Seven Young Footballers awarded Unleash The Roar! Overseas Scholarship 2025

[Left to Right] Mr Alan Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore, Lamasan Chantale Rose Koh, Seri Nurinsyirah Indra Saharen, Liyana Indah Rickit, Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth​ & Senior Minister of State for Education, Verona Lim, Celine Koh, Yuvika Suresh, Edan McCulloch and Mr Desmond Ong Deputy President of Football Association of Singapore.

[Singapore, 17 July 2025] – Seven of Singapore’s top football prospects have been awarded the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) Overseas Scholarship. This third cohort comprises six female and one male student-athletes, aged between 14 and 16, who will be based in Spain and the United States for the next two to four years.

The scholarship presentation ceremony, held at PARKROYAL on Beach Road was graced by Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth​ & Senior Minister of State for Education. Families of the scholarship recipients were also present to celebrate the occasion. 

This year’s recipients are Edan McCulloch, Celine Koh, Lamasan Chantale Rose Koh, Liyana Indah Rickit, Seri Nurinsyirah Indra Saharen, Verona Lim, Yuvika Suresh. All six female recipients played key roles in Singapore’s second-place finish behind the Republic of Korea in the recent Lion City Cup. 

Edan will attend King’s College in Madrid and join Rayo Alcobendas, one of the top youth sides. The girls will pursue their studies at the IMG Academy in Florida, home to the renowned football programme that has produced many top American talents including rising star Michelle Cooper.

Inaugurated in 2023, the UTR! Overseas Scholarship is a key pillar of the UTR! national football project, which aims to uplift Singapore football standards across all levels and unite Singaporeans behind a shared dream.

To date, 18 young footballers have received the scholarship. Said Minister Neo: “For Singapore football to grow from strength to strength, it will require the collective effort of everyone, from the Government to the football fraternity and parents, to raise the standards of football and create more pathways for young talents to excel in the sport. And our scholarship recipients can play a part too – to be an inspiration with your stories and passion for the sport.”

Added Sport Singapore Chief of Sport Development Group, Marcus Tan, who oversees UTR!: “These young athletes are the next generation of Singapore football. Through this scholarship, they gain the opportunity to train and immerse themselves in intensive training environments, while continuing their academic pursuits. We are proud of them, and we are excited to see how they grow as players and individuals.”

Opportunity to raise their game

Each scholarship recipient brings with them a personal story of passion and perseverance. For 14-year-old Edan, the scholarship is a big step towards realising his dream to represent Singapore.

Said the Singapore Sports School student: “It’s an incredible honour. I want to learn, train hard, and represent Singapore with pride. This chance to play in Spain is a rare opportunity that I will cherish.”

The 2025 batch also reflects the rising profile of girls’ and women’s football in Singapore.

Fazrul Nawaz, head coach of the national Under-19 women’s team, said: “It has been inspiring to see our female footballers stepping up and breaking boundaries. They are hungry, focused and fearless. I am confident that they will inspire a new wave of girls to chase their football dreams.”

This marks a milestone for Chantale, who is the first goalkeeper to receive the scholarship.

Said the Singapore Sports School and National Development Centre (NDC) footballer: “Being a goalkeeper is a unique position. You carry the weight of the team in crucial moments. I am thankful for this chance to sharpen my skills at IMG and to grow not just as a footballer, but also as a person.”

Celine is pursuing her dream, inspired by her sister Chloe, who received the inaugural 2023 UTR! Overseas Scholarship and has since advanced to the senior national women’s team. 

Said Celine, a student at Tanjong Katong Secondary School: “I saw how much my sister Chloe grew during her time in the IMG Academy. It inspired me to aim for this. Now that I have earned this opportunity, I want to make the most of it and continue pushing the limits.”