Singapore footballer Song Ui-young puts aside South Korean family ties for upcoming World Cup qualifier
Match tickets for the Jun 6 World Cup qualifier between Singapore and South Korea at the National Stadium are sold out.
Lions midfielder Song Ui-young speaks to CNA during a practice session. He was born in South Korea but spent most of his professional football career in Singapore. He became a Singapore citizen in August 2021.
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SINGAPORE: Singapore midfielder Song Ui-young has mixed feelings facing his birth country South Korea in the upcoming World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.
The Incheon-born footballer became a Singapore citizen in August 2021, but he is ready to put family ties aside to spring an upset against his motherland next Thursday (Jun 6).
“It’s very difficult to explain this feeling, to play against South Korea where I was born … but I'm very happy and honoured to play for Singapore. I'm going to do my best for Singapore,” he told CNA.
The 30-year-old has spent most of his professional football career in Singapore since he was a teenager.
He was inspired to play football professionally at the age of nine after watching the 2002 World Cup, when the South Korean national team battled their way to fourth place on homeground – the nation’s best results yet.
“They gave me a dream, and the inspiration to play football. Especially midfielder Park Ji-sung, he was my role model,” the Lion City Sailors attacker said.
“So I chased his training programme and his playing style. He gave me the biggest motivation to become a professional footballer.”
CULTURALLY DIVERSE LIONS
Song is part of the culturally diverse Singapore national team that also includes defender Jordan Emaviwe.
Born to a Nigerian father and a Singaporean mother, the 23-year-old said donning the Singapore jersey gives him and his family immense pride.
“My dad, he loves it. My sister as well. Both of them are very emotional because of my late mum,” he told CNA.
His journey in the sport has special value because of how much it meant to his mother who died a few years ago.
“All that time she sacrificed for me when I was younger, to bring me to training and games. It was her goal to see me play for the national team, but it's unfortunate that she's not here with us,” he said.
The Balestier Khalsa centre-back received his first Lions call-up when coach Tsutomu Ogura announced the national squad line-up earlier this month.
“I want to show coach Ogura that I'm a reliable player, and that I can perform consistently at a high level. My goal in the long future is to solidify my position on the national team and get called up frequently,” he said.
Emaviwe hopes to earn his first international cap next Thursday in front of a sold-out home crowd. Despite the much stronger opponent, the defender said he wants to do his part for the team.
“This is a dream come true, I love playing football. The (South Koreans) play in very, very good leagues and I'm excited to test myself against them and see where I stand,” he said.
“The energy from the crowd should be electrifying. All of us want to give a performance that our fans will be proud of.”
FOOTBALL GIANT SOUTH KOREA
South Korea has been among the top teams in Asia for decades. It is currently ranked 23rd in the world, over 100 places above Singapore’s 155th.
The Taegeuk Warriors boast global stars such as Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min and Paris Saint Germain's Lee Kang-in.
When Tottenham played a pre-season friendly in Singapore in July last year, thousands of local fans flocked to watch South Korean forward Son.
This time, tickets for the World Cup qualifier between Singapore and South Korea are sold out, with over 40,000 spectators set to witness the David versus Goliath encounter.
“Everybody says it's very difficult to win against South Korea,” said Song. “Maybe maximum one point, but we don't know in football what's going to happen, right?”
“We’re preparing very hard and we’re going to put maximum effort into the game. We want Singapore fans to feel proud of Singapore football,” he added.
FIGHTING SPIRIT AND GIVING 100%
Singapore's Japanese head coach Ogura faces the mammoth task of pitting the national team against some of the best in the continent and the world in the upcoming game.
He has included Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee and Lion City Sailors fitness coach Dzevad Saric as part of his team setup. He said their expertise and understanding of the players at club level is vital.
Along with other members of his backroom staff, they help to create a “family” dynamic that Ogura said is important to help improve the team.
He also said an increasing number of Singapore fans attending games to support the Lions is heartening, and “gives courage” to the players, especially younger athletes like Emaviwe.
Singapore is currently at the bottom of Group C with just a single point.
While qualification for the next round seems unlikely, Ogura wants the team to take to the field with courage and believe that they can get results.
“I have a lot of respect towards the South Korean team but we are not scared. Respect and being scared are different,” he said.
“The game is 11 against 11, it’s the same (number of players). We have fighting spirit ... we will give 100 per cent.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier between Singapore and South Korea will be televised live on Channel 5 and mewatch from 7.50pm.
