“What if you have already been selected for the National Team? Let me share, coming into the National Team could be easy but what do you have to do to keep staying on the team? Then again, do not give up easily. If you want to be in the starting eleven, you have to work for it.”
“I think having the right kind of mindset where one’s football knowledge is consistently kept up to scratch is important, as is the availability of proper facilities,” says Angeline. “Seychelles and Singapore either lack one or the other. In Seychelles, the footballers have a decent understanding of football, but what holds Seychellois players back is the lack of decent pitches and their access to them. On the other hand, we have plenty of facilities and pitches in Singapore, but we lack the fire that will push our players upwards in the development of football—it’s a mindset shift that we need to flip”
the AFC Cup after a brilliant start to the campaign. Towards the end of the season, the Cheetahs imploded and were made to rue their chances. However, Anders and his teammates were not about to let last season’s mishaps repeat this year.
“Last year, there were many cliques within Hougang United, and we weren’t united as a unit. This year, it’s been completely different. I feel like we are one team, where all of us have good chemistry, and we will fight for each other”
“It’s the explosion of emotions when you know you have just given someone a Panna—that move of tricking a defender to pass the ball deftly through them unguarded. That’s the beauty of the moment. When a celebratory crowd joins you on the court, loudly and passionately, it really is an extraordinary moment and the greatest feeling ever!”
“Coach Dennis Amato has always believed in my ability. This is not the first time that he has been trying to get me onboard his team. With great privilege, he has once again approached me personally. However, as my agent was already representing me in negotiating with two of the League-1 teams, I did not agree right away. Part of me knew that I have always wanted to play at the highest level but the other part, I would love to repay the trust that coach Dennis had in me.”
“Many people also warned me there will not be many Forrest Lis. But if you don’t even start the concept somewhere and still continue in the way we’re running the league, the standard of Singapore football will remain the way it is – where each club is dependent on the subsidy given by the government. It’s usually a situation where you give me $800k and I try my best to get some money from either jackpot machines or a sponsor or I try to put in some money, if at all.”
“I hope to see the scouting net cast wider as I know a lot of talented players that fall under the radar as the path is not immediately clear how they can get noticed; they drop out from the sport from this lack of support and structure”
Trials are not very widely publicised and the increase in talent numbers can only be a positive effect for the game as a whole here”
“But of course the biggest factor is the parents’ mindset and that is indeed not easy to change. During my time, there was a lot of good Chinese players at school level but they never pursued a professional career because their parents don’t allow them to – I think this is an issue that still exists today.”
“It seems to fit well on the back of various jerseys with the players’ names sitting just below the number as compared to the traditional style we see in popular leagues like the EPL, LaLiga or the Serie A. Instead, we have a huge heat pressed logo of the league’s principal sponsor – AIA”
“However, underneath all those little achievements, I did have many challenges playing in different environment and adapting to different cultures. Over the years, I think I have come out stronger and more committed. I started to value and appreciate what I have worked hard for.”
“Don’t forget all matches will be played at a centralised playing ground. Unlike the previous editions where the home and away matches will be played, there will not be any home advantages for the “home” team. Hence, there could potentially be some surprises,” Benjamin Tan, Thai League deputy CEO & Director of club licensing sharing his thoughts with Junpiter Futbol.
