Umar ready to prove his worth

Umar Akhbar is a man on a mission. The combative midfielder is ready to fight for his place in the starting line-up as he celebrates his sixth season with Geylang International.

The 26-year-old started his football journey with the Eagles when he was drafted into the Prime League in 2015. He went on to make his senior debut in the 2016 League Cup where he played all five games en route to helping the Eagles win the plate final.

It is a memory the stocky Singaporean still cherishes. He said: “That was a debut I’ll never forget. I got to play with the senior players and even though I did not score any goals then, I was really happy with my playing time.”

Umar has risen through the Prime League ranks and is now looking to give senior midfielders in the team a run for their money as he aims to make a starting berth in the engine room his own.

“I’ve learnt a lot of things at Geylang International. I’ve developed as a player and looking forward to making regular contributions to the team now. Qualifying for the AFC Cup last year is obviously the biggest highlight of my time with the club so far. I’m happy here and I believe we can achieve even more things together,” said Umar.

Umar has come a long way from playing his football at the void decks to the majestic fields of Our Tampines Hub (OTH) and Jalan Besar stadium. His strong work ethics along with his quality midfield attributes have caught the attention of many and he is now ready to prove his worth on the pitch when the Singapore Premier League resumes next month.