Meet The Young Female Singapore Footballers Taking Centre Field
They’re redefining football and inspiring the next generation — major goals.
Step aside, pilates princesses. The next big fitness‑related flex among young women in Singapore could just be – wait for it – football. This July, for example, marked the first time the Lion City Cup – an international youth football tournament – introduced a girls’ competition, with Singapore represented by our under‑16 squad. The Women’s Premier League here is in fact thriving with a total of nine clubs and 213 players, and rising attendance at its games, according to the Football Association of Singapore. Heating up the scene is a diverse range of individuals who span students to engineers to even a former banker, all of whom are driven by their passion for the sport and bringing plenty of style to the pitch. Noelle Loh meets nine of them, and finds out how they got into the Beautiful Game and are reclaiming it for themselves.
(On right) NAME: Alyssa Deanna
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: English teacher by day, and university student by night, pursuing a degree in sports and physical education with a minor in special education
TEAM: Tanjong Pagar United
POSITION: Full back or winger
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “My dad brought me to train with the local football school JSSL Arsenal when I was eight. I remember my shoe sole flapping off by the end of the session, but I had the time of my life and have never looked back since.”
WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT FOOTBALL: “On the field, I get to work hard, play hard and be completely myself.”
HER FOOTBALL HERO: “Bukayo Saka – I love his playing style and how he stays composed under pressure”
A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT HER: “I used to be a national bowler.”
HER OTHER INTERESTS: “Working out, catching up with friends, travelling and going on shopping sprees”
HER GOAL IN LIFE: “I’d like to become a teacher who inspires children to believe in themselves, to chase their passions and always strive to be better.”
NAME: Joie Teo
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: University student majoring in physiotherapy
TEAM: Tanjong Pagar United
POSITION: Forward
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I was about six. My godparents would watch Premier League games with me almost every weekend, and emotions always ran so high during those 90 minutes. It was hard not to get hooked … When I was 17, I had the opportunity to get into junior college through the Direct School Admission programme with track and field, but I also tried out for football. I ended up becoming one of five people to get through – and remain so grateful for that.”
HER X FACTOR AS A PLAYER: “Probably my speed”
HOW FOOTBALL HAS SHAPED HER: “It has shaped me in every way, especially in learning how to win with grace and lose with dignity.”
HER OTHER INTERESTS: “I started taking guitar lessons from my dad, also when I was six, and like to play to unwind.”
GIRLS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL … “…are dauntless.”
They may be from different teams – some from the Women’s Premier League and some, the Women’s National League – but the young women in competitive football here share genuine camaraderie that stems not only from sportsmanship, but also the drive to change the face of the game. Among them are (pictured above from left to right) Alyiah Seow, who plays for the Lion City Sailors; Nurul Unaisah of Still Aerion; Tharshini Rajasegar of Mattar Sailors; and Saranya Thiru from the Geylang International team. Says Rajasegar: “There are now more opportunities for women’s football to gain exposure and for players to go further with their passion for the sport. There are many more areas to be improved on, but there has been a decent amount of progress this year and I hope the scene continues to grow.”
(From far left) NAME: Alyiah Seow
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Currently job‑hunting after wrapping up a contract stint at a bank – “I graduated in 2024 from University College London with a bachelor’s in economics and I’d love to land a role in the financial sector doing credit or equity research.”
TEAM: Lion City Sailors
POSITION: Winger
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I had a lot of guy friends growing up and had tagged along with them to an after‑school football activity only to end up joining it. Being able to associate football with friends and fun from such an early age has really planted in me the passion for the sport.”
HER ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO GIVE FOOTBALL A TRY: “As you play and fall in love with the sport, skill and confidence will come naturally.”
NAME: Nurul Unaisah
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Mechanical engineering undergraduate
TEAM: Still Aerion
POSITION: Right winger‑slash‑striker
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “Kicking footballs around for fun with my brother as a kid made me fall in love with the game.”
AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME SHE SPENDS ON THE SPORT WEEKLY: “Almost every day.”
WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT FOOTBALL: “It makes me feel alive, and I love the teamwork and energy.”
GIRLS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL… “…are strong, passionate and inspiring.”
NAME: Tharshini Rajasegar
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Rehabilitation trainer at a hospital
TEAM: Mattar Sailors
POSITION: Winger
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I played street football with my friends for fun when I was 14 and enjoyed myself so much, I took up football as a co‑curricular activity in school. Having previously been in track and field – an individual sport – playing in a team made me feel, for the first time, genuinely motivated and fearless.”
HOW FOOTBALL HAS SHAPED HER: “I’ve become a more confident and motivated person.”
A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT HER: “I’m a matcha addict.”
NAME: Saranya Thiru
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Software engineer
TEAM: Geylang International
POSITION: Midfielder
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I picked up football in junior college and while the team was always the underdog on the scene, having little experience, it taught me that with hard work, anything is possible.”
