Hi, my name is Chloe Koh, and if there is one thing you have to know about me - my life revolves around football, or some might even say, football revolves around my life. What started out as a casual television stream across the block eventually became something part of my everyday life, in almost every aspect possible. Everyday, I thank God for football.
I still remember how it all started. I grew up living on the 19th floor of a HDB, and since I was never afraid of heights, people-watching was my favorite pastime whenever I ran out of screen time on my devices. From the 19th floor, I had the best view of everything, but my absolute favorite was watching Liverpool play nearly every weekend, from the tiny TV screen on the 13th floor on the opposite block. The TV, flashing so brightly in the night, caught my attention every weekend, and I would continuously pester my dad to befriend our neighbours so that I could properly watch it. My dad, being a typical Manchester United fan, would jokingly turn me down, but he did so anyway, and we were eventually invited over to their place on Derby Day to watch Liverpool vs Manchester United. I can’t remember details but there were 2 things I distinctively took away from that night - one, that Steven Gerrard was my hero, and two, that football seemed pretty cool. However, perhaps due to unfortunate circumstances at the time, where girls’ football was minute in Singapore, it never came across my mind to give it a try.
I was always a sporty kid growing up, having tried a variety of sports such as golf, taekwondo, and basketball. Despite this, I had never really crossed paths with football; the closest I got was probably when I received my first Liverpool kit with my name and #8, for Steven Gerrard, on the back for Christmas. But that was it. So perhaps, football and I were not meant to be.
Fast forward to 2 years later, I was asked to participate in the annual FIFA Girls Football Festival with a group of girls in my primary school. This was the first opportunity I got to play football, and looking back, I am so thankful 10-year-old me seized it. Till this day, the exact number of goals and assists I racked up is still etched in my mind - 8 goals and 5 assists, in 5 matches. Pretty good for a first-timer, right? I had never felt the same excitement and joy as seeing the ball hit the back of the net, and I wish I could turn back time to tell little Chloe to cherish this feeling more. Later that week, my mom received a call from Coach Chris to invite me to join the National Development Girls U-10 Youth Team, and that is how it all began.
Football, though, felt like a taboo in my family, or at least to my dad. Ironic as it sounds, he was never really supportive of me playing. So, to put it simply, I sought validation that I never got from my dad through playing football. I remember football being the usual topic of argument amongst my parents - my dad would complain that I was spending too much time training and neglecting other responsibilities, while my mom would always defend me, insisting that football actually helped me manage everything better, which is true. When my parents eventually split up for good, football was the thread that held my mom, my sister and me together. My younger sister, Celine, also plays football, and our mom is our biggest supporter. She never fails to turn up for all our games in Singapore, sending us to and fro training when we were younger, and just being a constant through the uncertainties of football. She is my #1 fan and the reason why I keep going. Thank God for football for bringing what’s left of the family together, and closer than ever.
Football is more than just a sport to me, it is part of who I am. Through the different phases of my life, the good and bad, the highs and lows, football has helped me through it all. When school got overwhelming, football was my outlet to de-stress. When my parents were going through a divorce, football was my escape from reality. When I struggled to find myself amidst the chaos of life, football gave me confidence. Nothing beats the feeling of having all my stress and worries vanish as soon as I stepped on the field, even if it was temporary and short lived. Everyday, I thank God for football.
A year into my football journey, I was 1 of 6 girls in Singapore selected to participate in the 2nd round of Astro Kem Bola in KL, for a chance to play and train in Barcelona. It was the “breakthrough” moment for young Chloe with big dreams, but little did I know that it was the first of many overseas opportunities to come. Despite not making the final cut, I had gained so much from it. From waking up independently in the mornings, to learning how to tie my own hair, to washing my own laundry, football has forced me to grow up and break out of my comfort shell. Sure, the 11-year-old me was definitely complaining to my mom about having so much to do on my own, but 18-year-old me is so thankful that I went through all that to become the matured and independent woman I am today.
After all, this Astro Kem Bola opportunity was just a prelude to a life-changing opportunity 4 years later. Sixteen (2023) was a huge year for me. I was part of the Singapore U16 Women’s Team which competed at the JENESYS Friendship Tournament in Japan, where I scored my first unofficial international goals (2) for Singapore against Cambodia. A month later, I scored my first official international brace for the Singapore U16 team on home soil against Turkmenistan, where we went on to win the game 7-0. I was at my peak, but unfortunately I sustained a knee injury in the following game against Bangladesh that kept me sidelined for 6 weeks. Injuries are part and parcel of the game, but the recovery process is made so much easier with supportive teammates, friends, family, and staff. Everyday, I thank God for the amazing community that football has provided me with. That same year, I represented Singapore at the AFF U19 Championship, and went on to make my WPL debut for the Sailors, providing 2 assists on my debut, as well as scoring my first-ever hattrick in the next game. Just when I thought the highs couldn’t get any higher, I was called up to the Singapore National Team and made my senior debut against Pakistan on 18 July 2023, at age 16, on the very same field I scored my first international brace and sustained my knee injury. Talk about a full circle moment.
However, amidst all these, there was something that I kept on the down low that only family and a few close friends knew about. I was going to leave everything behind and head to the States to pursue my footballing dreams, as part of the inaugural batch of the Unleash the Roar (UTR) Overseas Scholarship. I always knew that I had to leave Singapore if I wanted a better balance of football and school, so I was already planning to head to the UK. However, I come from a humble family of a single mom raising 2 daughters, so the financial aspect was never going to work out, and it would be selfish of me to push for it. Therefore, when this God-sent full-ride scholarship opportunity came knocking, I couldn’t resist it. Of course, moving across the world alone at 16 is daunting, but we live and we learn. I’ve spent the last 2 years at IMG Academy in Florida, training and studying at a world-class facility. Where else could you find 16 soccer fields and a professionally set-up weight room at just a 10-minute walk from your room? I’m so blessed and I have absolutely no regrets taking this leap of faith. As I head into my senior year later in August, I know that no matter where football takes me next, I’m so incredibly grateful to have been here. Again, thank God for football for changing my life.
Through football, I have also met some of the most incredible people from all walks of life, all over the world. Being part of the IMG Academy’s Girls Premier Team is undoubtedly one of the coolest things I’ve experienced. Girls from Aruba, Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan, UAE, UK, you name it. Putting aside our differences and coming together to play the sport we all love is genuinely such a beautiful thing to be a part of. Here in Singapore, football has given me some of my best friends. Yasmine, Charlotte, Natasha, we practically grew up together playing football. From the National U12 Development Team to LFA Protectors (now Lion City Sailors) to currently the National U19 Team, it’s been a joy growing up and making memories with them. Along the way, I’ve crossed paths with so many others who shaped my journey, each team bringing new faces, new lessons, and new bonds. I joined the Senior National Team barely knowing anyone, but somehow came away with lifelong friendships, group chat chaos (iykyk), and the privilege of calling some of the most inspiring women my teammates and friends. Who knew an 18-year-old and 27-year-old had things in common? Thank God for football and the friends-turned-family along the way.
Football has given me so much in life. It has brought me to places I could only dream of, blessed me with friends to cherish for a lifetime, provided me comfort in chaos, and delivered experiences that money can’t buy. Trust me, you’ll never find anywhere better than the locker room post win. With that said, stay grounded and keep chasing your dreams, but remember to always thank God (for football).
