Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #16
It hasn’t been the best of weekends for the Eastside clubs, with Geylang International and Tampines Rovers getting smashed by Albirex Niigata (5-0) and Hougang United (7-3), respectively. As a result, Tampines are in a precarious position and are dangerously flirting with the prospect of missing out on continental competition next season. On Sunday, Lion […]
On the Under-23 Rule: Let’s Keep It At One, But We Need The Prime League To Return
Back in January, I wrote an article about why it’s time for the Football Association of Singapore to consider re-evaluating the U-23 rule. Perhaps they read my article, because they’re supposedly revising the rule. If the alleged changes come to effect, then only one under-23-year-old player needs to start each game instead of the three […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #15
Gear up folks, we’re in for a nail-biting finish. The conclusion of last week’s fixtures means that 4 games remain for the majority of the teams, while Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers have five games remaining each. Matchday 17 certainly produced thrilling matches with Lion City Sailors and Hougang United battling it out in […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #14
The Singapore Premier League was back in action this past weekend and the “weekend” kicked off on Thursday where Balestier Khalsa took on Tampines Rovers who were looking to bounce back from their 4-1 thumping by Lion City Sailors. Unfortunately for the Stags, they slumped to another heavy defeat again – this time a shock […]
An Unrecognized Saviour Between The Sticks- Zainol Gulam Shares It All
Yep, that’s right. Zainol Gulam has left Geylang International, and it looks as if he’s going to embark on a new chapter in his career. When I found out about this, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer and sprung into action. Singapore, we have a goalkeeper crisis on our hands. Zainol’s departure from the […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #13
So finally, Tampines Rovers play their first Singapore Premier League fixture following their AFC Champions League expedition. As a result, we have all eight teams battling it out over the weekend for the first time in months. It wasn’t just the stags that returned, though, but we also witnessed a goal-fest again after a surprising […]
Making Up For Lost Time – Jun Tan’s Untold Football Story Part 2
Do Read Part 1 If you have not already~ For younger and newer fans to the Singapore Premier League, Balestier Central merged with Clementi Khalsa at the end of 2002 to form Balestier Khalsa. Yes, that’s right Balestier Khalsa, existed as two separate teams nearly two decades ago. But enough of a lesson on the […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #12
Happy National Day everyone! Singapore turns 56 today! The Singapore Premier League is full of twists and turns. Hate it as much as you want but you cannot deny that it is an entertaining competition. Even though there weren’t many goals this time round, this week’s fixtures did produce two shocks – Tanjong Pagar United […]
Making Up For Lost Time – Jun Tan’s Untold Football Story Part 1
If you’re a follower of the Singaporean football scene, Jun Tan is a name that should be familiar to you. If it isn’t, then his company Junpiter Futbol would indeed ring a bell. For the past decade or so, Jun has been photographing matches and interviewing players all around Asia. From meeting footballing icons like […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #11
And we are back with yet another weekend of football filled fun. Matchday 13 sees more action but we wanted to wait till the end of the Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers match before making our selections. However, that match got called off and instead, these are the contenders worthy to be included in […]
Setting Foot In Unchartered Territories – Razeen Khalid’s Unorthodox Career Part 3
Read Parts 1 & 2 if you have not already. After his stint in Thailand, England and Singapore would be his next destinations. What happens next? Read on to find out more. England & Singapore – Finally Signed But For How Long? Razeen’s family resided in Reading, and since he wanted to spend more time […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #10
After a two-month break, the Singapore Premier League is finally back. This past weekend saw the return of our beloved sides battle it out and with the return of fixtures, comes the return of the SoccerKakis Singapore Premier League Team of The Week series. The second leg of the SPL started off with a banger […]
Our SPL Stars To Watch: A SoccerKakis X Lions Of Asia Initiative
Payers Jointly Selected By SoccerKakis and Lions Of Asia In a matter of days, we see the resumption of the second leg of the Singapore Premier League. While we will be closely monitoring the Singapore Premier League title race, we plan to track a number of players until the end of the season. Who is […]
The Brain Gain: Evaluating Singapore’s Reverse Football Brain Drain – Short Term Benefits & Next Steps?
