SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
Hougang United v Geylang
Jalan Besar Stadium, 5.30pm
He had planned to play it cool after scoring for the first time in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) last weekend, but the teenager inside striker Vasileios Zikos Chua could not contain himself.
He wheeled away from goal at full speed, arms outstretched, and screamed at the top of his lungs, in an expression of joy not dissimilar to the Italian Marco Tardelli's iconic 1982 World Cup celebration.
Vasileios, who turned 17 the day after scoring in Geylang International's 1-0 win over Young Lions, became the third-youngest scorer in Singapore's 24-year-old professional football league, and its youngest match-winner.
Hariss Harun, at 16 years and 174 days, tops the list with his 2007 strike for the Young Lions against Singapore Armed Forces FC, followed by Fareez Farhan, who scored in 2011 also for the Young Lions against Warriors FC when he was 16 years and 331 days.
"I had a few things in mind (for the celebration), and I'll usually just jump and pump my fist in the air. But, after I scored, I just lost control of the situation," Vasileios sheepishly told The Straits Times ahead of today's Hougang United game.
Born to a Singaporean father and a Greek mother, he grew up in Kastoria in northern Greece and moved to Singapore when he was 10.
His given name means king in Greek but is a mouthful for Singaporean tongues, so his teammates and coaches call him Bill, a shorter, direct translation.
The first-year Nanyang Junior College student admits he is still learning to juggle his professional football ambitions with his studies but adds that milestones, like his maiden strike, give him the motivation to keep going in both.
"It was an extremely special moment, and it meant a lot to me," he said. "Growing up and wanting to be a professional, it's a huge landmark to get your first goal.
"It was a dream come true.
"All I want to do now is give 100 per cent and make sure I'm not content with what I have now; I have to keep improving and working hard."
Geylang handler Noor Ali, who coached him at Tanjong Katong Secondary School for four years, said: "Bill is a smart boy. As a coach, I'm proud to see a young player who can balance his studies and football, because I think that comes only with the right attitude. But he has just turned 17 and, football-wise, he still has a long way to go."
He is hoping his team can continue their good form with a third win on the trot but noted that Hougang, who are third in the table and one spot above Geylang on goal difference, are no pushovers.
It is still early days, but both teams have come a long way from being cellar dwellers last year, and a win would propel either side into second spot for at least 24 hours.
Said Noor Ali: "We'll go out and play our normal game, but we also know Hougang have good quality and depth in their squad, and we have to keep an eye on two or three players."
The Norwegian Town Where the Sun Doesn't Rise I spent a year in Tromsø, Norway, where the "Polar Night" lasts all winter—and where rates of seasonal depression are remarkably low.
Mauricio Pochettino has announced that Spurs' appeal against Heung Min Son's red card has been rejected. This comes after the South Korean was handed his marching orders for a push on Jefferson Lerma last week in the Premier League.
Son Heung-min: 'I miss White Hart Lane but the new stadium is
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title; Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title. football news Ligue 1 Lille match review PSG.
Guardiola coy over quadruple bid after City reach FA Cup final City can win the quadruple after his side reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. but City manager
Guardiola coy over quadruple bid after City reach FA Cup final
Football: Hougang find inspiration in skipper Zulfahmi Arifin to climb to second in the SPL The Straits Times; Preston North End 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday: Forestieri and Nuhiu salvage draw for Owls BBC
Neil Robertson vs Michael Georgiou: World Snooker
allmysportsnews.com/nba/neil-robertson-vs-michael-georgiou-world-snooker-championship-frame-by-frame-updates/
Football: Hougang find inspiration in skipper Zulfahmi Arifin to climb to second in the SPL » NBA News Kawhi Leonard: Masai Ujiri sends Raptors fans crazy with impassioned 13-word speech
Learn more about Islam at religious outreach centre at
Let us plan your trip to see the New England Patriots, one of the successful teams in NFL history. Foxborough Stadium is on every football fans bucket list to visit and watch at Patriots game. What can be included in your New England Patriots Travel Package? - Lodging in the Boston/Foxborough Area - Reserved game tickets
Tips for visiting fans to Penn State football games
Barcelona - Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele returned to team training on Thursday, increasing hopes that he will recover from his hamstring injury in time for next week's Champions League trip to Manchester United. "Jasper Cillessen (also out injured) and Ousmane Dembele were back training with the group," the La Liga leaders said on their
Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona returns from injury ahead of Man
Football Federation Australia hailed the move as "an outcome that delivers on the gender equity principle of 'same base pay for same base work'." "This means that players in the Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League will receive the same minimum remuneration hourly rate," said FFA Head of Leagues Greg O'Rourke.
Australian female players to earn same base pay as men
LONDON (AFP) - Eden Hazard got here to Maurizio Sarri's rescue as the Chelsea megastar's superb late strike earned a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday (March 10). Sarri's facet were seconds clear of another harmful defeat after Raul Jimenez positioned Wolves ahead at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw - Khaleej Times
WOLFSBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's new-look team made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday, showing signs of improvement
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw ahead
On January 21, soccer player Emiliano Sala was traveling via a private plane between England and France when the aircraft suddenly disappeared over the English Channel. After 24 hours of searching and no sign of a plane or debris anywhere, the athlete was presumed dead.
Body found in wreckage of plane carrying soccer player Sala
RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar's agent and father poured cold water over speculation the world's most expensive footballer was mulling a transfer and instead suggested a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar's father says PSG extension more likely than Real
0 comments:
Post a Comment