Mika Bazil Baihakki
Mika Bazil Baihakki | |
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| Born | 24 April 2005 |
Mika Bazil Baihakki, often referred to as Mika Bazil, is a 16-year-old youth national footballer in Singapore. He is the son of former Singapore national footballer Baihakki Khaizan and former actress Norfasarie Mohd Yahya.[1][2]
Recent involvement in controversy
On 28 August 2025, MustShareNews reported that Mika Bazil was dropped from the Singapore U-17 national football team.[1]
The decision reportedly stemmed from Mika opting to prepare for his N-Level national examinations, which conflicted with an overseas friendly match in Bahrain scheduled during the school holiday period. As a consequence, he will no longer be considered for the AFC U-17 Championship in November 2025.[1]
Family’s response
Mika’s mother, Norfasarie, publicly criticized the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for what she perceives as unfair treatment—punishing a committed youth player for prioritizing academics. She clarified that Mika’s exclusion was not due to poor performance or indiscipline, but because he chose education over a non-competitive friendly fixture.[1]
She also revealed that nine other U-17 players were sitting for the N-Levels and faced similar scheduling conflicts, but most did not speak up for fear of repercussions.[1][2]
Norfasarie called on FAS to reconsider how they balance sporting commitments with academic demands for young athletes.[1][2]
FAS position & communication
The Football Association of Singapore reportedly held a briefing in May 2025 for all shortlisted Singapore-based U-17 players, outlining the commitment required for the season, including[1][2]:
- A training camp in Bangkok (21–29 June 2025)
- The Lion City Cup (8–13 July 2025)
- Overseas training camp (6–14 September 2025), which clashed with school holidays
- AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers (22–30 November 2025)
FAS acknowledged that some players would be sitting for national exams later in the year and stated that preparation would be intense, requiring high self-discipline. Families were asked to discuss availability and commitment and those unable to fully commit would not be considered for selection in major tournaments.[1][2][3] FAS asserted that 100% commitment is expected, as attendance and consistent preparation are critical for elite-level competition.[1][2]
Public reaction
The issue sparked widespread debate on social media, with many netizens dividing between support for Mika’s educational priorities and understanding of FAS’s requirement for team cohesion in competitive preparation.[1]
References/Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Yang, Gary. “Former S’pore national footballer’s son allegedly dropped after prioritising N-Levels over overseas friendly” MustShareNews, 28 August, 2025. Accessed 15 September, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Thet, Nyi Nyi. “Son of S’pore ex-footballer Baihakki Khaizan allegedly dropped from U17 team as he couldn't join team for friendly match to prepare for upcoming N-levels” Mothership.sg, 27 August, 2025. Accessed 15 September, 2025.
- ↑ “FAS defends U-17 squad rules after youth player dropped for prioritising N-level exam preparations” The Online Citizen, 28 August, 2025. Accessed 15 September, 2025.