The Lion City Sailors players lined up in two rows on the pitch at Bishan Stadium, forming something akin to a guard of honour while they waited with cheeky grins for the man of the moment to walk past them.

As Hafiz Nor stepped between the two rows of players, hands reached out from both sides to give him friendly, congratulatory slaps on the back of his head – a classic gesture of camaraderie and playful ribbing in football.

A roar of approval erupted from the crowd at Bishan Stadium as Hafiz finally emerged from the group of players, his hair slightly ruffled but otherwise unharmed and in high spirits.

It was a deserved tribute to a player who has been a mainstay with the Sailors since the club’s inception in 2020. A well-liked figure in the team, Hafiz is known for always giving 100 percent and leaving everything on the pitch for the Sailors.

Fittingly, Hafiz has now etched his name into the Sailors’ history books as the first player to reach 100 appearances in all competitions for the club – a milestone he reached when he came on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 6-0 win over Young Lions on 22 July.

For his achievement, the 35-year-old was presented with a special framed Sailors jersey – emblazoned with his name and the words ‘100 APPEARANCES’ – by club chairman Forrest Li last Saturday (3 August) evening, just before their 3-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Brunei DPMM.

Hafiz’s century of appearances for the Sailors includes 82 in the SPL, nine in the Singapore Cup, one in the Community Shield, and eight across two AFC Champions League campaigns in 2022 and 2023.

He has since played two more SPL games for the Sailors, bringing his total number of appearances to 102.

Wearing a proud and grateful expression throughout the jersey presentation ceremony, Hafiz expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the club for recognising his contributions over the years.

“It’s an absolute honour to receive this special jersey and be recognised for this achievement, especially with our chairman presenting it and my family watching. This moment really makes me feel that all my hard work and sacrifices have been worthwhile,” said the Sailors’ vice-captain. 

“It has been a privilege to wear the Sailors’ badge for the past four years and I’ll continue to give my best as long as I’m needed by the club. I am deeply grateful to the club for this recognition, and this jersey will be a treasured keepsake for me.”

Hafiz revealed that he did not keep track of his appearances and was unaware he was approaching the 100-match milestone.

Nonetheless, he admitted to being pleasantly surprised by the club’s gesture, as he said, “To be honoured in this way shows how much the club values and appreciates its players. It’s also a message to everyone that if you give your all in training and on the pitch, the club will recognise your efforts.”

Hafiz was among the players who transitioned from Home United to the Lion City Sailors when the club rebranded in February 2020. The following month, he featured in the Sailors’ first-ever SPL match, a 1-1 draw against Tanjong Pagar United, alongside teammates such as Song Uiyoung, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, and Haiqal Pashia.

Over the past four years, Hafiz has selflessly contributed to the Sailors’ success, helping the club evolve into a team that consistently competes with Asia’s top sides through its qualification for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).

Reflecting on the Sailors’ evolution over the years, Hafiz said, “It’s surreal to see the progress the club has made. We’re now regularly competing in the ACL and achieving credible results against some of Asia’s elite teams. We also have promising Academy players breaking into the first team, and a robust pipeline for youth development.

“I know there were doubts about the club’s rebranding to become LCS at the time, but I believe most people now understand our vision – to elevate Singapore football to new heights through the things we do here.

“We are very grateful to Forrest for his continual trust in us, and for investing the resources needed to build a reputable club.”

But it was not all smooth sailing for Hafiz and the Sailors at the start of their journey.

The club’s inaugural season in 2020 was curtailed after just two matches – a draw and a defeat – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant the Sailors had to wait seven months before playing their next competitive match, where they finally secured their first-ever win by beating Geylang International 4-0 at the Bishan Stadium.

That victory sparked the Sailors’ momentum, leading them to finish the season strongly in third place. The following year, under the guidance of Head Coach Kim Do-hoon, they went on to lift their first SPL title in history.

“That triumph was truly memorable. Not only was it our first league title, but it was also the first time a local team had won the league in seven years. So many people were rooting for us, and we’re incredibly proud to have restored some local pride for Singaporeans,” recalled Hafiz.

The Sailors’ maiden league title was followed by another year of significant progress, particularly in regional competition.

After starting the 2022 season by winning their first Community Shield, the Sailors went on to represent Singapore with distinction in the ACL. They achieved the highest points tally ever by a Singaporean side in the competition — seven points — highlighted by a stunning 3-0 victory over South Korea’s Daegu FC.

“We were quite nervous before the ACL because we didn’t know what to expect. But we followed our coaches’ instructions diligently and we’re proud to have made history for the club and for the nation,” said Hafiz, who played a total of 32 matches that year. 

The opening of the Lion City Sailors Training Centre – Singapore’s first integrated football training facility – greatly accelerated the team’s development, with Hafiz admitting that he had never had access to such resources in his career before.

Another 33 appearances came in 2023 – a season in which Hafiz scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United, lifted the Singapore Cup with captain Hariss Harun, and contributed to an ACL campaign where the Sailors defeated K-League opposition for the second consecutive year with a 2-0 win over two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Hafiz’s WhatsApp profile picture features a memorable photo of him wearing the armband at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, with the passionate Mad Green Boys of the Jeonbuk Motors Supporters’ Club in the background, taken during the Sailors’ away fixture in Korea — a moment he cherishes despite the defeat.

“It was an electrifying atmosphere, with the Jeonbuk fans cheering throughout the match. Although we lost, it was quite an experience for us to be playing in such a world-class stadium. It serves as a reminder of the privilege we have as footballers,” he said. 

Over the years, Hafiz’s role has naturally evolved into that of a team leader, fittingly as the elder statesman of the squad. The veteran is now relishing the opportunity to impart his knowledge to the next generation.

Hafiz explained, “I see myself more as a leader on the pitch now. With young players like 16-year-old Nathan Mao in the first team, I try to offer guidance based on my years of experience. It motivates me, especially when they ask challenging questions — it pushes me to think deeply and reflect on how to be a better leader.”

Hafiz’s humility and versatility have been key to his success with the Sailors. Whether playing as a right-back, left-back, right midfielder, or auxiliary striker, he has consistently performed his duties with excellence and always prioritised the team.

Hafiz’s next target? To make 150 appearances, while continuing to serve as a guide and mentor to the younger players.

“I’m not thinking about 200 appearances just yet; 150 is the more realistic goal!” Hafiz remarked. “I hope to perform well enough to secure a contract for next year because I’m truly enjoying my time at the club. It’s great to have a core group like Adam (Swandi), Pashia, and myself who have been with the club for a while, as our presence helps the newer players settle in more quickly.”

‘Viva Hafiz Nor, Viva Hafiz Nor, Running down the wing, hear the Sailors sing, Viva Hafiz Nor!’ is a familiar chant that has resonated in the stands from Sailors fans over the past four years. As Hafiz approaches his 36th birthday this month, he remains determined to give the fans even more reasons to smile by continuing to contribute to the team’s success.

“Whenever I hear the fans sing this song, it always pumps me up and motivates me to do even more for them. We have the most amazing fans who support us through every match, win, lose, or draw,” said Hafiz, who is now in his 14th consecutive professional season since making his SPL debut in 2011.

“My job is to stay in the best possible condition and give my all for the club. Despite my age, I know what I can offer, and I’ll keep going until my body tells me I can’t do it anymore.”