LIONSXII starlet Faris ready for debut

By Gabriel Tan

A few eyebrows were raised at the start of the season as Faris was named in the LIONSXII's 29-man squad for the 2013 season, given he had spent almost all of last season playing for the National Football Academy (NFA) Under-18 side and is yet to make his professional debut.

However, with LIONSXII star centre-back Baihakki Khaizan suspended and Safuwan Baharudin and Shakir Hamzah unavailable for selection due to national service commitments, the teenager is set to be given the nod by coach V. Sundramoorthy when the Singaporean outfit take on the Titans at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.

Although he admits to being slightly nervous ahead of the game, Faris reveals he has received excellent support from his team-mates.

"Of course I'm excited but nervous at the same time," he told ESPNSTAR.com.

"I've never experienced the [Great Eastern-YEO's] S.League before and now I'm going to the M-League straight away.

"I'm expecting it to be a nerve-wracking experience but hopefully I can learn from it.

"My team-mates have been very good for me. Based on their own experiences, they have told me what to do and how to cope to prevent certain situations from arising on the pitch."

On Tuesday, Faris is likely to found himself up against T-Team striker Caleb Folan, a player with experience in the Barclays Premier League having plied his trade with Wigan and Hull in recent years.

Although he's yet to open his T-Team account, Folan is expected to pose a real problem to the makeshift LIONSXII backline, but Faris is hopeful he and Faritz Hameed, who has started every game so far at right-back, can get the job done.

"Hopefully I can match his [Folan's] standard but I'm prepared for it," the 18-year-old added.

"Faritz and I have trained alongside one another in the past. I know his style of play and hopefully I can communicate well with him in the game."

While it is understandable the youngster is slightly apprehensive ahead of his first game in professional football, Faris can take heart in knowing he has the backing of Baihakki, who is arguably Southeast Asia's best centre-back at the moment.

"I think Faris has all the attributes to become a Singapore international," the 28-year-old said on his young team-mate. "It's important we give players like him this type of exposure at such a young age.

"Obviously he has to work hard and still has a long way to go, but I believe he can achieve a lot in his career if he puts his heart to it."

Likewise, LIONSXII assistant coach K. Balagumaran, who previously coached Faris at youth level, has no doubts he will be up for the challenge.

"I've coached Faris before at Under-15 level," the ex-Gombak United boss revealed. "We went for a tour in China and a few of the boys were slightly undaunted by the occasion.

"But not Faris - he gave it his all and wasn't afraid to get physical with some of the bigger opponents."

Following Tuesday's trip to T-Team, the LIONSXII are next in action on Friday when they take on PKNS FC in the first round of the Malaysia FA Cup.