Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

As Singapore football enters a new era, local coaches are finally being trusted with bigger responsibilities. Jaswinder Singh, assistant coach at Albirex Jurong, joins Sports Minutes to discuss his coaching journey, the grind behind earning the AFC Pro Licence, and the realities of carving a career around the beautiful game.  Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudi...

They’re blamed, booed, and rarely praised, but what’s it really like to be a referee? Former Singapore Premier League official Andrea Verolino joins Sports Minutes to tackle VAR debates, referee reviews, and fan misconceptions head-on. From “referee kayu” chants to high-pressure nights at the National Stadium, this is an unfiltered look at football’s most scrutinised...

A brand new year offers brand new possibilities - especially when it comes to sport, and particularly Singapore football. So what did the rollercoaster that was 2025 teach us? And what is on the wish list for 2026? Deepanraj Ganesan is back in the Sports Minutes hotseat alongside Zia-ul Raushan to tell us. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

She’s all of eight years of age, but she’s fearless, and she’s made Singapore proud on home soil. Skater Chloe Chua wowed the crowd at a recent international event here in Singapore, and today Chloe’s coach Lucas Ng and Koh Chee Wah non-executive chairman from KIN Productions join Sports Minutes to reflect on her performance and what her story means for the next generation...

It’s official - 35-year-old Singaporean Gavin Lee has been named head coach of the Singapore Men’s National Team, just a week after guiding the Lions to historic Asian Cup qualification. Fresh off signing an 18-month deal that takes him through the 2026 Asean Championship and the 2027 Asian Cup, Gavin joins Sports Minutes to discuss his rise from interim to in-charge, from failed footb...

With Singapore football riding high after THAT famous night in Hong Kong, the Lion Cubs now step into the spotlight. Head Coach of the Men's Under-22 team, Firdaus Kassim breaks down how the his charges are aiming to exorcise the ghosts of 2023, rebuild belief, and push towards a SEA Games campaign that could shape the nation’s footballing future. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raus...

Just months ago, Ethan Brown was serving NS. Today, he’s back from Misano after battling some of the world’s top young drivers. He joins Sports Minutes to talk national service, national pride and the belief that a Singaporean can make it all the way to the pinnacle of GT racing. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An historic night, an historic feat. Singapore are through to the 2027 Asian Cup after securing a 2-1 win away in Hong Kong. We hear from the jubilant camp post-match, and also wonder if Gavin Lee and Hariss Harun will be the ones to lead our Lions at the 2027 Asian Cup. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With close to 300 caps between them, Hariss Harun and Safuwan Baharudin are undoubtedly the leaders in the Lions' pack. And ahead of Singapore's 'winner-takes-all' AFC Asian Cup qualification clash against Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Stadium, the duo sat down with Sports Minutes to talk about their winding roads of ups and downs that have led them to stand on the cusp of making history. Got a story t...

He’s found scoring form for club and country, secured his spot on the wing for the National Team, and is running at defenders with confidence. Now, Glenn Kweh joins Sports Minutes for an heartfelt chat about goals, growth, Gavin’s demands and the dream of making history with the Lions. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Ahead of the 'winner-takes-all' assignment in Hong Kong on November 18, Singapore fell to a 3-2 defeat in a friendly against Thailand. Scoreline aside, what did we learn from the performance? And how are things shaping up in the Lions' den ahead of next week's clash? Deepanraj Ganesan weighs in on Sports Minutes. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for...

They’ve seen the men’s team make history...now it’s their turn! Ahead of their AFC Women’s Champions League group stage debut, Lion City Sailors captain Umairah Hamdan and striker Raeka Ee sit down with Sports Minutes to share their excitement, lessons from their qualifying campaign, and how they’re drawing inspiration from the Sailors’ continental journey to ch...