The Singapore National Team has always had several players plying their trade overseas. Truth be told, we need it. While the Singapore Premier League and its former iteration as the S.League has always produced a decent level of football, our best footballers should be forging moves abroad. Playing in an overseas league is challenges these […]
Setting Foot In Unchartered Territories – Razeen Khalid’s Unorthodox Career Part 2
Do read part 1 if you haven’t already! After A Hiatus, The Football Dream Continues For the next six years, Razeen Khalid would be working as an engineer for ExxonMobil but football would not be completely missing from his life. Playing regularly in the state league, Razeen did his best to fulfil his perpetual need […]
The SPL Resumes: The Rest Of The Pack
How can I leave the other teams out? Of course, I wasn’t going to. Also, if you haven’t already, do take a look at the title race preview that I previously wrote. Balestier Khalsa Balestier Khalsa find themselves leading the rest of the pack, and it will be hard for the team to bridge the […]
Setting Foot In Unchartered Territories – Razeen Khalid’s Unorthodox Career Part 1
If the name Razeen Khalid rings a bell, you may remember him from my previous interview with Central African Republic international and former Home United stalwart Franklin Anzité. I briefly mentioned Razeen, who was his agent in Malaysia. Razeen was a central figure during Franklin’s footballing chapter in Malaysia. Yet, make no mistake. Razeen is […]
The SPL Resumes: The Title Race Preview
With the Singapore Premier League resuming in a matter of days, I decided to take this time to preview the second half of the SPL season. Even though there are only 8 teams in the SPL, the title race is certainly exciting, and every team in the top half of the league is certainly a […]
What would the Singapore National Team look Like with less than 50 caps? Part 2
In Part 1, we looked at the defense, and collectively, they had a total of 13 caps, which leaves me with 37 caps to play with for my midfield and attack. I know it’s been a few days since the previous part, so if you’re wondering why I’m doing this – here’s a short recap: […]
Woodlands Lions Potentially Joining The SPL Next Season? How We Can Help To Make This A Reality!
Fill this survey and help Woodlands Lions take part in the SPL next season! Ever since Woodlands Wellington pulled out of the S.league in 2014, the North has been relatively silent. With zero representation, some fans have stopped watching the local game after their beloved local side pulled out. Yet, a new entity is on […]
Grooming Thailand’s Future Stars – Meet Thailand U-19 Head Coach Salva Valero Garcia
If you have never heard of Salva Valero Garcia, then you may want to start remembering his name. Only 28 years old, he’s the current Thailand National U-19 Team head coach, and he’s responsible for grooming some of Thailand’s most promising prospects. I had the pleasure to speak to Salva on his career thus far […]
The S.E.A Farer – Franklin Anzité’s Southeast Asian Expedition Part 2
In part 1, I looked at Franklin’s time in Singapore and Thailand and in part 2, the Southeast Asian expedition continues as he describes about his time in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia before discussing his time with the Central African Republic National team. Venturing Into Vietnam Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC in the V.league 1 […]
Come On You Rovers! Taking Inspiration From SAF FC’s 2010 AFC Champions League Run?
