Since childhood, Lion City Sailors full-back Christopher van Huizen has followed a personal bucket list — an outline of experiences he hoped to tick off at least once in his lifetime.

By his own admission, making it far in professional football — let alone competing in the latter stages of a major regional tournament like the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two — felt like a distant dream.

That dream, however, has now turned into reality, with Chris and the Sailors set to take on Japanese powerhouse Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the ACL Two quarter-finals in March.

The 32-year-old has been an ever-present figure in the Sailors’ continental campaign, starting every game so far — including both legs of their emphatic 7-2 aggregate victory over Thailand’s Muangthong United in the Round of 16. Now, he stands on the brink of another milestone, ready to face one of the most decorated clubs in J1 League history.

“It’s a huge achievement for me because I never imagined coming this far in professional football,” said Chris. “Now, I’m playing in major competitions for a big club like the Sailors, alongside top local and European players. Just talking about it gets me excited — it’s already exceeded my expectations by far, and I know there’s still so much more to come.”

The flying fullback caught the eye with a string of impressive performances on the national stage during the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup, prompting the Sailors to secure his signature in January 2023.

Since then, the club’s top-notch facilities and elite training environment have been pivotal in Chris’ development, helping him establish himself as a regular for both the Sailors and the national team.

“Being spotted by the Sailors back then and getting the chance to be part of this club was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” said Chris. “Qualifying for the knockout stages of a continental competition is something most players — including me — have dreamt of. This is a massive achievement, not just for the Sailors, but for Singapore football as well.

“The player I am today is a testament to how much I’ve grown under all the coaches and clubs I’ve been with. Now, it’s about setting new expectations for myself — and maintaining them.

“It helps to have senior players like Hariss Harun and Hafiz Nor who always offer their support. At the same time, I’m also learning from younger players like Nathan Mao and Diogo Costa — these guys have massive potential and valuable experience despite their age.”

However, there is little time for the Sailors to savour their historic continental achievement, with two tough Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches lined up in the next five days before the squad departs for Japan. While the quick turnaround and frequent travel could pose challenges for many players, Chris has embraced the demanding schedule with open arms.

“For me, this is the life I’ve always wanted to live,” said Chris, who had previously experienced travelling and playing across various Malaysian states during his stint with the now-defunct LionsXII. “I’m happy to embrace this lifestyle because this is what real professional football is all about. This is the level every player should aspire to, and these are the experiences we live for.”

Despite the Sailors holding a tidy six-point lead at the top of the SPL table with a game in hand over second-placed BG Tampines Rovers, Chris insisted there is no room for complacency, and urged his teammates to maintain their high standards ahead of their next SPL clash against Balestier Khalsa on Sunday (23 February).

“Regardless of how many games we play, we will not drop our standards,” Chris declared. “Our main target this season is to reclaim the SPL title, so we’re going all out for the three points against Balestier.”

A major driving force behind the Sailors’ success this season has been the unwavering support of their faithful fans, as Chris emphasised the crucial boost they provide to the players on the field.

“I got goosebumps as we walked out and lined up in front of the home crowd before kick-off against Muangthong,” said Chris. “The atmosphere was amazing — these are the moments we work so hard for. Our fans always make a huge impact, and we’re really blessed to have them behind us.”