Kyoga Nakamura wants to use frustration as energy to win titles at BG Tampines Rovers

SINGAPORE – Kyoga Nakamura has been in Singapore for over six years, but the lack of silverware has been frustrating for the diminutive midfielder.

He hopes that 2025 will bring better fortunes for him and his club, BG Tampines Rovers, who face Hougang United in their final Singapore Cup Group A fixture on March 29. The Stags need to avoid defeat by more than three goals to be certain of a semi-final spot, while the Cheetahs must draw to go through at the expense of Brunei DPMM.

The 28-year-old said: “It doesn’t matter if we draw, or we lose, (as long as we qualify),but it’s not our style. We just focus on what we can do, so it means we want to win.”

Nakamura was part of the Tampines squad who narrowly missed out on the Cup in 2022, when they lost 3-2 to Hougang in the final.

“Of course, now I can recall the moment we sat on the bench and (watched them as) they carried the trophy,” added Nakamura.

“Every year, we have a chance to become champions because we have talented players, a good coach and good staff. So it’s only momentum and motivation... And we want to use frustration as energy to get the next title.”

The Japan-born central midfielder first came to Singapore in 2019 and captained Albirex Niigata, but he did not win the Singapore Premier League – despite the White Swans claiming the title six times in eight years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023).

He then moved to the Stags in 2020 and won the Community Shield, but that has been the club’s sole silverware in recent years.

Nakamura, who was naturalised as a Singapore citizen in October 2024, said: “We talked among the senior players and we feel that we