Singapore footballer Song Ui-young puts aside South Korean family ties for upcoming World Cup qualifier

SINGAPORE: Singapore midfielder Song Ui-young has mixed feelings facing his birth country South Korea in the upcoming World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.

The Incheon-born footballer became a Singapore citizen in August 2021, but he is ready to put family ties aside to spring an upset against his motherland next Thursday (Jun 6).

“It’s very difficult to explain this feeling, to play against South Korea where I was born … but I'm very happy and honoured to play for Singapore. I'm going to do my best for Singapore,” he told CNA.

The 30-year-old has spent most of his professional football career in Singapore since he was a teenager.

He was inspired to play football professionally at the age of nine after watching the 2002 World Cup, when the South Korean national team battled their way to fourth place on homeground – the nation’s best results yet.

“They gave me a dream, and the inspiration to play football. Especially midfielder Park Ji-sung, he was my role model,” the Lion City Sailors attacker said.

“So I chased his training programme and his playing style. He gave me the biggest motivation to become a professional footballer.”

Song is part of the culturally diverse Singapore national team that also includes defender Jordan Emaviwe. 

Born to a Nigerian father and a Singaporean mother, the 23-year-old said donning the Singapore jersey gives him and his family immense pride.

“My dad, he loves it. My sister as well. Both of them are very emotional because of my late mum,” he told CNA.

His journey in the sport has special value because of how much it meant to his mother who died a few years ago.

“All that time she sacrificed for me when I was younger, to bring me to training and games. It was her goal to see me play for the