Singapore Premier League top scorer Tomoyuki Doi undecided over future amid interest from abroad
Geylang International's Tomoyuki Doi getting attention from the Lion City Sailors' Rui Pires (left) and Hami Syahin during a Singapore Premier League game on May 4, when he scored twice in Geylang's 3-2 win. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
SINGAPORE – Tomoyuki Doi, the Singapore Premier League's (SPL) runaway leading scorer, is a wanted man.
Plundering 44 goals in 28 Singapore Premier League (SPL) games for the Eagles has placed Doi firmly on the radar of clubs in the region, who are eager to prise Geylang's talisman away when his contract is up at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Brunei DPMM declared their intentions early on, stating on their website that they are eyeing the 27-year-old Japanese striker as the Wasps bid to return to the Malaysia Super League (MSL) next season.
Reports in Malaysia have also linked Doi with MSL runners-up Selangor FC. The Red Giants, who are led by Japanese coach Katsuhito Kinoshi, will be looking to challenge Johor Darul Takzim's domestic dominance and better their showing in the Asian Champions League Two after a narrow group-stage exit this season.
While he admitted that he had received interest from other clubs, Doi remained tight-lipped about his suitors.
'I cannot say what will happen in the future, because we never know what's going to happen tomorrow. What I can do is to focus and shape my skills as a striker every day,' said Doi, who underlined his predatory instincts on May 4 when he scored a double to help Geylang beat Lion City Sailors 3-2, ending the SPL leaders' 16-game unbeaten run in the league.
He said that he has not decided on anything yet, adding: 'It depends on the situation. I have to focus on playing with the team first, and after the season ends, we will see.'
Having signed for Geylang in January 2024, Doi had stated at the start of the season that he 'wants to be a legend' in the SPL.
In March 2025, he fulfilled that pledge as he eclipsed the record for most SPL strikes in a season set by Mirko Grabovac, who racked up 38 goals in a 33-game campaign for Singapore Armed Forces FC in 2001.
Thanks largely to his 44-goal tally, Geylang are on course to finish in the top three for the first time since 2003, when they were second. Doi, who has 16 more goals than his closest challenger, the Sailors' Lennard Thy, is also a shoo-in for his second SPL Golden Boot award.
Geylang coach Noor Ali is pleased to see Doi, who also scored six goals in four Singapore Cup games, getting the recognition that he deserves.
'I'm happy for him. Of course, you definitely want to keep this kind of striker. There's not only Brunei DPMM (interested in him). There's a lot of clubs chasing after him. It's nice to see if the players progress and get better contracts, and I'm happy for them,' he said.
But he acknowledged the mammoth task of filling the void that Doi's potential departure might leave.
'Definitely (tough to find a replacement). You have a striker scoring nearly 50 goals per season, and I think that's something that is going to be very, very hard for us to fill. But let's see, there are still three more games to go this season, maybe we can keep Doi for next season,' he added.
Doi rose to prominence when he notched 19 goals for Hougang United in the 2021 season, a year after a league-winning campaign with Albirex Niigata. His exploits saw him winning the 2021 Player of the Year and Golden Boot awards.
He returned to his home country in 2022, turning out 18 times for then J3 League outfit Fujieda MYFC, scoring four goals.
