Muhammad Jefri Syafiq bin Ishak (born 21 May 2002) is a Bruneian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Brunei Super League club Kuala Belait and the Brunei national football team.[1]
_31.jpg) Jefri with Kuala Belait in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Muhammad Jefri Syafiq bin Ishak | ||
| Date of birth | 21 May 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Kuala Belait, Brunei | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kuala Belait | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| BSRC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | BSRC | 3 | (0) |
| 2022– | Kuala Belait | 16 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | Brunei U23 | 7 | (0) |
| 2022– | Brunei | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 November 2024 | |||
Club career
editBSRC
editA native of Kuala Belait in west Brunei, Jefri began playing for the football team of Brunei Shell Recreational Club in the 2020 season, after steady development with their youth team.[2] He made his league debut against Indera SC on 20 June 2021 in a 0–2 loss.[3]
After three league appearances in two incomplete Brunei Super League seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefri moved to Kuala Belait of the same district the following year.[4] He made his competitive debut for KB at the 2022 Brunei FA Cup first group match against Tutong Hotspurs in a 1–1 draw on 14 August.[5] He gained rave reviews from onlookers, most importantly the then Brunei national team head coach Mario Rivera, at the tournament where his team was able to advance to the quarter-finals through his performances.
In the 2023 season, Kuala Belait finished sixth out of 16 teams, with Jefri keeping five clean sheets in 12 appearances.[6]
International career
editYouth
editJefri became the starting goalkeeper for Brunei at under-23 level in 2023, making the squad to compete at the 2023 AFF U-23 Championship held in Thailand in August of that year.[7] He made his first appearance in a 2–0 loss to Laos in a friendly on 12 August.[8] At the tournament itself, Jefri conceded a ninth minute own goal in the first game against Cambodia, the score ending 0–5.[9] Further defeats incurred by Thailand and Myanmar compounded Brunei to finish bottom of their group.[10]
A month later, almost the same side travelled to Jordan for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification matches against three formidable Middle Eastern teams.[11] Jefri conceded a total of 23 goals in three matches against the home side, Syria and Oman.[12]
Senior
editJefri became a surprise selection for the Brunei national team when the Wasps hosted both Laos and Maldives at a tri-nation tournament in September 2022.[13] However despite consistently being in the national squad ever since, he could not dislodge the two senior goalkeepers Haimie Abdullah Nyaring and Ishyra Asmin Jabidi and he had to wait until 15 November 2024 for his international debut away against Russia in Krasnodar when both players were unavailable for selection.[14] The gulf in class between the two sides was apparent as Jefri was on the wrong end of an 11–0 hammering by the team in red.[15]
References
edit- ^ @_kbfootballclub (12 December 2022). "All the best buat Md Jefri Syafiq (GK) yang akan mewakili negara ke AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022! Make Brunei & KBFC proud!". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ @bsrcfootball (28 February 2020). "FIRST TEAM #bsrcfc #bsrcfcbruneisuperleague #supportfootball #bsrcfootball #bsrcfcplayers". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ @bsrcfootball (20 June 2021). "20 JUNE 2021 Brunei Super League 2021". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ @_kbfootballclub (8 June 2022). "Back to training!". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ @_kbfootballclub (14 August 2022). "We're forced to settle for a point against Tutong Hotspurs". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Brunei 2023". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "23 national under-23 players called up for AFF meet". Borneo Bulletin. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Brunei lose 2-0 to Laos in friendly". Borneo Bulletin. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Brunei lose to Cambodia in AFF opener". Borneo Bulletin. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "ASEAN UNDER 23 CHAMPIONSHIP". ASEAN Football Federation. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (3 September 2023). "Announcing 23 confirmed players that will be participating for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers!". Retrieved 22 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Brunei under-23 team lose 3-0 to Oman". Borneo Bulletin. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (20 September 2022). "The Brunei Darussalam squad list for the upcoming international friendly games". Retrieved 21 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (12 November 2024). "Brunei Darussalam's national team has announced the official squad called up for their upcoming international friendly in Russia". Retrieved 22 November 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Football Union of Russia vs Brunei: Friendlies - BBC Sport - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
External links
edit- Jefri Syafiq Ishak at Soccerway
- Jefri Syafiq Ishak at Sofascore
- Jefri Syafiq Ishak on Instagram