Hougang’s all dressed for success in 2017

SINGAPORE – Outfitted in stylish suits and formal wear, the players and officials from Hougang United Football Club (HGFC) looked impressive as they lined up for their team photoshoot at the club’s 2017 season launch on Wednesday night (Feb 15) at the Latern Rooftop Bar at Fullerton Bay Hotel.

This will not be the only time that Hougang will don their suits. This season, the team will turn up at televised games as well as away games in this attire, while they will wear a white shirt and black trousers for home games.

A total of 35 suits and formal wear – each set costing about S$200 – were purchased from G2000 by the club.

This investment is just the latest in the club’s efforts to become more professional, both on and off the pitch.

Hougang have already invested in improving their infrastructure, with both their dugout and dressing rooms having undergone upgrades during the off-season.

Last season, the club also bought the Eurogoal Globus 1500 Football Cannon – a machine that can shoot a ball up to a speed of 140kmh with different trajectories and spin – as a tool to train their goalkeepers.

Hougang chairman Bill Ng has also invested in the development of a new state-of-the-art football data analytics programme – named RetinAR – which will provide coaches with the detailed statistics of a live football match by half-time.

This programme is expected to be implemented at Hougang by May.

Hougang head coach Philippe Aw, who joined the club at the start of the year, explained that these initiatives are geared towards ensuring that the club is improved holistically.

“They change the changing room, they suit us up, and there’s this new technology (RetinAR) coming up…it just shows that the club is making an effort to be professional inside and out,” said Aw.

“We hope that by adopting this sort of professionalism off the field, even in our dressing, it will lead to us being professionals on it as well.

“We want the football to be better, the players to be fitter, and most importantly, we want to give fans a reason to turn up to support us and Singapore football.”

(Hougang players players Pablo Rodriguez, Iqbal Hussein and Zulfairuuz Rudy with coach Philippe Aw (centre) taknig a wefie during the club's pre-season launch. Photo: Nick Tan)

Hougang, who finished sixth in the S.League last season, unveiled their full squad, which includes 10 new arrivals such as Japanese defender Atsushi Shirota and national midfielder Zulfahmie Arifin, on Wednesday night.

A target of winning at least one piece of silverware has been set for the team, which has never won any domestic trophies, and Aw says he is eyeing winning either the RHB Singapore Cup or the League Cup this season.

“It will be very competitive in the league this season because all the big clubs have made good signings, and I think at least four or five teams will be challenging for the title,” said Aw.

“So at this point of time, I would say to win the League Cup and RHB Singapore Cup would be easier.

"All the players believe that we win silverware this season, and I’m confident in the ability of the team that I have at my disposal.”