Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

The FAS says commitment comes first. Parents argue education can’t take a back seat. At the centre of this debate is 16-year-old Mika Baihakki, omitted from the U-17 squad after skipping a trainign camp trip for exams. His mother’s viral post has thrown the spotlight on FAS’ handling of youth development and communication. PR veteran and TMSG founder Jose Raymond joins Sports Minutes to analyse the messaging,...

And so it begins! The 2025/26 Singapore Premier League season is officially up and running - with 6 of the 8 teams in action on MD1. Did the increased number of foreigners truly translate to better quality football? And of the local players, who caught the eye? Deepanraj Ganesan joins Sports Minutes to run the rule on it all.

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The SPL season has kicked off, and Balestier’s Daniel Goh is back for his third spell with the Tigers. Fresh from a 2-2 draw against former club Albirex, he joins Sports Minutes to talk comebacks, adapting to Marko Kraljevic’s style, and the challenges locals face amid foreign influx. At 26, is this the make-or-break stage of his career?

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raushan@sph.com.sg

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Imagine giving your life to football - close to 100 caps for Singapore, 250 club games, countless memories...only to be left without a contract. That was Shahdan Sulaiman’s reality until late July. And his struggle mirrors that of many local players battling rule changes, foreign influx, and uncertain futures. Now handed a lifeline by Geylang International, the 37-year-old is out to prove that experience and leadership still ...

After a shock 4-1 defeat in the Community Shield to Tampines Rovers, BIG questions marks have emerged for the Lion City Sailors. A big-money signing that looks out of sync, a head coach who has issued a plea to his management for more players, and a team that generally looks undercooked and under prepared. So will the defending SPL champions get their act together before the league kicks off? We discuss and dissect it all on Sports...

The brand new domestic football season is almost upon us - with the Community Shield kicking off on August 16th. And with a brand new season comes brand new signings, brand new kits and brand new motivation. But what would brand new heights look like for a team like the Lion City Sailors, who achieved so much last campaign? Hami Syahin sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us more.

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Son Heung-Min’s move from Tottenham to LAFC for a record fee closes one chapter and opens another. On Sports Minutes, journalist Steve Price joins us from Seoul to explore Son’s Premier League legacy, his immense popularity in Korea and the world over, and the marketing and footballing impact he’ll bring to MLS. Plus, two Spurs fans share heartfelt tributes to a player who inspired them far beyond the pitch.

A bombshell SEA Games omission. A league with no sponsor. A national team in transition. On his 100th day in charge, Forrest Li & his team had some hard questions to answer. Reporting from the FAS Media Day, Sports Minutes recaps how Singapore football’s new leadership is plotting a bold revival - and why the road ahead will need more than just vision and vigour.

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raushan@sph.com.sg

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With National Day looming large, Sports Minutes celebrates the everyday heroes who shape our sporting culture. Meet Ashok Kumar, the photographer who captures joy, pain and glory, then disappears into the background. Hear what it takes to shoot at the highest level, why trust matters more than fame, and what keeps him coming back for more.

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Leaving home isn’t just about distance - it’s about daring. Harhys Stewart’s journey from Singapore to Kosovo (via Thailand) is a story of bravery, belief, and breaking the mould. And speaking to Sports Minutes - he reflects on his late start, adapting to the unknown, and why he hopes his bold move inspires the next wave of Singaporean footballers.

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raushan@sph.com.sg

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Change is never easy, especially when controversial. The SPL’s new rule allowing seven foreign players per match has sparked uproar, with many fearing it threatens local players’ chances. Yet, this influx could also boost the league’s standards and competitiveness. So, which matters more? Local legend Abbas Saad and former Welsh international Rob Earnshaw join Sports Minutes to share their views.

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With the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Harry Kewell, Nick Montgomery and Mano Polking on the list, Singapore’s search for Tsutomo Ogura's replacement signals ambition. But will reputation trump relevance? Deepanraj Ganesan, who exclusively broke the shortlist for The Straits Times, sits down with Sports Minutes to share his thoughts.

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Football's household names may have graced the pitch - Arsenal, AC Milan, Newcastle. But thousands of seats remained untouched. What should’ve been a celebration of the beautiful game has instead become a flashpoint, with fans voicing frustration over ticket costs and accessibility. So were the fans truly priced out?

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Why would a battle-tested Aussie defender - who’s played across Indonesia, India, and Hong Kong - join Tanjong Pagar United, a side that finished bottom of the pile last season? Aaron Evans sits down with Sports Minutes to unpack his bold leap into Singapore football, and how he plans to lead a renewed Jaguars side with grit, fight, and foresight.

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Every season begins with a story. For Nikola Ignjatovic, it’s a leap into the unknown. For Raiyaan Noor, it’s stepping out of his fathe Noor Ali's shadows. Together, they represent Geylang International’s next chapter. In this heart-on-sleeve episode, the Eagles duo reflect on expectations, pressure, family ties and more.

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From injury comebacks to national team heartbreaks, Singaporean midfielders Jacob Mahler and Joel Chew have lived the highs and lows of football. Now reunited at BG Tampines Rovers - the duo sit down with Sports Minutes to talk about their friendship, football ambition, and what it means to be part of Singapore’s next generation.

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The Lion City Sailors aren’t just building a team - they’re sending a message. With the blockbuster signing of Brazilian striker Anderson Lopes hot on the heels of Tsiy Ndenge, Ivan Sušak, and Safuwan Baharudin, Singapore’s ONLY privatized football club is making it clear: they’re not here to play catch-up - they’re here to compete with Asia’s elite. Big ...

With the Festival of Football about to explode in Singapore, Sports Minutes brings you two voices from Arsenal - new signing Christian Nørgaard and Riccardo Calafiori. From settling in to sailing out to Singapore, title ambitions and to pre-season expectations, the Gunners duo pull no punches. Will you be cheering them on at the Singapore Sports Hub on 23 & 27 July 2025? 

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Sweeping changes are coming to the Singapore Premier League - from a spike in foreign player quotas to the launch of a new reserve league. As Forrest Li begins his FAS presidency, we ask: are these reforms a bold leap forward or a risky gamble for local football? 

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FAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quotaFAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase...