AFC Champions League Two
Hariss and his teammates take on Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates at Bishan Stadium on Sunday having already seen off Muangthong United, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Sydney FC in the knockout rounds to secure an unpredicted berth in the decider.
“It’s huge for us to be in the final,” Hariss tells the-AFC.com. “I think, at the beginning to the season, we didn’t expect this for sure. We were very much focused on getting out of the group stage.
“I don’t think many people had us going to the final, but I think in each stage we grew from strength-to-strength as a team and I think it bodes well for the club. For a club of our stature it’s important to play in this kind of competition.
“Having made it to the final I think it’s huge for us as a club and for Singapore football.
“Our journey to the final has been nothing less than amazing. What a journey it has been for all of us. The games we have played away and at home as well have been pure magic.
“The fans, everybody at the club, the team, the players, the coaches, everybody has played their part and we’ve given our all. I think it all boils down to Sunday. We want to make this a memory for the ages and hopefully we can get it done on Sunday as well.”
Lion City have impressed during the campaign, topping their group ahead of Thailand’s Port FC, Chinese Super League outfit Zhejiang FC and Persib Bandung from Indonesia before steadily progressing through the knockout rounds.
Aggregate wins over Muangthong United, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Sydney FC have been secured due, in part, to the team’s strong form at home, with the Sailors losing just once – in the group phase to Persib – in front of their own fans.
Lion City’s hosting of the decider will give Aleksandar Rankovic’s side considerable self-belief going into the game, even though Bishan Stadium will be used as the venue instead of the Jalan Besar Stadium where the Sailors have tasted so much success in the competition.
“Home advantage is always great,” says Hariss, who will be playing in his second continental final having won the AFC Cup with Johor Darul Ta’zim in 2015 when the Malaysian side defeated FC Istiklol in Dushanbe.
“For us to play this at home, for us players and for the fans as well as for our family and friends to be able to catch a game of this magnitude, will be wonderful.
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“The final I played in 10 years ago was away and what a stage that was. Now, to be able to play at home, it’s going to be amazing. I’m really looking forward to it.
“Bishan’s our home ground as well. We’ve played there many times. The changes that have been made to Bishan (in preparation for the final), I think are great. We’ve been there and seen what it’s like. We’re really looking forward to playing there.”
Lion City go into the clash having won the Singapore Premier League title at the weekend, the club’s first since 2021, and Hariss believes that title-winning success will give his teammates an additional boost ahead of the Sharjah clash.
“Winning any title gives you confidence as players,” he says. “It’s something we’ve wanted to win for years. The last time we won it gave us confidence to grow, and to come back and win it again this year means so much to us.
“It was a very long season and to do it over the course of this season was amazing. The credit goes to all the players for putting in their hard earned effort. To go into the game this weekend with this in the bag is a huge relief and a confidence booster as well.
“We know (Sharjah) have some big players but it’s all about the team. For sure they have some quality in their ranks, but we’ve played some good teams, big teams in this part of Asia on our way to the final and we’ve done really well.
“We’re really looking forward to the game on Sunday. We hope to put on a spectacle and win the Cup.”