Zikos Chua Explained

Zikos Chua
Fullname:Vasileios Zikos Chua Ming Xun
Birth Date:15 April 2002
Birth Place:Kastoria, Greece
Height:1.84 m
Currentclub:Geylang International
Clubnumber:20
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:2014–2017
Youthclubs1:National Football Academy
Youthyears2:2017–2018
Youthclubs2:Geylang International
Years1:2018–
Clubs1:Geylang International
Caps1:21
Goals1:5
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Young Lions (loan)
Caps2:23
Goals2:9
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Singapore U14
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Singapore U16
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:8
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Singapore U19
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:Singapore U23
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:1
Club-Update:17:14, 3 November 2019 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:17:14, 3 November 2019 (UTC)

Vasileios Zikos Chua Ming Xun (born 15 April 2002) is a Singaporean-Greek professional footballer who plays as a forward for Singapore Premier League club Geylang International.[1]

Chua holds the record of being the youngest player to score four goals in a single Singapore Premier League's match history at 20 years and 114 days.

Early life

Chua was born in Greece to a Greek mother and a Chinese Singaporean father and grew up in Kastoria, Macedonia, Greece,[2] with his younger brother, before returning to Singapore when he was 10.[3] He was a student at Tanjong Katong Secondary School when he made his first bow as a professional footballer.[4] Chua studied at Nanyang Junior College.[5]

Club career

Youth

Chua started his career with the National Football Academy before he was signed by former Geylang International head coach Mohd Noor Ali for the club's Under-19 side in 2017. He has also represented Singapore at various levels and was nominated for The New Paper Dollah Kassim Award in 2017.

While playing for the National Football Academy, Chua was also representing his school, Tanjong Katong Secondary School, in the National "C" Division, scoring 26 goals in 2016 to help his school win the title.[6] He was named in Goal Singapore's 2020 NxGn list following his sublime performances for Geylang International.[7]

Geylang International

On 4 July 2018, Chua came on as a late substitute in Geylang International's 3–1 win over Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium for his professional debut at the age of 16, Chua eclipsed the previous record set by Hariss Harun as the youngest ever debutant in the Singapore Premier League.[8] [9] He was the youngest player to ever play in the country's top tier of soccer and is the third-youngest scorer in the history of Singapore's professional league.[10]

On 14 April 2019, Chua became the third youngest scorer in Singapore Premier League history, at 16 years and 364 days, after Hariss Harun and Fareez Farhan.[11] He would than scored a brace in a 2–1 win over Warriors FC on 23 June 2019. Chua kept his exploits by becoming the youngest player ever to reach the five-goal mark in league history, at 17 years and 102 days on 27 July 2019.[12] As of April 2020, Chua has scored 5 goals in 13 matches for the Eagles. His talent would not go un-noticed as he was picked up by J.League side Matsumoto Yamaga on a training stint.[13]

However Chua would suffer an ACL injury in 2019, setting him back.[14]

Chua would returned to Geylang International on 14 January 2024 after he completed his National Services. On 14 June 2024, he scored a brace in a 6–2 win over Hougang United.

Young Lions (loan)

In January 2022, Chua joined Young Lions on loan while serving his compulsory National Services with the Singapore Armed Forces. He scored his first goal for the club on 19 March 2022 in a 4–3 lost against Balestier Khalsa. On 7 August 2022, Chua scored a poker in a 4–2 win over Tanjong Pagar United which was also his first career hat-trick. However on 24 August 2022, he suffered a Cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out for a year.

On 29 July 2023, Chua returned to action coming on as a substitution and scoring a goal in a 6–2 lost against Hougang United.

International career

Chua was born in Greece to a Greek mother and a Chinese Singaporean father which make him eligible to represent Greece or Singapore at international level.

Youth

Chua was first called up to the Singapore U22 in 2019 for the 2019 Merlion Cup. He made his debut for the team on 7 June 2019, in a 3–0 win against Philippines U23.[15]

On 31 July 2019, Singapore U18 head coach Fadzuhasny Juraimi named Chua in the Singapore squad for 2019 AFF U18 Youth Championship.[16]

Personal life

Chua younger brother, Christos Chua is also a professional footballer currently playing for Geylang International under-21 side while serving his National Services.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Geylang International2018S.League20000020
20191150000115
20205000000050
20212000000020
Total205000000205
Young Lions2022Singapore Premier League198000000198
20234110000051
Total239100000249
Geylang International2024–25Singapore Premier League3200000032
Total3200000032
Career total42141000004314