When Tampines Rovers take on Asian titans Gamba Osaka on Friday, it will be a real David versus Goliath encounter. On one hand, you have the runners-up to the Singapore Premier League who will feature in Asia’s premier continental competition for the first time. Regarded as minnows by the wider Asian football fraternity, you might […]
What would the Singapore National Team look Like with less than 50 caps? Part 1
Previously, I wrote a three-part article looking at what the Singapore national team looks like with zero caps (links are at the end of the article). Besides players with zero international caps, there is a slew of other players that have represented the Singapore national team before but have been frozen out of the team […]
The S.E.A Farer – Franklin Anzité’s Southeast Asian Expedition Part 1
Yes, I have a knack for finding former Étoile FC players. When the 2011 Étoile FC team first got announced, a few names caught my eye. These players had international caps for African nations before their stint with Singapore. Jonathan Justin had turned out for Mauritius. Mohamed Doumbouya clocked in an appearance with Mali in […]
Electric Elijah! Meet Geylang International’s Spark in Midfield
If you had been watching Geylang International’s matches this season, you’d notice that for a good period of time, the club was in a state of chaos. The team was ravaged with injuries, and the ever-inspirational Barry Maguire was on the sidelines for a lengthy spell. Yet, there was a silver lining in that storm […]
What would Singapore’s National Team look Like with 0 caps? – Celebrating the #NOCAP Squad Part 3
Take a look at Part 1 & Part 2 if you have not already! When we look at players over the age of 23 (born before 01/01/1998) with zero caps, we can potentially form a 19-man squad. I once again re-emphasize this is not including a host of youngsters that have featured prominently in the […]
What would Singapore’s National Team look Like with 0 caps? – Celebrating the #NOCAP Squad Part 2
As mentioned in part 1, I’ve decided to dedicate some time to players I feel deserve some much needed praise and recognition – players who have been robbed of chances to play in the national team. This is Part 2 of a multi-part series. When we look at players over the age of 23 (born […]
What would Singapore’s National Team look Like with 0 caps? – Celebrating the #NOCAP Squad Part 1
When Tatsuma Yoshida first took the reins of the national team, he ushered in a new era of Singapore football. Under icons V. Sundramoorthy and Fandi Ahmad, the national team had unfortunately grown stale during their tenures as national team managers, but Yoshida’s management was refreshing. Fans were behind the former Jurong FC player, and […]
Harimau Muda B 2.0? Not Quite – Part 2: Necessary Conditions For Singapore to Benefit
There are both pros and cons to the addition of JDT III to the SPL with any decision. Although, as I mentioned in the previous article, the pros outweigh the cons if certain conditions are established. If these conditions are met, then JDT III or other foreign teams would help the Singapore footballing landscape. The […]
Harimau Muda B 2.0? Not Quite – Part 1: Thoughts On JDT III’s potential inclusion in the SPL
Recently, the Crown Prince of Johor and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim revealed that he is interested in sending their President Cup squad to play in the Singapore Premier League. If the move does materialise, it shares many similarities with the Harimau Muda B team [The Malaysia Under-21 National Football Team] […]
Hold Your Heads Up Boys, You’ve done us Proud: Singapore 0 – 3 Saudi Arabia
My palms became sweaty and my heart was in my mouth as the Saudi players launched attack after attack. As each Saudi attack fizzled out for a goal kick or throw in, it allowed me to catch my breath. However, it was but a momentary respite before play resumed again and my anxiety returned. Despite […]
‘El Loco’ – The Continental Tale Of Blake Ricciuto
You can learn a lot from a football player by his goal celebration. Kylian Mbappé’s understated shoulder fold comes to mind, a shout-out to his brother’s celebration of choice after scoring a goal in FIFA. A larger-than-life athlete, however, deserves a more glorious trademark – which calls to mind Cristiano Ronaldo and his now iconic […]
A Chat With The Mouth Of The North: R. Vengadasalam Part 2 – Stories to share and Thoughts on Football today
Do read Part 1 if you haven’t already! Launching The Woodlands Lions A private landscaper right now, he still contributes to the footballing scene with his most recent initiative, Woodlands Lions. Woodlands Lions was launched by Venga because he felt there was a need to establish a proper youth team. While the rest of the […]
Uzbekistan 5 – 0 Singapore: Some Positives In Another Crushing Defeat?
