L-R: Keiji Shigetomi, Gabriel Quak and Saifullah Akbar with the night’s top awards. Photo: FAS
Gabriel Quak has come a long way since he started his professional career with the Young Lions in 2008. He then joined the LionsXII for the 2013 Malaysia Super League season and made his debut against PKNS on 15 Jan 2013. The well-travelled footballer has also plyed his trade overseas with Thai League 1 side Royal Thai Navy, and went on trial with J2 side Matsumoto Yamaga.
After Singapore-based digital group Sea assumed full ownership of Singapore Premier League club Home United in Feb 2020, the club was renamed to Lion City Sailors. The club then proceeded to splash the cash on a host of star names, including a certain Gabriel Quak.
And now it seems that the stars have aligned for this homegrown talent who was named the SPL Player of the Year at the FAS Awards Night 2020 recently. Quak, 29, who finished as the top local scorer with five goals and made the most assists in the league with seven, was delighted with his win.
He said: said: “It is an incredible feeling... this dream begun in 2008 actually, when I started playing with the Young Lions. I attended the Awards Night (that year) and saw Aleksandar Duric (Player of the Year) and Khairul Amri (Young Player of the Year) pick up awards, so I thought to myself, 'I hope to be (up) there one day'. So today was really surreal, you know; like this (dream) is now a reality. So, it is probably gonna take a while to let it sink in... I think each team (I have been with) and each year (I have played) has given me different experiences and lessons; the people I have worked with... (have) taught me different things and helped me to grow stronger mentally and as a person, which I think (has) contributed to who I am today. I definitely also want to thank my family, my wife especially, for their sacrifices; without them, I am actually nothing (and) it is because of them that I can focus on what I do.”
While Quak took home the coveted AIA Player of the Year gong, his team-mate Saifullah Akbar was named AIA Young Player of the Year. The Singapore Pools Coach of the Year award went to Keiji Shigetomi of champions Albirex Niigata FC (S), while Geylang International FC striker Khairul Nizam took the Mitre Goal of the Year accolade for his sensational long-range rocket against Tampines Rovers FC on 7 November. With 14 goals to his name, Sailors striker Stipe Plazibat finished as the AIA Top Scorer.
Due to current safe-distancing measures, this year’s event was attended only by relevant personnel, such as all award recipients, presenters and essential event crew. As with previous years, the Awards Night was streamed “live” online in order for fans to follow the night’s proceedings.
Circle News congratulates all winners from the FAS Awards Night 2020. Well done lads and let's look forward to more fantastic football action from the SPL in 2021!
Gary Yang is a myActiveSG Editor and Presenter. Gary started his career as a suit cum copywriter at an advertising agency, followed by a successful stint in Corporate Communications with Singapore Press Holdings and Asia Pacific Breweries, before eventually joining the editorial team at Sport Singapore. He now turns his attention to fitness and wellness headlines and sniffing out news angles in the sporting arena.
Led by former Singapore international Aleksandar Duric, the ActiveSG Football Academy offers a holistic football programme which is designed to build character and encourage children and youth to pursue their sporting passion with the right attitude. Find out more here.
Follow us on Telegram for more news and updates.
