“My parents play football, my siblings play football, so naturally I also picked up the sport. I still remember there was once I followed my brother to his football game, I was so amazed by that experience. That very moment, I just turned to my dad and told him I wanted to play football too!”
“We also need people to have an opened mind and are willing to listen to the feedback and change for the better. I have met people who think that I could speak whatever I want just because I am the best. Absolutely no. All these are not for me. I am too old to enjoy all these. All the advices that I am giving from my experience are meant for the younger players that are coming up in the next 10 years. I am giving them the advices so that they can be more professional, they can have a better playing condition and environment, so that they can showcase a better “product” (futsal) to the fans going down to watch them play”
FULL PHOTO ALBUM – First stop for Borussia Dortmund Southeast Asia Tour 2022 as the German giant took on Singapore Premier League’s Lion City Sailors at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore.
Football fans in Singapore enjoy a tantalising battle between Premier League (PL) giants Liverpool and Crystal Palace for the inaugural Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy 2022 on 15 July 2022.
“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.”
“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.”
“There have been a change in the competition format since 2012 where it became a knockout stages from second round onwards, so there will always be room for plenty of surprises, for example Egypt eliminated Italy in 2016 and Colombia sent Iran packing in 2012. Afterall, futsal is a very dynamic game with a lot of small details. And one small detail is capable of changing a game.”
“After my international playing days, I have picked up foot volley during one of my vacations at the beach and I have been playing the sport ever since. However, I realised that there’re actually many female footballers who also love and play the game very well. Unfortunately, there is no proper platform or an UAE Women’s Beach Soccer Team in the country. So that’s when I thought perhaps I could get more involved in the country’s beach soccer scene and that could motivate more women footballers to come forward to get involved”
“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.
