As Nathan Mao bore down on the Geylang International goal in the 58th minute, it seemed almost certain the 17-year-old would open his senior account for the Lion City Sailors — and become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
But it was not to be, as his shot drifted agonisingly wide of Rudy Khairullah’s post. Frustratingly, it marked the second cup game in a row where he came close to scoring, having previously seen a close-range effort against Balestier Khalsa denied by a heroic goal-line clearance.
Still, the miss did little to deter the hungry young forward, who immediately sprang back into action — pressing and harrying Geylang’s defenders just seconds later.
“I knew the miss was pretty bad — but I couldn’t stop playing and was determined to keep on working,” said Nathan, who also turns out for the Sailors’ Under-21 side. “I had two big chances in the past two games and should have created more opportunities for my teammates, but I’m staying positive. I know I’ll get more chances — and hopefully, I’ll score the next one.”
That game marked Nathan’s 10th appearance for the senior side since joining the club’s academy in June 2020, underscoring his meteoric rise through the Sailors’ ranks. He made history in March 2023 when he was introduced as a substitute against BG Tampines Rovers, becoming the Singapore Premier League (SPL)’s youngest-ever debutant at just 15 years and 5 days old.
“It definitely feels great to be back on the pitch with the senior team after such a long time,” said Nathan, who featured in all three of the Sailors’ Singapore Cup games this season. “I joined our Academy (in 2018 when it was still known as LFA Protectors) when I was ten, and since then I’ve just been giving my best every day in training.”
“My focus for now is to stay hopeful and keep working hard until the chance comes — and when it does, I need to be ready to take it,” he added.
Nathan has also played a key role in the Sailors’ SPL Under-21 league campaign, leading the line in a strikeforce that has racked up an impressive 78 goals in just 21 games — putting his side on the cusp of becoming champions.
The senior league, however, has presented a significant step up for the 17-year-old, who now faces off against far more experienced opposition. But Nathan is embracing the challenge with a level of maturity well beyond his years.
“I think the main difference between the youth and senior leagues is the intensity of the game — and of course, the quality and maturity are significantly higher in the senior set-up,” he explained.
“I don’t think too much about the quality of the players I’m up against. At the end of the day, we’re all just footballers on the same pitch. What matters most to me is my performance and how I can help my team win.”
Constant exposure to different professional environments has played a pivotal role in Nathan’s development, giving him a first-hand taste of what it’s like to live and train in top-tier setups. In October 2022, he embarked on a 16-day training stint at Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Academy, and more recently spent a week in England training with EFL Championship side Burnley.
“These experiences have helped me grow a lot — not just as a player, but also as a person,” Nathan shared. “On the pitch, I’ve become more accustomed to the physicality and intensity of the game. Off it, I’m now mentally stronger and better able to adapt to the lifestyle of a senior footballer.”
Closer to home, training week in and week out with established European stars like Maxime Lestienne and Bart Ramselaar has also provided invaluable lessons for the young forward.
“Being around them and observing how they go about their daily routines has taught me a lot about professionalism,” Nathan explained. “On the pitch, there are so many qualities I can learn from them too — the way they move, how sharp they are — and those are things I really want to add to my game.”
A 3-1 win over Geylang International on Thursday (27 March) meant the Sailors have already sealed progression into the Singapore Cup semi-finals, but Nathan has insisted that there will be no letting up as they wrap up the group stages with a clash against Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United tomorrow (30 March) night.
The Sailors need to avoid defeat to secure top spot in Group B.
“The Singapore Cup is an important objective for the club. Who we face on the pitch does not matter as we approach every game seriously. We’ve got good momentum right now and we want to carry that into the semi-finals,” declared Nathan, who has faced the Rabbits at Under-15 level in the 2023 Lion City Cup.
Unfortunately, this will be Nathan’s final game in Sailors colours for now, as he is set to enlist for his mandatory National Service on 3 April.
“I’ll definitely miss the club a lot — especially the intensity of training and just being around the team every day,” Nathan said wistfully. “I hope the club can go all the way in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two and continue winning trophies.
“As for me, I’m looking forward to returning to play for the Sailors — and hopefully, one day, in Europe.”
