Cambodian football club Angkor Tiger had been tracking Singaporean player Delwinder Singh for some time, as they wanted to strengthen their squad for the new season.
The side finally signed the 30-year-old defender last week on a one-year deal, making him the first Singaporean to play in the Cambodian Premier League.
“I am delighted to welcome Delwinder to the squad,” said Angkor Tiger head coach Alistair Heath.
“We like what we see. I know he has what it takes to play in a variety of positions, and we are certainly going to benefit from his leadership, aggression and defensive acumen.”
Delvinder, who can play in different defensive positions, made history by becoming Tanjong Pagar United’s youngest captain when he was 18 years old.
Siem Reap-based Angkor Tiger, who finished seventh out of eight teams in the league last year, expect the experienced player to marshal the backline and play a key role in linking the defence and midfield. They hope to make a strong impression in the Cambodian Premier League, which starts tomorrow.
Angkor Tiger, founded in 2015, play at the Hanuman Stadium in the resort town of Siem Reap. They were voted the most popular football club in Cambodia in 2018.
Cambodian football has seen a recent resurgence, with its national team finishing just behind regional titans Indonesia and the Philippines in their 2023 SEA Games group.
At the Under-23 level, Cambodia defeated Singapore 2-1 at Merlion Cup 2023.
Cambodia is ranked 176 in the world football rankings – 18 below Singapore.
Delwinder, who got the Cambodia stint through his agent Rookbook Sports, will also be looking to mentor the squad’s young players. He featured in more than 200 Singapore Premier League games for Geylang International, Young Lions, Hougang United, Warriors and Balestier Khalsa. He has been capped five times by the Singapore national team.
Former Singapore footballer Samuel Benjamin told tabla!: “It’s really not easy to get into any overseas team. I am very happy for Delwinder. He is a very versatile player and always wanted to play overseas.”
Delwinder was introduced to football when he was five years old. Having failed to get a spot at Singapore Sports School when he was 12, he joined the Centre of Excellence North Zone.
When he was 14, Delwinder again failed the School trials but was picked by coach Abdullah Noor for the National Football Academy Under-15s.
Delwinder played at the Asian Schools tournament in China when he was 16 but an injury in the following year abruptly halted his football journey.
He was about to hang up his boots for good when former Singapore captain Terry Pathmanathan asked him to join Tanjong Pagar United.
“I am very grateful to Terry. If not for him, I would not have got to play football at professional level,” said Delwinder, who joined Tanjong Pagar United in the 2011 S-League season.
Pathmanathan told tabla! that “Delwinder is a very hardworking and disciplined defender”, adding: “I made him the key player when he joined. He is the kind who would want to prove himself and his level of confidence is great.
“Overseas exposure will be a good experience for him. Playing in Cambodia is going to be a tremendous learning curve. I am impressed.”
Delwinder, who has two brothers, said his childhood dream was to become a police officer.
“But here I am playing the sport I love,” added the Singapore Institute of Management business management graduate.
When his agent broke the news about the Cambodia opportunity, Delwinder did not hesitate to accept it despite having to live away from his mother, whom he is very close to. The separation from his family only makes Delwinder even more determined to succeed.
“Football makes one susceptible to injuries and it can be mentally challenging but it teaches you discipline and perseverance,” he said.
“I’m determined to make my family proud.”