In 2023, he played eight matches for Albanian first-tier side FK Bylis before returning to the SPL with Geylang the following year.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Uzbekistan, Jordan earn first World Cup berths as South Korea also qualify
HONG KONG - Uzbekistan and Jordan progressed to the World Cup finals for the first time on Thursday as regular qualifiers South Korea also booked their place in North America next year with a 2-0 win over Iraq in Basra. Uzbekistan claimed their spot at the expanded 48-team finals with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates, which guaranteed Timur Kapadze's side a top two finish in Group A of the preliminaries alongside already-qualified Iran. Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu were on target in the second half for the Koreans against 10-man Iraq and that win not only secured qualification for Hong Myung-bo's side from Group B but confirmed Jordan would also progress. The west Asians had beaten Oman 3-0 earlier in the evening through a hat-trick from Ali Olwan, but Jamal Sellami's side had to wait for the outcome of Iraq's meeting with the Koreans before being able to celebrate their World Cup berth. Australia also stand on the cusp of a place at the finals after Aziz Behich scored the only goal in his side's 1-0 win over Japan in Perth in Group C. Victory keeps Tony Popovic's side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa, with one game to play. Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a win that put Australia's celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday. But Australia's vastly superior goal difference means they can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finishers behind the Japanese. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation their first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A. They will be joined in the next phase by 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, who managed a 1-0 win over 10-man Iran through Pedro Correia's 41st-minute close-range goal. Indonesia guaranteed their involvement would also continue into the fourth round with a 1-0 win over China that ended the qualification hopes of Branko Ivankovic's side. Ole Romeny's 45th-minute penalty separated the sides in Jakarta to ensure Indonesia would finish in either third or fourth place in Group C, thereby progressing to the next phase. Goals from Tamer Seyam and Wessam Abou Ali kept Palestine's chances of going through to the next round intact, with a 2-0 win over hosts Kuwait moving Ihab Abujazar's side to within one point of Oman in fourth place in Group B. The first two finishers in each of the three qualifying groups progress automatically to the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth advance to October's fourth round to battle for another two berths at the finals. Kyrgyzstan will not be among those competing for the remaining slots after their 2-2 draw with North Korea in Riyadh ended their chances of going through to the fourth round. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in
HONG KONG - Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Thursday as a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates confirmed the nation's progress to next year's finals as Australia and Jordan moved to the verge of booking berths in North America. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike earned the Socceroos a 1-0 win over already-qualified Japan in Perth in Group C to keep Tony Popovic's side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa. Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia's celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday. But Australia's vastly superior goal difference means they can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finishers behind the Japanese. Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan's hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman in Muscat to leave Jamal Sellami's side waiting for the result from South Korea's clash with Iraq in Basra later on Thursday in Group B. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation their first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Abbosbek Fayzullaev had hit the crossbar with a 54th minute header for the visitors but it was Yusupov who frustrated the Cosmin Olaroiu-coached Emiratis, who needed to win to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification. The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A. Indonesia guaranteed their involvement in the World Cup preliminaries would continue into the fourth round as a 1-0 win over China also ended the qualification hopes of Branko Ivankovic's side. Ole Romeny's 45th minute penalty separated the sides in Jakarta to ensure Indonesia would finish in either third or fourth place in Group C, thereby progressing to the next phase, which will be played in October. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
China's Shi reaches Indonesian Open quarter-finals, home hopes exit
FILE PHOTO: Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Badminton - Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China - October 7, 2023 China's Shi Yuqi in action during his Men's Singles final against China's Li Shifeng REUTERS/Weixiang Lim/File Photo World number two and top seed Shi Yuqi eased past Yushi Tanaka 21-14 21-7 in the round of 16 at the Indonesia Open on Thursday, while local hope Jonatan Christie lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu. Defending champion Shi, who won the Malaysia and All-England Opens this year, took 36 minutes to defeat Japanese Tanaka and set up a quarter-final against compatriot Wang Zhengxing. Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the world number one, also progressed to the last eight with a 21-10 21-17 win over Lee Chia-hao. In the women's draw, world number one An Se-Young was similarly dominant, beating fellow South Korean Kim Ga-Eun 21-7 21-11, while India's twice Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu lost to Thai Pornpawee Chochuwong. Indonesia will not have any representative in the men's quarter-finals after Christie and Alwi Farhan both suffered defeats. Fifth-seeded Christie, who last won a Super 1000 title at the 2024 All-England Open, appeared to be cruising after taking the first game comfortably, but Hong Kong's Lee rallied to clinch a 12-21 21-12 21-10 win. "There was a lot of pressure on me. When I hit the shuttle I couldn't even hear the sound – the crowd was so loud. So I'm so happy to win this match," Lee said. "I had to calm down and start from zero, and forget what happened in the first game. I just tried to avoid mistakes and had to be patient. "It was a great experience. It was almost like playing at home in Hong Kong. I'm proud of myself. I'm happy I could do it, because my mentality is my weak side." Farhan put up a fight against third-ranked Dane Anders Antonsen, losing 21-16 18-21 21-14. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
