Lions captain Hariss Harun happy to take on role of FAS vice president

SINGAPORE – Since incoming Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li announced his slate – which included Hariss Harun as one of his four vice-presidents – over a week ago, the Lion City Sailors and national skipper has been inundated with calls and messages asking if he was retiring.

With a hearty laugh, the 34-year-old told The Sunday Times before the new council is sworn in at the FAS extraordinary congress on April 28: “I’m not retiring, and I want to play for many years more.

“I will know when the time comes for me to hang up my boots, but it’s not now because I feel I still can contribute on and off the pitch.”

Hariss, believed to be the first active player on the FAS council, added: “I was surprised when I was approached, because it’s unheard of for an active player to be part of the council.

“But it’s refreshing to know that they want me to be a voice for the players.

“I understand that the FAS council role comes with a lot more responsibility, and there will be a lot on my shoulders also being the national team captain and an active player. But I will have to learn to juggle and play each role as perfectly as I can when the time comes.”

One of Singapore’s most successful footballers, Hariss has won the Asean Championship with Singapore, the AFC Cup, Malaysia Super League (MSL) and Malaysia Cup with Johor Darul Takzim, the MSL with LionsXII, and the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup with the Sailors, who are also in the AFC Champions League Two final.

He has been known to be not just a model professional since his national team debut at 16, but also one who cares deeply about Singapore