Given the 4-0 thumping by Palestine, Singapore’s chances of qualifying for the next round have become seemingly impossible. It doesn’t help that our last two fixtures are against the favourites in the group: Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. The national team knew that beating the Uzbeks would be an insurmountable task but this is football after […]
A Tale Of Two Halves? Palestine 4-0 Singapore
The boys in red walked out of the tunnel, onto the pitch and lined up for the national anthem. As Majulah Singapura played, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight before me. I know that co-writer Kim was probably singing his lungs out at 2AM in the morning. International football has finally returned for […]
Majulah Singapura, It’s Time To Support The Lions
I will have the fortune of watching my Singapore national team compete in a matter of hours or so. We take on Palestine who have a lot to play for given the grave situation in the nation. I am also thankful to watch the Lions feature twice more in the week to come. Three matches […]
The Mouth Of The North: A Chat With R. Vengadasalam Part 1 – A Brief Overview
When it comes to controversy and immense passion for Singapore football, you don’t have to look much further than R. Vengadasalam. Endearingly called ‘Coach Venga’ by fans and players alike, he also goes by another moniker, ‘The Mouth Of The North.’ An apt name for the Woodlands Wellington icon who runs his mouth and isn’t […]
Addressing The Singapore National Team Selection
Our recent article featuring an interview with Kenny Poh Yi Feng certainly raised a few eyebrows. While we are grateful for the opportunity to share Kenny’s story, what caught my attention was the number of reposts of his article. Specifically, people were reposting his featured quote: “You will always think you have a chance but […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #9
The final fixtures before the international break have concluded. For the next month or so, we will not have any Singapore Premier League action, which means that we will not have any editions of our Team Of The Week until the resumption of the league in July. However, do not fret, for we have a […]
Meet Oriol Mohedano: The Tiger Tactician
Football in Cambodia is less renowned than other leagues in Southeast Asia, but make no mistake, it is a sleeping giant about to wake from its long slumber. Cambodians are passionate about the sport, and as more funds are being invested into the football landscape, it will certainly grow expediently. Only 34 years old, don’t […]
Part of a Forgotten Generation: The ‘Nice Guy’ Kenny Poh Yifeng Part 2
In Part 1, we looked at Kenny’s beginnings as a footballer, his time with Balestier Khalsa, and how he moved to Warriors FC. In this second part, we look at Kenny’s thoughts on the end of his career, his solitary national team cap, and what he has been up to today. For the next 4 […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #8
Once again, it was goals galore in the Singapore Premier League, and we have selected our best eleven from this past weekend’s matches. Tampines and Hougang were in red hot form this game week, with both clubs scoring 5 goals each in their respective wins over Balestier and Geylang. Elsewhere, Albirex narrowly beat the Young […]
On Hariss Harun’s ‘Home’coming: Time For Someone To Walk The Plank?
I got inspired by Kim’s writing style and I’m taking a crack at it The calm waters have been disturbed. The other vessels search around for the source of this disturbance. And then, in the distance, they find it. A captain is boarding the dreadnaught that is Lion City Sailors. Sorry, scratch that. The Captain […]
Part of a Forgotten Generation: The ‘Nice Guy’ Kenny Poh Yifeng Part 1
When I first started the Interview Series, there was a group of commenters who routinely called for Kenny Poh Yi Feng to be interviewed after each article was produced. Well, my friends, here you go. The Foreign Talent Sports Scheme may have helped usher in Singaporean football’s period of success in the 2000s and early […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #7
Ah well, short-lived, wasn’t it? With increasing community cases in our little red dot, we have since moved to Phase 2 measures and consequently, fans are once again no longer allowed to attend live matches. That being said, I am thankful that the Singapore Premier League still continues. Barring the absence of fans, this week […]
From Japan, With Love – The Story Of Kyoga Nakamura
A group of scouts looked intently upon the football pitch in Japan’s Toyota Stadium, and they could all be seen jotting down notes, collectively seeking to unearth the next great footballing prospect to propel their clubs to dreams of silverware. But where they all contemplated the virtues of the different players, a smartly-dressed figure was […]
An American Watches the SPL
Vikram made me watch a week of Singaporean Football, and I have some thoughts… So I watched this most recent match week of the Singaporean Premier League as part of my taking part in Vikram’s SPL Team of the Week series. Saturday evening’s entertainment was Tanjong Pagar’s remarkable 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers, while on […]
The Rory Winters Story Part 3: Shaping Minds and Careers
Read Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t already! In the second part of this three-part article, we shared how Rory experienced a revelation. Football may have been his first love, but coaching had been his calling in life. Guiding and nurturing others came naturally to Rory, who was extremely passionate about this new […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #6
This Gameweek marked a special moment for the Singapore Premier League. Starting from this week, up to 250 fans could come down and watch games without having to do a COVID-19 test. Many fans turned up in the various fixtures and their presence made a huge difference. I went down to catch the Sailors fixture […]
Understanding the Nepal Super League: A Conversation with Biratnagar City’s Subhashish Lala Koirala
Over the past month and a half, I’ve stumbled across the formation of a new league in Asia, the Nepal Super League. The franchise league was announced in March 2021, and its inaugural season commences April 24th of this year. Seven teams take part in the inaugural season, and the season lasts for about a […]
The SPL Round 1 Round-Up Part 2: The Bottom Half
In Part 1 we discussed the top half of the league The first round of the Singapore Premier League has concluded, and as teams prepare for the second round of fixtures, let’s take a look at how each team has fared. Despite the varying level of success of each club, one thing is for certain […]
The SPL Round 1 Round-Up Part 1: The Top Half
The first round of the Singapore Premier League has concluded, and as teams prepare for the second round of fixtures, let’s take a look at how each team has fared. Despite the varying level of successes of each club, one thing is for certain – it has been goals galore in the first 7 match […]
Aurelio Vidmar to BG Pathum United? Who Should The Sailors Turn To?
