The Singapore international and Lion City Sailors captain is on the brink of an extraordinary milestone. His team are preparing for a very important home leg in the two-legged AFC Champions League Two. The final will be held in Bishan Stadium on Sunday. What a momentous day for Singapore soccer as it is the first time a Singaporean club has made it this far in Asia’s biggest club competition! At only 34 years old, Hariss has already made a remarkable 140 appearances for Singapore. His palpable expertise and experience winning the big dance over his career really would be second to none.
Hariss Harun’s path to this moment is lined with accolades. He signed for Johor Darul Ta’zim 1st team in 2015. As a duo, they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports, furthering the team’s legacy of beating the odds. His leadership and match-winner resilience have proved instrumental in steering the Lion City Sailors’s formidable quest. This season, they defied the odds again by moving past the group stage.
Reflecting on the season, Hariss noted, “I think, at the beginning of the season, we didn’t expect this for sure — we were very much focused on just getting out of the group stage.” The well-coached team had clear championship aspirations from the beginning of the season. Yet this amazing odyssey has taken them within one game of fulfilling that dream of continental glory!
Hariss has played in finals before. He was thinking back on a final he played in ten years ago – the last was played away from home. “The final I played ten years ago was away but still, what a stage it was,” he said. Now to have the chance to play at home — it’s going to be incredible. I’m really looking forward to it.”
That’s why they are so happy to start against Sharjah, in front of their passionate fans. “For sure, home advantage is always great,” he stated, confident in the support that will be present at Bishan Stadium.
Lion City Sailors have also recently won their first Singapore Premier League title, becoming one of Asia’s richest club’s ever-growing success story. Hariss views this victory as a significant win for the club. He just thinks it really encapsulates how hard that they work and how committed they are to the process through a long season. With his leadership, the team released all local projects with success. Today, they are solidifying their reputation on the continental stage.
As they look forward to the final, Hariss and his teammates are well-prepared and looking forward to the test that lies ahead. They’ve shown the world that they can beat the odds. Today, they will be looking to extend their fairytale run in what should be a scenic battle against the formidable Sharjah.
The return leg will be more than an opportunity to win some silverware, though, as it would be a historical feat for Singaporean football. With Hariss Harun at the helm, the Lion City Sailors are poised to make history and inspire future generations of footballers in Singapore.
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