Iliya Naufal Idris keen for another shot at Lion City Cup after exiting 2023 final with broken wrist
Substituted in the 70th minute, Naufal was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. X-rays revealed two broken bones in his left wrist, and he missed the remainder of the match. Singapore U-15 went on to lose 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Preparing for the Rematch
Now, a year later, Iliya Naufal is eager for a second chance. The 16-year-old will lead his team against BG Pathum United again, this time in the semi-final of the Lion City Cup on Oct 4 at the same venue. He hopes to reverse last year’s unfortunate result. The other semi-final will feature tournament newcomers Tokyo Verdy from Japan and Malaysia’s Johor Darul Takzim. Both the final and the third-place match are scheduled for Oct 6.
Reflecting on the injury that kept him sidelined for three months, Naufal recalls, “The doctors tried to reset my wrist, but when it didn’t heal properly, I had surgery two weeks later.” Being unable to play was tough for him, as he couldn’t participate in any physical activities.
Despite the initial hesitation when returning to the field, the Singapore Sports School student and Lion City Sailors player eventually regained his confidence. Naufal, who models his game after Spanish football legend Sergio Ramos, remains undeterred. He shared, “Last year taught me that things won’t always go our way. We’ll face challenges, but we must adapt. With the talent in this squad, I believe we can win the Lion City Cup.”
Eyes on the Future
The Lion City Cup also serves as crucial preparation for Singapore’s U-17 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, which will be held at Bishan Stadium from Oct 23 to 27. Singapore has been drawn into Group J, where they will face Oman, Tajikistan, and Guam.
At a pre-match press conference on Oct 3, Singapore U-16 coach Angel Toledano expressed optimism about the team’s development. He highlighted that the squad has been focused on improving their play in the final third of the pitch. Toledano said, “Last year, the boys performed well, but we struggled with finishing. We’ve been working on attacking patterns to create more scoring opportunities.”
Although some key players like Uchenna Eziakor and Rae Peh are returning for this year’s tournament, one notable absence is Sailors midfielder Nathan Mao. Nathan, who made history as the youngest player to debut in the Singapore Premier League in 2023, scored twice in the team’s 3-1 victory over Selangor last year.
When asked about his absence, Coach Toledano explained that the current squad is the strongest available. “Nathan and defender Kieran Tan aren’t in the team for different reasons, but right now, our focus is on the players we have,” he said.
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