As the Singapore national team players in the Sailors squad swapped their blue-and-white kits for the red Lions jerseys for the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric (ME) Cup last December, one notable name was absent from the Lions squad — Song Uiyoung.
While the ME Cup was underway, the 31-year-old midfielder returned to South Korea to spend some much-needed time with his family.
Family has always held a special place in Song’s heart, and so this long-overdue trip was especially meaningful to the Incheon native.
“Ever since I came to Singapore, I haven’t had many opportunities to spend time with my family,” said Song, who moved to the Lion City in 2011.
“Going back to Korea this time was a precious experience. I had a great time with my family, especially my mum. I didn’t do much other than spend time with them, but that was more than enough for me.”
After twelve days in his hometown, Song is now back in Singapore and ready to fight for the Sailors as the club navigates challenging waters in 2025.
The Sailors are set to compete on four fronts when club competition resumes this month: the Singapore Premier League (SPL), the Singapore Cup, and challenging regional tournaments such as the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, and the knockout stages of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
Despite the demanding schedule of games ahead, Song emphasised that it is the players’ responsibility to manage their heavy workload.
“It’s up to us to manage the tight schedule. Although it won’t be easy with all the regional games, we are professionals, so the key is to prepare well and stick together as a team,” explained Song.
“Honestly, we don’t have the biggest squad, so it’s also crucial to take care of our bodies and stay injury-free. That will help us achieve our desired results in the upcoming games.”
The Sailors’ first assignment of the new year is a Matchday Three clash in the ACC Shopee Cup against Malaysia Super League side Kuala Lumpur FC this Thursday (9 January) at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Aleksandar Ranković’s men find themselves bottom of the table after bruising defeats to Indonesia’s Borneo FC and Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC in their opening two games — and are yet to register their first goal in the tournament.
Despite their rough start, Song remains confident that it is not too late for the Sailors to turn their campaign around.
“Everybody knows the past two results weren’t what we wanted, but we’re still confident that we can get the result against KL City,” Song insisted.
“We don’t need to change anything — just prepare the way we always do and believe in ourselves. As long as we give our best, I’m sure we can secure the three points.”
Song has displayed a knack for rising to the occasion on the continental stage. He ended 2024 with five goals and an assist in just four ACL Two games, including a stunning hat-trick against Port FC that helped the Sailors qualify for the tournament’s last 16 for the first time in the club’s history.
Now, the 31-year-old is aiming to carry that excellent form into the new year.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on the pitch,” said Song. “I have my routine and prepare for each game seriously. Even after the hat-trick against Port FC in my last game, I made sure not to overreact or become overconfident.
“I’m very clear about the role Coach Ranko wants me to play in this team, and overall, I’m feeling confident and motivated to work hard for the team and the club.”
Song also expressed his gratitude to the Sailors fans for their unwavering support over the past year and believes they will give the team a crucial boost on Thursday.
“I’m always happy to see the fans standing by us and constantly supporting the team at the stadium. We’ll keep working hard for them and aim to get the result we need on Thursday.”