A career marked by brilliance and blemishes. Tajeli Salamat’s story is one of talent, turmoil, turning points and tough lessons. On this Sports Minutes EXCLUSIVE, Tajeli offers his most candid interview yet - unpacking what really happened, what he’s learned, and what comes next for one of Singapore’s most polarising footballers. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com...

It’s the story that captured hearts everywhere - a mother and daughter on opposite sides of the same football match. On Sports Minutes, Siti Nurwati and her daughter Hannah Tasha open up about the day that changed everything, how football deepened their bond, and what they hope for women’s football in Singapore. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/special-mom-ent-for...

A new name, a bold dream - and just 12 months to make it happen. American outift Cadillac are going full throttle toward their 2026 Formula 1 debut. From star signings to behind-the-scenes with Keanu Reeves, Sports Minutes sits down with CEO Dan Towriss to learn about how this team plans to shake up the grid, one lap at a time. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/f1s-newbies-...

834 days. That’s how long Nicky Melvin Singh’s comeback took - a journey through surgery, self-doubt and national service. Now back on the pitch and back on the scoresheet, he joins Sports Minutes to share lessons on resilience, mindset and rediscovering the joy of football. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown to the SEA Games starts now. As the Nations Cup 2025 gets underway at the OCBC Arena, Netball Singapore's K Mishalenee and Matilda Narayan tell Sports Minutes why the home tournament isn’t just a warm-up, it’s their stage to shine and a chance to gain winning momentum. Event information and tickets: https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/25sg_nationscup Got a story to te...

Singapore’s goalkeeper crisis takes centre stage - with Zharfan struggling, Syazwan slipping, and Izwan sidelined, who can Gavin Lee trust between the sticks? Sports Minutes breaks down the Lions’ last line of defence, the Spence-to-Singapore rumours and all the key takeaways from Matchweek 5 of the SPL and the Singapore Cup format that has caused much furore. Got a story to tell? Get...

What does bigger, bolder, better really mean? Sports Minutes finds out from Netball Singapore's CEO Daniel Ho and Singlife's chief marketing officer Debra Soon - as they reveal how the 2025 Singlife Nations Cup will raise the bar for the sport in Singapore. Event information and tickets: https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/25sg_nationscup Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg S...

Patrick Kluivert’s brief and bumpy spell in charge of Indonesia has ended - but the story goes far beyond one man’s tenure. As Singapore and Thailand also look for new national coaches, Indonesia’s experience serves as a warning and a window into the region’s deeper footballing flaws. What went wrong in Jakarta, and what can Southeast Asia learn from it? Got a story to tell...

Matchweek 4 in the Singapore Premier League wasn’t just about results, it was about resurgence. Local players stole the show, VAR stirred debate, and the title race started to take shape. Sports Minutes unpacks it all in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan.  Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a handshake - it’s a shared vision for the future of Singapore football. Sports Minutes speaks to Geylang International head coach Noor Ali and Jungfrau Punggol President Robin Wong about the 3-year memorandum of understanding that connects the pros, the semi-pros, and the women’s game - and what it means for young players chasing their dreams. Got a story to tell? Get in tou...

They wanted redemption...and they delivered! Singapore silenced the critics with a gutsy 2-1 win over India to keep their AFC Asian Cup hopes alive. Former Lion Adam Swandi joins Sports Minutes to share his verdict, along with the post-match reactions of Safuwan Baharudin and Ikhsan Fandi from Goa. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

A painful night. A long flight. And now, a do-or-die showdown in Goa. Ilhan Fandi speaks exclusively to Sports Minutes on bouncing back from late heartbreak last time out, finding belief and his scoring touch, and chasing history for Singapore - ahead of the Lions' clash against India on Tuesday, 14th October. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

A late mistake proved costly as Singapore’s hopes of Asian Cup qualification took a hit. Sports Minutes unpacks the fallout from a gut-wrenching draw against India - as we hear from coaches & players, while discussing what it means for the road ahead. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/singapore-rue-loss-in-concentration-in-1-1-draw-against-india-in-asian-cup-qualifyi...