Hougang United FC

Hougang United
Full nameHougang United Football Club
NicknameThe Cheetahs
Short nameHGU
Founded1988; 38 years ago (1988) as Marine Castle United
2011; 15 years ago (2011) as Hougang United
GroundHougang Stadium
Capacity3,800
ChairmanBill Ng
Head coach Akbar Nawas
LeagueSingapore Premier League
2025–26Singapore Premier League, 6th of 9
Websitewww.hgfc.com.sg
Current season

Hougang United Football Club is a professional football club based in Hougang, Singapore. The club competes in the Singapore Premier League, the top tier of Singaporean football.

Founded in 1998 as Marine Castle United, the club changed its name to Hougang United in 2011. Nicknamed the Cheetahs, Hougang United has played its home games at Hougang Stadium since its formation. Throughout the club history, they have won 1 Singapore Cup in the 2022 season.

History

Beginning and breakthrough (1988–2001)

The club was founded as Marine Castle United Football Club in 1988 as a National Football League team which was formed by Newcastle United fans in the Marine Parade area. The club was nicknamed the Dolphins.

Becoming a professional club

In 1998, Marine Castle United managed to enter the S.League signing both foreigners players, Scott O'Donell and Bernard Aryee in their debut season in the professional league. However, the club struggled in its early foray, finishing in the bottom two for the next four seasons. The club's chairman during the time was Dilwant Singh.

As Sengkang Marine (2002–2004)

Marine Castle United then changed its name to Sengkang Marine Football Club in 2002. Sengkang Marine went on to finish in 8th position consecutively, its highest-ever finish. Financial difficulties forced Sengkang Marine out of the S.League in 2004.

Different identity as Paya Lebar-Punggol (2005)

In the 2005 season, Paya Lebar-Punggol was formed to replace Sinchi FC in the league. The club then went on to sign Kenan Ragipović, Moudourou Moise, Protais Bessala and Bae Jin-soo as the club foreign players for the season. However, the club finished the season at the bottom of the league with four points.

Sengkang-Punggol (2006–2011)

In January 2006, Sengkang Marine merged with Paya Lebar-Punggol to form Sengkang Punggol Football Club, with the club logo featuring a dolphin and main colour being sea blue. In September, Singapore-based Orientus Asia Hotels and Resorts became the main sponsor of the club with deal worth $250,000. The club continued to play in the league but never went higher than 10th place.

As Hougang United (2011–present)

On 1 January 2011, the chairman of Sengkang Punggol Football Club, Bill Ng, announced name change to Hougang United Football Club. In November 2014, it was announced that Hougang United and Woodlands Wellington will merge for the 2015 season. The proposed merger was unfeasible.

AFC Cup debut (2020)

Hougang United made their AFC Cup debut in the 2020 AFC Cup but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament got cancelled. They only played against Laos side, Lao Toyota, winning 1–3 at the New Laos National Stadium. The Cheetahs also qualified for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage where they played at a centralised venue, Thống Nhất Stadium. They started by winning 4–3 against Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown and 3–1 against Laos side Young Elephants, before suffering a heavy defeat to Vietnamese Viettel 5–2.

Hougang United players lifting the 2022 Singapore Cup trophy, the club's first silverware.

First silverware (2022)

On 19 November 2022, under the lead of caretaker manager Firdaus Kassim, Hougang United defeated defending champions Tampines Rovers 3–2 in the 2022 Singapore Cup final, in which Kristijan Krajček scored a hat-trick to secure The Cheetahs their first-ever silverware. The club finished 5th in the Singapore Premier League. In the 2022 AFC Cup, Hougang United was than placed in Group I alongside Cambodian club Phnom Penh Crown, Laotion club Young Elephants and Vietnamnese club Viettel. Hougang United recorded victories over Phnom Penh Crown and Young Elephants, winning 4–3 and 3–1 respectively. However, the club suffered a 2–5 defeat to Viettel which resulted in their elimination from the group stage.

Hougang United started off their 2023–24 AFC Cup campaign with a trip to Kota Kinabalu, facing Sabah on 21 September. They suffered a 3–1 away lost. However, in the next match against Haiphong at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Hougang United bounced back from 1–0 down as Đorđe Maksimović scored a brace for a 2–1 victory. Hougang United went on to have a great run in the 2023 Singapore Cup where they reached the final.

