Young strikers Zikos Chua and Abdul Rasaq Akeem looking to step up for Lions

YOKOHAMA – Two young and talented strikers with foreign heritage and a strong desire to play for the Lions almost never did, after sustaining serious knee injuries and complications in recent years.

But Zikos Chua and Abdul Rasaq Akeem have proven they are lionhearts as they recovered, got back on the goal trail and are now hunting for their first senior cap as national football coach Tsutomu Ogura looks for options to complement the likes of Ikhsan Fandi and Faris Ramli up front.

Born in Kastoria, Greece, to a Singaporean father and Greek mother, Chua relocated to Singapore when he was 10. At first, he struggled with the humidity and stressful school life, but football gave him “an outlet to decompress and escape”. 

He went on to excel in sport.

Turning out for Geylang International in 2019, he became the youngest player to score twice in a game (17 years, 69 days) and reach five goals (17 years, 102 days) in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) before his run was ended by a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee while with the Singapore Under-18s.

After joining the Young Lions in 2022, he became the youngest player to score four goals in an SPL game (20 years, 114 days) and topped their scoring charts with eight goals in 19 games – before tearing his right ACL again.

He said: “I was positive the first time because it was a new experience. But for the second time, I knew the hardship I had to go through and it was more testing mentally than physically. At times, I feared I might never play again.”

Chua coped by focusing on his rehabilitation after surgery, visualising his return to form and leaning on family and friends for support.

The 22-year-old said: “An injury is just one chapter, not the whole story. I don’t want to let it define me. I believe I can be faster and better than before.”

Returning to the Eagles in 2024, he has grabbed three goals and one assist in 14 appearances as a substitute striker for the free-scoring Tomoyuki Doi (28 goals from 16 starts) to earn his second national call-up in this Japan training camp.

While he learns from his seniors, Chua also emphasised that he does not want to remain as a back-up.

“I enjoy the competition and I want to get to their level and be a key player for my teams,” he added.

Similarly, Rasaq wants to establish himself in the next phase of his career following a lengthy spell in the treatment room.

The National Football Academy graduate joined the Young Lions in 2019 as an attacking midfielder and winger before being redeployed as a striker by coach Nazri Nasir in 2022.

Rasaq, who has a Nigerian father and Singaporean mother, said: “Adapting as a striker was easy because I feel like I can play in any attacking position.

“I just had to switch my mindset because I used to love assisting and creating chances while growing up, but my main job now as a striker is to get the ball in the net and there’s a lot to work on, especially my finishing.”

After completing his full-time national service as a policeman, Rasaq showed his marksmanship with the Lion City Sailors, racking up 10 goals in 18 games in 2023 to become the SPL’s joint-top local scorer alongside teammate Shawal Anuar.

But his promising run was halted after tearing his left meniscus during an Under-23 Asian Cup qualifier. Complications after surgery meant that another procedure was required during pre-season in 2024, setting him back by another four months.

The devout Muslim sought strength and solace from his religion and has scored two goals in three SPL matches since returning in a 6-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United in September.

Rasaq, 23, has no lack of role models to learn from, with the Sailors brimming with imported attackers like Maxime Lestienne, Bart Ramselaar and Lennart Thy, all of whom have played in the Uefa Champions League.

Interestingly, he also seeks inspiration from stars of other sports, as he follows American football team Baltimore Ravens and their star quarterback Lamar Jackson, National Basketball Association’s Golden State Warriors and their legendary point guard Stephen Curry, and Mercedes’ seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.

Rasaq said: “I like to look up the world’s best athletes online and see what they do and eat to get to where they are, and try to learn from their regimen and mentality.”