International

U23 International caps

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 7 June 2019 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore3-0 (won)2019 Merlion Cup
2 9 June 2019 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore1-0 (won)2019 Merlion Cup
3 25 October 2021 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore2-2 (draw) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
4 28 October 2021 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore1-0 (won) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
5 7 May 2022 Thiên Trường Stadium, Nam Định, Vietnam2–2 (draw) 2021 Southeast Asian Games
6 9 May 2022 Thiên Trường Stadium, Nam Định, Vietnam0–5 (lost) 2021 Southeast Asian Games
7 11 May 2022 Thiên Trường Stadium, Nam Định, Vietnam1–0 (won) 2021 Southeast Asian Games
8 14 May 2022 Thiên Trường Stadium, Nam Định, Vietnam2–2 (draw) 2021 Southeast Asian Games
9 6 Sept 2023Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam0-3 (lost) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
10 9 Sept 2023Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam1-1 (draw) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
11 11 Sept 2023Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam2-2 (draw) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification

U16 International caps

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 17 March 2017 Po Kong Village Road Park, Hong Kong0-6 (lost)2017 Jockey Cup
2 18 March 2017 Po Kong Village Road Park, Hong Kong1-5 (lost)2017 Jockey Cup
3 19 March 2017 Po Kong Village Road Park, Hong Kong3-0 (won)2017 Jockey Cup
4 20 September 2017 Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Indonesia 1-6 (lost)2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
5 22 September 2017 Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Indonesia 0-11 (lost)2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
6 24 September 2017 Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Indonesia 8-1 (won)2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
7 1 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 1-2 (lost)2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
8 3 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 1-2 (lost)2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
9 5 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 0-4 (lost)2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
10 7 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 5-0 (won)2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship

U16 International goals

No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 March 2017 Po Kong Village Road Park, Hong Kong1-0 3-0 (won)2017 Jockey Cup
2 19 March 2017 Po Kong Village Road Park, Hong Kong3-0 3-0 (won)2017 Jockey Cup
3 24 September 2017 Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Indonesia 5-0 8-1 (won)2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
4 24 September 2017 Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Indonesia 8-1 9-1 (won)2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
5 1 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 1-2 1-2 (lost) 2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
6 3 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 1-2 1-3 (lost) 2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
7 7 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 1-0 5-0 (won) 2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
8 7 August 2018 Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium, Indonesia 2-0 5-0 (won) 2018 AFF U-16 Youth Championship

Honours

International

Singapore U22

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geylang teen Zikos Chua, 16, eclipses Hariss Harun as youngest ever debutant in Singapore Premier League . 5 July 2018 . 3 March 2019 . Football Association Singapore . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043953/http://www.fas.org.sg/competitions/geylang-teen-zikos-chua-eclipses-hariss-harun-youngest-ever-debutant-singapore-premier-league/ . 6 March 2019 . live.
  2. Web site: "I Feel Greek, I Feel Singaporean" says 17-year-Old Soccer Wonder . 23 January 2024 . www.greekreporter.com.
  3. Web site: Meet Zikos Chua: Singapore's very own Greek god in the making inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo. Goal.com. en.
  4. Web site: 22 July 2018 . Zikos Chua is the rare Chinese player Singapore football needs for the future . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044736/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/singapore-football/916497/zikos-chua-is-the-rare-chinese-player-singapore-football-needs-for-the-future/ . 6 March 2019 . 3 March 2019 . FOX Sports.
  5. Web site: 2020-05-27 . Meet Zikos Chua: Singapore's very own Greek god in the making inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo (exclusive) . 2024-08-20 . www.goal.com . en-SG.
  6. Web site: New school football kingpins. hermes. 2016-09-04. The Straits Times. en. 2019-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230154523/http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/schools/new-school-football-kingpins. 2016-12-30. live.
  7. Web site: From Ilhan Fandi to Farhan Zulkifli - Meet the future of Singapore. Goal.com.
  8. Web site: Geylang teen Zikos Chua, 16, eclipses Hariss Harun as youngest ever debutant in Singapore Premier League - Football Association of Singapore. www.fas.org.sg. en. 2019-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043953/http://www.fas.org.sg/competitions/geylang-teen-zikos-chua-eclipses-hariss-harun-youngest-ever-debutant-singapore-premier-league/. 2019-03-06. live.
  9. Web site: 2020-03-03 . From Hariss Harun to Khairin Nadim - Meet Singapore Premier League's youngest debutants Goal.com English Saudi Arabia . 2024-01-22 . www.goal.com . en-SA.
  10. Web site: "I Feel Greek, I Feel Singaporean" says 17-year-Old Soccer Wonder (video) .
  11. Web site: Singapore Premier League Week 6: Roundup - Football Association of Singapore. www.fas.org.sg. en. 2019-04-15.
  12. Web site: AIA Singapore Premier League. www.facebook.com. en. 2019-07-28.
  13. News: Lee . David . 2019-07-30 . Football: Geylang International youngster Vasileios Zikos Chua earns training stint in Japan . 2024-01-22 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
  14. Web site: 15 August 2019 . Zikos Chua confirmed to have suffered an ACL injury . Goal.com.
  15. Web site: Vasileios Zikos Chua, 17, included in Fandi Ahmad's Merlion Cup squad .
  16. Web site: Fadzuhasny Juraimi names Singapore squad for AFF U18 Championship .