Singapore set to compete at Asiad for the first time since the inception of women’s football in 1990

 

Noor Kusumawati in a recent training session, August 2023. The goalkeeper is potentially set to achieve her 50th cap for the country at the Asian Games.

 

 

SINGAPORE, 14 SEPTEMBER 2023 – Singapore Women’s National Team Head Coach Karim Bencherifa has named a final squad of 22 players for the Lionesses’ upcoming Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, China.

 

 

The team will travel to Hangzhou on 24 September 2023 and begin their Group C campaign three days later. The original schedule included matches against both Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Cambodia, but with the latter’s recent withdrawal from the Games, Singapore will have to play DPRK twice with the overall winner to be determined either by points or by a superior goal difference.

 

The final selection was trimmed from a provisional squad of 29 players that had been undergoing centralised training since late August 2023.

 

 

With an average age of 22.4 years, the Lionesses, who will be captained by centre-back Siti Rosnani Azman, will be looking forward to making their Asian Games debut. Women’s football was included in the Asian Games for the first time in 1990, and the Lionesses have never participated in any of the previous eight editions; 11 teams competed in each of the past two editions.

 

 

While the squad may be missing some notable players, Coach Karim will look to the experienced players, including seasoned custodian Noor Kusumawati – who is potentially set to achieve her 50th cap for the country at the Asian Games – to lead the rest of the young players. Supporting her are stalwart players like Ho Hui Xin, Farhanah Ruhaizat and Stephanie Gigette Dominguez, all of whom have accumulated more than 30 caps.

 

 

Additionally, the team boasts promising young talents such as Irsalina Irwan, a recipient of the Unleash the Roar (UTR) overseas football scholarship, Sarah Zu’risqha, and Farah Nurzahirah, the latter two who made their senior debut in the Pakistan friendly match. The 19-year-old midfielder Nasriah Ibrahim, who was part of the squad that participated in last month’s AFF Under-19 Championship in Palembang, Indonesia, will also look to potentially earn her first senior cap.

 

 

Coach Karim expressed his disappointment over the fixture changes but remained confident that the team will display a great performance nonetheless: “This decision by the organisers is disappointing given that it completely changes our group dynamics and how we have prepared so far. We were initially excited about the prospect of facing a top 10-ranked team and a closer-matched opponent in the Asian Games 2022. But we need to get on with it, keep our focus as our participation in the Asian Games also gives our girls invaluable experience in their development.

 

 

“Despite the circumstances where we will face the same opponent twice, we remain committed to giving our best effort. We will do whatever it takes to represent Singapore with pride and determination on the Asian Games stage.”

 

 

Offering insight into their training regimen, he shared: “Our training has been intensive, filled with a positive spirit among both staff and players. The backroom staff and I have worked diligently on enhancing the team’s fitness, monitoring individual fitness levels daily, and refining our game plan and tactics. Team bonding sessions have also been crucial to our preparation, fostering unity and cohesiveness among the players.”

 

 

Rosnani expressed her excitement about participating in the Asian Games, stating: “I feel incredibly blessed and honoured to lead the team for our first Asian Games. We have been intensely preparing for the tournament, strongly emphasising on quick transitions from defence to attacking styles of play. We understand that the competition level is significantly higher than the SEA Games, and Coach Karim demands nothing less than our absolute best.”

 

 

The 26-year-old defender went on to mention that despite the fixture change, the team’s ultimate goal remains unchanged: “With Cambodia’s last-minute withdrawal, it leaves us with North Korea as our sole opponent, which sets to be a challenge for us, considering the team was ranked in the top 10 as of December 2022. Regardless of our opponent, we will give our all, and adhere to our game plan. Our goal is to put up a strong fight, with the hope our maiden appearance at this Games will pave the way forward to such participation in future editions.”

 

Singapore Women’s National Team Squad for the 19^th Asian Games

S/N	Name	Pos	Caps	DOB	Club
1	Noor Kusumawati Mohammad Rosman	GK	49	29-Sep-90	Lion City Sailors
2	Beatrice Tan	GK	11	29-Jun-92	Lion City Sailors
3	Erlinawaty Dewi Jaffar	GK	10	10-Nov-85	Hougang United
4	Irsalina Irwan	DF	5	01-Jan-07	Albirex Niigata (S)
5	Nur Syazwani Ruzi	DF	25	20-Dec-01	Lion City Sailors
6	Nur Umairah Hamdan	DF	27	11-Mar-02	Lion City Sailors
7	Siti Rosnani Azman	DF	37	22-May-97	Hougang United
8	Nur Adrianna Hazeri	DF	0	03-Jul-04	Tanjong Pagar United
9	Khairunnisa Khairol Anwar	DF	9	21-Feb-03	Lion City Sailors
10	Siti Nurerwadah Erwan	DF	2	26-Jun-04	Balestier Khalsa
11	Dhaniyah Qasimah Zamri Abdullah	MF	25	07-July-04	Tanjong Pagar United
12	Venetia Lim	MF	18	14-Oct-03	Lion City Sailors
13	Nasriah Ibrahim	MF	0	01-Sept-04	Balestier Khalsa
14	Sitianiwati Rosielin	MF	25	26-May-97	Police Sports Association
15	Nur Afiqah Omar	MF	7	15-Oct-01	Tampines Rovers
16	Stephanie Gigette Dominguez	MF	33	27-Sep-98	Tampines Rovers
17	Ho Hui Xin	MF	32	23-Apr-92	Lion City Sailors
18	Nur Farhanah Ruhaizat	FW	36	26-Jul-98	Tampines Rovers
19	Nur Sarah Zu’risqha Zul’kepli	FW	1	24-Jul-06	Albirex Niigata (S)
20	Farah Nurzahirah Abdul Fattah	FW	1	13-Jan-04	Tanjong Pagar United
21	Nur Raudhah Kamis	FW	24	04-Mar-99	Hougang United
22	Nicole Lim	FW	7	10-Apr-02	University of Edinburgh

 

19^th Asian Games Group C Fixtures

Match	Date	Time	Venue
24 Sep 2023, Sunday	7.30pm (SGT)	DPR Korea vs Singapore	Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium
27 Sep 2023, Wednesday	4pm (SGT)	Singapore vs DPR Korea

 

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