On June 14, in the World Cup Qualifier play-off, Singapore lost 1-3 to Thailand, but goalkeeper Sunny put on an exceptional performance with several miraculous saves, indirectly contributing to China’s advancement to the next round.
Sunny quickly gained popularity in China, and many Chinese fans showed their support by making donations to his coconut rice business. In an interview, Sunny expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m very thankful for the support I’ve received these days, it really demonstrates the passion of Chinese football fans.” When asked about how he plans to handle the donations, he stated that he would donate them to a charity organization.
When queried about the possibility of playing for a Chinese club, Sunny commented, “I’m 40 years old, why not consider it? Opportunities don’t come around often. With such strong support from Chinese fans, this isn’t something that happens every day. If I feel it’s a better choice for me and my family, I’ll accept the contract.”
Addressing rumors online about receiving a massive sum of 5.8 million Singapore dollars (approximately 31.1 million RMB) in donations per day, Sunny jokingly dismissed the claim, saying, “If I were getting that much money every day, I’d tear up my contract today and stop playing football.”