On Monday morning, the hall at Victoria Junior College buzzed with anticipation, laughter and a quiet sense of pride. Students leaned forward in their seats as two familiar names, once called out during morning attendance, returned, this time as national figures.

Singapore men’s national football team head coach Gavin Lee and Singapore men’s national team midfielder Glenn Kweh were back at their alma mater, not to relive past glories, but to share a journey shaped by doubt, discipline and belief. “First and foremost, I just want to thank everybody for welcoming Glenn and I,” Lee said as he settled into his seat on stage. “This is very special for us.”

Despite his composed presence, the moment stirred old memories. “To be honest, I’m very nervous right now,” he admitted with a laugh. “It brings back a lot of memories. I’m suddenly very conscious of my attire — I’m worried someone’s going to shout at me for my hair.”

Beside him, Kweh scanned the hall with a smile, taking in a space once filled with his own anxieties and ambitions. “It’s amazing to be back,” he said. “Just yesterday, there was a lot of exercise — people shouting at me, making me run faster along the field. Football played a big role in my time here, and I’m just really grateful and happy to be back.”

As the conversation unfolded, both men spoke candidly about life as student-athletes — a reality many in the hall are currently navigating. “It’s actually not easy,” Kweh said. “A lot of sacrifices had to be made. Personally, it wasn’t easy managing training and studies at the same time. But with good time management and discipline, it’s doable. Those are things I learned here.”

That honesty resonated with Ray Peh, a second-year Victoria Junior College student and Tampines Rovers player. “Coming into JC, I knew the workload was going to be harder,” Peh said. “Especially this year, with A-Levels, there’s definitely more stress and more academic workload.”

Still, hearing Kweh speak offered reassurance. “As Glenn said, with good time management and discipline, I believe I’ll be able to get through this year with both my studies and football.”

For Lee, the academic struggle was deeply personal — and far from distant.“My two years in VJ were a rollercoaster,” he said. “Academics were tough. Physics, chemistry, economics — I didn’t understand half of it. Football was my escape.”

There were moments when giving up felt inevitable. “I almost gave up,” Lee admitted. “And honestly, that would’ve been the easiest thing to do.”

Asked what stopped him, Lee did not hesitate. “Support,” he said simply. “The A-Levels were one of the most stressful periods of my life, even more stressful than big games. But I had supportive friends, teammates and teachers who helped me through.”

One teacher, in particular, left a lasting impression. “Mr Tan always said, ‘Discipline is the bridge between goals and dreams,’” Lee recalled. “He told us, ‘If you say you’re going to do something, finish it. Even if you don’t feel like doing it, you still do it.’ That stayed with me.”

That lesson, he explained, mirrors football itself. “In football, we play with 11, but we have a squad of 30, the staff, and the fans. If you try to go on this journey alone, it’s impossible. But when everyone comes together, there will always be hope.”

That sense of collective belief came alive during the national team’s Asian Cup qualifying journey. “In Hong Kong, at the corner of the stadium, there were about 3,000 Singapore fans,” Lee recalled. “We knew they’d be there regardless. That support helped us deliver and bring the result home.”

Kweh echoed the sentiment, speaking candidly about what it means to wear the national jersey. “Only a small percentage of players get to represent Singapore, so it fills me with pride and gratitude,” he said. “The fans are always behind us, whether we’re doing well or badly. Their support pushes us to run harder, fight harder and play for the country.”

But the path to that stage was far from straightforward. “There was a period when I had to stop football temporarily,” Kweh shared. “I wasn’t sure if I’d make it.”

The decision was not taken lightly. “I spoke to my family and thought about it for a long time,” he said. “The reality in Singapore is that there’s always a chance you might not make it. That’s why it’s important to have a backup.”

Stepping away, he added, changed his perspective. “After being out of competitive football for a while, getting the chance again made me count my blessings. I’ve become much stronger mentally and more resilient.”

Even now, doubt remains part of the journey. “There are always eyes on you,” Kweh said. “You’re constantly judged. When things don’t go well, people talk. But doubt is normal. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Looking out at the students, he paused. “I was once 18, sitting where you are now. Instead of focusing on the end point, set goals along the journey. Be a better person every day.”

Among those listening closely was Thanya Kathiravan, a Year 2 student and captain of the Victoria Junior College women’s football team. “I’m really honoured that they came to speak to us,” Thanya said. “Knowing that both of them were former Victorians — that they were once in our place — really inspired me.”

A versatile player who features in midfield or as a striker, Thanya traced her love for football back to family. “I’m a Liverpool fan, my whole family is Liverpool fans,” she said with a laugh. “Apparently, the first thing I wore when I was born was a Liverpool kit. From then on, my dad would always bring a ball, and I just kept kicking it around with my family.”

“That’s how I fell in love with the sport,” she added. “It brought my family closer together.” Seeing Lee and Kweh’s journeys reframed what felt possible. “Knowing that they’ve excelled both academically and in sports really inspired me to believe that I could also be there one day,” she said. One message stood out most clearly. “The biggest takeaway for me was that the journey isn’t going to be easy or smooth,” Thanya said. “You’ve got to set goals, push through, and support is very important.”

That support, she noted, extends beyond the classroom or the pitch. “Knowing that you have people beside you — through your losses and your wins — is reassuring. It reminds you that you’re not alone and helps you get through the rough journey.”

It also reshaped how she viewed the role of fans. “Knowing that support is very important to them when they’re playing, we should come together as one country and support them whether they win or lose,” she said. “Knowing the nation is behind them can really help them perform better.”

For Lee, inspiring belief early is essential to the future of the sport. “Glenn and I are only here because of those before us,” he said. “Engaging students at this level is fundamental. They are the future.”

It is also about showing that football can be a real path, not the only one, but a valid one. “If someone like me can survive A-Levels and become national head coach,” Lee said with a smile, “then others might feel they can do it too.”

As the session drew to a close and applause filled the hall, the impact lingered quietly — in conversations among friends, in moments of reflection, and in a renewed sense of belief. “I think all of us really look up to them,” Peh said. “Their stories inspire us to continue working hard in whatever we try to do.”

It had been a long time since the day began this way. Waking up before sunrise, arriving at school in the half-light of morning, and waiting for assembly to start. Singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge felt different that day, heavier with meaning.

When a video of the Lions’ journey towards Asian Cup qualification played on screen, the hall fell silent. Scenes from Hong Kong stirred emotions that had not faded, the tension, the belief, the shared hope of being there and witnessing it unfold.

In that moment, the distance between a school hall and an international stadium felt surprisingly small. Watching two former Victorians who once sat in the same seats return not as students, but as proof of what perseverance can become, that quiet spark of belief may well be the most meaningful victory of all.