Singapore National Footballers and adidas athletes Shah Shahiran and Hariss Harun delve into the impact of the ASEAN Championship on Southeast Asian Football
Every two years, the whole of Southeast Asia is captivated by the ASEAN Championship Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC), previously known as the AFF Championship. It’s our Euros craze, and whether or not you’re a football fan, trust that your eyes will be glued to all the action.
From high speed slide tackles, to heroic saves and to outrageous goals, the ASEAN Championship is a spectacle that means everything to the people of Southeast Asia. After all, with all the friendly, yet intense rivalry between the countries around these parts, what’s better than bragging rights of being the kings of the world's most popular sport?
As AMEC 2024 rolls around, Sportplus.sg caught up with adidas athletes Hariss Harun, also Singapore's captain and the up-and-coming Shah Shahiran on just how significant the tournament has been for both players and the people of Southeast Asia.
While Europe too is a melting pot of different cultures and languages, Southeast Asia feels significantly different, partly perhaps due to the region being much smaller. The love-hate relationship resembles that of sibling rivalry and is felt throughout 11 countries too.
And just like siblings, the grit brings the region together instead of apart. Fans and players alike love soaking in the unique atmosphere.
“First and foremost, it’s a football-mad region. We have a lot of different cultures so it’s nice that people, even outside of football, get to know each other through the game,” shares Hariss.
“It’s a special feeling for players because some of us are friends but rivals on the pitch. When you go to a certain stadium, home or away, you can feel the atmosphere and you put everything aside for 90 minutes. For players, playing on the pitch it’s something we always look forward to and is something we’ve always wanted to witness as professionals — playing for a huge crowd.”
Agreeing with his captain, Shah adds, “It also attracts the non-football fans as when they watch the matches on TV or maybe even in stadiums, the energy that emanates from the games entices them to come down and support their country.”
The two newly-minted adidas athletes also share on how signing with the brand has helped them gain confidence on the big stage.
“At a tournament of this scale, there are a lot of eyes on you and there’s so much pressure. With adidas’ message of “You Got This”, it’s a morale booster,” Shah shares.
Hariss adds, “adidas has always been supportive of athletes at the grassroots level up to the elites. The slogan helps me overcome whatever obstacles I face and the confidence to face the challenges head on.”
Previously held in one country acting as the host, the ASEAN Championship made its switch to adopt a home and away approach. It was a move that was received well by both fans and players as it became more accessible to all fans around the region. Hariss applauds the format and credits it for raising the profile of Southeast Asian football.
“For me, to represent the country is a huge honour and being captain is always a proud moment for me.We know how prestigious AMEC is in Southeast Asia. The history stretches 20 years so I think it’s a huge tournament not only for Singapore but for Southeast Asia as a whole,” shares the veteran midfielder.
“When we play away, we expect the hostile atmosphere and things to go against us. Over the last few editions, we have seen, not only for Singapore but for our neighbouring countries too, that players are going to play in higher profile leagues or [overseas-born] players getting neutralised. All this adds to the interest of the tournament.”
Having made his ASEAN Championship debut at the last edition in 2022 and played in the Asian Champions League Two, Shah has also observed the impact of regional tournaments.
“The teams have better tactical awareness and their technical abilities are much better. More fans are coming down as they want to see what it's like now and what the future has in store for the teams. It’s a good platform for us as players to show what we have in us,” he explains.
The 25-year-old has personally experienced the enchantment of the ASEAN Championships, having announced his arrival on the regional stage in style. Not only did he make his tournament debut in 2022, Shah also scored his first international goal in that campaign, helping Singapore to a 3-2 win against Myanmar.
He beams at the memory, citing it as his proudest moment with the national team.
“It was an incredible feeling because you can feel the energy of the crowd behind you. I hope I can contribute even more at the upcoming AMEC,” he gushes.
Just recently, Shah was given the chance to don the captain’s armband. It was a full circle moment for Shah, as it was once again a milestone he earned on the pitch against Myanmar, which Singapore also won 3-2. Victory was the icing on the cake for him, as it was his birthday after all.
“Getting the captaincy from Hariss Harun was a great feeling and it’s a big responsibility. You’re carrying the whole nation and the trust of the coach and your teammates. There’s a lot of weight but with their support, you feel the confidence to bring them to a higher level,” he shares.
Watching the young midfielder lead the team to victory, Singapore’s long-time skipper was filled with nothing but pride. For Hariss, it was a sign that the young guns are moving in the right direction.
“To be honest, I didn't know it was his birthday! We got to know after,” he laughs.
“I think it was a really proud moment for him and I’m very happy for him. It’s time that that generation of players take the step up to try to lead the team. I’m always there to support and give my guidance and experience to them when they need it.”
To recall when Hariss was first given the armband, you’d have to go back to 2015. Specifically, 16 June 2015, at what was an iconic match for Singapore. It was supposed to be a sure win for Japan that day, but Singapore had held the Asian footballing giants to a goalless draw.
With that moment in the books, a rack of goals and over 100 caps in consideration, Hariss remains most proud of his beginnings.
“Football has lots of highs and lows and it’s all about how you overcome the lows and how you keep your humility after the highs. My proudest moment for the national team is my first cap in 2007 against North Korea. That was a childhood dream fulfilled for me,” he said.
With the first game of the 2024 AMEC campaign on the horizon, the duo will be looking to link up on the pitch to create even more memories, in what could be Hariss' last few tournaments with the national team.
Singapore will take on Cambodia on 11th December and Thailand on the 17th at the Singapore National Stadium, before playing two away games against Timor-leste and Malaysia respectively.