Thane City FC’s Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 football teams took part in Singa Cup 2025 in Singapore, playing 12 matches against strong teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The players got the chance to test their skills against some of the best in Asia and enjoyed a unique learning journey, setting a benchmark for youth football in the region. This is Thane City FC’s second season at the Singa Cup.

Under-16s beat Australia’s Ashdale Academy

The big highlight was when the Under-16 boys beat Australia’s Ashdale Academy 1-0, with Chaitanya Joshi scoring the match-winning goal and making everyone proud. Another bright spot was the close match against Garuda Muda from Indonesia, where Yug Panchal scored, but the team narrowly lost 2-1. The team narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot to an Indonesian team on goal difference.

This trip helped our boys understand Asian football standards. They played with heart and learned a lot with every game.

Faisal Khan, Thane City FC U-16 Head Coach

While the Under-12 and Under-14 teams didn’t win any games, they had a valuable exposure tour. Players saw first-hand how teams from other countries play and train, which helped them see the benchmark of Asian football. This learning will surely help them improve when they return.

More than matches

The Singa Cup was much more than matches. The boys visited Universal Studios, Gardens by the Bay and Merlion Park, creating memories away from the pitch. For many of them, it was their first time meeting kids from so many different countries, and this helped them understand new cultures in a fun way – good times that will leave a lasting impact on many of these young boys.

Joining Thane City FC opened doors for these players to play outside India, learn from every match and bring this experience back to their teammates at home. This Singa Cup experience gave the boys a taste of international football, teamwork and new cultures, helping them grow as players and as individuals.

Article Link: https://www.thanecityfc.com/news/thane-city-fc-makes-a-mark-in-singapore/