Perry Ng Edges Closer to Singapore Dream with First Training Session with the Lions
Cardiff City defender Perry Ng, who has long expressed an interest in representing Singapore on the international stage, took a significant step towards making that dream a reality. The 28-year-old trained with Singapore’s national football team, the Lions, for the first time on Monday, over seven years after he first showed interest. Ng, who qualifies to play for Singapore through his paternal grandfather, joined the squad for a familiarization stint during the current international window.
Training with the Lions
Ng's session took place at the Kallang Football Hub, with the iconic National Stadium — the Lions’ 55,000-capacity home ground — in the background. During the session, Ng participated in earlier drills and later joined some overseas-based players for recovery work. This training stint is part of Singapore’s preparation for the year-end ASEAN Championship.
Despite the promising step, Ng's eligibility is still under consideration. Due to Singapore's strict law against dual citizenship, Ng would need to renounce his British passport to play for the national team. Nevertheless, this week’s training stint could be pivotal for Ng’s future international prospects.
First Impressions and Challenges
Ng shared his excitement about the experience, although he admitted to being somewhat surprised by the intensity of the training and the tropical heat, a significant change from the climate in Wales. “The setup here is really good — a first-class setup. The pitch is fantastic. The lads were intense, which surprised me a little bit,” Ng told ESPN. “The heat was tough, but I think we'll get used to it this week and I'm looking forward to a good week of training.”
He expressed a strong desire to play at the National Stadium with his family in attendance, mentioning that they have never seen him play live before. “For me, it'll be a dream to walk out there with my family in the stands,” Ng said. “I'm really excited for that.”
Connection to Singaporean Roots
Although born and raised in Liverpool, Ng maintains a strong connection to his Singaporean heritage. He recalls fond memories of visiting Singapore's famous hawker centres, with chicken rice and roti prata among his favorite dishes. Visiting his grandfather’s temple and meeting extended family in Singapore are important traditions for Ng, providing a spiritual connection to his heritage.
“We visit the temple to see my granddad, and we always buy some (offerings) to burn for him,” Ng revealed. “I always feel very spiritual when I go there, and it means a lot to me.”
Path to Citizenship and the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme
Ng has engaged an immigration lawyer in England and is receiving assistance from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to facilitate his application for citizenship. His application is expected to be supported by Singapore’s Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme, which has been used to bring talented non-Singaporeans into the country to represent it in sports. However, the FST scheme has not been used for football since 2008.
Ng’s established career in England’s Championship, including being named Cardiff’s Player of the Season for the past two campaigns, highlights his potential contribution to the Lions. “I think I can bring a lot of experience,” Ng said. “The Championship is a very tough league. You have to be physically and mentally very strong, so I think I bring that. I feel like I'm good on the ball, so hopefully, I can help the lads play some good football and get some success together.”
As Ng continues his journey towards representing Singapore, both his football skills and his deep-rooted connection to the country may help him achieve his dream of playing on the international stage for the Lions.