November 12th, 2026 | Broadcast
For 15 under-12 boys from Tamil Nadu’s Karaikudi and Chennai, the SingaCup 2026 — an international youth football tournament that brought teams from several countries together — was much more than a football competition. Their first trip abroad brought new challenges on the pitch, new experiences in Singapore and lessons that they are likely to remember for a long time.
For most of the boys from the Murugappa Youth Football Academy (MYFA) under-12 team, it was their first flight, their first passport and their first time travelling away from their parents. Most had also never travelled outside the state, let alone another country. While some of them had little experience of playing competitive football against teams from outside their region, Singapore offered them quite a few challenges.
Yet to become teenagers, the boys had to learn to compete against unfamiliar opponents, while finding their way around a country that was very different from home.
The team was brought to Singapore by the AMM Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Murugappa Group. The idea was to give the young players an opportunity to test themselves against international teams and understand the standards required to progress in football.
But the tournament was only one part of the journey. Between matches, the boys explored Singapore, met members of the Indian community, visited Borussia Dortmund’s Asia Pacific office and spent time at some of the city’s popular attractions.
By the time they returned home, the results were no longer the only thing they spoke about.
A difficult start, but a memorable experience on the pitch
The boys began their SingaCup campaign against Fuerza FC of the Philippines at the Singapore Indian Association ground. Unfortunately, the opening match was a difficult introduction to international football. Fuerza FC, who went on to win all their group matches, defeated MYFA 4-0.
For the boys, the challenge was not just the quality of the opposition. They also had to adjust to the playing surface and the pace of the game. While they were used to playing friendly matches and winning most of them back home, in Singapore, the ball moved differently on the grass, and the opponents were quicker and more physical.
One comforting factor amid the foreign conditions was a sizeable group of supporters, who cheered the MYFA boys around the ground. Close to 70 members of the Karaikudi community living in the city-state had come to watch and cheer the boys. Many had never met the players before. The boys, too, did not know them. But that did not stop the supporters from turning up with water, energy drinks and even new football boots.
For the young players, the unexpected show of support boosted their morale, but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line.
Their second group match, on the same day, November 1, was against Singapore’s Amalgamate Football Team. MYFA approached the game cautiously, relying on short passes and a disciplined defence. As the tackles became harder, the boys began to look hesitant.
The match also brought a difficult moment for one of the players. Following a collision, the referee showed him a red card. The boy walked towards the touchline, but the tears came before he could reach it. His teammates immediately gathered around him and told him that it was not his fault and that he had played well.
MYFA continued the match with eight players against nine and kept attacking, resulting in a late penalty, which gave them an opportunity to score. After converting it, the team finished with a 1-0 victory.
Following the final whistle, the boys celebrated their maiden win in the tournament with their coaches and supporters. They also went across to shake hands with their opponents, something they made a point of doing after every match.
Before that game, however, Veeru Murugappan, Head of Sport at the AMM Foundation, had given them a simple message: “Win or lose, remember to have fun.”
The next challenge came against Malaysia’s TSS Darul Ehsan on November 2. The match was played at the Rainforest Sports Hub, on an artificial turf, which once again brought an unfamiliar challenge to the MYFA boys.
Five minutes into the game, it started drizzling, leaving the playing surface wet and slippery. Aided by the slippery surface, the ball raced faster than usual, making it harder for the Indian team to control, as they were not used to such conditions.
MYFA lost the match 7-0 but still progressed to a qualifier round which took place on the same day.
Their qualifier against Indonesia’s Garuda Muda was another closely contested match. This time, MYFA looked more comfortable on the ball and also scored within the first five minutes. Their passing and movement also showed improvements.
The game went back and forth, with both teams looking for an advantage. In the closing stages, MYFA were trailing 3-2 and pushing forward in search of an equaliser. While one of the players struck the ball from around the halfway line and it ended inside the net, the referee had already blown the final whistle, resulting in the cancellation of the goal. So near, yet so far! Garuda Muda eventually won 3-2, ending MYFA’s campaign.
The boys had come within one goal of progressing further, but the tournament had already given them a different understanding of competition. Winning was important, but so was learning to deal with setbacks, playing under unfamiliar conditions and supporting teammates when things did not go their way.
Discovering Singapore beyond the football field
After the disappointment of the matches, the coaches decided that the boys needed a change of scene. Singapore had much more to offer, and there was still plenty of time to explore the city.
Their first stop included the iconic Merlion and Gardens by the Bay. The boys were impressed by the tall buildings, the green spaces and the Supertrees. They noticed that the traffic was lighter than what they were used to and that the city had more greenery than they had expected.
They also learnt about Singapore’s strict rules, and the possibility of being fined for littering caught their attention. The boys said it was a sensible rule and said they would take the lesson back home.
The morning’s sightseeing ended at McDonald’s.
The next visit was to the Asia Pacific office of Borussia Dortmund, the German football club that has been associated with MYFA since 2023 and has recently renewed its partnership until 2030.
There, the boys met Dr Suresh Letchmanan, Managing Director of BVB Asia Pacific, who spoke to them about the club, professional football and what young players need to do if they want to make a career in the sport. The session quickly turned into an interactive discussion and the boys had plenty of questions.
When asked how they could improve their skills and tricks, they were advised to get a ball and practise regularly. The boys were also told to work hard and give equal importance to their studies. Letchmanan told them that football alone could not guarantee a future, therefore education mattered just as much as playing the sport.
When the squad enquired about food and nutrition, they were told to eat fruits and vegetables and maintain a healthy diet. The visit gave them an opportunity to learn about the professional side of football. After the session, the boys posed for a photograph with the club’s trophy.
They later took their questions and learning back to Coach R V Navamurthy, head coach of the Karaikudi academy. They told him that they wanted their training to be more challenging, practise on grass and in the rain, so that unfamiliar conditions would not trouble them in future tournaments.
From East Coast Park to Universal Studios
The Singapore trip was also a chance for the boys to enjoy themselves away from football. At East Coast Park, they got a close look at the sea. Some wanted to get into the water, but were not allowed. Their attention soon shifted to the ships and tankers in the harbour.
The vessels reminded them of their first flight to Singapore. Some of the boys had been frightened when the aircraft took off. They later laughed about the experience, remembering how they had watched movies during the flight and looked out of the window as the plane approached Singapore.
The boys also found time to make new friends. At a playground, they ran around the slides and climbing ropes before joining a merry-go-round. A young local boy, around five years old, decided to join them. Though they did not share a common language, it hardly mattered as a few words, hand gestures and plenty of laughter were enough to bring them together.
On their final day, the team visited Universal Studios on Sentosa. The boys tried as many rides as they could with their favourites being Revenge of the Mummy and the Transformers.
Lessons that will stay with them
By the end of the four-day trip, the boys were talking less about the results and more about what they had experienced.
They remembered their first flight, the view from the aircraft, the visit to Borussia Dortmund’s office and the people who had come to support them.
Richard Divyanesan, Assistant Manager, Projects at the AMM Foundation, said the boys were among the academy’s best young players and MYFA wants to give them more opportunities to develop, including participation in tournaments in India and abroad.
The aim, he said, was to give them “perspective on the possibilities are, and what they will need to do to get there.”
For Veeru, football is also a way of bringing social change. He believes the sport does not require expensive equipment or facilities to get started. A ball is enough, and children can play even without proper boots. More importantly, football teaches teamwork, discipline, commitment and sportsmanship. These are lessons that can stay with children long after they leave the field, he said.
Source: Connected to India