Disclaimer: I do not want Vidmar to leave the Sailors I stumbled across this article thanks to our pals at Lions Of Asia, and I think it is worth addressing. Yes, this may just be nothing more than the work of some journalists churning material for the rumour mill. However, let’s assume that this is […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #4
Game Week 4 saw Matchdays 5 and 6 unfold, and what a week indeed! It was goals galore in both matchdays with Tampines slotting 7 past Young Lions and Lion City Sailors racking up 8 goals against Geylang International. In this combined team of the week, we have a pretty diverse line-up from a range […]
Circumventing The K-League ASEAN Quota Conundrum
In 2020, the K-League launched the ASEAN Quota, where K-League clubs were given an extra foreign player spot for players from Southeast Asia. This move was designed to help expand the K-League’s marketability in the ASEAN region, but in the past 2 years, only one club has utilized it. In 2021, K2 club Ansan Greeners […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #2
Game Week 2 saw a ton of drama unfold, with Matchday 2 and Matchday 3 of the Singapore Premier League being played mid-week and over the weekends, respectively. To stress, we are featuring the players that have been consistent over the two matches. In that sense, don’t be that surprised about the sheer number of […]
Too Often And Too Many Mistakes – What’s Going On With The Keepers In The SPL?
I usually do not like to criticize our local players, but I really do wonder what has happened to the state of goalkeeping in the league. Don’t get me wrong, the only reason why I voice my concern is because I know for a fact that we do have quality keepers within our ranks. Yet […]
We Need VAR For The Singapore Premier League To Help The Referees
While Game Week 2 showed signs of improvement from a refereeing standpoint, I think the Singapore Premier League can benefit from the inclusion of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Why? Well, our current referees need all the help they can get. Bad calls ruin a game. Patrick Kinghorn has been pretty vocal opponent for the […]
Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #1
My buddy Kim Ng co-wrote this one with me. Cheers Fam! The 2021 edition of the Singapore Premier League has finally kicked off, and what a thrilling first game week we’ve had. We want to start something new here at SoccerKakis, so we’re launching our very own Team Of The Week Series! Of course, your […]
Hearing From The Interviewees – Thoughts On the New Season
The 2021 Singapore Premier League Season is going to kick off in less than 24 hours, and while it’s a real shame that fans are unable to attend the matches in person, there is a lot of hype for this campaign. Several clubs have made high profile signings, and it’ll be interesting to see how […]
Breaking Barriers: A chat with Seut Baraing, one of Cambodia’s finest
Height has been a factor for some, if not many managers, when they select their players. Often, managers want tall, commandeering defenders who can win aerial battles and towering forwards who can easily head in goals. Thus, many shorter footballers often get overlooked because of their height. Take for example Angel Gomes at Manchester United. […]
Revisiting The Foreign Sports Talent Scheme
I grew up in an era when the Singapore National Team featured several naturalized players. The Foreign Sports Talent Scheme was introduced in 1993 by the Table Tennis Association, and the Football Association of Singapore adopted it in 2000. Itimi Dickson, Precious Emuejeraye, Agu Casmir, Qiu Li, Mirko Grabovac, Egmar Gonçalves, and Mustafić Fahrudin are […]
One Last Hurrah!: Young Lions Shouldn’t Be Scrapped (Just Yet)
Where do I begin with the Young Lions? The club was formed in 2003 to provide some of the most talented Under-23 footballers with regular professional footballing experience. Besides having the chance to play together on a regular basis and maintaining team cohesion, the Young Lions project provided these players the opportunity to play against […]
Re-evaluating the Under-23 Rule of the Singapore Premier League
I think change is mostly good. When an organization makes changes, it should be commended for actively making some positive change or at least intending to do so. Nevertheless, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the changes made after some time. In this light, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) needs to assess […]
