The Silverfox Hustle Podcast
The hustle beats talent when talent doesn't hustle. The Silverfox Hustle is all about showcasing positive attitudes, great work ethics and consistent quality work. The Silverfox Hustle will be the vehicle that will inspire, motivate and share positive stories through its extraordinary guests. Host and creator, Shasi, is a former professional football player and now a coach developer as well as a commentator and pundit. He shares all the values and beliefs of the Silverfox Hustle. Enjoy the journey and stories! Cheers!
The Silverfox Hustle Podcast
Silverfox Hustle SPL Preview - Hougang United FC
Robert Eziakor, head coach of Hougang United FC, pulls back the curtain on his journey from player to coach and the ambitious plans he's implementing for the upcoming Singapore Premier League season.
Eziakor's fascinating story begins in 2006 when he arrived in Singapore as a player for Sporting Afrique, eventually finding his way to H0ugang United where he's been since 2013. Now at the helm as head coach, he speaks candidly about the challenges of competing with bigger-budget clubs and the difficult decisions that come with rebuilding a squad.
"You can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results," Eziakor explains, discussing the major overhaul that saw numerous experienced players depart and fresh faces arrive. His recruitment strategy reveals a clear focus on defensive solidity—addressing last season's 76 goals conceded—while maintaining attacking flair through players like Japanese midfielder trio and Spanish winger Victor Blasco.
Perhaps most compelling is Eziakor's faith in local talent Farhan Zulkifli, whom he believes has the pace and dribbling ability to become Singapore's next standout player. "The boy has everything," Eziakor says, setting high expectations for the young attacker to finally fulfill his potential.
The conversation shifts to tactical philosophy, with Eziakor emphasizing a more fearless, high-pressing approach for the upcoming season. His target? Third place—an ambitious but measured goal after several seasons of declining league positions. With refreshing honesty, he shares his message to the passionate "Hougang Hools" supporters: "We will give them what they want this season. We will fight every game."
This is the Silver Fox Hustle podcast. This is the SPL preview, and before we start and kick off with our next club, don't forget to click on the follow button. We are out on Apple Podcasts, spotify, youtube and TikTok as well. Now, next up in the SPL preview, we are going to talk to the head coach of Haogang United FC, and he is none other than Robert Ezeko. Robert, welcome to the podcast. Thank you, sasi.
Speaker 1:Robert, I think you have a huge task on your hands this season. Obviously, you took over last season halfway, but this season it's going to be a full-on season for you right from the start. But before that, people want to get to know you a little bit as well. You came to Singapore all the way back in 2006, I believe, and you played for a club called Sporting Africa. Now, for those of you who do not know the club and you are not as old as us there was this foreign club in Singapore who played in the S League before, and they were called Sporting Africa and Robert was one of the players. Then, robert, tell us how was it like when you came down to Singapore the very first time.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for having me. It was a very interesting and back then when we came in, we were very eager, and you know so. This Sporting Africa has a bunch of African players. Of course, it meant for kind of like to exploit African players to the rest of the club, Right. So we joined in and eventually the setup and the financial crisis hit us and that's where all the players got us and things got wrong. And eventually all of us kind of like dismissed and we started finding our ways.
Speaker 1:You played for a couple of clubs after that, like Tiong Bahru, and you also played for Haogang United. Obviously you know one of the clubs that you played in. You know what is it like now being the coach of the club that you played for once before, and you know back then when you came in 2006 and you spoke about the problems that they had and until now, would.
Speaker 2:Would you believe it? Or could you believe that you are now actually the head coach of the club? Well, I walk myself up All the way to here. I could remember the first preliminary. I took coaching course Even when I was doing Playing all these clubs you mentioned. Yeah, you are one of the instructors.
Speaker 1:And that's where we met yeah.
Speaker 2:That was we are Assisting Kudjamal.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I don't know what I remember. Kuz Jamal right.
Speaker 1:Okay, that was a long time back.
Speaker 2:That was a long time back you and one of the guys he called you guys up to do a demonstration. That was I think that was 2007.
Speaker 1:Right right.