HER X FACTOR AS A PLAYER: “I don’t think I have one, but if forced to say something, I’d probably say my strength?”
GIRLS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL… “…are not afraid to get their hands dirty.”
HER ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO GIVE FOOTBALL A TRY: “Please do! It’ll be the best decision you make.”
Sixteen‑year‑old Calista Dodson is among the growing number of teenage girls here who are discovering the thrill of – and their talent for – football. From playing casually with her family as a child, she’s now attached to the National Development Centre – a national programme that identifies and nurtures young talents who can help elevate the sport – and has represented Singapore overseas. Her advice to other aspiring young female football players? “Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Just focus on enjoying the game and improving yourself.”
NAME: Calista Dodson
AGE: 16
OCCUPATION: Secondary school student
TEAM: National Development Centre (NDC) Under‑16 squad
POSITION: Centre back
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I think my first exposure to football was when I was around five or six – just kicking a ball around with my brother and dad. I don’t really remember much except for enjoying the experience, and that’s what got me into the game. My main sport in primary school was actually track and field, and I even got Direct School Admission offers from a few secondary schools for it, but I decided to follow my passion and joined Methodist Girls’ School to play football.”
HIGHLIGHTS IN HER FOOTBALL JOURNEY: “In secondary two, my coach encouraged me to try out for the NDC and I got into the under‑14 team. Since then, I’ve been with the NDC, moving up through the different squads according to my age. When I was in the under‑15 squad, my teammates and I played in the Surf Cup International in Salou, Spain, while in July this year, I represented Singapore in the Lion City Cup.”
WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT FOOTBALL: “I love the creativity innate to the sport. Every game is different, and you always have to think fast and make smart decisions. When I’m playing football, nothing else matters. The adrenaline kicks in and makes me feel amazing, even if I had not been in the mood to play before. Plus, I’ve made a lot of my closest friends through football.”
HER FOOTBALL HERO: “Son Heung‑min, because he’s humble, hard‑working and super clinical. He motivates me to stay grounded but aim high.”
A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT HER: “When I was 11, I was a huge nerd and memorised the first 150 digits of pi. I still remember the first 50 because I had recited them so much back then.”
HER OTHER INTERESTS: “I enjoy playing the piano.”
SINGAPORE FOOTBALL IS… “…getting better every year – the players in the age group below me are better than I was at their age, and the same can probably be said for the age group below them.”
GIRLS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL… “…are determined, fun and cool.”
Playing football – among other sports – since primary school has given the 16‑year‑olds Syaizta (left) and Foong (right) drive, composure and discipline that belie their age. As Foong puts it: “I’ve learnt countless lessons from football that I can’t learn from books.
(On left) NAME: Syaizta Ohorella Izan
AGE: 16
OCCUPATION: Secondary school student
TEAMS: National Under‑16 team, National Development Centre Under‑16 squad and Mattar Sailors
POSITIONS: Centre back and right back
HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I started playing seriously in primary school when I was eight, but it didn’t happen easily. At the time, I was also doing netball, ballet, drumming, gymnastics, tumbling and wushu. My mum was hesitant to let me commit to football because I already had so much on my plate… She only started to support my love of it more after watching me play at a tournament in which I was awarded the title of Most Promising Player. That showed both of us that football is more than just an interest for me – it’s my passion.”
WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT FOOTBALL: “I play football because it brings me pure joy – the kind that burns and steadies me all at once. Every match is a challenge, a test, a mirror … Football makes me feel alive. And that feeling is everything.”
A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT HER: “I was student council president – and I enjoy writing poems.”
NAME: Tyan Foong
AGE: 16
OCCUPATION: Secondary school student
TEAM: Lion City Sailors (LCS)
POSITION: Centre back or full back HOW SHE GOT INTO THE SPORT: “I started playing football in primary two and joined what was then the LFA Protectors – the previous name of LCS – when I was 10. While training in its Girls Academy, I got called up to join the Women’s National League, and then – a year later – the Women’s Premier League.” (She captained the national under‑16 girls’ team at its first Lion City Cup tournament in July this year.)
HER X FACTOR AS A PLAYER: “I’m very vocal on the pitch.”
WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT FOOTBALL: “I’ve learnt countless lessons from football that I can’t learn from books.”
HER OTHER INTERESTS: “Besides football, I enjoy the thrill of cable wakeboarding and am also on the national team for it.”
GIRLS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL… “…are multitaskers and determined.”
SINGAPORE FOOTBALL IS… “…hopeful.”
ALL INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN EDITED FOR BREVITY AND CLARITY
This article first appeared in Volume 3 of F ZINE.
PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA STYLING PANG JIA WEI HAIR EC TAN/KIZUKI+LIM MAKEUP KEITH BRYANT LEE & WEE MING, USING GUCCI BEAUTY