SINGAPORE – The last time Singapore national team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin played in the domestic league, it was still called the S.League with teams such as Etoile FC, Singapore Armed Forces FC, Woodlands Wellington and Gombak United, while the iconic Aleksandar Duric powered Tampines Rovers to the league title.

That was 2011 and Safuwan was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions.

Now, 14 years later, Safuwan is back home as a Lions veteran. The 33-year-old has joined

Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup champions

“To be honest, I have not been counting the years. But it feels surreal knowing it has been that long,” said Safuwan, who has 124 caps for the national team. “When I was still playing for the Young Lions, there were very different teams to what there are now. I remember playing against Beijing Guo’an Talent (2010) and Etoile.

“But I am excited to be back and I want to give credit to Selangor, for agreeing to this deal. The Sailors came in strong, we had a good discussion on what we can expect of each other. That was important to me.”

The loan move ends

a period of uncertainty for Safuwan, who was left in limbo at Selangor

Safuwan made his professional debut in 2009 with the Young Lions and made 58 appearances in the local competition before joining LionsXII – the now-defunct Singapore team in the MSL – from 2012 to 2015. He had a memorable, but short loan stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in 2015.