Related Articles
Related Topics
Related Events & Programmes
Related Articles
Related Topics
Related Articles
View AllRelated Topics
[BlogPost 164749641842 NSG 2024 Netball: Senior Div Girls League 3 Preliminary Round 2, BlogPost 163985727414 Beyond the Field: Exciting Sports Careers for Non-Athletes, BlogPost 164438712123 NSG 2024 Badminton: Senior Div Girls Quarter-Finals, BlogPost 164238055490 Evergreen Aleksandar Duric Still Making Headlines at 53, BlogPost 164170080646 NSG 2024 Rope Skipping: Junior Div Girls Freestyle Team Finals, BlogPost 162884973666 Move and Rest Better With Data From Your Own Body, BlogPost 163393049482 Life Comes Full Circle For Serangoon Garden Secondary School's Fahrish Khan, BlogPost 163258797651 Making Golf a Sport for All, BlogPost 162512222328 NSG 2024 Sepaktakraw: Senior Div Yuhua Primary School vs Qihua Primary School, BlogPost 162233592997 Gritty Lions Suffer Loss to China, BlogPost 162089384371 On Your Mark, Get Ready, Go Running, BlogPost 161670652697 Lions' Excellent Showing Against China, BlogPost 161435270031 Ogura Optimistic for Exciting Clash against China, BlogPost 161127614758 The Future of Basketball in Singapore: Why 3x3 is Here to Stay, BlogPost 161033673012 The Active Lifestyler's Guide to the New ActiveSG Delta Sport Centre, BlogPost 161128356680 Grand New Champions Crowned at WTT Singapore Smash 2024, BlogPost 160844835218 NSG 2024 Table Tennis: C Div Boys Pool Round, BlogPost 160210745115 NSG 2024 Basketball: Senior Div Girls Tampines Primary School vs Frontier Primary School, BlogPost 159881180544 Whirlwind Return to Women's Football, BlogPost 159633541417 Singapore Smash to Elevate a New Legacy, BlogPost 158983580420 NSG 2024 Rugby: B Div Damai Secondary School vs Peirce Secondary School, BlogPost 159003960202 SFA Fiesta: Kicking off 2024 to a Roaring Start, BlogPost 158830735126 NSG 2024 Football: B Div Girls Preliminary Round Meridian Secondary School VS Bowen Secondary School, BlogPost 158536989718 Team Nila Volunteers Recognized At Awards Ceremony, BlogPost 158270107806 NSG 2024 Hockey: B Div Boys Preliminary Round Raffles Institution VS St. Hilda Secondary School, BlogPost 157966862615 NSG 2024 Floorball: B Division Preliminary Rounds Kick Off!, BlogPost 157562433712 What Is Safe Sport?, BlogPost 157559446197 Sengkang Secondary: Cultivating Well-Rounded Footballers, BlogPost 157368261167 New National Training Centre for Cricket at West Coast Ground, BlogPost 155340164987 Active Ageing with Joey Bonifacio, BlogPost 155930815517 Inaugural Singapore Youth League kicks off from 24th February 2024, BlogPost 155340164727 Bukit Canberra : the Coolest Spot in the North, BlogPost 155368905255 How Padang Fandi Inspired Ayden to Chase his Dream, BlogPost 154755572826 Ageing Backwards with Elizabeth Cheang, BlogPost 154094657315 Running For Fitness, BlogPost 153318636178 Excitement Builds for FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024, BlogPost 153198644247 World's Top Four Confirmed for 2024 HSBC Women's World Championship, BlogPost 149413941770 Cultivating Your Kids’ Interest in the Outdoors, BlogPost 149413941163 Making Sport More Appealing for Our Kids, BlogPost 149412549409 Solo Or Team Sport – Choosing the Best for Your Child, BlogPost 151197478798 Former Lions Stalwart Baihakki Khaizan Sheds Light on New Accreditation to Elevate Grassroots Football and Youth Development, BlogPost 80703591291 New Year, Fitter You! Here are the top 3 workouts for the New Year, BlogPost 81171151456 7 Reasons Why Sports are Great for Children’s Mental Health, BlogPost 80542065330 17 Best Yoga Classes & Studios in Singapore [+ Rating & Prices], BlogPost 149404351798 From Brush to Lens: A Student's Journey in the World of Art and Sports Photography, BlogPost 149402825063 The Benefits of Active Parenting, BlogPost 149397832009 Sweden Claim 9th Straight Gold at the Women's World Floorball Championship, BlogPost 149397831449 Lion City Sailors Win 2023 Singapore Cup, BlogPost 148511324266 Pitch Perfect with Jonathan Teo, BlogPost 148511724402 Seniors: Increase your flexibility bit by bit with these stretches]