Speaker 2:So from the onset, when I came here, I was also preparing my way for after football. So I started as early as I can. But you know, as a coach your highest peak is to be head coach. So of course I'm quite excited, but also I was preparing all the way to you now.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice, brilliant. And you know, I have to say this, you've been at the club since 2013. I mean, obviously you played for other clubs and then you went into Haugang and you've been there ever since 2013. That's a long time in various positions and roles, obviously. I just want to ask you this question. I always feel that, you know, haogang usually can't seem to push the barrier, can't really seem to be amongst the maybe the top three, top two or whatever it is right. Why do you think it is so? I mean, I'm asking you because you've been at the club for a very long time, because you've seen the club under different coaches, many coaches, players come and go, foreign players come and go. Why is it so, in your opinion?
Speaker 2:Okay, you can look at this in different ways. I'm just, you can look at this in different ways. I just kind of take this approach. You know, when it comes to being a top three or being champion, you know it's always going to be only a few people. Only a few people can attend to this kind of achievement. You know, the rest of us are just one off already around the table and coming up.
Speaker 2:You know, of course. You know to be top, to be top club, you know to be champion or be top three, you need to splash money. That's first thing, and other things has to be in place. It's not, it's not about coaching Right. It's not about you need to spend a lot of money. Bring quality players, everything is right. On top of that, you also have to have a lot of patience to wait for the result to come. So sometimes you don't cease to get this because most of us are financial, not that kind of capable to compete. You know, and not only Hogan has this issue. I mean, you see other clubs Only a few clubs in the SPL are attending this. You know this achievement like you can talk about Abires which brought quality.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:They achieved it. Right, you talk about ACS, which brought money, and you know they achieved it. Then even Tempinis with all their qualities is still not good enough.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:They need more than that.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You know they need more than that. You know they need more than that. So for we I mean we try okay what we try to do, we try to compete Right. We need more than that.
Speaker 1:Last year you took over all right from Marco. Yeah, all right, and there was a short spark. Remember that, yeah, I think the first three or four games that you took over, you were unbeaten. Yeah, you won three games out of the four. I think I can't remember off my head, but I know because I did the comms and you were kind of like we taught, we taught and everybody taught, the fans as well, taught that you kind of like turned the corner and you're pushing further forwards, but again, things didn't really work out and there was one interview as well and you were saying post-match that you know this is not good enough, you know, for a club like Haogang, and you know there was so much passion in your post-match interview. What happened? You know because, firstly, let's talk about the spark. You know, was it a case of, you know, a new coach coming in. You know people and the players want to impress and then, after that, the same old Haogang stepped into place well you can talk about visible facts.
Speaker 2:That goes in first is about maybe, changes. First, one that's very interesting whenever there's changing, people tend to, you know, to push the boundary to do very well. I think that's one of the factors. Another thing is that we had, you know, beefed up the defense. We bought Mugi and we bought another center back. You know we changed a couple of players. Things was going very well For the first games. We are kind of like very unbeaten Three games won, one game drew. But moving forward, one of our center back injured right.
Speaker 2:I mean one of our top center back we brought in, we just brought him in Right Right. We have a couple of indiscipline in our team, like Red Card key players missing on the game. You know, sometimes players are kind of like, you know, when one key player they believe on solidifying the centre-back, they tend to fade up already. But again the whole team comes down when he injured, when he was injured, and we kind of doesn't have that kind of solid defense. You know, even though we score goals but we couldn't have, you know, secured the victory.
Speaker 2:Right right, so the entire thing was done to the defense side where we failed collectively to defend properly after one of the key players is injured.
Speaker 1:This is very interesting and I think those are fair points. When we talk about injuries, we talk about red cards. That, in a way, is indiscipline or whatever, but you still had loads of games to play for as well and points to play for at that point in time when you took over. Right, what was it tactically? Were the players not listening to instructions and things like that? I'm talking about last season. Forget about this season, that's coming, but we talk about last season because, you know, I thought you guys got 61 goals, conceded 76, and the whole season you guys won seven only right and lost 15.