Notable foreign imports (2026–present)

While preparing for the 2026–27 season under new head coach, Akbar Nawas, HHougang United entered the transfer market to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. Hougang United managed to sign several foreign, including Lucas Cardoso, Miloš Drinčić, Connor Flynn-Gillespie, Ayman Kassimi, Sam Billington, Takahiro Koga, Koki Kawachi and Arya Igami Tarhani. The club also made headlines with the signing of former Liverpool academy player Oakley Cannonier, as well as Mahamé Siby. Alongside their foreign signings, Hougang United strengthen their squad with several established local players, including Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Amir Syafiz and Jordan Emaviwe. In their opening league match of the season on 12 September 2026, Hougang United held reigning league champions Lion City Sailors to a 2–2 draw, securing a point in their opening fixture.

Team image

Hougang HOOLs tifo - Satu Hati, Satu Hougang (One Heart, One Hougang)

Supporters

Hougang HOOLS

The club has a supporters' club known as the Hougang HOOLS (Hougang Only One Love), which was established in 2010. The hashtag #1H1H (Satu Hati Satu Hougang) featured on the 2023 jersey.

Scholarship

The Hougang United Scholarship was launched in May 2015. The scholarship aims to support and facilitate the academic development of young non-professional footballing talents.

Name history

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
2008–2009 Germany Uhlsport No sponsor
2010 Italy Diadora Singapore Westcomb Financial Group
2011England Mitre No sponsor
2012Thailand Acono
2013Singapore Waga
2014Italy Macron
2015–2016Singapore Vonda Singapore ESW Manage
2017 Malaysia Green Rubber
2018 Singapore Assisi Hospice
2019–2021 Thailand Warrix No sponsor
2022 Singapore The Physio Circle
2023Thailand Ari
2024–2025Spain Kelme No sponsor
2025–2026 Thailand Volt Singapore SuperCharge
2025–present Thailand IMANE No sponsor

Stadium

The Cheetah's home ground is Hougang Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 3,800 people. They were the tenants from 1998 until 2023, before moving out to the Jalan Besar Stadium due to renovation. It has also used Bishan Stadium as their temporary home stadium or whenever the club is playing in the AFC competition.

Affiliated clubs

Players

First-team squad

As of 13 September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF  SGP Jordan Vestering
4 DF  ECU Washington Jaramillo
5 DF  JPN Koki Kawachi
6 MF  SGP Huzaifah Aziz (vice-captain)
7 DF  SGP Zulqarnaen Suzliman (captain)
8 MF  ENG Sam Billington
9 FW  SCO Connor Flynn-Gillespie
10 MF  SGP Saifullah Akbar
11 FW  BEL Ayman Kassimi
12 MF  SGP Hilman Norhisam
13 GK  SGP Rauf Erwan
14 MF  JPN Arya Igami Tarhani
15 DF  MNE Miloš Drinčić
16 FW  THA Phutanet Somjit (on loan from Port)
17 GK  JPN Takahiro Koga
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF  SGP Aqil Yazid
19 FW  ENG Oakley Cannonier
20 DF  SGP Syady Sufwan
21 FW  SGP Amir Syafiz
22 MF  SGP Brant Tan
23 MF  SGP Khairin Nadim (on loan from Lion City Sailors)
24 GK  SGP Aizil Yazid
25 FW  SGP Jiang Zi An
26 MF  SGP Jarrel Ong
27 FW  SGP Ganesan Silloren
28 MF  SGP Denzel Ari Thrumurgan
29 DF  SGP Rauf Sanizal
31 GK  SGP Ridhuan Barudin
38 MF  THA Natthakit Phosri (on loan from Port)
77 MF  BRA Lucas Cardoso
90 FW  SGP Jordan Emaviwe

Reserve League (SPL2) squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 MF  SGP Farhan Sahlan
32 DF  SGP Afzal Halim U21
33 DF  SGP Wong Ngang Haang
37 DF  SGP Darren Teo
45 DF  SGP Nana Syed
47 FW  SGP Nigel Ho
53 GK  SGP Keith Chung U21
56 MF  MAS Lin Ze Hao
No. Pos. Nation Player
61 GK  SGP Isaac Jonathan U21
66 DF  SGP Matin Manaf
70 FW  SGP Ashvin Vela
71 DF  SGP Amir Rasyif
72 MF  SGP Christopher Lee
96 MF  SGP Aareez Eeshan
99 FW  SGP Syafi’ie Redzuan

