Her game was honed on neighbourhood street soccer courts, against boys who were bigger, stronger, and faster. But the on-court opposition was not the biggest challenge in Mastura Jeilani’s early days in football – that role was filled by Musalmah, her mother.
The biggest obstacle to her football very quickly became her staunchest supporter, and in all that is perhaps where the seeds of Mastura’s nurturing instinct took hold.
“I wasn’t allowed to play football at first — I was so young, and I think my mom just wasn’t ready to let go,” said the 32-year-old. “But I was really persistent. I had to do good things to convince her, and out of love, she eventually let me go. From not wanting me to play, she ended up coming down with my father to watch every game I played.”
“My mom used to pick me up from training, come to my games, and buy me what I needed for football,” Mastura recalled. “From not wanting me to play to becoming my number one fan, that’s something I’ll always cherish.”
Even today, her mother continues to support her, now by caring for Mastura’s two children when work takes her overseas.
“She’s my role model. She showed me patience and what it means to really support someone.”
This Mother’s Day is a moment to celebrate the women who shape their children, not just literally in their wombs, but through strength, love, and steadfast support.
Mastura, now the team manager of the Singapore Women’s National Football Team, has brought all the lessons she picked up as a child into her role as mentor to players and a source of care and support when they’re far from home.
All of these came to the fore in Laos last December, where the Lionesses finished on the podium at the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Cup.
More than a medal
Mastura reflects on that moment with pride, and not just because of the result.
“The experience in Laos was really big,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s a great boost for Singapore to finish on the podium, and hopefully this is the first of many. The girls had desire and hunger. Even after the disappointment of losing to Indonesia, they still put up a strong fight – and that determination is something I’m really proud of.”
That drive motivates her just as much as it does the players.
“Seeing their reactions, how hard they fought,” she said, pausing as her voice caught in her throat, “And it pushes me to say, ‘I have to help these girls, I have to do my job.’”
More than a job
Beyond logistics and planning, Mastura plays an emotional role that is equally vital. She’s there for the little things and the big moments.
“I’ve been a player before, so I know what it feels like,” she explained. “It’s not easy. I want the girls to know that I’m here for anything. Even if it’s something small, like needing a letter for school or just someone to talk to. If it gets too much, I want them to feel safe coming to me.”
In time, many players have called her “Mama Mas”. It was not a nickname she gave herself, it was something many players saw in her as a presence they could trust.
“I won’t call myself a mother figure, that’s up to them,” she smiled modestly, “But if the players feel they can come to me, then I’m doing something right.”
Balancing two worlds
Juggling football and family is no easy task. Mastura is also a mother of two young children, aged seven and nine, and every trip abroad means time away from them.
“They don’t fully understand that I’m away for work,” she said. “They just know, ‘Mama is in Laos, Mama is going to Jordan.’ My son plays football, so I make him follow Singapore football as well. He has a phone now, and I try to send updates so they feel involved in my journey.”
To bridge the distance, she makes sure they stay connected to her work in their way by watching matches, cheering for the team, and celebrating moments even when she’s away. When she returns home again, her focus shifts fully to them,
“When I come back, I claim my off-days and spend as much time as I can with them. That’s how I try to balance it.”
It is a delicate act, being both a reliable support system for the national team and a present, loving mother at home, but it is one she handles with care and intention.
Mastura’s nurturing instinct was shaped at home, as a child, and honed at her home, as a mother of two children.
A message to all mothers
As Mother’s Day draws near, Mastura shared a heartfelt message for all the women playing nurturing roles, whether in homes, in schools, or behind the scenes, supporting big dreams.
“It’s a slow-burning flame,” she said. “Patience is everything. If you want your kids or players to succeed, show them by example. They look up to you, you are their role models. ”
To her, being a role model means more than offering advice, it is about presence and consistency. Whether the role is that of a mother, a coach, a teacher or someone walking alongside another, she believes that support can leave a lasting mark.
She said, “The hard times will come, but there’s always a rainbow after the storm. You may not see the results right away, but your effort will pay off.”
It is perhaps a message rooted in her own experience, balancing national team duties while raising two young children, shaped by the example of her mother, who went from initially opposing her football dreams to becoming her biggest supporter.
‘Mama Mas’
When asked what word the team might use to describe her, Mastura laughed.
“I hear ‘Mama Mas’ a lot,” she said. “My kids call me Mama too, so sometimes I’m not sure if the players just call me because of that! But even when I was playing, the younger girls called me that, so I guess I am like a mother.”
She accepts the nickname with pride.
“I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think the players notice. I’m glad they feel like they can come to me. I don’t mind being called ‘Mama Mas.’ It shows respect, trust and that they can rely on me,” she said.
“I’ll continue doing my best to live up to that name.”
And this Mother’s Day, she holds space for her players and her children alike. Mastura offers her deepest appreciation to all mothers, those raising families, shaping futures, and standing quietly in the background holding it all together.
“To all the mums out there, keep believing. What you do matters, even if it takes time to see it. You are the heart of so many journeys.”