Speaker 1:Now I feel, and I think player and your Haogang hools I think they call themselves player and your Haogang hools, I think they call themselves they must agree as well that on paper, I think, player-wise, you guys have the players to probably hit what top four, top three, maybe even and again, this is in my opinion and you guys can't seem to put a reasonable run together. You did for a while, four games unbeaten and then after that, you know, but you know you have good support from the fans, you have the players in a way, on paper. Again, I say this on paper, what is it? Is it tactically? The players are indisciplined and not listening to instructions. What is it? Because I see certain times when you know Players can just Put their heads down when they go one nail down and things like that. What was the reason?
Speaker 2:I think, eventually, when we start getting A few defeats and the morale goes down and the belief Started going down, we tried to push. It's like You're pushing it but you don't see it coming. You don't see it coming, you're just like pushing it. You know, and you know, with things keep getting worn out. You know things getting worn out. You know everybody getting frustrated. The belief wasn't that so strong anymore. You know. You know it seems to be one-sided, whether it's me or some few, you know, so called. You're foreigners. You're not getting the best Out of them. You know Some of them. They are good in scoring but they are not good In defending properly and also it gives you. You know, sometimes you get frustrated, you know. You know, as a coach, you try to protect them, but the reality is that Some certain things you just say that it's not up to the expectation, it's not what you Expect him, expect him to do absolutely.
Speaker 1:Now let's move forward. It's the new season, you know, things have gone past and I think you're starting out as in fresh, taking the team for pre-season, which you didn't do last season, but you work closely with Marco, I know, I understand that as well. Now let's talk about the players. Who's left? I think Nazrul has gone to. Geylang Shadan is without a club. Plazonia Rachik Shodai has gone over as well, has left. Gabriel has left. I think Zaiful Nizam has left. Hazwan has left. How about I forgot to Zul Zulfami? Has he left or he's still? No, he's no longer with us. So if you look at that, those number of players and I spoke about this just now right on paper, I think you look at these players on paper, they are going to produce something right, but they haven't. They have not and they've left. What was the thinking behind this? Letting these players go and what not?
Speaker 2:I think you can see, throughout the past season we have not been moving forward, right, so you can't keep doing the same thing. You're going to get the same results. So in other, two ways. In other, you change the coach or you change the players, right In this case? Okay, they change the coach. Okay, it doesn't seem to be working. Okay, let's change the players and see.
Speaker 2:So this is where we are now Changing whether we can be able to move forward with the new blood, new fresh ideas, new energy. You know we try to start again and see how we can push the boundary.
Speaker 1:I think that's well said. You know it's well said. It's either one right, you can't have both. Was there a clear and distinct plan? Because these players have left, obviously. And was there a clear plan? Obviously, you spoke about players not defending properly, maybe Not getting enough goals, or whatever. Was there a clear and distinct plan when you are trying to get new players in to fit into your plan?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think so. I think that's one of the key things. You see, football, I think the whole thing. Sometimes people look at attacking scoring goals. I think mainly it's about defending, because the opportunity is going to arrive when you score a goal. But as a team, collectively, we must be able to learn how to defend properly, if we can be able to defend properly. When I talk about defense, we're not talking about only the center backs, right, we talk about entire team. You know, if we can defend collectively and prevent some goals, obviously we will take our chances. Chances might not be. It depends on how you grade it. It can grade more, it can grade less on games, but obviously in the game it can have one or two goals, which is good enough to win the game. But to say it's good enough means it must defend properly.
Speaker 1:Absolutely brilliant points, you know, because I think last season you scored 61 and conceded 76. So, as long as you've conceded more than you've scored, it's a problem, isn't it? It's a big problem. It's a big problem, yeah, and I think you hit the nail on the head as well, in terms of not only the defence or centre-backs we're talking about collectively, and I think that's where I think you guys have really failed last season, even the season last right, in terms of trying to get a result, trying to push further ahead, and I think that's the difference. Yeah, and yeah, I think those are good points. Now let's talk about the few locals that have come in. You know, I think we've seen some Zafan from the Lion City Sailors. He's come in, probably to show up in the goalkeeping department. Obviously, you needed to, because Zaiful has left, yep, right. So what do you see in Zafan?
Speaker 2:I mean, it's a blessing in disguise. You know, when he left in first, I took Ridwan from Tampines. I know Ridwan very well because we have been working together.
