“At the same time, the club is building a reputation as a place where young players know they will get opportunities to grow and showcase themselves. This philosophy has also proven cost-effective. Despite working with one of the leanest budgets in J1, Verdy managed to put together what many in Japan have described as the “best cost-performance squad” in the league last season”
“The summer sun in Tokyo was unforgiving, beating down from 10.30am to 12.15pm as players from Tokyo Verdy and Ventforet Kofu went through their warm-ups on a proper, well-maintained natural grass pitch. A few staff members wiped the sweat from their brows, while the sharp sound of passes and the bark of instructions cut through the heavy morning air. On one touchline stood two familiar figures in green — Ratna Suffian and Miur Rafik Taha — deep in discussion with their fellow Tokyo Verdy coaches. On the opposite side, dressed in Kofu colours, was Nazri Nasir, watching intently as his side moved through tactical drills. It wasn’t a packed stadium or a high-profile match, but for Junpiter Futbol, this was a rare and meaningful sight — all three Singaporean coaches, plying their trade in Japan, on the same pitch”
“The atmosphere was more than just football. It was memory. It was gratitude. It was joy. For one night, we weren’t just spectators, we were time travelers, transported back two or three decades to the moment we first fell in love with the J.League”
“The city itself is deeply steeped in football tradition. Many of Japan’s football legends—like Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Shinji Okazaki, Masashi Nakayama and the timeless King Kazu—hail from Shizuoka. Schools in this region have also dominated the prestigious National High School Football Championship, reinforcing the city’s status as a talent factory. As football lovers, visiting Shizuoka had always been a dream”
Despite their enthusiasm, the transition into Japanese football culture was fraught with challenges. “It took us nearly two months to break into the team culture,” Isa explained. “The language barrier and various other factors were quite frustrating. However, we are incredibly grateful to Hiroshi Yofuko, the club’s head coach, who took the time to understand us and gradually introduced us to the team.”
“The level of Southeast Asia and in particular Singapore is improving with each passing year. Within this maelstrom that is Singapore Football, I believe I can contribute to its growth with my experience. I do think that this is a worthwhile league to be in and as time goes on, you can expect more international footballers featuring in the SPL”
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 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.”
