Courtesy: Electric New Paper


Business keeps their love alive

September 22, 2008

JEREMY Chiang is playing the field.

The 23-year-old Gombak United midfielder has turned his attention to futsal as he set up his own company in May this year.

Futsal is a version of football that requires only five players per team, compared to 11.

Helping him in his latest interest is his playmate - his girlfriend Ms Png Suyi (far right), 22.

His company, Ultimate Forte Organizer, promotes and manages futsal events, he told The New Paper. And running it takes up most of his day.

Jeremy and Suyi run the company out of the Chiangs' condominium flat in Chua Chu Kang, where he lives with his parents and older brother.

Devoted
The two are so committed to their new business that Suyi converted from a full-time student to a part-time one, so she would have more time to run it.

She is in her third and final year of business studies at the Singapore Institute of Management.

Jeremy, on the other hand, has gone back to school. 'I don't really like studying, but I wanted to upgrade myself,' he admitted.

Although he already has a diploma in engineering from Nanyang Polytechnic, he joined a course in sports management at the Asia Pacific School of Sports and Business this August.

Ultimate Forte Organizers came about because Jeremy thought Singapore did not have enough futsal events for locals.

'Most of the futsal competitions here are organised by expatriates as social events and, as a futsal player, I feel I understand the needs of local players better.'

Jeremy and Suyi have been dating for two years, and met through mutual friends.

Now they spend almost every waking moment together.

When they are not working on company matters, they 'like to drive around and explore the area, since she (Suyi) is new to it', Jeremy said.

'And we go food-hunting too,' Suyi added.

Most days, they will have lunch at one of the many coffee shops in the area.

When it comes to dinner, Jeremy and Suyi will take turns to eat at each other's houses.

She moved to nearby Bukit Timah last year, from Loyang.

Other times, according to Suyi, they will cook for themselves.

'It's more like she cooks, I eat,' Jeremy joked.

Both of them love Japanese cuisine, but only treat themselves to it once or twice a month to 'be economical', she said.

'We would like to try the authentic cuisine in Japan, but it's so expensive,' he sighed.

Their favourite leisure destination is Keppel Club, where they go once a week to relax, swim and play golf.

'She's actually teaching me to play golf,' Jeremy admitted.

But Suyi is also learning from Jeremy.

He said with a laugh: 'Before we started dating, she knew nuts about football.

'But she goes to every one of my matches, and now she knows so much that she can be a referee.'






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com