Speaker 1:Barudin, right yeah, Barudin.
Speaker 2:And then after that then we got a deal with. Suddenly we got a deal with Lion City sellers to loan him over.
Speaker 1:So it's a blessing in disguise.
Speaker 2:So he added more, more weight in the terms of goalkeeping nice Huzaifa from Gelang.
Speaker 2:I think that's a very interesting one yeah, all the while I've been, I've been, I've been, I've been very, very keen to beef off my defensive midfield. You know, huzaifa, I know him very well because we were playing in Haogan before before he left for Geylang, so I know him. He's the kind of person that I know. He's very, very determined in football. You know he's very serious. He's a good guy. You know he's a good boy, you know. So I needed him. I was going after him for a very long time yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1:I think he's been plagued by bad injuries in the past few seasons, but I think he's back.
Speaker 2:When I met him, I told him I'm going to take you. The reason is that I think your mentality is very strong. There will be some people at this point of time they will quit, but he never. So that's the kind of mentality I'm looking at. You look at the mentality and say, yes, this guy, he wanted it. He wanted it more than I wanted it.
Speaker 1:Why.
Speaker 2:Yes, this guy, he want it. He want it more than I want it. Why not? I should give him that chance.
Speaker 1:Another interesting Local player who's coming? Is he on loan? Heikel Pasha.
Speaker 2:No, he's not on loan, we took him. You know he's one of my target. You know Because I'm looking at there, because this season I intend to Let Faham play more Start the game, yes, so to refresh him up. So I need someone to pack up and I feel like Aiko Pasha is a good one. I know, being in Celos, sometimes a good player like him might not get a chance to play. I feel like he's getting rusty over there but I've been observing him.
Speaker 2:I knew him for a long time so I was kind of knocking on the Celos saying I, you know using it. Give it to us.
Speaker 1:Why not? Yeah, brilliant. And let's talk about your foreign contingent. That's come in right. I think you've got a couple of very interesting ones. Let's start off at center. Back the US from the US, right, sam Strong. Yep, pardon the pun. Is he strong at the back?
Speaker 2:Well, you can say that that name quite applies to his work. It really applies to his position. Yeah, he seems to have scouted in. We brought him in, but it's quite unfortunate he hasn't played, because he's kind of like done with a few minor injuries. Okay, he hasn't been played since he came in.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:You know, right? Yeah, but hopefully he will shook it off and come back.
Speaker 1:It's interesting as well. I've seen another two defenders, two centre-backs as well, and they're both Thai players. One is Kanok Kong Sima, who's 24. And Parinya Nusong, who's 20. Now, I think we spoke about the number of goals conceded and I think we kind of get the idea that you're trying to beef up the defence. First, and obviously, let's not forget, you've got Jordan Westring as well, you've got a couple of players as well. Yeah, correct. So let's talk about the two Thai centre-backs. What can we see from them? What can they bring to the side?
Speaker 2:Well, Kanok has brought a kind of Thai experience, because he has been playing very well, you know. So I'm looking at him to be more first-eleven playing, and Priyam is a young player and something that we needed to develop. Maybe he will be in between the first team and SPO2 okay, and out more right, because don't forget that some strong words always gonna be there as well. Yeah, then you have Endes, and also we have Ryan Saniza yes, yes, yes, right, forgot about him as well yeah, so these are the area.
Speaker 2:I like those guys. You know they are young, although the experience Might be Kind of lacking. But you have Sam over there, you have Endes and, of course, ryan Also. You have him Because he also has been Commanding in Young Lion Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, another two Interesting additions. We have got Two Japanese, actually Three Japanese in fact, and all of them are Four. Yeah, but there's these 3 who plays In the middle of Midfield, defensive mid, yuta Kikuchi, who's 31. Another Central midfielder, yu Masuwa, who's 24, and another Advanced midfielder Attacking midfielder Ryohi Yoshima, who's 32. You've got one more.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:There's one more Hugo 32, you've got one more. Yeah, there's one more Hugo. Ah, okay, he's a striker ah it's not updated here. Yeah, so tell us about these Japanese players. They look like the part and they look like they're going to add a little bit more firepower to the side and, of course, tactical know-how, especially in midfield. We talk about the defensive mid in Utah Kikuchi. Is that something that you are looking at?
