Colours Earned
Two players from the Grilled clubs broke through into the national outfits tonight, with
Chan Ze Han's start against the United Arab Emirates at U-20 level telegraphed for some time. Aged 18 years and 76 days, Chan captained the Young Lions to a 2-1 victory, in the international friendly. While he did not score, he did help set Joker 9's Quincy Ton up for the winner in the 34th minute.
Birds followers definitely were encouraged by Chan's mature performance as Singapore U-20 held out for the win, despite playing the last twenty minutes with only ten men, after playmaker Che Zambil Ridwan was sent off for a second yellow. "Even if he wasn't at his best, Ze Han did it all but score." head coach
Hovaness Noubaryan agreed. "We all know he's a special talent, and he has it in him to do it day in, day out."
For the Farmer Bunnies, U-20 veteran of twenty caps
Lau Chang Wan earned his first at senior level against China concurrently. Situated at leftback with comrade
Wong Ting Yew making his second appearance for the national side on the right, Lau hardly put a foot wrong against Yu Hongfeng on defence, and even put a header narrowly wide at the death, right after Abhishek Gujar had found the lone goal in a rather disjointed exhibition.
Sikong Darong felt that this accomplishment further underlined what the Buns could offer. "Without overselling ourselves, we can rightly claim to have an international-level defence by now. We simply have to build upon that foundation."
