S. League: Fab strike

S. League: Fab strike

Never mind Goal of the Season, is this the best S. League goal ever?

Or could it be Singapore's first-ever entry for Fifa's Goal of the Year?

If you have missed it, go to the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League Facebook page or search for Fabian Kwok on YouTube.

Then, just sit back and marvel at the 25-year-old Geylang International midfielder's 32nd-minute equaliser against Albirex Niigata on Thursday night.

The White Swans may have won 4-2 - with Kwok also laying on the assist for Geylang's other goal through Ridhuan Muhd - but all the buzz has been about Kwok's magical strike.

While Albirex goalkeeper Kazuki Kishigami's clearance from Kento Fujihara's back-pass was poor, it did reach the centre circle, only to find Kwok, who reacted with a thumping first-time volley that sailed into the top-left corner.

The best part? He intended it.

"When I saw the back-pass, and my teammate (Aliff Shafaein) pressuring the goalkeeper, I expected him to clear the ball," said Kwok, whose special effort is just his second S. League goal in six years since his 2009 debut for the Courts Young Lions.

"I was inside the centre circle, so I already made my mind up to take the shot first-time. The ball fell nicely for me, so I just tried and it went in.

"I'm a defensive midfielder, so every goal is special. I've chipped the goalkeeper when I was playing for Safsa in the National Football League, but this one is obviously more special because it's in the S. League and it was on the volley."

The video clip of his phenomenal goal has since gone viral on the Internet, garnering more than 2,000 likes and 1,000 shares in total, including other Facebook pages such as SoccerHighlightsToday.

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His wonder goal was also featured on popular football websites such as Bleacher Report, 101 Great Goals, as well as on British tabloid Mirror Online.

The New Paper's analyst and former Liverpool star Ray Houghton even went as far as saying Kwok's killer strike is even better than both Wayne Rooney and Jonjo Shelvey's Premier League stunners from similar distances this season.

Remarkably, Kwok revealed to TNP all this positive feedback and encouragement have led him to rethink his decision to quit professional football at the end of this season.

The final-year business management undergraduate with the Singapore Institute of Management and RMIT University said: "I was considering quitting football after I complete my degree later this year.

"But this goal and the encouragement I've been getting will make it harder to leave."

Kwok's incredible volley is just reward for the 1.74-metre midfielder, who had to work his way back after an eight-month lay-off because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

His return to form and fitness has coincided with the Geylang's upturn in fortunes as the Eagles were on a seven-match unbeaten streak before Thursday's match.

However, Kwok is not expecting a national call-up.

He said: "Of course, it is every player's dream of breaking into the national team.

"I'll continue to give of my best and if the national coach thinks I fit his plans. That would be nice.

"But I'm not going to get carried away just because of this one goal. I still think I can perform better."

Under pressure from Aliff Shafaein, Albirex goalkeeper Kazuki Kishigami makes a hasty clearance off Kento Fujihara's back pass only as far as Fabian Kwok, who thumps a volley right back into the top corner.

davidlee@sph.com.sg

This article was published on May 10 in The New Paper.

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