Hey Yanis, you're the first player we've had the chance to speak with who's not from Malaysia, so we're really excited to have you here. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit more about yourself? Who is Nurul Illyanis, both on and off the field? What drives you, and what are some things people might not know about you when you're not playing football?
Hi, I’m Nurul Illyanis, a 17-year-old student at Tampines Meridian Junior College. On the field, I play as a goalkeeper for both the Under-19s and the senior national team. Off the field, I’m just a regular student preparing for my national exams. What truly drives me is my family—they inspire me to push myself to be better and provide comfort when things aren’t going well. One thing people may not know about me is that I love baking. I enjoy making brownies, cookies, and cheesecake. The calmness of baking provides a nice contrast to the hustle and bustle of training, and it’s a great way for me to unwind.
Being a goalkeeper is a unique and often challenging role, especially for women, since it’s not the most common choice. What made you decide to take up goalkeeping? What is it about the position that you love, and what keeps you so passionate about it?
To be honest, I only started goalkeeping in 2022 because my secondary school team lacked a goalkeeper for the National School Games. So, I stepped up to fill the role. That’s when I realized I was actually decent at the position. As the games went on and my team kept winning, I grew to love it. Goalkeeping gave me a sense of control—I controlled the pace of the game, my team’s next move, and, most importantly, whether we would win, tie, or lose. I guess you could say I’m also an adrenaline junkie. I thrive on the rush from every dive, save, and 1v1, knowing I’m the last line of defense.
We first saw you in action at the recent AFF tournament. How does it feel to make your senior debut at just 17 years old? What was going through your mind when you stepped onto the field for the first time?
I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to make my debut in this tournament, especially knowing how many people back home would fight to be in my position. Being part of the senior national team at my age motivates me to uphold higher standards in representing my country. Stepping onto the field was more of a mental challenge for me, as I knew I wasn’t the first-choice goalkeeper and that we were already 2 goals down. Despite this, the only thing on my mind was to protect the goal and maintain my composure with a commanding presence.
Goalkeepers often face a lot of scrutiny after conceding a goal. How do you deal with moments of doubt, especially when you're under pressure or when things aren’t going as planned?
I believe that, especially in moments like these, goalkeepers cannot afford to lose hope. We must be the ones to encourage our team, keep their heads up, and motivate them to keep pushing forward. Personally, if I feel angry, sad, or frustrated after conceding a goal, I focus on learning from the mistake and taking steps to prevent it from happening again. At the same time, I remind myself to stay composed. This not only helps me regain confidence in my abilities but also reassures my team that they can rely on me to perform my role effectively.
What do you think are the biggest challenges for a young female goalkeeper in Singapore's football scene, and how have you overcome them?
Not only am I competing with goalkeepers my own age, but also with older, more experienced players who are often the starters, all vying for the same spot. I would confidently say that my counterparts are some of the most skilled and talented goalkeepers I’ve ever trained with. This can sometimes lead to a lack of confidence if I don’t meet their high standards. Overcoming this is still a work in progress, but I’ve learned to focus on improving myself, training by training, and trusting that my time will come. Another challenge faced by young female goalkeepers in Singapore, or any goalkeeper for that matter, is the fear associated with the role. Being a goalkeeper puts you in a dangerous position, where you have to throw your whole body to defend the goal, sometimes risking injury. On top of that, there’s the stigma of being a goalkeeper—not always seen as an "actual footballer" and the pressure of being blamed when a goal is conceded. These are some of the reasons why many shy away from the position. While I’m not immune to these challenges, I choose to acknowledge them as just thoughts, not let them affect my performance, and focus on having confidence in myself and my abilities.
Have you had any mentors or role models in the footballing world, and what advice have they given you that sticks with you to this day?
My mentor would probably be Mr. Khyrul, my teacher and GK coach from my secondary school, Tampines Secondary. He was the one who trained all the goalkeepers from scratch at Tampines. One piece of advice he shared with me that has stayed with me is to take every opportunity that comes my way and commit to it wholeheartedly. That advice was crucial in helping me decide to accept the call-up and work hard to earn my spot.
Women’s football is growing globally, but it’s still developing in many countries. What changes would you like to see in Singapore to support and promote women in football?
I think that, especially in recent years, the support for women’s football in Singapore has grown rapidly, and I’m grateful to be playing in a time when women’s football is more accepted and supported. However, to further boost this momentum and encourage more women to play football, we could have more outreach programs like the FAS Girl Cubs, or ensure that more primary schools offer football as a CCA. This would spark greater interest and participation among young girls, and who knows—maybe we’ll see the next generation of national players emerging from these programs.
To wrap up, what’s next for you in your football journey? Are there any specific goals you’re aiming to achieve in the near future, both as a goalkeeper and as a player?
I set small, realistic goals for myself in my football journey, making it easier to track my progress. So far, I’ve achieved my initial goal of getting called up and playing in an international tournament. My next step is to continue working hard and, hopefully, one day become the first-choice goalkeeper for the senior national team. I also hope to inspire more girls to take on the challenge of being a goalkeeper and contribute to the growth of the talent pool for female goalkeepers in Singapore.