Song Ui-young gets Lions recall after year-long absence due to family matters
SINGAPORE – It has been nearly a year since Song Ui-young last played for the Lions in the 7-0 home defeat by South Korea, his country of birth, on June 6, 2024.
But the 31-year-old, who had been unavailable during the intervening international windows due to family matters, is now back in the Lions' fold.
On May 29, the Lion City Sailors midfielder was named in a 23-man Singapore squad for a June 5 friendly against Maldives at Bishan Stadium and an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka five days later.
Fit-again Ikhsan Fandi and Taufik Suparno are among other key players recalled to the squad, while Shawal Anuar misses out because of a medical procedure scheduled during the international window.
In a Football Association of Singapore statement, Song said he is looking forward to linking up with the Lions again, adding: 'I've had urgent family matters to attend to and I'm relieved that I've managed to get across that challenge – and grateful that I've been afforded space to be present for my family.'
Dispelling rumours that his prolonged absence from the Lions squad was due to animosity between him and national coach Tsutomu Ogura, Song shared with The Straits Times that he had gone through a gamut of emotions in the past year.
His mother had suffered a stroke at the end of 2023 and went through brain surgery in Incheon without him knowing.
'My family hid this from me as they didn't want me to worry too much and be distracted while I'm playing football abroad,' said Song, whose father died when he was a baby and has a sister who has three children.
'When I found out my mother wasn't healthy, I started to think about many things. I've been in Singapore for 12 years and I didn't really look after my family, especially my mother, and she was staying alone when she suffered the stroke.
'I felt bad that I didn't take care of her. So, I decided it's time to take care of my mum and spend more time with my family.'
In 2021, Song Ui-young became the first South Korea-born player to be naturalised for the Lions.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Fortunately, she is out of danger now, although she needs to be on medication for the rest of her life to keep her condition under control. His family also flew to Singapore to watch the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Two (ACL2) final on May 18, when Emirati club Sharjah FC defeated the Sailors 2-1.
He said: 'They witnessed the moments and they met many people here who have a connection with me and they heard all my stories and achievements, which is different from when she hears it from me. They are happy and proud of me, and this makes me happy.
'My mother has a strong character, and although she has always been supportive of me, it must not have been easy to send her only son overseas when I was just 18.'
The highlight of playing in a continental final seemed like a full circle as Song left his family in Incheon for Singapore at a tender age to pursue a professional football career.
He first joined the youth team of Home United, the predecessor of the privatised Sailors, scored 12 goals in 16 Prime League games, before he broke through to the senior side.
With Home, he chalked up 184 games, 47 goals and 23 assists, before clocking 103 appearances, 44 goals and 11 assists for the Sailors across two spells. In between, he also had stints with Nongbua Pitchaya in Thailand and Persebaya Surabaya in Indonesia.
In 2021, he became the first South Korea-born player to be naturalised for the Lions.
Despite a regret of not being able to join Daegu FC in the K-League when there was an offer in 2022 while he was contracted to the Sailors, Song is happy with the career he has had.
'I never imagined this. When I came to Singapore at 18, it was all about survival and I was desperate to impress,' said Song, who has racked up 12 goals and five assists in 46 appearances for the Sailors this season.
'So, I really appreciate the career I have and want to continue to achieve more with my club and country.'
Before he reports for Lions' training on June 3, there is a chance to notch a domestic double as the Sailors, who clinched the Singapore Premier League title on May 10, wrap up a year-long domestic season in the Singapore Cup final against BG Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31.
Song said: 'After losing the ACL2 final, everyone at the club felt a big frustration. But now, because we already lost a final, we have a huge motivation to lift another trophy.'
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