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Izzdin and Zaiful called up by coach Stange for Singapore friendlies

Singapore coach Bernd Stange has called up Balestier Khalsa goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam, LionsXII midfielder Izzdin Shafiq and Home United winger Yasir Hanapi for the friendlies against Bangladesh and Brunei.

The Lions travel to Dhaka on May 30 to take on Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium before returning to play Brunei at home on June 6.

Stange explained his reasoning in giving a call up to Zaiful, who has won many admirers in the S.League over the past year.

He said: "Zaiful has performed on the international level for Balestier Khalsa in the AFC Cup, and has proven that he is the best goalkeeper in the S.League today."

The German coach also went on to praise Izzdin and Yasir, two players who have been impressive in midfield roles in their respective competitions.

He added: "I chose Izzdin because I feel that he has made the most progress of all the players in Singapore in the past six months. His performance in the FA Cup final also indicates that he deserves his first cap soon.

"Yasir Hanapi has shown enormous commitment in his performances for Home United and deserves his call up."

The games will be crucial for Singapore as they prepare for their first World Cup qualifying match on June 11 against Cambodia in Phnom Penh. They are drawn in Group E of AFC second round qualifying alongside Cambodia, Afghanistan, Syria and Japan.

Tampines Rovers coach V. Sundramoorthy and Malaysia FA Cup winner Fandi Ahmad will assist Stange in coaching duties for the upcoming friendlies.

Singapore squad for friendlies: Hassan Sunny, Izwan Mahbud, Zaiful Nizam (goalkeepers), Baihakki Khaizan, Ismadi Mukhtar, Madhu Mohana, Shaiful Esah, Nazrul Nazari, Zulfadli Zainal, Hafiz Sujad, Safuwan Baharudin (defenders),Yasir Hanapi, Gabriel Quak, Izzdin Shafiq, Firdaus Kasman, Hariss Harun, Zulfahmi Arifin (midfielders), Shahril Ishak, Khairul Amri, Khairul Nizam, Fazrul Nawaz (forwards)