Singapore football legend Baihakki Khaizan has highlighted the ongoing rise in quality and competitiveness across Southeast Asian football. He specifically pointed to clubs like Persib Bandung as examples of steady regional progress.
Singapore Legend Praises ASEAN Football Growth
In a recent assessment, Baihakki examined how the standard of play throughout ASEAN has narrowed the competitive gap over the past decade.
Tracking Persib Bandung’s Domestic Success
Reflecting on the trajectory of Indonesian club side Persib Bandung, Baihakki noted that he follows the team through social media clips and match highlights rather than full 90-minute broadcasts.
The former Tampines Rovers player acknowledged the club’s domestic success, pointing to their multiple league titles.
“Yeah, Persib is still right there. When we look at highlights from Instagram, from social media, yeah. But alhamdulillah, we see Persib has won, right, three times,” Baihakki remarked.
Roster Management and Talent Acquisition
Persib has undergone a noticeable evolution compared to the standards seen 10 to 15 years ago, according to Baihakki who spent the 2010 season playing for Persib.
He credited the club’s aggressive roster management and acquisition of top-tier talent as vital drivers for both internal success and broader competition within the league.
“Alhamdulillah for Persib, I feel like they just keep pushing forward. They want to take top players too, so it’s good, it’s good for football,” he added.
Narrowing the Competitive Gap Across ASEAN
Beyond individual clubs, Baihakki emphasized that the collective standard of ASEAN football has leveled out significantly.
Teams across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore are displaying sharper competitiveness on regional stages, raising the overall profile of the sport in Southeast Asia and earning greater respect from continental opponents.
“It’s good. That’s indeed, perhaps football overall. Maybe we look from 10 to 15 years ago until now, ASEAN teams on average are almost the same,” he explained.
Intensified International Rivalries and Rankings
The elevation of domestic leagues across the region has also intensified rivalries on the international stage. As league structures improve, matches between neighboring nations carry higher stakes and sharper competition.
“The rankings have started to rise. Whether it’s from Persib, whether it’s a Malaysian team, or a Singaporean team,” Baihakki concluded.
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