The Van Huizens prove that Singapore heritage can produce technically proficient, European-trained footballers capable of playing at a high level. Strictly speaking, Safiq Rahim was born in Malacca, Malaysia. However, by heritage and blood, he is a Singaporean. Safiq’s father is Singaporean, and Safiq himself grew up in Singapore’s youth football system (F-17 and F-18 squad).
Do you know of a footballer with Singapore heritage we missed? The diaspora is growing every season, and their stories are waiting to be told.
However, the Singaporean footballing identity extends far beyond the shores of the Little Red Dot. Thanks to a long history of migration, economic exchange, and education, there is a vast, often overlooked diaspora of scattered across the globe. From the technical academies of Europe to the physical battlegrounds of the English Premier League, the bloodline of Singapore runs through the cleats of several notable professionals.
What makes Irving unique is that he represent Singapore. He qualifies for the "Heritage" quota (formerly the "Fandi Ahmad" rule) which allows players with Singaporean parentage to represent the national team. Irving earned caps for the Lions in the 2000s, playing in the ASEAN Championship. His brother, Jeroen Van Huizen , also played professionally in the Netherlands, though he did not represent Singapore internationally.
