Shah Azahar Abdullah Ahar
Mohammad Shah Azahar bin Abdullah Ahar, formerly known as Philip Anak Ahar (born 11 December 1983) is a Bruneian international footballer of Iban descent who plays as a defender for Lun Bawang FC of the Brunei Super League.[1]
![]() Shah Azahar with Lun Bawang in 2023. | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mohammad Shah Azahar bin Abdullah Ahar @ Philip Anak Ahar | ||
Date of birth | 11 December 1983 | ||
Place of birth | Temburong, Brunei | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Lun Bawang FC | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2014 | QAF FC | ||
2015 | Jerudong FC | ||
2016–2017 | Wijaya FC | ||
2021–2022 | Wijaya FC | ||
2023– | Lun Bawang | 9 | (2) |
International career‡ | |||
2006–2015 | Brunei | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 August 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 January 2019 |
Club career
Philip, as he was previously known, started playing club football with QAF FC of the B-League Premier 1 in the 2005–06 season as an employee of Ben Foods (B), a company under the QAF corporation.[2][3] His club won the Bruneian league championship for three seasons in a row while he was there.
Shah Azahar joined Jerudong FC once QAF FC waived entry into the 2015 Brunei Super League, along with many of his QAF teammates.[4] He moved again to Wijaya FC for the following 2016 season.[5]
After several years off the pitch to focus on his running career, Shah Azahar rejoined Wijaya in June 2021.[6]
International career
While still known as Philip Anak Ahar, he made his first foray into the international scene with Brunei at the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup held in Bangladesh. He made his debut and only appearance as a late substitute in the 2-1 win over Nepal on 4 April.[7] His next tournament was the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification in which he played two games out of three, all as substitute.
After solid displays with Jerudong FC, Shah Azahar was recalled into the international fold in mid-2015, taking the field in friendly games against Singapore and Cambodia.
Honours
Personal life
Besides football, Shah Azahar is also a long-distance runner who has finished in first place at many locally-held events.[8][9][10] Hailing from a family of runners, his eldest brother Sefli is a celebrated Bruneian marathon runner,[11] while his elder brother Jimmy represented Brunei at the 2004 Summer Olympics for the men's 1500 metres on top of having played league football with MS PDB.[12]
Shah Azahar embraced Islam and changed his name from Philip circa 2010.
External links
- Philip Anak Ahar at National-Football-Teams.com
- Shah Azahar Abdullah Ahar at National-Football-Teams.com
- Philip Anak Ahar at Soccerway
References
- "Rain washes away Gunners' lead". The Brunei Times. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Shah Azahar and Siti rule the roost". Borneo Bulletin. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- "BEN FOODS (B) SDN BHD". QAF Brunei. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Indera SC ready to defend DST Super League crown". The Brunei Times. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Wijaya move up to second". The Brunei Times. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Wijaya FC aim for top-five finish in Brunei Super League". Borneo Bulletin. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- "Brunei vs. Nepal 2 - 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Hike starts off Sukan Ria". The Brunei Times. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Mohd Shah Azhar juara Cabaran Mendaki Bukit". Pelita Brunei. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Running for a good cause". The Brunei Times. 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "Ahar aiming for podium finish in marathon". The Brunei Times. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "MS PDB pip Kota Ranger". The Brunei Times. 7 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.