Mum of former women’s national player takes on ‘walking football’: ‘I’ve been active all my life’

And when asked about the upward trend of female football exports – other than Putri Syaliza, Singapore has seen several more players go pro overseas, including German club Borussia Dortmund’s Danelle Tan and Lionesses captain Rosnani Azman – Hamidah was predictably enthused.

“It’s good. Not just in women’s football but in men’s too … When members come back from playing overseas, overall play improves. The sport is better, the play is better.

“We should encourage this – we need people to see us and see what Singapore football is like,” said Hamidah.

Hamidah also noted that the Women’s Premier League in Singapore has grown in recent years, with “more girls showing interest in football”.

“The pool of skillful and talented female players is growing, and it’s interesting to watch their progress,” she said. 

The league, which started with seven teams in 2000 and saw only a kind of seesaw development over the decades, currently has 10 “strong” teams. It’s a good sign,” she said.

“I only wish that more can be done to help girls with the potential to go pro prioritise, especially when they’re still in school.

“I used to see them struggling between school training and national training, and it was hard for them. That shouldn’t be the case.”

And while Hamidah continues to vaunt the prospect of the local women’s footballing scene, her commitment to her other children remains unwavering.

“My boys may only play for leisure now, but I still support them endlessly.”