(Left to right) Lions Head Coach Tsutomu Ogura and midfielder Harhys Stewart at the pre-match Press Conference, 20 March 2025.
SINGAPORE, 20 MARCH 2025 – “Everyone fights for a place and claims their position in the team. There is no guarantee of places. If you are good, you can play.”
Those were his words laying down the gauntlet as Lions Head Coach Tsutomu Ogura’s Singapore Men’s National Team make their return to international football tomorrow, 21 March, hosting Nepal in an international friendly at the National Stadium.
The match against Nepal serves as a tune-up for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers. Just 4 days after facing Nepal, the Lions take on Hong Kong, China in their Group C opener.
Ogura hinted that he could use the Nepal test as an opportunity to assess player adaptability.
“We want to try something in preparation for the game against Hong Kong. We want to play as many players as possible,” he said.
“How we play and how we try is important as we seek to mount a challenge in our new journey.”
This new journey Ogura refers to is the Lions’ Road to Riyadh as they attempt to qualify for the Asian Cup on merit for the very first time. Singapore have only played in the tournament once, in 1984, when the nation hosted Asia’s showpiece event.
“I told the players there is a chance to make history. Singapore have never done it before. To even stand a chance of going to Saudi Arabia, we must try even harder than before. History won’t change if you don’t try hard.”
Birthday boy Harhys Stewart at the pre-match Press Conference, 20 March 2025.
Harhys Stewart is one player who is determined to rise and embrace this challenge. The midfielder who celebrated his 24th birthday on the eve of the Nepal match, is determined to make his mark with the National Team.
“Every time anyone puts on a National Team jersey, you always want to give 100% or 110%. You don’t want to hold back. If I get the chance to play, I want to show a good performance. I want to work hard and help the team in any way I can,” he said .
The Singapore-Nepal match kicks off tomorrow, 21 March, 8:30pm at the National Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketek.
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
