer player who plays for Football Association of Singapore in the Malaysia Super League and the Singapore national football team....
.
After two years there, Zulfadli was disappointed to learn that he was not being included for another season and was going to be without a club, prompting thoughts of even finishing with football.
It was then that Singapore Armed Forces FC stepped in and Richard Bok
Richard Bok
Richard Bok is a soccer coach from Singapore. He is currently the Head Coach of the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club .In terms of results, Bok is the most successful coach in the history of Singapore's S.League...
, who had taken advice from Zulfadli’s former coach Raj, handed Zulfadli a lifeline, since the player had almost resigned himself to being out of the S.League; having tasted that after a previous experience in the Prime League, he had no interest in dropping down to that level.
The appearance in the Warriors' AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
game in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
against Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island"....
two years ago ranks as his career highlight.
National service came soon after the Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island"....
game and the only way he could continue in the S.League was by switching allegiances and moving to Home United FC
Home United FC
Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapore's S.League.-History:The Police Sports Association was founded in the mid-1940s to organise football activities for the Singapore Police Force. They sent two teams to compete in the Singapore Amateur Football...
.
Enlisting in the Singapore Civil Defence Force
Singapore Civil Defence Force
The Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
in October 2009, he found things difficult, juggling training at Clementi Stadium
Clementi Stadium
Clementi Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Clementi, Singapore. It has a seating capacity of 4,000. It is managed by the Singapore Sports Council, which took it over on February 21 1983, and opened it to the public on April 1 the same year. It was Home United FC's home ground...
with his national service commitments.
Zulfadli suffered a serious hamstring injury, while jogging alone at the gym, and the hamstring problem affected both legs. He was advised to rest for six months and did not made it back until he played Woodlands Wellington FC
Woodlands Wellington FC
Woodlands Wellington Football Club is a professional football club that plays in Singapore's professional football league, the S.League.The team's home ground is the Woodlands Stadium, which is at the northern part of Singapore...
in 22 June 2011 at left left back and won 5-1. Having played against all of the big teams for Home United FC
Home United FC
Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapore's S.League.-History:The Police Sports Association was founded in the mid-1940s to organise football activities for the Singapore Police Force. They sent two teams to compete in the Singapore Amateur Football...
and things were going well until he suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear while playing Hougang United FC.
Zulfadli made only one appearance for them before the end of national service, as a substitute against Etoile FC
Etoile FC
Etoile Football Club is a professional football club which was formed to play in Singapore's S.League in 2010.Etoile FC is the first team of players all born in Europe to ply their trade in Singapore's professional league, and the first in Asia...
in a Singapore Cup
Singapore Cup
The Singapore Cup is an annual soccer competition in Singapore.The Singapore Cup is the major cup competition in Singapore football, and has existed since the 1997 ....
Quarter Final second-leg game at Queenstown Stadium
Queenstown Stadium
The Queenstown Stadium is located in Queenstown, Singapore. It seats 3,800 people.The stadium is a 10-minute walk from Queenstown MRT Station.-History:* The stadium was home to the Tanjong Pagar United S.League soccer team up to 2004....
, which he won 1-0.
Following his completion of national service, Zulfadli return to Singapore Armed Forces FC where the 23-year-old was on the bench against Home United FC
Home United FC
Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapore's S.League.-History:The Police Sports Association was founded in the mid-1940s to organise football activities for the Singapore Police Force. They sent two teams to compete in the Singapore Amateur Football...
, as the Warriors lost 4-0 on Oct 16.
On his first start at the Hougang Stadium
Hougang Stadium
Hougang Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Hougang, Singapore. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Hougang United FC in the S-League. The stadium has a capacity of 2,500 people....
three days later, he justified coach Richard Bok
Richard Bok
Richard Bok is a soccer coach from Singapore. He is currently the Head Coach of the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club .In terms of results, Bok is the most successful coach in the history of Singapore's S.League...
's faith by netting the clincher in a 3-1 win with a cracking goal from 20 metres out on the left that left Fadhil Salim
Fadhil Salim
Fadhil Salim is a Singaporean goalkeeper and currently plays for S.League club Hougang United FC.Fadhil started playing for Gombak United FC in 2009. In 2010, he joined Hougang United FC....
sprawling.
On Oct 31, there was another goal to come for Zulfadli, this time off the bench, in a match at Bedok Stadium
Bedok Stadium
Bedok Stadium is located in Bedok, Singapore, and has a capacity of 3,900 people. The stadium is home to the football team Geylang United FC in the S-league. Constructed in 1981, the stadium facilities are open to the public facilities from 4:30 am to 8:30 pm daily unless it is exclusively booked...
against Geylang United FC
Geylang United FC
Geylang United Football Club is a professional football club from Singapore, currently playing in the S.League. The club is based in Bedok and their home ground is Bedok Stadium. Their mascot is an eagle, and hence the team is also known as "the Eagles"....
when the 83rd minute replacement netted the sixth goal in a 6-3 rout of the Eagles.