From AC Milan to FC Jurong: Why this World Cup star is looking to make history in Singapore
Singapore football rarely attracts genuine superstar signings. The last bonafide global name that ended up on our shores, seeking a late-career stint, was former Liverpool and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant, who joined Tampines Rovers. And that was already a decade ago.But that changed this past weekend. Keisuke Honda turning up at Jurong East Stadium in an FC Jurong jersey felt like one of those surreal, pinch-me moments, especially if you’re a long-suffering local football fan.I’ve followed football in Singapore for years, and fresh off the Singapore National Team’s incredible run to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup semi-finals, I felt that we needed another big moment to sustain fan interest in the sport and get them to support local football again in between international tournaments.Enter the 40-year-old Japanese legend. For those who are not familiar, the midfield general’s claim to fame is playing for the likes of Italy’s AC Milan and Russia’s CSKA Moscow.