SINGAPORE – Like many recreational footballers, most weekends, Noah Tan and his teammates from Stripes FC can be found on the pitch testing their mettle against other teams across Singapore.
In November 2024, they took their passion overseas, boarding a plane to Ho Chi Minh City for a special football experience.
In the Vietnamese city, Stripes FC played a friendly match against a local team. The experience allowed the weekend warriors a taste of life as a competitive footballer, while combining their love of the game with travel.
While it was a friendly, the match came complete with the bells and whistles: A referee, linesmen, pitchside photography, and even a live video broadcast and commentary for friends and family back home.
Tan, 36, a corporate communications professional at the National University Health System, said the idea of playing an overseas friendly match was first suggested by one of his teammates, sparking excitement among the others.
They then contacted 1896 Travel, a local sports tourism company, which helped to organise the four-day trip for the 18-man team. Each member paid about $330 for the match, accommodation and local transport.
Some Singaporeans have engaged tour agencies to facilitate overseas trips to run marathons, triathlons, cycle or play tennis, though football friendlies are more unusual.
Tan said: “It felt like a proper away match experience, getting together as a team and going overseas, eating together, staying together at a hotel and then going out to play a match against the Vietnamese team.
“The match was really competitive too because we had to describe the skill level of our team to the travel agency, who then found a suitable opponent for us.
“Before the game, we said ‘let’s have fun’ but when the game started, the feeling of not wanting to let Singapore lose face kicked in. So we gave it a good go.”
The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. With video broadcasting available, the team were also able to watch the game later to relive their goals and misses. The commentary was also played over speakers in the stadium during the game, though it was in Vietnamese.
Tan said that many of their friends and family shared on social media that they had tuned in to watch the broadcast.
The trip also helped the team become more united, he added.
“Trips like this give you the chance to truly get to know your teammates. It strengthened our bond and helped turn teammates into friends.”
Aaron Kok, founder of 1896 Travel, noted that more recreational football teams have been travelling abroad for friendly matches since the Covid-19 pandemic. His agency also organises trips for football fans to watch their favourite teams in action across Europe.
Kok explained that these games provide recreational players with a unique mix of competition and camaraderie.
The 48-year-old organised such trips for at least 10 teams in 2024, and also brought several recreational basketball teams to Taiwan for friendly games.
He said: “Sports travel is to allow people to experience sports in an overseas setting, whether it is by watching or playing. We organise games for people to fulfil their dreams of playing overseas.”
He added that the agency puts in extra effort to give teams an unforgettable experience, such as pumping up the atmosphere by playing the Uefa Champions League anthem over the speakers as teams make their way onto the pitch.
Other recreational players who have engaged Kok’s services are David Hia and his teammates at Athena Phoenix, who have also combined their football trips with charity initiatives such as visiting a children’s home.
The team comprising footballers aged between 30 and 60 years old travelled to Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 and Bangkok, Thailand, in 2024.
Each trip cost around $500 to $600 per person and included airfare and accommodation.
Hia, 57, who works in the logistics industry, said: “From the moment we reached Ho Chi Minh, we felt like we were real professional players. There was even a banner to welcome us and we got transported around in a 40-seat team bus. Even the match itself was very memorable.
“In Singapore, you usually play with just one referee but we had the full works in Thailand.”
Encouraging other teams to sign up for the experience, Hia and his team are planning multiple trips in 2025.
He added: “Every single one of our players really enjoyed the trips and it was so fulfilling. We cannot wait for our next one.”
Kok, who also works with schools, social teams and companies for such trips, noted that there are many teams who arrange for such trips independently via their contacts. A large majority make day trips across the Causeway to play friendly matches in Malaysia over the weekend, he added.
He expects a busy 2025 season for his agency, with trips to various parts of South-east Asia planned and even a match in China.
Kok added: “As people see other teams doing it, awareness of these opportunities grows. While more are taking advantage of it, many still don’t realise that this service exists.
“It offers recreational footballers an unforgettable experience and at the same time, it brings teams closer together while allowing them to immerse themselves in a different football culture.”
- Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.
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