It is a phone call footballers wait for their whole lives. Specifically, it is a call from the national team, informing them that they have been selected to represent the country.

“Some are in shock and disbelief, because for them it’s a dream come true,” said Eric Ong. As Team Manager for the Lions, it’s his job to deliver the news.

“It can be their first or 100th time, but being called up is a feeling that never gets old.”

The World Cup Qualifiers were originally scheduled to take place in March. But when the pandemic struck, football matches were postponed, first to October, then to March next year.

The players were crushed. All training and games were suspended, leaving players with little to do except conditioning exercises at home.

As social distancing measures begin to relax, football leagues are slowly restarting training. Still, much uncertainty surrounds the World Cup Qualifiers, which hinge on air travel.

Die-hard fans

The Lions have been out of action since last November, a fact fervent football fan Mohammad Akbar bin Hashim is painfully aware of.

“I’m the most passionate fan in Singapore,” declared the 59 year old.

He is not being hyperbolic. For over four decades, he has attended almost every game — home or away. Now, he can only reminisce.

As the founder of Singapore Die-Hard Fans, he would rally supporters whenever the Lions played. “We will always be early to get the seats behind the Singapore bench,” he said. “That way, we literally have their backs.”

He even travels at his own expense to support the team during overseas matches. This includes taking bus rides as long as 16 hours to watch the team play in far-flung stadiums in Malaysia.

The journey might be back-breaking, but watching games against Singapore’s rival in the north have also produced the sweetest memories, said Muhammad Faizal bin Jamil, a member of the fan group.

“There is so much animosity between the two teams. The players go all out, and you get the most noisy and rowdy crowds,” said Faizal.

He cited the Malaysia Cup Final in 1994 as his most memorable game. The Singapore “Dream Team”, a formidable squad comprising local legends like Fandi Ahmad, Abbas Saad and Malek Awak, were up against Pahang.

The stakes were high: the Lions were poised to end a 14-year title drought. With many clamouring for seats, Akbar organised 40 coaches to bring fans to the Shah Alam Stadium.

About 50,000 Singaporeans attended the match.

“The stadium was full of Singaporeans; there was a sea of red and white,” Akbar said. They cheered as Singapore trounced Pahang 4-0 to claim the trophy.

Chasing the dream

1994 marked the high point in Singapore football history. That year, its world ranking peaked at 75th place, before a gradual slide to 157th today. So, when Tatsuma Yoshida took over as head coach last May, his first goal was to instil a winning mindset.

“The players needed to believe that they could win,” he said. “We may be the underdogs, but we still need to play with our attacking philosophy. The players have responded very well and the results show.”

Tatsuma Yoshida, head coach of the national team, believes that having a winning mindset is key to the Lion’s success. PHOTO: SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB

Yoshida is eager to pick up where they left off, despite facing stiff competition. Singapore is the lowest ranked team in a group that includes Saudi Arabia, which has advanced to the tournament five times. Despite this, it currently holds the third spot in the standings. Their next match is an away game against Palestine.

No matter when the Lions take the field, they can count on the support of their 12th man in the stands, said Faizal.

“Win or lose, we’re always there to support the team.”