Anders Aplin soars with the Eagles

By Khairul Anwar

Anders Aplin is determined to keep his spot in Geylang International FC’s starting lineup. PHOTO: KHAIRUL ANWAR

The word ‘murder’ is embroidered on both sides of Anders Aplin’s football boots — a warning to opponents not to mess with him. Even teammates think twice before they decide to challenge him for the ball during training sessions.

“When I step onto the pitch, I go in for the kill,” said Aplin, a final-year student from Nanyang Business School.

The 25-year-old was featured in FourFourTwo Singapore’s S.League Team of the Month in August, despite making only five appearances for Geylang International Football Club in his first year as a professional footballer.

FourFourTwo is a monthly English football magazine that has different international websites, including a Singapore edition.

But Aplin insists that the achievement was a team effort.

“On the pitch, we do well together. The senior players like Yuki (Ichikawa) and (Daniel) Bennett guide and encourage us every game. Their presence is very reassuring and it takes some of the pressure off,” said Aplin.

Every day, Aplin fights for a spot in an Eagles side that includes five Singapore internationals.

The only opportunities he has to impress Geylang head coach Hasrin Jailani are during training sessions.

“I treat every one of them like a final,” Aplin said.

Aplin was signed by Hasrin after the latter had heard about him through assistant coach Mohd Noor Ali, who had watched Aplin play in the National Football League last year. Hasrin then invited Aplin for a trial before offering him a professional contract.

Hasrin, a former Singapore international midfielder, said: “We saw his potential during training sessions and we liked what we saw during the games. We wanted to give him a chance.”

Referring to how Aplin stands out in training, Hasrin said: “His hunger on the pitch and attitude in training was what we were impressed by. I would rather take a player who wants to prove something, compared to a player who has already proven his worth, or who has already played in the S.League before.”

Eagles teammate Al-Qaasimy Rahman also praised Aplin’s drive to improve his football skills.

“It’s no secret that Anders is hardworking. He gives his hundred per cent and I haven’t come across any day where he complains he’s tired or he’s not in the mood for training,” said the 24-year-old national left-back.

Aplin’s hard work finally paid off when he was brought on as a substitute against Balestier Khalsa when the two sides faced off in a League Cup match in July.

“It was a surreal experience. You know when you train hard everyday, but end up sitting on the bench every game? Then finally you get the chance to play and you tell yourself, ‘This is it’,” he recounted.

“So with 20 minutes left I went in and did what I could.”

His performance in the 2-2 draw handed him a place in the starting lineup for the next four games.
For NTU, Aplin plays either as a striker or an attacking midfielder. Hasrin, however, played him at left-back and centre-back during the five matches. But this did not matter to Aplin.

“More than anything, I wanted to play, and this was a chance for me to play since Qaasimy and Bennett were unavailable,” said Aplin.

“The spot was up for grabs and I took the opportunity, and there was a lot of mental preparation going in. I had to change my attacking mindset to that of a safer, more defensive one.”

Aplin also featured against former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant when Geylang met Tampines Rovers last month.

“I don’t see him as an ex-EPL (English Premier League) player. I see him as an S.League player, my opponent. And I’m not letting him pass without a fight,” said Aplin, who is a Liverpool fan and grew up wanting to play for the team.

Aside from dishing out crunching tackles, Aplin is also on internship at auditing giant KPMG. He eventually plans to work in the marketing sector after his graduation, when his contract with Geylang ends.

“I hope to continue playing football for another year at least, before putting my degree to good use. Football in Singapore is not really an iron rice bowl but it’s my passion so I want to carry on with it for now,” he said.

“I haven’t reached my peak yet. With more games, I will improve and I hope to be called up to the national team soon.”