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you look at the entire squad, we are a very young squad and we needed some experienced players, you know, to come in and guide them. The people that are playing, you know season in and season out. So Utah brought that experience and, as well as Yoshi, yuma is very young. He came from Europe and he's the first time playing in Asia. He's very, very aggressive. I like him. So I'm looking at to do anything to be able to contribute both in defending and attacking. You need a very, very strong engine, so I'm looking at these guys to be able to to be able to control more midfield so we can be able to bring everybody in, bring both our defence and our forward beautiful.
Speaker 1:Be able to bring everybody in, bring both our defence and our forward, beautiful, beautiful. How about Spanish winger Victor Blasco? Yeah, he's speedy, isn't he?
Speaker 2:he is not only speedy, he's very tricky, speedy and tricky. Yeah, so you know modern football, you always you need someone to cause a lot of damages. I look at this guy, him and Fahan, you know I look at this guy, him and Fahad. You know, to bring that kind of Destruction in the team, you know there will be people that will be worried about Speedy, tricky, dribbling. You know I look at them To bring that kind of Damage to the team.
Speaker 1:You just spoke about Someone I've just forgot, farhan Zulkifli. Yeah, now listen, I think he is someone that's I don't know pretty a little bit unlucky not to be starting games and whatever. Are you looking at trying to fit him somewhere so that he starts games? Because I think he's very what do you call it exciting, and I remember this game last season when he came into the game and he it was against BG Tampines. He totally changed the game for Haogang, if you can remember, because I did that game and he's those players who are special. What do you have for him in terms of you know any plans for him in this season?
Speaker 2:It's straightforward. I mean, I told him that this season he has to start the game, but you know he has to improve in terms of continuing that kind of spark from the start, right? Not just from the second half. This is where he needed to improve more Right? Not just one off then maybe after 20 minutes and he fed up or after that. You know he got to carry it on Then by saying that he needs to know what is called game management. You know conserve, when to do, when not to do, because you gotta talk about last night. 19 minutes play long time. So now it's time for you to use the experience of last season to play. So obviously I'm looking forward for him to carry on now to be able to start most of the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right well put, I think it's about decision making as well, right in terms of, on the pitch, what to do, when to do it as well.
Speaker 2:I mean, the more you play, the more you have that that kind of yeah, it's just making you improve.
Speaker 1:So, robert, how has pre-season been in terms of training-wise? What have you been looking at and what have you been working on specifically? I know you spoke about the defensive structure and all yeah, and how has it been so far?
Speaker 2:I mean, we're working all around football. You cannot just say only one side, every all around, you're working around, so you're working on how to get everything as a unit right, how you're gonna attack. What we want to do. We want to be specific in our attack, we want to nail it and have a routine in our attack and also we have to want to have a routine in our defending want to unify our system.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Want to have a unified, because it takes long for people to understand one thing. Of course you want to put okay, there's people that say they want to put their X in different baskets, yeah. Okay, maybe you started falling, you don't know which one to catch. Right, but maybe put one, solidify one. Make sure that everybody practice one step right, then get it right. You know you look at, for example, you look at all top teams. For example, you look at man City. Even you look at Sellers. Okay, don't, let's not go far. You know you look at Sellers. It's just one system, but everybody understand the system right because going towards.
Speaker 2:You cannot have misunderstanding, yeah absolutely. I think that's something I want to bring in. You know, solidify the team Makes the team look more.
Speaker 1:Unified. We talk about that. It's very interesting. Are you the kind of coach who looks more at the opponents and then try to adjust, or you just say, no, we just concentrate on what we can do best and just go out there and play and win the game.
Speaker 2:Football is a chess, you know. If you play chess, you gotta know Football is a chess game. Right, you gotta see how best you can. You got to look at the opponent. You know every game is a different game. Yeah, you know, you got to weigh in. You got to be honest in terms of your analysis. Right, you got to be honest. You got to find a way to hurt the opponent down.
