Some 10,468km from Singapore, the Lion City Sailors U14 boys recently travelled to the Netherlands to compete in the Den Bosch International Tournament from June 7 to 9.
The trip proved to be more than just a tournament, but a valuable learning experience for these young Sailors - both on and off the pitch.
“Before the trip, my teammates and I were very excited and thankful for the opportunity. We were mainly excited for the tournament, training with each other and playing against some quality teams,” defender Charlie Kay shared.
“But we were also excited just for simple things like being in another country, traveling and spending time together.”
Midfielder Iman Naqib added: “I was thrilled before the trip because this was a tournament my teammates and I had been looking forward to for months. I felt a little nervous before the first game because you want to start on a good note, but I calmed myself down by taking some deep breaths.”
The team kicked off their European journey with preparation matches against Dutch clubs Feyenoord and Willem II, setting the tone for what was to come.
Charlie called these games an ‘eye-opener’.
“We had to quickly adapt to the different context and try to compete,” he said. “These friendly games gave us time to prepare for the tournament in different circumstances.”
Echoing his teammate’s sentiments, Iman added: “The preparation matches were a good challenge for the team and myself, giving us exposure to what the tournament would be like and how to prepare for it.”
Head Coach Albert Arnau explained what he had hoped to see from the team then.
“In those first matches, we wanted to be brave and break the mental barrier of respecting European clubs too much,” he said.
“Against Feyenoord, we had a great first half and even took the lead twice, really putting them under pressure. That showed us we were ready to compete against anyone.”
Assistant Coach Diogo Costa also reflected on the broader objectives of the trip.
“Overall, the tournament was extremely productive and interesting to expose our boys to the competitive context we were looking for, which we sometimes cannot find in our country due to constraints,” he shared.
“Playing against European teams is always difficult on several levels. It demands a lot of focus and raises the level of expectations in certain areas.”
The main tournament featured a variety of strong opponents from across Europe, each presenting a different style of play.
“Some games were tough, especially against teams like Club Brugge and Silkeborg IF from Belgium and Denmark,” Charlie recalled.
“The game against Brugge was especially challenging, just because of how technically better all their players were. They move the ball around so quickly and all the players were strong, knowing how to use their body in duels. It pushed us to think faster and be smarter with how we played.”
The unpredictable Dutch weather added to the challenge.
“It was constantly changing,” Charlie said.
“One moment it was rainy and cold, and the next it was sunny. It wasn’t easy to adjust, but we had to stay focused and play our game.”
Facing physically bigger opponents was one of the key challenges for Iman, who knew he had to adapt quickly.
“I had to adjust my game by releasing the ball quicker to avoid contact with my opponents as much as possible,” he shared. “But I also learned the importance of never giving up and giving my best until the final whistle.”
Diogo believes the overall experience has left a lasting impact on the boys.
“Trips like these are about more than just football,” he said.
“They push the boys out of their comfort zone and help them grow - not just as players, but as people. That’s the kind of development we’re always aiming for here at the Sailors.”
