During her three-year absence from the national team, life had settled into a quiet, almost peaceful, rhythm for Lim Li Xian, just playing club football, far from the spotlight, and with no expectations beyond her own.
Her absence from the national team was a conscious step back — shaped by burnout, distance, and the quiet truth that even the most committed need room to breathe.
Lim had been a mainstay in the national set-up since 2011, when she made her senior debut at just 15. Before that, she rose through the youth ranks, representing Singapore in ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) age-group competitions. Over the years, she juggled national duties with club football at the now-defunct Young Women team and later, Warriors FC.
But the years of non-stop football took a toll on Lim. In 2022, a move to Madrid for work also became her chance to reset. She joined a local amateur side with a different pace, a different culture, and, as it turned out, exactly the space she needed to reconnect with the game.
“It wasn’t as intense as playing for the national team here, but it was a good break for me — to see how other countries approach training and structure their football. It was eye-opening,” she said.
And it worked.
“I had been going non-stop for years. It got tiring, she said.”
“I’m not getting any younger — not that I’m that old either — but taking a break for three years and coming back, I feel like I have this renewed sense of energy and passion for playing.”
Earlier this year, Lim returned home, and went straight into the Women’s Premier League (WPL), signing with Tiong Bahru and eager to dive back into the game she had quietly missed.
So when the national team came calling again, she did not see it coming. But perhaps, the timing was finally right.
“I didn’t really expect it, to be honest,” she said with a laugh.
“I was quite okay with not playing for the national team anymore. I was happy just playing for Tiong Bahru and enjoying my time back in Singapore. But it felt good to be called back, to be useful again— to help out where I can.”
This month, she will pull on the national jersey once more — against opponents she knows well. Following a closed-door friendly with Hong Kong, China on Thursday, the Lionesses will face the 80th-ranked side again on Sunday, 15 June 2025 at Choa Chu Kang Stadium, before departing for Jordan for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.
It will be her fourth senior AFC qualifying campaign, and another familiar clash with Hong Kong. Lim knows what to expect, and what Singapore will need to do to match up.
“I remember these teams being a bit more physical than us. We are quite small, but I think we can use that to our advantage — with our technical skills and how we work together as a team — rather than relying on individual match-ups.”
One key difference this time: the team around her.
At 29, Lim returns as one of the most experienced players in a squad that averages just 21 years of age. With 29 caps and two international goals to her name, she knows her presence now carries more weight — both on and off the pitch.
“I’d like to think I’m a bit more level-headed and calm these days, compared to when I was younger. Back then, everything felt exciting and you had all this energy, but you didn’t always know how to channel it. Now, I think I’m a bit more reserved in this team… mostly because these kids are pretty insane,” she quipped, before breaking into laughter.
“I have a lot of respect for them because they bring so much energy and enthusiasm,” she explained, of what she views as a lovely balance. “And I think they respect me and the other older players as well. It just works well for us.”
For Lim, there is one thing that neither age nor experience can diminish: the passion and bonds forged through the game. “The commitment has always been there — whether you’re a working adult or a student — and we’re all coming together for the love of the sport and the country,” she said, her voice warm with conviction.
And perhaps the most lasting gift football has given her?
“Honestly, some of the best things I’ve gotten from football are the friendships and teammates I’ve had along the way,” she reflected.
“Some of these people I’ve known for more than half my life —they’re lifelong friends.”
The spotlight is back now — perhaps just a little — but Lim is not chasing it. This time, she is keeping things simple: stay fit, enjoy the game, and maybe find the net — just for the joy of it.
“Scoring one goal would be the personal aim,” she said, as a grin sneaked onto her face.
“I think it’s just to keep fit and to ultimately enjoy the game, whatever the result is.These young ones are hard to keep up with, but I think that’s the goal as well — to be on the same level.”
