For many young athletes, the dream of playing football overseas may feel out of reach—but not for this Singaporean footballer, whose journey took her from local training grounds to the elite fields of IMG Academy in the United States.
Chloe Koh has always dreamed of playing football overseas, she just didn’t know when the opportunity would finally come her way. It was in 2023, when the then 16-year-old became one of the eight inaugural recipients of the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) Scholarship. While some headed to Spain, Chloe booked a one way ticket to Bradenton, Florida to play and study at the IMG Academy.
"At that point in time, I knew I always wanted to go overseas that year,” she shared.
“Prior to the UTR! Scholarship, I was already looking to go to the UK for school, but the financial part of it was in doubt. So when the scholarship came about and I got the offer, I was like ‘I have to go for it.’”
Finding balance and purpose in uncharted waters
Transitioning to IMG Academy, which has produced professional footballers like Erika Tymrak and Josh Sargent, came with its own challenges and rewards. A typical day starts with school from 7:40am to 11:20am, followed by lunch and training that can stretch into the evening depending on the day.
“It was a really nice transition. In Singapore, the workload was insane. I’d get back home from training at 10pm, do homework until midnight and sleep at 1am, only to wake at 5am again the next morning,” recounted Chloe.
In contrast, her current schedule in the U.S. offers her time to recover, reflect, and recharge.
“I think there’s a proper balance between school and football in America. In Singapore, education always comes first but in the U.S., there’s an equal amount of both and you have so many student-athletes across many different sports. If I’ve had a long day at school, I have a break in between lessons and training to take time for myself too,” shared the forward on her schedule.
“The rest of the evening is to ourselves so it’s a really good balance between school, sport and my personal life.”
While the improved balance between academics and football was a welcome change for Chloe, adjusting to a completely new country, culture, and the heightened intensity of the game initially proved challenging. Still, she knew she had no choice but to face it head-on.
“For me, it was like, ‘I have to do this, I’m here for a reason’,” she said.
“If I didn’t suck it up and go through whatever I wasn’t used to, I would suffer for the rest of my time there.”
Then, just a day before the college showcase—where colleges around the country come to scout players—Chloe found her resilience being tested once again.
This time, injury struck. The forward found herself on the sidelines for a month after tearing her ankle ligaments in training. It could have broken the Singaporean, and while it did shake her confidence at first, Chloe realised it was all part and parcel of what she loved doing most.
“Now that it’s happened, I just have to deal with it,” she recounted saying to herself at the time.
“It’s how much I wanted to return to the field that kept me going. There was a timeline of four weeks until playoffs in December, so that really motivated me to work hard in rehab.”
For Chloe, the key to overcoming injury lies in keeping sight of the bigger picture. It’s not just about the setback — it’s about what comes after.
“You know how injuries are part of the game. Injuries are bound to happen so you just have to get through it. So, it’s more about looking ahead and seeing that you have a hunger of being back on the field. That’s going to keep you going through all the hard times.”
The Singapore Foundation
Her success abroad didn’t happen in isolation. Back home, the Singapore Sports Hub and Kallang Football Hub (KFH) provided the infrastructure and environment that set the stage for her overseas adventure.
“I trained six times a week in Singapore. For national team training, we train at KFH’s sheltered and outdoor pitches,” she said.
“What I like about KFH is that the field is really nice to play on. It’s also convenient as my house is a five-minute drive!”
Beyond proximity and quality, it’s the comprehensive ecosystem that matters. “I think Sports Hub has multiple facilities catered to football—KFH, National Stadium, Singapore Sports Institute. All of these will really boost the interest in kids.”
As someone who once sat in the stands of the National Stadium watching the men’s national team, she knows all too well the power of inspiration.
“When I was younger, I used to watch the national team play at the National Stadium and I was inspired by that. The National Stadium is a big thing for Singapore for sports and many other events. If we can play at the National Stadium then little girls will see it and say, “I want to play here.”’
Living the Dream and Giving Back
Despite being focused on her own journey, she’s already thinking about giving back to Singapore football—which has given her the fuel to pursue what she loves most.
“As a footballer, my dream is to keep representing Singapore for as long as I can and give back to the local scene as much as possible.”
Her story is one of vision, grit, and transformation—from Kallang to Florida, from intense late nights in Singapore to balanced days in the U.S. As she continues her journey, she remains grounded by where she came from and driven by where she’s going.
“For me, it’s really about living life and seeing where it takes me.”
