Football players Baihakki (left) and Shahril could be taking
home about $16,000 monthly, not inclusive of other perks such as
car and accommodation. (Photo: http://www.fas.org.sg).
Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan could be Singapore’s
highest-paid footballers.
On Wednesday, the Lions duo inked lucrative two-year contracts —
each believed to be worth US$300,000 (S$380,000) — with their new
club, Medan Chiefs,
in the breakaway Indonesian Premier League
(LPI), which has not been
sanctioned by the Football
Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
They joined the North Sumatran
side after quitting Indonesia
Super League (ISL) club
Persib Bandung on Monday.
The new contracts work out to each
player taking home about $16,000 monthly. This is not inclusive of
other perks such as a car and an apartment, as well as match
bonuses of up to $900 — a marked increase from their previous
salaries with Persib.
The new deals for Shahril and
Baihakki far outstrip the pay of footballers in the S-League, where
the highest salary is believed to be $10,000.
Baihakki, who is a former Geylang
United defender, declined to confirm the reported salary figures,
but he admitted that it was a “very attractive offer”.
“An opportunity like this might
not come again so I had to make the choice in the best interests of
myself and my family,” he added. The 27-year-old has a 22-month-old
son and his wife Norfasarie is due to give birth to their second
child soon.
But the move to Medan Chiefs might
jeopardise their future in the national team.
Since the LPI is not an
officially-sanctioned league, both players risk losing their spots
in Singapore”s national squad.
PSSI’s secretary-general Nugraha
Besoes told The Straits Times that FIFA, football’s world
governing body, considers the LPI an “illegal” league. Currently,
Indonesian players plying their trade in the LPI are not eligible
to play for the national team, in accordance with FIFA
regulations.
The same rule is expected to apply
to foreign players although the Football Association of Singapore (FAS)
is waiting for a final decision from
FIFA on March 1.
A spokesman reiterated that the
FAS will “seek input from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation
before any decision is taken on any Singaporean players who play in
this league”.
However, Baihakki has not given up
hope of donning the Lions jersey in the future.
“My heart and soul are still with
the Lions but, due to the recent AFF Suzuki Cup failure, I’m not
sure if I still have a future. All I can do now is to give my best
for my new club and prove that I’m worthy of a call-up,” he
explained.
National captain Shahril, 27,
could not be reached for comment.
The LPI is bankrolled by a
consortium of businessmen headed by self-made oil tycoon
Arifin Panigoro, who with his brother Hilmi, is worth
US$985 million, according to Forbes.
It was formed last year because Mr Arifin believed football in
Indonesia was stagnating and plagued by corruption. The country has
not claimed a major trophy since winning the 1991 South-east Asia
Games gold.
Mr Arifin is also one of four candidates vying for the PSSI
presidency in the March 26 elections and if he wins, the LPI could
yet end up being “sanctioned”.
On the other hand, local players supported their national
teammates’ decision to move to the rival league even if it means
being barred from the national team.
Said Singapore Armed Forces FC goalkeeper Shahril Jantan,
“They’re going to earn almost four times what most players earn
here, who can blame them for snapping up the opportunity?”
“I’m happy for them. The career of a footballer is very short
and they’re doing what they can to earn a living. There’s nothing
wrong with that,” said veteran striker Aleksandar Duric.