He was arrested for failing to attend court for a traffic summons last year, and served four days in detention after being charged by the Singapore Police Force in 2013 for going absent without official leave (AWOL) to play in a Malaysia Super League (MSL) match.
Released by Tampines Rovers at the end of the 2017 S-League season for disciplinary issues according to then Stags coach Jurgen Raab, national left-back Shakir Hamzah could have easily turned out to be one of those talented footballers who strayed and never got to fulfil their potential.
But, thankfully for the 26-year-old, he came to his senses before it was too late.
After a solid season in which he played 21 Singapore Premier League and 10 AFC Cup games - Shakir missed five matches only through injury and suspension - and scored four goals for Home United, the indefatigable defender's energetic displays have been rewarded with a one-year contract with MSL side Kedah, his first with a foreign side, and a pay rise.
Before he leaves for Alor Setar with his wife, two daughters aged two and one, and a two-month-old son on Thursday, The Straits Times caught up with Shakir on Saturday.
He shared how he decided to turn over a new leaf only when he was restrained by cable tie during last year's arrest at Changi Airport, right before his former club Tampines departed to play pre-season friendlies in Terengganu.
He said: "I forgot about my court date. Later, I was released on bail after about one hour in the station but, in that time, I realised it was time for me to become a better person.
CHANGE FOR GOOD
I see talented players like Mario Balotelli who are so good but got nowhere in their careers. If I have a similar heck-care attitude, I won't go far, and I feel I can still improve to become a better footballer.
SHAKIR HAMZAH, on his decision to turn over a new leaf and be serious about football.
"I see talented players like Mario Balotelli who are so good but got nowhere in their careers. If I have a similar heck-care attitude, I won't go far, and I feel I can still improve to become a better footballer."
There was also speculation that Shakir was going through some relationship problems, but he insisted that his 29-year-old wife Erni Maulood and father Hamzah Haron are key to his turnaround.
He said: "They had been scolding and reminding me that if I continued to be ill-disciplined, how could I further my career?
"In every relationship, there will be problems and fights. In the past, I loved to create problems which made it frustrating for my wife and I. But I thank God for giving me such a patient wife who never gave up on me. I can only repay her by being a better husband and father.
"When I was younger, I was immature and did not think of the consequences before I did something.
"Now that I'm married with three kids, I understand that there is no point getting into trouble because it affects my family and not just me any more."
National footballer Shakir Hamzah talks about turning points in his career
After seeing Shakir play nine out of 10 national team games this year - scoring one goal and contributing to three clean sheets - former national coach Fandi Ahmad is convinced Shakir will do well for Kedah.
"He is a very reliable wing-back who can play in more than one position. He is good in defence and provides an attacking option with his overlapping runs," said Fandi.
"He will surely be an asset to his new team with his tremendous fitness, speed and aggression."
Kedah coach Aidil Sharin, who was also Shakir's mentor at Home United both last season and 14 years ago at the club's centre of excellence, added: "He is Singapore's best footballer this year. His work rate and defensive stability are rare qualities in this region.
"Some coaches may have had a hard time with him, but he has been superb with me and, hopefully, we will be successful together again."
Even as those around him attest to his positive transformation, there is something Shakir will not change - the ferocity of his game that caught the eye of coach Diego Simeone after he snapped at Radamel Falcao's heels and dispossessed Diego Costa when Atletico Madrid visited Singapore in 2013.
The 1.79m, 65kg defender said: "I am not the biggest left-back around, so I have to rely on my speed and I have to be clever in how I defend against them.
"If I have to impose myself against a bigger striker, I will not hesitate to do so, otherwise they will know they can take advantage of you.
"I'm grateful to sign with Kedah. My longer-term aim is a better contract, or move on to play for a better team from a better league because I won't be satisfied to remain on the same level."
Top 5 Best 9mm Self-Defense Ammo for Concealed Carry Reviews 1 Magtech Ammunition 9 mm 115GR FMJ Ammo. This ammo's main objective is to make sure that people can access the best and cheap ammo for the 9mm concealed carry. The company has been making the best ammo for years now, so you can be sure that this one will be great.