Captain Cambodia: The Thierry Bin Tale
If you are an ardent follower of Southeast Asian football or a Cambodian football fan, Thierry Chantha Bin is definitely not an unfamiliar name to you. The Cambodian superstar has been a talisman for both club and country over the years. National team captain on multiple occasions, Thierry is an icon in Cambodia. Yet, unlike […]
Meet Geylang International FC Sensation Darren Teh Part 2: The Story Continues
In part 1, I looked at Darren Teh’s beginnings as a footballer and the professional journey he embarked on. Since signing with Geylang in 2017, Darren Teh has largely been a mainstay in the Eagles backline. In this second part, I will look at his professional career thus far, his national team call-up, and his […]
An Inspiration to Aspiring Footballers: Varghese Jayan, The Self-made Man Part 2
In Part 1, I looked at Varghese’s initial beginnings into football and how he managed to earn a move to Singapore to further his education with Temasek Polytechnic. During his first 2 years in Singapore, Varghese had played for Eunos Crescent and Katong in the National Football League (NFL). He had also had a month-long […]
Meet Taiichiro Saito, The Man Who Made Football His Life-long Career Part 2: Working with 40,000 Cambodian kids and The Ongoing Venture into Academy Management
In Part 1, I looked at Saito’s rarely spoken about playing career that saw him leave Japan and ply his trade in Singapore, Australia, Ghana, and Bolivia. However, at the age of 32, Saito decided it was time to draw his playing days to a close. Yet, it is always impossible for someone as passionate […]
An Inspiration to Aspiring Footballers: Varghese Jayan, The Self-made Man Part 1
If Varghese Jayan is an unfamiliar to you now, it won’t be soon. A speedy left winger, he recently signed with NEROCA FC in October 2020. On paper, it doesn’t seem like much – an Indian national signing with an Indian club, but there is so much to this story. For the past 3 years, […]
The Ludovic Casset Story Part 1: Making History in Vietnam
Ludovic “Ludo” Casset may be an unfamiliar name to many in Southeast Asia, but it is a name that many Vietnamese football fans are well aware of. The current Etoile FC Academy director in Singapore had a short but eventful professional playing career with Đà Nẵng F.C in the V.League 1. While some of his […]
Meet Taiichiro Saito, The Man who made football his life-long career Part 1: The rarely spoken about playing career
To the grassroots football fraternity in Singapore, Taiichiro Saito is a familiar name. Saito was the founder of Global Football Academy (GFA) and is the current founder and managing director of two organizations – Soriya (in Cambodia) and Football For Everyone. While COVID-19 may have grounded him in Singapore for months, Saito would have been […]
Meet Geylang International FC Sensation Darren Teh Part 1: The Story Before The Eagles
Darren Teh is no ordinary 24-year-old. Geylang International regular, National Team player, Financial Manager, Musician, Filial Son, Doting Husband, and Young Father are some of the many hats worn by the promising right back. At his age, Darren is an accomplished player who also, as the list above suggests, is riddled with commitments. Yet, despite […]
The Longest Serving French Jaguar: A chat with Anthony Aymard Part 2
Be sure to check out part 1 of this article if you haven’t already Before I begin with part 2, let me share some of my thoughts about part 1 of this article. The one thing worth admiring about foreigners like Aymard who try their luck overseas is that they often have to risk everything […]
The Longest Serving French Jaguar: A chat with Anthony Aymard Part 1
It would appear that I truly have a knack of tracking down former Étoile FC players… To ardent Tanjong Pagar United fans, Anthony Aymard is not an unfamiliar name. The French defender spent 3 seasons with the Jaguars between 2012 and 2015. I managed to track down Anthony Aymard recently and interview the player about […]
Statement Signing Stipe Plazibat Shines as Sailors overcome ten-man Eagles
Lion City Sailors have been making waves in the local footballing scene since tech firm Sea’s takeover of Home United. Besides becoming a fully privatized club, the Sailors have recently launched their football academy, and they made the news recently by becoming the first academy in Singapore to receive AFC’s one-star rating. Geylang International were […]
