Yasir Hanapi has joined his Singapore teammate Safuwan Baharudin at Malaysia Premier League side PDRM FC after making the switch from S.League side Tampines Rovers.
The 27-year-old midfielder has passed the medical and will play with the Police team, which was relegated to second tier from Super League at the end of 2016 season, until the end of the year, according to Today. Yasir had been fine form for the Tampines, scoring five goals in all competitions this season.
It must have been difficult for the Stags to let go off Hanapi, who had been one of their consistent performers ever since he joined the S.League side in 2016. However, Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra says the move was confirmed taking into consideration the positive effect it will have for the national team.
"[Singapore] coach Sundram [V. Sundramoorthy] and [Tampines] coach Juergen Raab have said that the move will be very positive for him and the national team, so we did not stop it or make transfer fee demands, which typically kills deals," Ramachandra said, as quoted by Today.
"He has been one of our standout players this season but I guess if we believe in such a philosophy, we must think of the greater national cause even when it impacts us at a team level. We allow all our promising and developing national players to go any time in the interest of their careers."
Hanapi, who is adept to playing in both defensive and midfield roles, will join PDRM after the end of the international break. He is all set to feature in Singapore's AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifier first-round match against Chinese Taipei on Saturday, after which the LIons will take on Argentina at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
Safuwan, who joined PDRM in 2016, decided to stay on with the team even after they were relegated to the second tier of Malaysian football league at the end of last season. The 25-year-old utility player has been in fine form, scoring eight goals in 10 games for the Malaysia Premier League side. His exploits have been recognised by Sundramoorthy, who is keen on playing Safuwan as striker against Chinese Taipei in the absence of Khairul Amri, who is out with illness.
