Singaporean footballer Song Eui-young abandons Korean family ties for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

His journey in sports has special value because it meant a lot to his mother, who passed away a few years ago.

“She sacrificed so much time for me when I was little, taking me to training and matches. Her goal was for me to play for the national team, but unfortunately she is no longer with us,” he said.

When head coach Akira Ogura announced the national team squad earlier this month, centre-back Balestekhalsa was named in the Lions squad for the first time.

“I want to prove to coach Ogura that I’m a reliable player and that I can perform at a high level consistently. My future goal is to solidify my position in the national team and be called up regularly,” he said.

Emawwe is hoping to make his international debut in front of a packed home crowd next Thursday and despite facing a stronger opposition, the defender said he wants to do his part for the team.

“It’s a dream come true, I love playing football. (The South Korean team) plays in a very, very good league and I’m excited to compete with them and see where I stand,” he said.

“The enthusiasm of the audience should be exciting. All of us want to put on a show that our fans can be proud of.”

Football Giant South Korea

South Korea, which has been one of Asia’s strongest teams for decades, is currently ranked 23rd in the world, more than 100 spots higher than Singapore, which is ranked 155th.

The Taegeuk Warriors have global superstars such as Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain.

When Tottenham Hotspur played a pre-season friendly in Singapore last July, thousands of local fans flocked to watch South Korean striker Son Heung-min play.

This time, all tickets for the World Cup qualifier between Singapore and South Korea have been sold out, and more than 40,000 spectators will witness this battle between David and Goliath.

“Everyone says it’s very difficult to beat South Korea,” Song said. “Maybe we can only get one point at best, but we don’t know what will happen in a football game, right?”

“We are preparing hard and we will do our best in the match. We hope Singapore fans can be proud of Singapore football,” he added.

Fighting spirit and 100% dedication

Japan head coach Ogura in Singapore faces a daunting task in pitting the national team against some of the best teams in Asia and the world in the upcoming tournament.