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  SGP Ajay Robson (National Service until 2026)
68 DF  SGP Iryan Fandi (National Service until 2026, to Young Lions)

Management and staff

Position Name
Chairman Singapore Bill Ng
Vice chairman Singapore Pan Cheok Fun
General manager Singapore Dominic Wong
Team manager Thailand Prat Malarat
Head coach Singapore Akbar Nawas
Assistant coach Thailand Thongchai Rungreangles
Spain Enrique Sanchez Murillo
Singapore Thomas Pang
Goalkeeping coach Australia Scott Starr
Chief analyst Spain Carlos Álvarez Aller
Sports Trainer Singapore Razif Ariff
Head of youth TunisiaSingapore Walid Lounis
Physiotherapist Singapore Alif Jamal
Equipment officer Singapore Richard Lim

Honours

Cup

Award winners

Domestic

Records and statistics

As of 13 September 2026.

Top 10 all-time appearances

Rank Player Years Club appearances
1 Singapore Nazrul Nazari 2016–2025 210
2 Singapore Lau Meng Meng 2009–2015 174
3 Singapore Nurhilmi Jasni 2012–2018 165
4 Singapore Faizal Amir 2010–2016 146
5 Singapore Fadhil Salim 2010–2014 142
6 Singapore Azhar Sairudin 2011–2014,

2017

 138
7 Singapore Fairoz Hasan 2013–2017,

2023

 137
8 Singapore Sobrie Mazelan 2008–2014 135
9 Singapore Fazli Jaffar 2011–2014,

2015

 130
10 Guinea Mamadou Diallo 2008–2013 126

Top 10 all-time scorers

Rank Player Club appearances Total goals
1 Croatia Stipe Plazibat 57 34
Canada Jordan Webb 88
3 Guinea Mamadou Diallo 126 28
4 Croatia Dejan Račić 31 26
5 Brazil Pedro Bortoluzo 30 23
Brazil Geison Moura 32
6 Brazil Diego Gama 63 22
7 Croatia Kristijan Krajček 56 21
Singapore Shawal Anuar 68
10 Japan Tomoyuki Doi 21 19
Singapore Nurhilmi Jasni 165

Notable players

Internationally capped players

AFC/OFC
CAF
UEFA
CONMEBOL/
CONCACAF

Managerial history

The following table provides a summary of the coach appointed by the club.

Name Period Achievements
As Marine Castle United
New Zealand Alan Vest 1 January–30 July 2001
As Sengkang Marine
England Trevor Morgan 1 August 2001–30 July 2003
England Abdullah Noor 1 August–31 December 2003
As Paya Lebar Punggol
Malaysia Chow Kwai Lam 1 January–4 June 2005
China Qi Yubo 12 June–31 December 2005
As Sengkang Punggol
England Trevor Morgan 10 January 2006–19 September 2007
Japan Saswadimata Dasuki 20 September 2007–21 July 2008
Croatia Mirko Grabovac (interim) 29 July–5 October 2008
Singapore Swandi Ahmad (caretaker) 6 October–31 December 2008
Germany Jörg Steinebrunner 1 January–24 June 2009
As Hougang United
Singapore Aide Iskandar (interim) 25 June–31 December 2009
Singapore Aide Iskandar 1 January 2010–31 December 2011
Croatia Nenad Baćina 1 December 2011–30 November 2012
Singapore Johana Johari (interim) 30 November–31 December 2012
England Alex Weaver 1 January–31 March 2013
Singapore Johana Johari (caretaker) April–August 2013
Singapore Amin Nasir 21 August 2013–31 December 2014
Singapore Salim Moin 1 January–30 October 2015
Singapore Satyasagara 1 November 2015–30 November 2016
Singapore Philippe Aw January 2017–June 2018
Singapore Clement Teo June 2017–20 November 2022
Singapore Firdaus Kassim 20 November 2022–17 April 2023 2022 Singapore Cup
Croatia Marko Kraljević 17 April 2023–24 December 2024 2023 Singapore Cup runner-up
Nigeria Robert Eziakor (interim) 24 December 2024–27 October 2025
Thailand Pannarai Pansiri 27 October 2025–12 April 2026
Singapore Akbar Nawas 12 April 2026–present

