Cardiff City’s Perry Ng and BG Tampines’ Kyoga Nakamura take another step towards becoming Lions
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British defender Perry Ng (left) and Japanese midfielder Kyoga Nakamura do not have Singapore citizenship, but the FAS hopes to naturalise the duo in future.
ST PHOTOS: AZMI ATHNI
SINGAPORE – Liverpool-born footballer Perry Ng will take a major step towards his dream of representing the Singapore national team after the Cardiff City defender confirmed on Sept 2 that he will be applying for Singapore citizenship this week.
On the same day at the Kallang Football Hub, Ng and BG Tampines Rovers’ Japanese midfielder Kyoga Nakamura, both 28, trained with the Lions for the first time in a move that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) called a “familiarisation stint”.
Ng told the media after the training session that he hopes to be a Singaporean citizen soon and that it was “nice to come and introduce myself to everyone and build relationships with the players, the coach, all the staff”.
He is eligible to play for Singapore via the heritage route as his late paternal grandfather James was born here but later settled in Liverpool.
Over the years, Ng had expressed his desire to play for the Lions and also made multiple trips to visit his relatives in Singapore.
On the process of becoming a Singaporean and linking up with the Lions, Ng, who was named Cardiff’s Player of the Year for 2022-23 and 2023-24, added: “I always hoped to come here, but it’s never been realistic until maybe a couple of weeks ago.
“Hopefully it can progress fast and we can get this completed soon.”
While he submits the necessary paperwork, the FAS will “commence the proceedings of helping them (Ng and Nakamura) get naturalised to Singapore, so that eventually they will be able to wear the red jersey and represent our country”, said president Bernard Tan.
According to global football governing body Fifa’s rule, individuals must have “a genuine link” with national teams they intend to play for. The basic criteria are: Place of birth, naturalisation by residence or place of one grandparent’s birth.
However, Singapore’s citizenship rules state that qualifying for a passport by descent is applicable only to individuals with at least one parent who is born in Singapore or is a citizen by registration.
Under current rules, unless special dispensation is made by the authorities, for Ng to represent the Lions, he will need to give up his current passport, follow the path of the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme (FTS) and gain Singapore citizenship by meeting the residency requirements.
Tan said however “that there is a pathway for him to be a citizen” and there remain some submissions to be done but emphasised that Singapore treats citizenship preciously, and that FAS will honour that process.
While Ng is unlikely to become a citizen in time for the Dec 8-Jan 5 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship, The Straits Times understands that a likelier debut could be during the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers which start in March 2025.
If that happens, it will be a dream come true for Ng.
He said: “Ever since my grandfather passed away, about 12 years (ago), it’s always been a dream of mine to come here, represent them, represent my family that are still here, and to make them proud.
“My family here have never seen me play before, so to walk out at the National Stadium with them there, will be a dream come true.”
The 1.8m Ng, who can play as a centre-back or at fullback, has a contract with Cardiff that runs till 2026. A key figure for the side, he has started all four of their second-tier league games this season.
Ng has also spoken to his club, as well as an immigration lawyer, who have told him that he would just need to apply for a visa to play for the club, just like any other foreign player, should he gain Singaporean citizenship.
He said: “It’s clear what we have to do now. Now it is just executing it. The club have been fantastic, they have supported me so far throughout the whole process and continue to do so.”
Meanwhile, Nakamura, who arrived in Singapore in 2019 to play for Albirex Niigata, has already satisfied Fifa’s five-year residency rule to play for an adopted country at senior level. The former Japan Under-17 international attained his permanent residency in March.
Cardiff City’s British defender Perry Ng (left) and BG Tampines Rovers’ Japanese midfielder Kyoga Nakamura joined the Lions’ Sept 2 training at the Kallang Football Hub.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
The last player who was granted Singapore citizenship through the FTS scheme was Qiu Li in 2010. South Korea-born midfielder Song Ui-young, the latest naturalised Lion, was granted citizenship in 2021
Nakamura, whose second child, a girl, was born here on Sept 1, said: “I have lived in Singapore for five years and I want to contribute to Singapore football. I love to be here in Singapore. I want to contribute on the pitch and off it as well, share my skill and (knowledge) to younger players.”
