NTU footballers face each other in S-League teams

NTU footballers Anders Aplin and Gary Loo will feature on opposing sides of the field for the S-League season

By Sean Loo

S-League debutant Anders Aplin (right) joined Geylang International FC in January and hopes to be in the starting lineup by the end of the season. PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

They may be teammates on NTU’s Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic football team but Anders Aplin and Gary Loo kick their friendship aside whenever they don their S-League jerseys.

In January, Aplin signed for Geylang International while Loo joined Balestier Khalsa.

Despite being on a rival club, Aplin, a midfielder, insisted his relationship with Loo will remain friendly — unless Geylang goes up against Balestier.

“I won’t hesitate to kick him,” joked Aplin, 24, a final-year student at the Nanyang Business School (NBS).

Loo, 23, a second-year NBS student, concurred: “It’s just about being professional.

“If Balestier plays against Geylang, I’ll also go all out and prevent him from scoring.”

The Balestier midfielder added: “Off the field, we are still good friends who represent the same university, but in S-League matches, we must focus on giving our best for our clubs.”

His signing for Balestier will not be his first S-League stint.

Loo made his league debut with Tanjong Pagar United in 2011 and joined Courts Young Lions (now known as Garena Young Lions) the following year, before a knee injury forced him out of the game for the next three years.

Now in his third S-League season, Loo, a former Southeast Asian Games player, believes the hard work he put in during his recovery has paid off — he made the starting lineup in five of the eight matches Balestier has played this season.

When he was unsigned, Loo would jog or visit the gym at least thrice a week to maintain his fitness level.

“I’m not a naturally gifted footballer so I have to work on my fitness to make up for it,” said the Manchester United fan, whose favourite player is Paul Scholes.

S-League debutant Aplin is also aware of the effort needed to succeed in the local football scene.

Apart from attending club training six times a week, he also runs and visits the gym thrice weekly.

“When I signed for Geylang, my NTU coach reminded me that it was important to work hard and be humble,” said Aplin, who has yet to be in Geylang’s starting lineup.

“We have many experienced players on the team and I want to improve, so I hope to break into the first 11 by the end of the season.”

Future goals

For his debut season, Aplin set his sights on contributing to an improved finish for Geylang — the club placed eighth out of 10 teams last year.

“We obviously hope to win the S-League title, but I think any improvement from last season is a step in the right direction,” said Aplin.

“I will also try to break into the first team. As long as I train hard, I think I have a good chance.”

Asked if he had any aspirations of donning national colours, Aplin said: “If it comes, it comes; my focus is on Geylang at the moment.”

Loo, however, hopes to receive a national team call up in the future.

He said: “It is always a dream for football players to represent their own country. I hope that I can represent my country again, as I did in 2011 for the SEA Games.”

Although Loo did not feature in any of the 2011 SEA Games matches, the experience of training alongside many current national team players has improved his game significantly, he said.

“There is so much to learn from them on and off the pitch.”

“It’s certainly helped me to become a better player.”

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Nanyang Chronicle on April 4, 2016, with the headline ‘Friendly foes’. Print Edition