Tigers give coach fitting farewell with landmark win

When Balestier Khalsa coach Peter de Roo took over a Tigers side who were second-last in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in September 2022, he introduced a style of football that combined possession with aggressive pressing during transitions.

- Jeremiah Ong

In his final match at Bishan Stadium on May 25, his charges did well to showcase his football philosophy, giving the Dutchman the perfect parting gift with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata—a team Balestier have not beaten since 2015.

Substitute Reycredo Bukit, who scored his first goal for the club and the winner in the 94th minute, said: "I (dedicate) my performance today to coach Peter de Roo. Thank you for giving me the experience of playing in my debut professional season.

"It's so amazing... A very good start for me, and I keep going."

Victory against Albirex, who in 2024 transitioned from a team comprising mainly Japanese players to a local outfit, on the final day of the SPL season saw Balestier finish fourth in the league in back-to-back campaigns for the first time since 1997 and 1998.

De Roo, who was inundated with requests for photos and autographs by fans after the final whistle, said: "I am proud the guys gave it their all to the end. We wanted to go out with a bang. We worked extremely hard.