Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

He’s earned his first Lions call-up, and plenty of attention. Jonan Tan joins Sports Minutes to discuss his footballing rise, life in Portugal, and what it means to receive his maiden call-up for Singapore ahead of two crucial ties in the hunt for Asian Cup qualification. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s crunch time for the Lions - and calm leads the charge. Interim head coach Gavin Lee joins Sports Minutes ahead of Singapore’s crucial double-header against India to talk belief, balance, and bold decisions. With history within reach, will composure be the Lions’ greatest weapon? Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

A defining weekend for motorsport and football alike. Sports Minutes dissects George Russell’s flawless drive, Verstappen’s fiery resurgence, and Singapore’s ever-growing pull on the F1 map - before turning our lens to the Lions’ historic qualifier against India. All in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times. READ MORE: https://www.straitst...

Could Sami Hyypia be interested in the vacant Singapore men's national team job? And what does the former Liverpool captain make of the Red's current wobble? Those were some of the questions Sports Minutes posed to the 51-year old, on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s race week in Singapore! David Croft, the voice of Formula 1, joins Sports Minutes to preview the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. From Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles to Verstappen’s Marina Bay drought and McLaren’s title charge, Crofty breaks it all down - plus, his podium predictions for F1’s most iconic night race. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg...

Two games, two assists...and PLENTY of buzz. But who is Harry Spence beyond the highlight reels? From making a splash in top-flight football with the Young Lions, to learning from seasoned teammates and dreaming of bigger stages, the 19-year-old speaks to Sports Minutes about life, football, and the road ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

A FIFA ruling against the Football Association of Malaysia and seven players over falsified eligibility documents has sent shockwaves through the region. Sports Minutes get the perspective from across the causeway on the scandal, its impact on fans and domestic leagues, and what lessons Singapore and the region can draw from this crisis. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See om...

From personal setbacks to national ambition, wheelchair rugby has given athletes like Aidil Khalip a new family, and coaches like Azhar Yusof a new mission. With the Singlife Corporate Challenge around the corner, they join Sports Minutes to talk about building resilience, corporate support, and preparing Team Singapore for the ASEAN Para Games. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.s...

Matchweek 3 of the Singapore Premier League had it all - red cards, refereeing controversy, and late late drama. From Balestier’s last-gasp winner to the Sailors’ seven-goal showcase, plus a standout performance from Ong Yu En, Sports Minutes breaks down the biggest talking points. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

It’s been more than a decade since the Singapore National Team last lifted silverware - but Mustafic Fahrudin knows what it takes. In his first interview since becoming the Lions’ interim assistant coach, the 2-time AFF Champion shares the inside story of his partnership with Gavin Lee, preparations for Malaysia and India, and his hunger to help resurrect Singapore football. Got a stor...

Vying for a Singapore National Team breakthrough, Jared Gallagher steps into the new season with fresh motivation. Called up to Gavin Lee’s local centralised training squad soon after being appointed co-captain at Albirex Niigata for the season ahead -  the 23-year-old opens up on leadership, pressure, and the dream of representing Singapore while cementing his place in domestic footbal...

The FAS says commitment comes first. Parents argue education can’t take a back seat. At the centre of this debate is 16-year-old Mika Baihakki, omitted from the U-17 squad after skipping a training camp trip for exams. His mother’s viral post has thrown the spotlight on FAS’ handling of youth development and communication. PR veteran and TMSG founder Jose Raymond joins Sports Min...

And so it begins! The 2025/26 Singapore Premier League season is officially up and running - with 6 of the 8 teams in action on MD1. Did the increased number of foreigners truly translate to better quality football? And of the local players, who caught the eye? Deepanraj Ganesan joins Sports Minutes to run the rule on it all. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com...

The SPL season has kicked off, and Balestier’s Daniel Goh is back for his third spell with the Tigers. Fresh from a 2-2 draw against former club Albirex, he joins Sports Minutes to talk comebacks, adapting to Marko Kraljevic’s style, and the challenges locals face amid foreign influx. At 26, is this the make-or-break stage of his career? Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.c...

Imagine giving your life to football - close to 100 caps for Singapore, 250 club games, countless memories...only to be left without a contract. That was Shahdan Sulaiman’s reality until late July. And his struggle mirrors that of many local players battling rule changes, foreign influx, and uncertain futures. Now handed a lifeline by Geylang International, the 37-year-old is out to prove th...

After a shock 4-1 defeat in the Community Shield to Tampines Rovers, BIG questions marks have emerged for the Lion City Sailors. A big-money signing that looks out of sync, a head coach who has issued a plea to his management for more players, and a team that generally looks undercooked and under prepared. So will the defending SPL champions get their act together before the league kicks off? We d...

The brand new domestic football season is almost upon us - with the Community Shield kicking off on August 16th. And with a brand new season comes brand new signings, brand new kits and brand new motivation. But what would brand new heights look like for a team like the Lion City Sailors, who achieved so much last campaign? Hami Syahin sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us more. Got a...

Son Heung-Min’s move from Tottenham to LAFC for a record fee closes one chapter and opens another. On Sports Minutes, journalist Steve Price joins us from Seoul to explore Son’s Premier League legacy, his immense popularity in Korea and the world over, and the marketing and footballing impact he’ll bring to MLS. Plus, two Spurs fans share heartfelt tributes to a player who inspir...

A bombshell SEA Games omission. A league with no sponsor. A national team in transition. On his 100th day in charge, Forrest Li & his team had some hard questions to answer. Reporting from the FAS Media Day, Sports Minutes recaps how Singapore football’s new leadership is plotting a bold revival - and why the road ahead will need more than just vision and vigour. Got a story to tell? Get...

With National Day looming large, Sports Minutes celebrates the everyday heroes who shape our sporting culture. Meet Ashok Kumar, the photographer who captures joy, pain and glory, then disappears into the background. Hear what it takes to shoot at the highest level, why trust matters more than fame, and what keeps him coming back for more. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See...

Leaving home isn’t just about distance - it’s about daring. Harhys Stewart’s journey from Singapore to Kosovo (via Thailand) is a story of bravery, belief, and breaking the mould. And speaking to Sports Minutes - he reflects on his late start, adapting to the unknown, and why he hopes his bold move inspires the next wave of Singaporean footballers. Got a story to tell? Get in tou...

Change is never easy, especially when controversial. The SPL’s new rule allowing seven foreign players per match has sparked uproar, with many fearing it threatens local players’ chances. Yet, this influx could also boost the league’s standards and competitiveness. So, which matters more? Local legend Abbas Saad and former Welsh international Rob Earnshaw join Sports Minutes to s...

With the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Harry Kewell, Nick Montgomery and Mano Polking on the list, Singapore’s search for Tsutomo Ogura's replacement signals ambition. But will reputation trump relevance? Deepanraj Ganesan, who exclusively broke the shortlist for The Straits Times, sits down with Sports Minutes to share his thoughts. READ MORE:  https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/w...

Football's household names may have graced the pitch - Arsenal, AC Milan, Newcastle. But thousands of seats remained untouched. What should’ve been a celebration of the beautiful game has instead become a flashpoint, with fans voicing frustration over ticket costs and accessibility. So were the fans truly priced out? Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/li...

Why would a battle-tested Aussie defender - who’s played across Indonesia, India, and Hong Kong - join Tanjong Pagar United, a side that finished bottom of the pile last season? Aaron Evans sits down with  Sports Minutes to unpack his bold leap into Singapore football, and how he plans to lead a renewed Jaguars side with grit, fight, and foresight. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! rau...