The Singapore Premier League is Back: Hougang Stun Tampines and Tanjong Pagar Made to Rue Missed Chances
After 211 days of local professional football being absent from our TV screens, the Singapore Premier League has finally resumed. However, there were certain changes made by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Instead of a three-round league, only 2 rounds would be played, with cup competitions cancelled. Moreover, just like many of the European […]
Taking Youth Football to Another level – A chat with Habil Hakim
For Singapore footballing standards in Singapore to grow, we need to ensure that there are enough opportunities for youth players to develop. This is why football academies are essential. Given the limited number of professional Singapore Premier League clubs, and by extension, the limited number of Centre of Excellences (COEs), football academies play an instrumental […]
Meet Gavin Lee, Singapore’s Brightest Coaching Prospect – Part 2: Takeaways thus far as Head Coach
In Part 1, I looked at Gavin’s journey to coaching in top flight football. In Part 2, I look at Gavin’s first full year as Tampines Rovers head coach and some of the things he has learned and experienced. Takeaways from His First Year There was a lot of buzz when Gavin got appointed as […]
The K-League is the new top destination for ASEAN footballers
Starting this season, the K-League has added an extra foreign player slot for players from ASEAN football federation members. Yes, that means that players from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Myanmar could potentially feature in the K-League seasons to come. However, and mostly because of the coronavirus pandemic restricting travel, […]
Meet Gavin Lee, Singapore’s Brightest Coaching Prospect – Part 1: The Journey to Topflight Football
Even though Singapore has a professional football league with seven local professional clubs, the pool of players is small. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is the fact that most parents discourage their children from pursuing a professional career in sports. While many parents may be supportive of their children taking […]
The Jonathan Toto Exclusive Part 2 – Football Stardom in Singapore, A Greek Nightmare & Life after Football
In part 1, I examined Jonathan Toto’s career before playing in Singapore. From playing with Koulibaly and Pjanić in the FC Metz Academy to a stint with Hearts in Scotland, Toto had quite the eventful career by the time he was 21. It was this next chapter in Singapore where his footballing career really took […]
Never Giving Up, The Fisherman Turned Footballer: An exclusive with Chennai City’s Jockson Dhas
Once again, I hope my Tamil Language teachers are proud of me. I did this interview entirely in Tamil. After interviewing Sriram, my curiosity in Tamil Nadu and I-league football piqued. In my quest to expand my coverage of Asian football, I decided to interview another Indian footballer. This is the story of Jockson Dhas, […]
An Unforgettable Stint in France: The experience of 3 Singaporean teens at FC Nantes
Étoile FC has a special place in S.League history, mainly because of the many records and accolades they hold. Besides being the first club in Asia to be entirely comprised of European players, Étoile holds the distinction of being the first foreign club to win the S.League and the first club in Singapore to appoint […]
The Jonathan Toto Exclusive Part 1- From Rubbing Shoulders with Pijanic and Koulibaly to an Unrealized Scottish Dream
Original Image Credits: Davy Allan, London Hearts & Singapore Premier League At one point in time, it appeared that Jonathan Toto was destined for footballing greatness. He played alongside Miralem Pjanić and Kalidou Koulibaly in the FC Metz Academy, but his career took on a different trajectory, partly due to the roles played by his […]
Working Hard to Reach His Potential: An Interview with Ignatius “Iggy” Ang
To many ardent Singaporean football fans, Ignatius “Iggy” Ang is a familiar name. The midfielder has played for several local clubs and even signed for Lions XII in 2014. While he was a youth player, his coaches regarded him as a star for the future. However, he hasn’t been able to reach that potential. Throughout […]
The Midfield Maverick Realizing his Footballing Dreams: An Exclusive with Chennai City FC’s Sriram