Lpc Printing
Joseph Chipolina's own goal and a late effort from substitute Robbie Brady handed the Republic of Ireland a Euro 2020 qualifying victory over Gibraltar. On a night when 36,281 turned up at the
Own goal helps Ireland edge Gibraltar 2-0 - Football - Eurosport
Reaction after Liverpool win 3-1 at Bayern Munich to make it four English teams in the last eight of the Champions League. his touch past Gerard Pique takes the ball out of reach and he comes
Official Liverpool FC Store | Liverpool FC Ball
AD
store.liverpoolfc.com/ball
Report Ad
Browse Our Wide Range Of Exclusive Liverpool FC Souvenirs. Shop Online Now.
May 03, 2019 · Jan Vertonghen is set to sit out Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League trip to Bournemouth as he gets over the heavy clash with team-mate Toby Alderweireld that forced him out of the Champions
Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury - Pulse Nigeria
LONDON: Manchester City swept back to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice in the champions' 3-1 win over Everton, while Christian Eriksen kept Tottenham in the title hunt in a last-gasp 1-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday.
Jesus shines as City regain top spot, Eriksen fires Spurs
Our Tampines Hub a hotbed of passion as football fans throng the venue to catch Champions League final screening Singapore's football fans create an electrifying atmosphere at Our Tampines Hub for
Our Tampines Hub to screen Champions League showdown on
Antoine Griezmann struck again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating in-form Getafe 2-0 on Saturday. Griezmann now has eight goals in as many games, his latest helping Atletico register their sixth win in seven league matches. The only dropped points came in a respectable draw away to Sevilla.
Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with the late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Football ; Super-sub Andre Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis .
Super-sub Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis -football- my
The Next 48hOURS, Cape Town, Western Cape. 9.7K likes. Your free guide to your free time.
Next Store Opening Times
Champions League: Donny Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Tottenham in semi-final Youthful Ajax side, featuring several players polished in the Dutch club's famed academy, were too energetic for a laboured Spurs team who hardly got a kick early on in their first European Cup semi-final for 57 years.
Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Spurs in semi-final - Al
They'll need every part of the side to be in form to emerge with two positive results and Mane can be key to any success thanks to being on top of his own game, says the boss. Indeed, Klopp
Jürgen Klopp: We're not finished, so let's play and see what
A Tottenham legends team take on Inter Milan in a second test event on Saturday before Spurs host Crystal Palace in the Premier League in their first competitive game at the ground on April 3.
Tottenham to play Crystal Palace in first game at new stadium
Players confront coach after James-less Lakers' loss
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming match
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch premier league live in stream
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live streaming qatar
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch english premier league live streaming
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
free watch champions league live streaming
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch soccer games live stream free
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming mobile
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming espn
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming now
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer am live stream
watch the champions league live stream
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch live soccer game today
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming bola
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch premier league stream reddit
watch live soccer stream android
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch premier league live streaming vf
#elcasico #football #championsleague #klopp #goodday #commentimemorabili #Barca #arsenalnews #liverpool #soccermemes #football #sunderlandafc #lionelmessi #bayervshoffenheim #liverpool #crossfit #americanfootball #BMW #coyg #beatifulgame #petercrouch #firmino #Celtic #tokyo #valcea #kickoff #soccer #villarealcf #jadwalbolahariini #battuteepiche #romania #knuckleball #thomasmeunier #streamingbolaid #gym #freekicks #alissonbecker #mane #chocolate #coys #mensnightout #pagani #Fcb #comico #insegreto #livesports #commento #footballdubai #bayernmunich #goal #footballmeme #leomessi #mancityvsliverpool #JUVENTUS #champion #hotcoffee #Suarez #Sunday #MyDubai #liverpoolcity #hoffenhiem #Barcelona #zidane #ignoranza #barcelona #league1 #zinedinezidane #Bar #rockstar #satira #frasitrap #bundesliga #kopisusu #paulmcartney #myfootballuniverse #footballfans #adidasslipon #manchestercity #soccerbible #manunited #433skills #Liverpool #linkstreaming #soccer #livestreams
No comments:
Post a Comment