Jan 9, 2011 Sunday TimesGoing straight
Aliff has vowed to stay away from alcohol, be early for training and get home by midnight
By Chan U-Gene
Aliff Shafaein, who was released from jail on Tuesday, is happy that his former club Tampines Rovers have agreed to take him back if he passes the Beep Test. -- ST PHOTO RAJ NADARAJAN
No more alcohol. A midnight curfew. Show up for training half an hour early. And no more negative headlines.
S-League player Aliff Shafaein has vowed to turn over a new leaf after spending two weeks in jail for drink-driving offences.
'It was the lowest point of my life,' a solemn-looking Aliff told The Sunday Times.
S-League player Aliff Shafaein has vowed to turn over a new leaf after spending two weeks in jail for drink-driving offences.
'It was the lowest point of my life,' a solemn-looking Aliff told The Sunday Times.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who was released from jail on Tuesday - a week early for good behaviour - made all the wrong headlines when he was sentenced for a series of traffic offences, which culminated in a crash on the morning of the Singapore Cup final, last month.
The former Tampines Rovers vice-captain was unlicensed and uninsured.
He kept his club in the dark, and played in the match which saw Tampines beaten 0-1 by Thai club Bangkok Glass.
He kept his club in the dark, and played in the match which saw Tampines beaten 0-1 by Thai club Bangkok Glass.
He also came under intense criticism from the public after his lawyer Mohamed Muzammil Mohamed said that the footballer hoped his 'ardent fans' would help him settle his fine of $10,500 to avoid another 48 days in jail.
But Aliff denied making such a comment.
But Aliff denied making such a comment.
'I was upset when I read the news reports. The people who know me well, they know that I would not ask for such a thing. This is my problem and I have to deal with it,' he said before a training session with Tampines, where he has played for the last seven years.
'Now I just want to put an end to the whole thing, get back to my simple life and concentrate on my football.'
'Now I just want to put an end to the whole thing, get back to my simple life and concentrate on my football.'
Prison was a shock to his system.
He had to share his cell with six others, whom he believed were armed robbers and rioters.
'I thought that I would be placed with people with similar offences. Thankfully, we got along okay. Sometimes I gave them my food when I couldn't finish it.'
'I thought that I would be placed with people with similar offences. Thankfully, we got along okay. Sometimes I gave them my food when I couldn't finish it.'
He thought he could cope with the situation and avoid paying the fine. But it did not take him long to change his mind.
Aliff asked his father to withdraw his (the player's) savings. But relatives also had to pinch in with another $5,500.
He intends to return the loan through monthly instalments of $1,000.
'I want to keep just enough money for myself to pay for bus and food allowances. I also want to go home as often as I can for meals to cut back on my expenses.'
Aliff, who lives with his parents and younger sister at a flat in Yishun, used to earn between $3,000 and $4,000 a month.
Aliff asked his father to withdraw his (the player's) savings. But relatives also had to pinch in with another $5,500.
He intends to return the loan through monthly instalments of $1,000.
'I want to keep just enough money for myself to pay for bus and food allowances. I also want to go home as often as I can for meals to cut back on my expenses.'
Aliff, who lives with his parents and younger sister at a flat in Yishun, used to earn between $3,000 and $4,000 a month.
Tampines' chairman Teo Hock Seng has given him a second chance by offering him a new contract if he is able to clear the mandatory Beep Test, a fitness test which all S-League players are required to pass.
Aliff is pencilled in for his first attempt tomorrow.
Aliff is pencilled in for his first attempt tomorrow.
He said: 'I am very grateful to have been given another chance. I am disappointed with myself for bringing disrepute to my family, friends, club and management.
'My mother now calls me after every training session. I have to assure her not to worry and that I can take care of myself.'
'My mother now calls me after every training session. I have to assure her not to worry and that I can take care of myself.'
Said Tampines' chief striker Aleksandar Duric: 'I'm sure he is now a changed man. It is good that the club take him back. Personally, I am happy because we had a good partnership last season.'
Added former team manager Syed Faruk, who stepped down before the start of the coming season to expand his business: 'Aliff is not a bad person. He has a few bad habits, but is a mild-mannered boy who respects his elders and gets along very well with all the players.'
ugenec@sph.com.sg
ugenec@sph.com.sg
Self-sufficient
'I knew I had to pay the fines on my own. This is my problem and I have to deal with it. The people who know me well, they still support me and they know that I would not ask for such a thing.'
Aliff Shafaein, refuting reports he asked his fans to pay his fines for him
Good at heart
'Aliff is not a bad person. He has a few bad habits, but is a mild-mannered boy who respects his elders.'
SYED FARUK, former Tampines team manager
Warm welcome
'I'm sure he is now a changed man. It is good that the club take him back. Personally, I am happy because we had a good partnership.'
ALEKSANDER DURIC, Tampines striker
ALEKSANDER DURIC, Tampines striker
---article off Sunday Times 9 Jan 2011-----
Afterthoughts:
A piece of pleasant news finally about local football after a calamitous week.
So did he or didnt he? Was something lost in translation? Anyway, I suppose its time to move on and hope the man can relight his career and win fans back with his football..
Previous blog entry: http://dreamteamsteam.blogspot.com/2010/11/if-you-get-another-chance-dun-waste-it.html
As stated, whoever can get Aliff's attention on my previous entry, please do so. I will be satisfied if my rummage through my old magazines to find his teenage years can help motivate "The naughty-Little Master" and inspire him to turn for the good.
So did he or didnt he? Was something lost in translation? Anyway, I suppose its time to move on and hope the man can relight his career and win fans back with his football..
Previous blog entry: http://dreamteamsteam.blogspot.com/2010/11/if-you-get-another-chance-dun-waste-it.html
As stated, whoever can get Aliff's attention on my previous entry, please do so. I will be satisfied if my rummage through my old magazines to find his teenage years can help motivate "The naughty-Little Master" and inspire him to turn for the good.
~El Fenómeno, 9 Jan 2011~ signing off
