Singapore Premier League Star Tomoyuki Doi Aims High for Comeback Season
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Premier League (SPL) is buzzing again, and it's all thanks to one man's incredible comeback. Tomoyuki Doi, the 2024 Player of the Year, is back with Geylang International, and he's making his presence felt.
In his SPL debut, Doi scored a goal and provided an assist against Balestier Khalsa, helping his team to a 2-2 draw on May 10. After a few rocky years in Japan's J3 League and Albania's top flight, the Japanese striker is eager to revive his career in the SPL.
Doi spent the last three years seeking a comeback, aiming to become a top player. Though offers came from Asean countries, he needed time to recover from a 2023 ankle injury. With the SPL season starting in May, Doi says it was a no-brainer to return.
Geylang International was the first to make him an offer, and Doi believes he can re-utilize his strengths in the SPL, where his out-and-out striker style suits the league better than Japanese leagues, where strikers are more versatile.
Doi had scored four goals in 18 appearances for Fujieda MYFC in Japan before playing only eight matches for FK Bylis in Albania in 2023. Despite the tough times, he would have regretted not coming back to the SPL.
The 26-year-old vividly remembers his time in Singapore, where he won the SPL title with Albirex Niigata in 2020, bagged the Golden Boot with 19 goals for the Cheetahs in 2021, and scored 11 goals in 14 appearances.
With former Albirex teammate Ryoya Taniguchi and Frenchman Vincent Bezecourt supporting him upfront, Doi aims to score more than one goal per game with Geylang.[1][2]
"In more difficult games, I want to do something special to change the atmosphere of the stadium," he said.[3] The Eagles coach, Noor Ali, says Doi suits the way he wants to play, and is hoping to improve on last season's fifth-place finish.[4]
Tampines, who beat Albirex 3-1 on May 12, will have their work cut out keeping Doi on a tight leash. He's scored eight goals in five matches against them, his best tally against SPL clubs.[5]
But Doi isn't just eyeing scoring streaks. He wants his name in the league's history books. "I want to be a legend here," he said. "If you ask people who the SPL's best striker was (in the future), I want everybody to say Tomoyuki Doi."[6]
Sources:
[1] Enrichment Data - Career Resurgence Highlights - Record-Breaking Goals
[2] Enrichment Data - Career Resurgence Highlights - Awards and Recognition
[3] Enrichment Data - Career Resurgence Highlights - Hat-Tricks
[4] Enrichment Data - Impact on the League
[5] Enrichment Data - Notable Scorelines
[6] Enrichment Data - Career Resurgence Highlights - Future Aspirations
Football is back in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) spotlight, as former Player of the Year Tomoyuki Doi returns with Geylang International, bringing his scoring and assisting abilities. After a rocky stint in Japan's J3 League and Albania's top flight, Doi is eager to revive his career in the SPL, where his out-and-out striker style may find better success.
