SINGAPORE — If he goes on to eventually secure a contract with J-League club Matsumoto Yamaga, Izwan Mahbud would become the first Singaporean footballer to feature in top-flight Japanese football.

But the Singapore national goalkeeper knows if he succeeds, he could also be paving the way for more of the Republic’s best players to ply their trade in Asia’s top leagues in what would be a huge boost for the sport’s flagging fortunes here.

Yesterday, it was reported Matsumoto Yamaga vice-president Yoshiyuki Kato had invited the 24-year-old for a trial. Izwan knows a lot more is at stake than him trying to secure a deal.

“If I do go for trials, I’m sure many people in Singapore will be hoping to see me succeed because they want to see Singaporean footballers playing in top leagues overseas,” Izwan told TODAY. “We were proud to see (Singapore national team-mate) Safuwan (Baharudin) playing for Melbourne City in the (Australian) A-League, and his stint inspired us to want to be like him and make it overseas.”

Izwan pulled off 18 saves to secure Singapore a shock 0-0 draw against four-time Asian champions Japan — widely regarded as Asia’s best footballing nation for the past two decades — in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Saitama last Tuesday. His performance also piqued interest in Japan about him and Singapore football.

But while he denied the likes of AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda and Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, Izwan, who plays his club football for Singapore-based Malaysian Super League side LionsXII, admits Yamaga’s offer caught him off guard. “I did a short online search after the (LionsXII’s) match (against ATM on Tuesday) and found out more about the club. Their climb from the lower tiers into the J-League over the past few years is impressive,” said Izwan.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which has been working to set up playing stints and trials for top Singapore players in the J-League, has not heard officially from Matsumoto Yamaga regarding the trials for Izwan. But the FAS wants further discussions with the club and the association’s relevant stakeholders, including sponsor Epson, on it.

Fandi Ahmad and V Sundramoorthy — they played for Dutch side FC Groningen (1983 to 1985) and Swiss club FC Basel (1987 to 1988), respectively — remain arguably Singapore’s most successful footballing exports.

Others who have tried to secure deals outside of South-east Asia include former Singapore forwards Indra Sahdan, who had trials with United States Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake in 2007, and Noh Alam Shah with Latvia’s Skonto Riga and England’s Notts County in 2005. Earlier this year, Safuwan secured a three-month deal with Melbourne City, while goalkeeper Hassan Sunny is now playing for Thailand’s Army FC.

Based in Nagano prefecture, Matsumoto Yamaga gained promotion to J-League One — the top-tier of Japanese football — last year, but are currently 15th out of 18 teams in the league standings.

But Daisuke Korenaga, chairman of S-League club Albirex Niigata, warned Japan’s culture and language will prove huge obstacles.

“Matsumoto Yamaga are not a rich club. Maybe (Izwan’s) LionsXII salary is better. But if Izwan can find success in the J-League, he could get the chance to play in Europe,” said Korenaga. “It will be better to challenge his potential, but it won’t be easy. That is why he needs to play in Japan to become better. It is also better for the Singapore national team.”

However, Indra said: “Language? Take a look at Hassan in Thailand, he is doing just fine. My advice for Izwan is to keep on training and playing hard.”

IZWAN MAHBUD FACT BOX:

Age: 24

Height: 1.83

Weight: 77kg

Former-club: Courts Young Lions

Honours (selected): 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup champion, 2013 Malaysian Super League champion, 2015 Malaysia FA Cup champion

MATSUMOTO YAMAGA FACT BOX:

Founded: 1965

Stadium: Matsumoto Stadium (capacity: 20,396)

Nickname(s): Ptarmigans, Gans

Chairman: Hiroshi Otsuki

Manager: Yasuharu Sorimachi