I spoke a mix of English and Tamil during this interview and I was happy that I still could string sentences together in a somewhat fluent manner. In Cricket Crazy India, there has been a recent surge in support for football. Don’t get me wrong, there have always been a dedicated minority in India that […]
The Resilient Utility Player, A Rarity In The Modern Game: An Interview with Tajeli Salamat
I had the opportunity to talk to Tajeli the other day, and it felt good talking with the current Lion City Sailors FC centre-back. I knew Tajeli from his time at Warriors FC, my favourite Singaporean team that was unfortunately forced to sit out of the 2020 season due to financial issues. If Tajeli is […]
The ‘Lion’ that got away: An exclusive with Sirina Camara Part 2
If you haven’t already done so, check out Part 1 of the article! The Unrealized Dream of Representing Singapore Camara wanted to give back to Singaporean football because the S.League and Home United not only gave him the chance to pursue a professional career, which was something he probably wouldn’t have in France, but also […]
The ‘Lion’ that got away: An exclusive with Sirina Camara Part 1
Sirina Camara is a familiar name to those that have been following Singaporean football closely in recent years. He arrived on our shores in 2011 with Étoile FC, a foreign team comprised entirely of players of French origin. Following the dissolution of the club in 2012, Camara and some other French players remained in Singapore. […]
Taking Roads Less Traveled: The Anders Aplin Story
Anders Aplin’s footballing story is an interesting one. In 2018, he made headlines when he became the first Singaporean player to sign with a Japanese team. Even though it was a loan move to Matsumoto Yamaga F.C, the deal caught my attention primarily because Anders Aplin was not a household name. 2 years earlier, Singapore’s […]
Bouncing Back: A Chat With Tampines Rovers No.1 Syazwan Buhari
In the past decade, two goalkeepers have dominated the national spotlight and have been used interchangeably. Don’t get me wrong, Izwan Mahbud and Hassan Sunny are great keepers. In fact, they are arguably Singapore’s greatest ever custodians in the past two decades. They have put in consistent performances for club and country over the years […]
Unearthing an Unsung Hero: An Exclusive Interview with Delwinder “Del” Singh
The Singapore Premier League (SPL), and its predecessor the S.league, has seen many great defenders grace the competition. Aide Iskandar, Baihakki Khaizan, Daniel Bennett, S. Subramani are just some of the hallmark names that come to mind. Yet, there are many unsung heroes that have played in the league as well. Often, these underrated players […]
What the K-league opener has taught other leagues
I missed football, and many elements of the K-league opener has reminded me why: Artificial fan sounds, a somewhat sluggish affair, and a wild moment when a 41-year old legend scores. The K-League opener has reminded football fans what we’ve been missing out on – the beautiful game. I don’t even watch the K-League but […]
Johor Darul Ta’zim’s success is down to one individual – Tunku Ismail Idris
Since 2014, Johor Darul Ta’zim have consecutively won the Malaysian Super League. In the history of Malaysian football, there has been no team as dominant for as long as JDT have. Unlike many Southeast Asian clubs, JDT has the financial muscle and is run exceptionally well. Under the leadership of the Crown Prince of Johor, […]
Asian Champions League Second Preliminary Round Preview
No real surprises in First Preliminary Round The Asian Champions League has finally commenced with the First Preliminary Round concluding with no real surprises. In my preview, I predicted that Ceres-Negroes, Bali United, Al-Riffa and Kuwait SC would all progress to the next round. Even though my predictions were right, I am surprised by some […]
Why the Singapore Premier League should adopt a Franchise mode
While the national team has been relatively weak in recent years, Singaporeans are very much still football-crazy. From diligently watching Premier League matches to playing Futsal with their friends, football is not just a way of life for many Singaporeans, but it is almost a religion. Growing up, I would often bond with my friends […]
Asian Champions League Preliminary Round Preview
The Asian Champions League is often overlooked by a good majority of football fans in Asia, but not me. Unbeknownst to most of my friends, I enjoy the competition. I don’t enjoy it as much as the AFC Cup [Asia’s equivalent of the Europa League], but that’s because I root for the Southeast Asian teams […]
