SINGAPORE: Hassan Sunny, Singapore’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, recently became an unexpected hero for China after his stellar performance helped keep China’s 2026 World Cup dreams alive.
Following this, Hassan became a sensation on China’s social media. He was hailed for his 11 saves in a man-of-the-match performance despite Singapore’s 3-1 loss to Thailand on 11 June. Thailand needed to win by three goals to overcome their goal-difference disadvantage against China, but Hassan’s efforts thwarted their campaign.
On the social media platform Weibo, the hashtag “Singapore goalie thanks Chinese fans,” accompanied by a short clip of Hassan saying “Xiexie, China,” garnered over 130 million views.
In a recent TikTok Live session, Hassan expressed his gratitude for the support from Chinese fans, sharing his joy and appreciation.
“It’s a whole new experience. The Chinese fans are on a different level,” he said. He mentioned that his phone had been vibrating nonstop for the past few days with messages and emails, making it impossible to reply to everyone.
As a veteran of the Singapore national football team, Hassan assured his commitment to continue contributing as long as he is needed.
He also expressed his intention to create a Douyin account, the Chinese version of TikTok.
When asked by TikTokers whether he had plans to visit China, Hassan shared that he had indeed received an invitation to fly to China.
“I’m so happy to announce that, though it’s yet to be confirmed, I might be going there (China) next month. I have an invitation to visit some places there, and I will know more in the days to come.”
A Chinese influencer recorded Hassan’s TikTok Live session and reshared it on Douyin (Source: 好大壮在新加坡).
Dapur Hassan in Tampines overwhelmed by Chinese fans
Following Hassan Sunny’s exceptional 11 saves in the Singapore-Thailand match, his stall in a coffee shop at Block 144 Tampines Street 12 quickly became a hotspot for Chinese fans on 12 June.
Multiple videos shared on China’s social media platforms, including Douyin and Weibo, depicted a long queue of customers in front of Hassan’s stall. Some fans started waiting as early as 7:30 AM, and everything was sold out by 1:30 PM.
The QR payment code for Hassan’s stall began circulating among Chinese fans, leading some to transfer money to the stall to express their appreciation.
Other screenshots of payment transfers shared with Sina News show that the transfer amounts ranged between S$1 and S$100.
The support was tremendous over the past few days, leading to rumours that one fan transferred over S$5 million in tips to him. Hassan had to clarify online to refute the rumour.
“If I receive this huge amount, I won’t have to train here. This is impossible, especially in Singapore, where everything is written in black and white.”
Separately, Hassan also warned fans about fake QR codes of his nasi lemak stall, urging them to cease online transfers and support him rationally.
Earlier, some Chinese football fans commented on social media that China’s advancement in the qualifiers provided an opportunity for younger footballers to gain experience.
Hassan Sunny’s journey through challenges and triumphs
Born in 1984, Hassan Sunny’s journey from a street football tournament to representing Singapore on the global stage underscores his resilience and passion for the game.
Initially hindered by struggles with asthma, Hassan began his football career later than most outfield players.
In a March interview with FIFA this year, Hassan revealed that at the age of 13, he attended a trial as a left midfielder but found himself unable to cope with the demands of the position due to his condition.
Disheartened but undeterred, fate took a turn when he noticed a scarcity of participants trying out as goalkeepers. With no prior experience or even gloves, Hassan decided to give goalkeeping a shot, a decision that would alter the course of his career.
Despite starting as the third-choice goalkeeper, Hassan’s talent was soon recognized when he participated in a street football tournament that his team won.
This victory led to an opportunity to represent Singapore in a global tournament in London, where he caught the eye of Robert Lim, then the national youth coach. Invited to a national camp, Hassan seized the chance and never looked back.
In 2000, Hassan Sunny became one of the inaugural players in Singapore’s National Football Academy, marking the beginning of his professional training and development.
Four years later, at just 19 years old, he made his debut for the Singapore national team, the Lions, marking the start of a distinguished international career.
Despite his notable injury history, Hassan Sunny always returned to the football field. One of the significant setbacks he faced was a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.
In 2017, he was sidelined after an unfortunate mid-air collision with Albirex Niigata defender Naofumi Tanaka during an S.League game.
This injury kept him out for an extended period and required extensive rehabilitation before he could resume playing. However, despite these challenges, Hassan Sunny demonstrated resilience and determination in overcoming injuries to continue his football career.
Off the pitch, Hassan has seamlessly integrated his family’s culinary heritage into his career plans, launching a nasi padang stall in Tampines.
Inspired by childhood memories spent in his uncle’s eatery, Hassan pursued his dream of owning a restaurant alongside his football career.
As Singapore’s national team goalkeeper, Hassan remains a pivotal figure, mentoring younger players and contributing to the team’s resurgence under new coaching leadership.