Singapore vice-captain Hariss Harun will continue plying his trade with Home United after the Protectors agreed to extend the midfielder's loan deal until the end of the season.
Hariss has been a regular at Home ever since he arrived at Bishan Stadium in March on loan from his parent club Johor Darul Ta'zim. The 26-year-old was supposed to play in Spain this season but a loan move to Spanish fourth-tier club L'Hospitalet failed due to tax issues. The Lions star was not able to rejoin JDT as he had not been register as one of the Super League club's foriegn players and thus made a move to the S.League.
Home did not think twice about making Harris a first-team regular this season and the midfielder has featured in eight league games so far. There is more good news for the Protectors as Harris will now be eligible to play in the AFC Cup as well. Notably, the influential midfielder missed out on continental action as he had not been eligible for registration after joining the team late.
The Protectors have had a solid run in the AFC Cup this year as they have become the only side from Singapore to reach the zonal final. They will take on Philippines' Ceres Negros FC in the two-legged final in August. Coach Aidil Sharin says Hariss' availability for the all-important final will be a big boost to their chances.
"He [Hariss] has brought a lot of professionalism to the team. We already have a leader like Hassan [Sunny] and with Hariss in the middle, the team is more solid and stable," Aidil said, as quoted by Today.
"We will have more options as I can play him in the middle and also at centre-back."
However, Hariss still has a chance to play overseas as early as this season if any other foriegn club decides to offer him a contract before the ongoing transfer window closes. The midfielder was supposed to rejoin L'Hospitalet in June, but JDT have decided to let him stay at Home.
"There is a term there that says, if between [now and] August, if a club wants him, we have to release him. We will support [him if that happens]. We would not want to stop a player who can play in a better league and every player dreams of playing overseas," Aidil added.
