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Hat-Trick Hero Mika Revels In New Role
The Straits Times
|May 17, 2025
Defender-turned-attacker inspires ACS (BR) to clinch maiden B Div boys' football crown
Leading up to the final, Mika Bazil Baihakki had scored just twice throughout the 2025 National School Games season.
However, the defender-turned-attacker popped up with three goals in the gold-medal match on May 16, as he led Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) to their first title triumph in the B Division boys' football competition with a 3-2 victory over defending champions Meridian Secondary School at Jalan Besar Stadium.
"I've been dreaming of this (winning the title) since the start of the year. To score a hat-trick in the final is crazy. I just can't believe it," said Mika, 16.
Like his father, retired national footballer Baihakki Khaizan, Mika is a defender by trade. Naturally, questions and doubts arose when he made the switch further up front.
"When I changed from defender to attacker, my teammates were confused. They were laughing a bit. They were like 'Eh, Mika can play attacker?' And then now I proved them wrong, but (honestly) they've always been supporting me from the start," said Mika.
This story is from the May 17, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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