Speaker 2:Of course as much as opponent. Try to find a way to hurt you, dan, yeah, so obviously you've got to work on these two sides, right. Try to find a way to stop opponents hurting you and try to find a way to hurt opponents, adjusting the game, maybe more or less it's like defending.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Right Defending, you try to cover all the loops holes.
Speaker 1:Right right.
Speaker 2:Depends on the way opponents, because every team team got different styles of attacking. Okay, maybe try to adjust, but attacking more or less would be more of the same thing nice, nice, robert.
Speaker 1:What kind of football can we expect from Haugang this season as compared to maybe last year or even two seasons back? You know, is there something that you're working on in terms of style of football playing out from the back more playing out from the wings, you know, without giving too much away?
Speaker 2:To someone in the club. We want to be fearless. Let's put it in this way we want to be fearless. We want to. We want to go more aggressive. We want to go high block. We don't want to sit back and wait for things to happen. We want to be fearless to, to dare to challenge any opponent out there. We want to try our best. Leave it out there. We want to try our best. We leave it out there in Wyoming. So we don't want to talk about it after football. We just want to do it on the pitch right. Having said that, we also want to make a progress. When I say make a progress, we don't want to make a very huge progress. Then it will become too much bonding to us. We're just at trying to come up to mid-table or slightly on the third right. We don't want to put too much of expectation on ourselves.
Speaker 1:You kind of answered my question that I'm going to ask right, but before that let me say this right Last season you finished seventh, the season before you finished sixth, the season before that it was fifth, and the season before that it was 3rd. So it's kind of like Going downhill a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So you just, you just said it as well. So your targets for this season is you said what?
Speaker 2:4th, 3rd let's be more defined 3rd. 3rd will be Solid point for us. 3rd will be a good point for us. That would be a good progress. I want to use the word progress. We just want to make a progress.
Speaker 1:Brilliant, brilliant. And who do you think you are up against in that group of clubs that's fighting for that? Third, fourth, fifth maybe? Who do you think Off your head?
Speaker 2:Off my head. I don't want to kneel down one team or another. We're looking at the 21 games. We just want to take one game at a time. One game at a time. How much points can we take from one game? That's the key. There's no opening that is easy or stronger than each other. You know, in this SPL, like last season, we got the draw from Lion City and got the winning from Tampines and you also got a winning from us.
Speaker 2:You know, looking at it, anybody, any team, can beat anybody right. But the point is that being consistent. I think Tampines and Lion City has been consistent in their winning. That's what set them apart. If we can nail down being consistent in our getting result, I think we will get the most Absolutely Out of everyone. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Anyone you think Is going to stand out For your side this season? A couple of players Maybe you think, okay, this is the standout season For them. Maybe.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm looking at Farhan himself. I want him to be a standout Because the boy has Everything to be. You know, in football it's not easy to find A player that can dribble and got the speed Yep Right. So I'm looking at him to use that kind of asset he possess.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:To use it very efficient, very, very efficient, especially coming out attacking third, and he's very good for Singapore football, absolutely. If he develops very well. He's going to be very, very crucial. He's going to be I mean, farid is already getting old, I think Farhan is next on the line.
Speaker 1:You know you should be able to watch out for him. Well, farhan, no pressure, your coach wants you to. You know, hit that, hit it big time this season. Yeah, and lastly, robert, before we go, any message for the Haogang. They call Haogang rules, right?
Speaker 2:any message for them you know they are always in my heart because I know them very well individually. You know I always fear for them. I just want to tell them that we will give them what they want, what they're expecting this season. We will give them. We will fight on. We will fight every game as on, and we're expecting to make a very good progress Right, expecting to make a very good progress. I just urge them to calm down and support the team regardless.
Speaker 1:Brilliant, robert. Robert, thank you so much for being on the SPL preview for your club and we wish you all the best for the coming season. Obviously, you are playing in the league as well as the Singapore Cup as well. Good luck for that. Thanks a lot, and we wish you all the best and, to the players as well, wish them good luck. For me, this has been the latest episode and this has been the SPL preview for Haugang United football club. Don't forget to click on the follow button. We are out everywhere on Spotify, apple Podcast, tiktok and YouTube. Click on the follow button and share this with your family and friends. Till the next episode and till the next episode for the SPL preview. We see you next time.