Latiff Ends His Silence

He is tired of being judge, criticised and disturbed by the media

PLEASE leave me alone. That was footballer Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin's plea when Timesport finally caught up with the footballer who has been 'missing' for three weeks.

His plea is to the press, which he cites as the main reason for not making himself available the last three weeks.

It was with some agitation that he said yesterday: 'After Singapore's failure in the Tiger Cup competition, I was tired of being judged, criticised and disturbed by the media.

'One paper even said that Indra Sahdan and I should be dropped from the national team. 'In Singapore, if you don't score, everyone will backstab you. They don't understand that as a player, I want to score goals too.'

He felt then that it was the right time to go to Holland for trials with Roda JC Kerkrade and told national coach Jan Poulsen that he did not want to join the Lions for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

Then, after signing a contract with the Singapore Armed Forces FC following his completion of National Service, he left for Indonesia in mid-December, ostensibly to train there before heading to Holland.

But Timesport discovered that Roda had never heard of him. It was also learnt that he signed a contract with Indonesian club Persikabo Kabupaten Bogor (PKB) instead.

Since then, he has refused to speak to the press, hanging up whenever Timesport called his mobile phone.

But, when Timesport spotted him in Orchard Road on Tuesday, he agreed to meet the next day to set the record straight.

Even before yesterday's meeting, he continued his hide-and-seek game by changing the arranged venue when he spotted a Football Association of Singapore official.

When he finally settled on a coffeehouse at Orchard Promenade, he was asked: Why did you lie to everyone about your plans?

His response: 'I just want to be left alone. I don't want to keep explaining my decision to everybody.

'I just want to play soccer abroad and my main aim is to play in Europe.

'But if things don't work out there, I'll try my luck in the Indonesian league. If that doesn't work out, I'll come back to SAFFC.'

He has a clause in his contract with SAFFC to release him to play for any club overseas.

Yesterday, Latiff revealed that he had not signed with PKB, but plans to play in its opening two matches in the Indonesian League on Jan 14 and 18 when a Dutch coach arrives to assess him.

He added that he has an agent in Mirwan Suwaro, a commercial manager for top Indonesian players like Bambang Pamungkas and Rocky Putiray. Mirwan has contacts with clubs in Holland and Switzerland.

'Mirwan spoke to me after the Tiger Cup about going to Europe and playing in Indonesia first because it is winter there,' said Latiff, who has dyed his hair blond and wears earrings. But he refused to be photographed.

'I know it is not the right time to go because of the weather. So I trained with PKB to see if I can survive being homesick for two weeks. If I can make it in Indonesia on my own, then I can do it in Holland.'

He realises that Holland is a more difficult proposition, with a drastically different culture to adjust to.

'That's another problem I'll deal with when I get there. Whether I succeed or not, I'll talk again after I have tried my luck there,' he said.

'After playing for six years, I want a new challenge. I believe playing abroad can help me be a better player.

'The Indonesian League is comparable to the S-League. No one probes me about my personal life and I can focus on training hard.'

He insists his best chance to go to Europe lies with Mirwan and that he still wants to play for the Lions in the SEA Games.

'The Indonesian League will end in September. Should the FAS ask for my services, I will come back to Singapore,' said Latiff, who leaves for Indonesia next week. He has not met his parents since coming back last week, seeing only his siblings and his grandmother for Hari Raya.

As for his future, he said: 'I will only know if I was right after I go to Holland for the trials.

'I am happy with my decision and I don't want my parents to worry about me and I want to take care of myself. 'In terms of my contract, I have not done anything wrong and I can sign for any team. In fact, SAFFC manager Col Kok Wai Leong has assured me that I am welcome to play for SAFFC anytime.'

source: The Strait Times