Two-time ASEAN football champion Ridhuan Muhammad now has his own barber shop.

It all started out as a matter of personal interest, with a comb and a pair of scissors.

And his guinea pigs were fellow national footballers Baihakki Khaizan and Hassan Sunny.

But almost 20 years on after he experimented with his team-mates’ hair while either waiting for the next training or just to while his time away, former national winger Ridhuan Muhammad has now brought to life his life long dream – to open a hair salon on his own.

On 6 August, in an intimate event at Bussorah Street, Ridhuan officially launched Supotsu Barber, which is just about 50 metres away from the iconic Sultan Mosque, with close friends and family members in tow.

He even gave a speech, reading off notes from his mobile phone.

“For those who know me, you would know that this has always been my dream, to have my own hair salon and barber shop,” said the 39-year-old, who is also a youth coach at Tanjong Pagar United.

“My entire life has revolved around football, which I have been passionate about, but I have also been intrigued by the work of barbers, from the time I was very young.

“I always used to watch them while I wait for my turn and have always wondered how they use the tools to cut, and it always gave me a sense of satisfaction.”

Among the football icons who were present at the official launch of Supotsu Barber were Ridhuan’s former and current team-mates including Noh Alam Shah, Baihakki Khaizan, Khairul Amri, Hafiz Osman, Faris Ramli, Hassan Sunny, Zulfahmi Arifin, Zharfan Rohaizad and Jumaat Jantan, among others.

“I am very happy for him, and am proud to see that he has followed through on his lifelong dream,” said Noh (photo below), who was Ridhuan’s team-mate not just at Tampines Rovers and then at Arema Indonesia, but who are currently working together at Tanjong Pagar United.

Patrons who pay a visit to Ridhuan’s new business gig will also be treated to an array of football memorabilia which will line the corridor, all the way up to level two of the shophouse.

Also on display are various football boots, and newspaper clippings which chronicle his football journey over 20 years, which also included a pair of regional titles in 2004 and 2007, as part of Radojko Avramovic’s Lions.

Supporting Ridhuan in his endeavour is chief of Singapore Football League side Jungfrau Punggol Salman Abdullah, whose restaurant is directly across Supotsu Barber.

Watch video here.