Why did Hasnim Haron leave for Johor in 1993?

I can still vividly remember the day I read the shattering headline printed in the 3rd January 1993 edition of The Sunday Times (the Sunday edition of The Straits Times (ST)).

I literally choked on my drink when I read this headline (as credited)

Despite noting the ace winger did not have a good season in the previous year that saw Singapore relegated to the second tier of the Malaysian League, the broadsheet assessed: "If 26-year-old Hasnim (Haron) does move across the Causeway, it would be a severe blow to Singapore's hopes of a successful campaign when Division Two of the Semi-Pro League (Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 2) kicks off in July."

NOT A "PIN DROP" AT ALL

The development caught the whole local football fraternity by surprise, as there had been literally no sign—not even a pin drop—to hint to anyone that the midfielder was on his way to Stadium Larkin (the home ground of Johor FA).

This was especially shocking, given that things were looking up for a rejuvenated Hasnim, who had performed well during a training tour to Myanmar and the Merlion Cup tournament during that period.

It was later revealed that S.Thavaneson, the president of Hasnim's parent club Balestier United, was aware of the approach from the southern Malaysian state but decided to keep it confidential.

Due to his position as an FAS (Football Association of Singapore) council member, the then 45-year-old businessman was criticised for not informing Jalan Besar (where the FAS headquarters are located) of the approach beforehand. 

Many felt he should have done so, given the ongoing "rebuilding" process aimed at seeing Singapore regain their spot in the Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 1.

Thavaneson drew criticism from his peers on the saga (as credited)

While such an act drew brickbats from his peers in the footballing circle, Thavaneson remained unfazed and defiant. He maintained that he had done nothing wrong throughout the saga — choosing to stay silent during the height of the controversy.

Speaking to ST, Thavaneson said: "It is not my duty to report to the FAS Council on what is happening in my club or for that matter what my players are up to."

"So when Hasnim started his negotiations with Johor it was strictly a private and confidential matter. It would have been grossly unethical of me to report it to the FAS," he added.

Subsequently, a "clear-the-air" meeting was held on 6 January between FAS secretary John Koh, national team general manager Patrick Ang, and treasurer Chey Chor Wai at the old National Stadium. The goal was to get to the bottom of how the saga had unfolded, after it had rocked the establishment since the start of the new year.

This followed Ang's revelation to the ST that Hasnim had already given his word to the Johoreans, effectively ruling out any hope of the FAS making a last-ditch effort to retain the services of the pacey winger.

I will never forget this comic strip (as credited)

The meeting resulted in a blessing for a determined Hasnim to pursue his footballing career on the other side of Selat Johor, although he promised he would remain available to represent the Lions in all international competitions.

For the southern Malaysian state, it was a dream come true, as they had actively pursued Hasnim since declaring their intention to do so in August 1990. 

13 JUNE 1992: THE CATALYST FOR DEPARTURE

With the die already cast, The New Paper (TNP) followed up on the development by shedding light on the details that triggered Hasnim's intention to leave Singapore.

On 13 June 1992, when a beaming picture of him showing off his "Hasnim King" boots appeared in the ST in the morning, little did he know that the outcome of the Lions' match, ironically, against Johor on that same day, would lead to one of his darkest moments.

Despite netting a beautiful curler late in the game to reduce the deficit in the 2-1 defeat against the southern Malaysian state, Hasnim found himself being abused by disgruntled fans after the game.

Hasnim revealed what triggered his decision to move (as credited)

The following were described by the tabloid on those unpleasant occurrences.

"He (Hasnim) was leaving (the stadium) when he was confronted by six men who moved at him in a threatening fashion. They gesticulated and shouted obscenities at him. Luckily some friends who saw the incident, ushered him away."

"Later that night, fans telephoned Hasnim and abused him. They would call up, use foul language and hang up. It went on until the early hours of the morning and continued for the next few days."

Those unpleasantries were probably became part of the catalyst that fueled the ace winger's desire to move.

In that TNP article, Hasnim said: "I was under tremendous pressure from the fans and the press. I wasn't able to concentrate. I was just getting worse."

"I wasn't able to do what I did in 1990 or 1991. At times, I couldn't even trap the ball! And, I'm supposed to be one the better ball-players.

"That's when I began to think that I had to make a move. Otherwise my game would have gotten so bad that I would have to quit before I reached my peak."

RETURN TO SINGAPORE

It was arguably the right decision at that juncture, as Hasnim flourished in his new environment once he crossed the Causeway.

At one point, after scoring 12 goals in 16 league matches and three in the Malaysia Cup tournament, he was being considered for a Lions recall by the then-national coach Barry Whitbread for the 1995 SEA Games squad, only to turn it down due to family commitments.

Balestier Central failed to sign Hasnim back from Johor (as credited)

When the S.League was poised to kick off in April 1996, Thavaneson tried but was unable to recall Hasnim to play for the newly registered Balestier Central in the republic’s professional league; Johor refused to release him from the loan deal they had signed with Balestier United, which was only due to expire in December of that same year.

However, in an ST report filed in February 1996, Hasnim promised he would return and play for Balestier once his obligations with Johor were over. He stayed true to his word the following year, when he signed a "lifetime contract" with the Tigers in early January 1997.

THE FINAL CURTAIN

Strangely, the one-time Belgium-bound midfielder did not cap his glittering career with the then Toa Payoh-based side; he left the club at the end of the 1999 season—a move that caught many by surprise when the news surfaced in Berita Harian (BH).

BH reported Hasnim left Balestier Central at the end of the 1999 season (as credited)

The local Malay daily stated that then Balestier coach PN Sivaji refused to comment on the reasons for the player's departure, though he admitted he still wanted Hasnim in the team. The report added it was understood that the decision had been made by Thavaneson.

Hasnim crossed Braddell Road to sign for Home United (as credited)

Days later, BH revealed that Hasnim had crossed Braddell Road to join Home United at Bishan Stadium. He presumably ended his career with Clementi Khalsa in an unceremonious fashion, when his contract was terminated midway through the 2002 season due to "non-performance".

(P.S 1: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited. Should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible, and I will remove them upon request.)

(P.S 2: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)

(P.S 3: From 1921 to 1994, Singapore competed within the Malayan and later Malaysian domestic football systems (as an invitational side following independence in 1965). Barring a few brief exceptions, this unique cross-border arrangement defined local football for over 70 years, until Singapore exited the Malaysian league to launch the S.League in 1996.)

(P.S 4: The blog post is based on publicly available sources, primarily from Newspaper SG. There is no attempt to speculate on or interpret the motives of any individuals or organisations involved. The aim is to present the findings matter-of-factly.)