Muhammad Saifullah bin Muhammad Akbar (born 31 January 1999) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays either as a winger or attacking-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United and the Singapore national team.
Youth and early life At the age of six, he started playing football and quickly gained entry into the then-called Five Star Football Academy.
Club career Touted as a prospective footballer ever since childhood, Saifullah participated in the Lion City Cup with Ikhsan Fandi playing for the NFA U-16.
Saifullah trained with Australian side Newcastle Jets in 2015, impressing their coaching staff. However, no deal was surfaced. Previously, he had a five-day training stint with Queens Park Rangers in England. Also, he had a two-week stint at FC Metz, funded by the Singapore Sport School.
On his debut, Saifullah scored a goal to secure a 6–4 win for Tampines Rovers over Hougang United in the Singapore League Cup. After training daily with the first team throughout the 2015 S.League season, he joined their Prime League squad with the aim of making the Singapore roster for the biannual 2017 SEA Games.
Saifullah joined Young Lions after his national service and played the out the remainder of the 2018 campaign. While on trial at Spanish club, CD Tenerife, he did enough to be offered a contract with the club's B team, however he chose to remain with Young Lions for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season due to developmental reasons. Saifullah became a key member of the Young Lions squad that season, featuring regularly on the wing under Fandi Ahmad.
International career Saifullah represented Singapore at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in China. In 2016, he was called up for the Singapore U19s against Bahrain.
On 17 May 2021, Saifullah was called up to the Singaporean national team for the Asian World Cup qualifiers in June. On 3 June, he made his senior debut in a defeat to Palestine, coming on as a substitute for Hafiz Nor in the 65th minute.
Personal life Saifullah's father is Akbar Nawas, who is his current head coach at Tampines Rovers. Saifullah volunteered for early national service enlistment. As a hobby, he plays guitar and sings and supports Chelsea.
In 2025, Saifullah started his own podcast channel on YouTube alongside his two friends interviewing local footballers on their career.
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueSingapore CupLeague CupAFC CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTampines Rovers2016S.League1000520062Total1000520062Young Lions2018Singapore Premier League30000000302019Singapore Premier League213000000213Total243000000243Lion City Sailors2020Singapore Premier League1120000001122021Singapore Premier League2040000002042022Singapore Premier League161000000161Total477000000477Tampines Rovers2023Singapore Premier League2117100102922024–25Singapore Premier League150000020170Total361710030462 Career total1081171523012314 Notes
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSingapore202150Total50
Honours Club
Tampines Rovers
Singapore Community Shield: 2025
International Singapore U22 Merlion Cup: 2019
Individual
Singapore Premier League Young Player of the Year: 2020
References
External links Dollah Kassim Award: Saifullah targets stint in Europe