Homecoming Glory

After a season north of the Causeway, homegrown hero Anumanthan Kumar is back with the Lion City Sailors FC and slated to play in the AFC Champions League campaign.

- Bryan Goh

HELLO ANU, HOW’S IT GOING?

It feels great! I’m enjoying being back in Singapore in domestic football and doing my small bit to help the game here.

WELCOME HOME! HOW DOES IT FEEL LIKE JOINING THE SAILORS AND WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE BACK?

I’m grateful to be a part of a club that is committed to growing professional standards in Singapore, and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by players and staff who have also embraced that same mindset - it definitely pushes me to expect more of myself. I believe in what the club is doing, and it’s clear to me that we will continue to raise our standards to match those of the best professional clubs in Asia. I’m enjoying the ride too, that’s for sure.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU RECEIVED OFFERS FROM ALMOST EVERY CLUB IN THE S.LEAGUE THEN? WHAT DO YOU THINK EACH OF THEM SAW IN YOU?

It was flattering, of course, but I was also happy that the situation presented me with options to carefully consider my next move. It’s really important to understand how you as an individual fit into the organisation that you’re going to join, and it’s perhaps more important as a footballer to know how you fit into the team and the system the coach envisions. That was crucial for me, and I thought it was also important that I would be appreciated for what I brought to the table too.

HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER DOES? I’M ASSUMING IT’S VERY PHYSICAL BUT IS THERE SOME KIND OF EMOTIONAL ASPECT TO IT?