SPICING UP WOMEN'S LEAGUE

Four Thais serve food in the day, and football with WNL's Royal Arion at night

- Kimberly Kwek

In the day, Orapin Waenngoen works as a waitress at the Cafe Football Singapore in Woodleigh.

But at night, she laces up her boots for training at the Bukit Gombak Stadium.

It is an unusual off-season for the Thailand national footballer and her compatriots Sunisa Srangthaisong, Pikul Khueanpet and Waraporn Boonsing, but this has been the routine for them since they arrived in Singapore about a fortnight ago.

The quartet, who have competed at previous editions of the Women's World Cup, are full-time players back home.

But they decided to embark on a new adventure here - working in the restaurant while playing for second-tier Women's National League team Royal Arion.

Orapin, 27, even gave up her spot at the Sept 23-Oct 8 Asian Games in Hangzhou for this stint, but she and her teammates are relishing the experience.

Royal Arion president Simon Tan, who is also the owner of Cafe Football and football facility The Arena Singapore, had recruited them after a friend in Thailand introduced him to their club, BGCCollege of Asian Scholars.

After watching a game, he asked if a few players could come to Singapore. But, with the Thai league finishing at the end of July, the players could not be registered for Royal Arion's sister club Still Aerion, who play in the top-tier Women's Premier League.