Motivated by his trainees Balestier Khalsa s Ignatius Ang sets career best goal tally

SINGAPORE – In preparation for his post-playing career, Balestier Khalsa’s Ignatius Ang attained a coaching licence and a property agent’s licence in 2024.

Little did he know that being a coach would play a part in him enjoying a renaissance as a player – so much so that the 32-year-old is having second thoughts about hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

In the 2024-25 campaign, Ang has scored a career-high tally of eight goals, which surpasses the winger’s previous best of four goals during the 2018 season with Warriors FC.

Ang, whose Asian Football Confederation B coaching certificate allows him to train teams at the elite youth level here, is a part-time coach at the Junior National Development Centre under the Unleash the Roar! project.

He also coaches at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School and the ActiveSG Football Academy’s Bendemeer centre.

Being a mentor to junior athletes has given him added impetus to set a good example as a player, which has translated into eight goals and four assists in 20 matches for the Tigers across the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup this season.

“One of the biggest reasons why I try to push myself and play to my best abilities is because the kids are always watching me,” said Ang, who will be looking to add to his tally in the SPL encounter against table-toppers Lion City Sailors at Bishan Stadium on Feb 23 (6pm).

“Every time I go for coaching sessions, they will talk to me about my last game which they watched and they will tell me, ‘Coach, can you please score in the next game’... It also reminds me that I am a role model to them, I want to try to inspire them when I get time on the