Season by season record

Season Name of club League Pos. P W D L GS GA Pts Singapore Cup League Cup
1998 Marine Castle United S.League 11th 20231519449 Group stage
1999 12th 223316215612 Round of 16
2000 11th 224414184516 Round of 16
2001 11th 337620357127 Group stage
2002 Sengkang Marine 8th 3311616628439 Semi-finals
2003 8th 3378–117326638 Group stage
2004
2005 Paya Lebar Punggol S.League 10th 27112523784 Preliminary
2006 Sengkang Punggol 11th 304620327218 Quarter-finals
2007 11th 3351018396925 Quarter-finals Runners-up
2008 11th 3331020135419 Round of 16 Preliminary
2009 10th 305619265821 Round of 16 Group stage
2010 11th 337620244827 Round of 16 Semi-finals
2011 Hougang United 7th 3315315556343* Semi-finals Runners-up
2012 8th 24789313329 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
2013 10th 279315374030 Quarter-finals Group stage
2014 7th 271269494242 Preliminary Semi-finals
2015 10th 274914284221 Preliminary Semi-finals
2016 6th 249510353932 Preliminary Group stage
2017 6th 249312243130 Semi-finals Group stage
2018 Singapore Premier League 9th 242616224412 Quarter-finals
2019 3rd 24134758 4543 Group stage
2020 6th 1443719 2415
2021 3rd 21104748 4034
2022 5th 28 10 9 9 65 71 39 Winners
2023 6th 24 9 2 13 37 57 29 Runners-up
2024–25 7th 32 7 10 15 61 76 31 Group stage
2025–26 6th 21 7 0 14 24 41 21 Group stage

Continental record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2020 AFC Cup Group F Laos Lao Toyota Cancelled 3–1 3rd out of 4
Vietnam Hồ Chí Minh City 2–3 Cancelled
Myanmar Yangon United Cancelled 0–1
2022 Group I Cambodia Phnom Penh Crown 4–3 2nd out of 4
Laos Young Elephants 3–1
Vietnam Viettel 2–5
2023–24 Group H Malaysia Sabah 1–4 1–3 4th out of 4
Vietnam Hải Phòng 2–1 0–4
Indonesia PSM Makassar 1–3 1–3

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wang, Meng Meng (27 April 2000). "Castle's in the air Financial Woes Success on the pitch". The New Paper. pp. 54–55.
  2. ↑ Yeoh, En-Lai (9 December 2001). "Clubs to consider name change". The Straits Times. p. 50.
  3. 1 2 Wang, Jeanette (26 September 2006). "Sengkang-Punggol get $250,000 sponsorship". The Straits Times. p. H10.
  4. ↑ "Eight Singapore Premier League clubs to share stadiums, views divided over 'semi-permanent move'". Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Ong, Terence (4 November 2014). "Jaguars to sit out next S-League season, Rams to merge with Hougang". Asia One Sports. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "RAMS STILL ALIVE". 9 February 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
  7. ↑ Lee, David (19 November 2022). "Football: Hat-trick hero Krajcek hails late brother after helping Hougang beat Tampines in Singapore Cup final". The Straits Times. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hougang United are 2022 Singapore Cup champions! - Football Association of Singapore". spl.sg. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Lee, David (15 March 2020). "Football: Hools out for Hougang United, but Cheetahs lose despite loyal fans' backing". The Straits Times. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hougang United F.C. Scholarship". hgfc.com.sg. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Enable JavaScript to use search". www.google.com. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  12. ↑ club25football (5 June 2018). "Hougang United 2018 Home Shirt". Club 25 Football. Retrieved 19 September 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Football: Hougang United aim for better recovery and silverware with new sponsors the Physio Circle". The Straits Times. 15 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Hougang - Hougang United Football Club is delighted to welcome IMANE as our Official Apparel Partner. Beginning with the 2026/27 season, IMANE will provide apparel support to Hougang United, equipping the club for the season ahead. Built on a shared ambition to grow and succeed, this partnership represents more than just a new look. It is a commitment to the future of Hougang United. We would like to thank IMANE for their belief in the club and look forward to building a successful partnership together. Welcome to the Hougang family, IMANE. 🤝 | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "VAR to be implemented for 2023 Singapore Premier League season - Football Association of Singapore". spl.sg. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 27 December 2025.