Photo courtesy of Geylang International.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash between Geylang International and Still Aerion on Sunday, 13 April is not just another league fixture, at least not for Farhanah Ruhaizat.
Now 27, Farhanah is set to lead her team out at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium against Aerion, the club that gave her her start. Aerion wasn’t just her first step into football — it was where she discovered confidence, community, and her place on the pitch.
“Aerion helped me when I was a teenager… they helped me gain my own understanding in the position I was playing,” she recalled.
Surrounded by positive, coachable teammates, Farhanah believes those early experiences were crucial: “Thanks to them and a lot more others, I am who I am today.”
That foundation helped her grow into one of Singapore’s most reliable midfielders, where she now has 41 Singapore caps and two international goals to her name. In 2024, Geylang staged one of the league’s most remarkable turnarounds — jumping from bottom of the table in 2023 to finish third.
Farhanah attributes much of that shift to the team’s collective mindset. It was not about tactics or transfers — it was about unity. “The whole team had one mindset — to win and prove that even though we didn’t have much support back then, we still managed to move forward together with our coaches and teammates,”she said.
Photo courtesy of Geylang International.
A big part of that mindset was built under the steady hand of Head Coach Ratna Suffian, a mentor Farhanah has known since she was 17.
“To be able to receive feedback from him is really impactful and important — he knows more than any other coach I’ve worked with. Being able to play under him means I know that as a player, there is no pressure and I am free to express myself on the field,” she said.
Earlier this month, she was part of Ratna’s WPL All-Stars squad, joining forces with elite players — including Sunisa ‘Nancy’ Srangthaisong of Aerion and Kana Kitahara of Albirex both who have featured for their respective home countries at the FIFA Women’s World Cup — in a high-profile exhibition against the Ninja A-League’s Brisbane Roar, a team that featured Singapore’s own Danelle Tan.
“It was very meaningful to play alongside World Cup players,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I was really honoured. It was lovely to train and look at how different in terms of quality that such players like Nancy and Kana put in. Their performance and effort will always be incredible to me — and that will forever remain in my memory.”
More than a proud moment, it was perhaps a turning point in Farhanah’s approach to football. Since then, she’s carried a heightened intensity into every training session — believing that effort on the training ground will prove helpful on matchday.
Sunday’s matchup against Aerion brings extra edge — not just because it is her former team, but because Farhanah will be facing off against her WPL All-Stars teammate, Nancy.
“She’s no doubt an amazing player to play with, but playing against her is definitely not going to be easy,” Farhanah admitted. “Every player has their weaknesses — if we seize those opportunities, anything can happen.”
She knows Aerion has undergone changes since she left the club, but Farhanah is certain Geylang will be ready. “Our mindset is first to win the game and put the ball in the net. Everything else comes second,” she said.
While three points are the immediate goal, Farhanah’s vision goes far beyond this weekend. She sees herself not just as a player, but as a mentor to the younger Geylang players, and a contributor to something that could well last as long time at Geylang.
“My personal goal is to help and lead the team in as many ways as possible — be it as a captain, friend, or player.
“As a team we hope to finish top three in the league,” she added, smiling.
“I also hope I can pass on my skills and knowledge to the younger ones in the team, and contribute to building something here at Geylang.”
