Future of Women’s Football Takes Flight with Overseas Scholarships
On 17 July, in a landmark year for women’s football, six teenage girls were awarded the prestigious Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) Overseas Scholarship, reflecting growing momentum and investment in the women’s game. The awards were handed out at a ceremony held at PARKROYAL on Beach Road, graced by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.
This marks the third batch of UTR! scholarship recipients, and girls have made up the overwhelming majority of awardees. Aged between 14 and 16, the six female players will train at the elite IMG Academy in Florida, United States. The only male recipient, 14-year-old Edan McCulloch, will join Spanish side Rayo Alcobendas in Madrid.
Lion City Cup Stars Rewarded
All six girls played key roles in Singapore’s spirited run to second place at the inaugural Lion City Cup girls’ tournament earlier this month. Among them is 16-year-old Chantale Lamasan, who made history as the first goalkeeper—male or female—to receive the scholarship. Despite conceding heavily against South Korea in the final, Chantale said the match was a defining moment in her development, citing the confidence she gained from playing the full 90 minutes against such formidable opponents.
She looks forward to sharpening her skills at IMG and changing perceptions around her position. “Being a goalkeeper can be mentally draining,” she admitted, “but I’ve come to appreciate the responsibility that comes with being the team’s last line of defence.”
Sisters, Role Models, and Firsts
Fifteen-year-old Celine Koh will join her older sister Chloe as a UTR scholar, making them the first sibling pair in the programme’s history. Inspired by Chloe’s development since earning the inaugural 2023 scholarship, Celine hopes to build on her own game, saying she wants to return “a stronger, faster and calmer player.”
Also receiving scholarships are Yuvika Suresh, Verona Lim, Liyana Rickit, and Seri Nurinsyirah, all of whom impressed during the recent tournament. Yuvika called the application process “rigorous,” involving interviews and CV submissions while managing school commitments. Despite the stress, she described the award as “an incredible opportunity to see how I fare against top players in the U.S.”
Pathway to Excellence
The UTR! Overseas Scholarship is a cornerstone of Singapore’s national football project, aiming to raise playing standards by exposing young talent to elite training environments. Since its launch in 2023, 18 youth players have been awarded the scholarship.
Edan McCulloch, the youngest recipient to date, sees his move to Spain as a leap of faith after transferring from Dulwich College to the Singapore Sports School. His ambition is to eventually represent Singapore at the international level.
As Singapore’s women’s football scene continues to grow, this year’s scholarship class represents more than just athletic promise—it signals a generational shift in opportunity and support for aspiring female players.
Screengrabs of videos, courtesy of @/futbolita.tv
Watch the videos here:
@ashfutbolita Part 1 of our chat with the latest UTR! 2025 scholarship girls 🎓⚽ Verona, Yuvika & Seri tell us what they’re most excited about ahead of their overseas journey 🇺🇸✨ The future of women’s football in SG is looking bright! Stay tuned for Part 2 #sgnews #sgsports #womensfootball
@ashfutbolita Three more UTR! 2025 scholars Chloe, Chantelele & Liyana just played in the Lion City Cup – now they’re headed overseas to chase their football dreams. 6 out of 7 recipients this year are girls… the future of SG women’s football is HERE 🔥 #sgsports #sgfootball #sgnews #womensfootball
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