Sugunan Perianan

Early Years

Sugunan went to Li Hua Primary School which did not have a football team. As a result, he played football on the basketball court, using items such as yakult bottles, coca cola cans and tennis balls to play. At Braddell Secondary School, he was part of his school’s football team. He helped the school team reach the finals for all four of his years there, winning two and losing two. In 1998, he started studying at ITE Pasir Panjang and was a star player at his school.

Club career

Sugunan joined the now closed Jurong FC in 1998. Recommended by his friends, he went for the club’s selection trials which 600 boys attended. Head coach at that time, Jimmy Pearson, selected Sugunan to be part of his Prime League team and made him the captain. Halfway through the season, Jimmy Pearson was sacked and V. Sundramoorthy became player-coach. Part of Jurong FC’s Prime League team, Sugunan scored a total of 14 goals and wore the #41 jersey. Towards the end of the 1998 S.League season, Sugunan was called up by Sundram to play the last two S.League games against Geylang International FC and Home United FC. In 1999, Sundram officially became player-coach which was his first official coaching job and called up Sugunan to be part of the 1999 S.League team. Sugunan played left midfield and wore the #22 jersey. During the first 1999 S.League game against Woodlands Wellington FC, Sundram injured himself at the 55th minute and made the decision to take himself off and replace himself with Sugunan. Within 10 minutes of coming on and making his debut, Sugunan scored. Jurong FC beat Woodlands Wellington FC 7-0 for their first 1999 S.League game, with the 6th and 7th goals coming from Sugunan. When Jurong FC played a Brunei and a Korean team, Sugunan scored in both those games. Whilst at the club, Sugunan was said to be the 'Next V. Sundramoorthy' but did not live up to his potential.

In 2000, Sugunan was enlisted into National Service. At the time, footballers who wanted to play club football could only play for Police FC (now known as Home United FC) or Warriors FC (Fandi Ahmad was head coach). Sugunan became the first footballer to break the NS system, playing for Balestier Khalsa FC for his last 9 months of NS and wore the #10 jersey. PN Sivaji told Lieutenant Chris Chan that Sugunan must play in the S.League and Under 23s Singapore National Team because of his talent.

Sugunan officially joined Balestier Khalsa FC in 2001 and played the whole S.League season with the club. Although they lost 4-2 to Home United FC for their first game, Sugunan scored on his debut. In 2002, Sugunan moved from Balestier Khalsa FC to Woodlands Wellington FC where the head coach was Datuk M. Karathu. Only staying with the club for one season, he moved to Sengkang Marine FC (now known as Hougang United FC) in 2003. Throughout the entire S.League season, Sugunan only missed 3 games. He scored the opening goal against Sinchi FC at the 55th minute. Sugunan scored a total of 5 goals that season and was voted Man of the Match numerous times. Whilst at Sengkang Marine FC, he played alongside players such as Stevan Tan and Amos Boon. When Sengkang Marine FC closed at the end of 2003, Sugunan moved back to Woodlands Wellington FC and played the 2004 S.League season with them.

The last S.League club Sugunan played for was Paya Lebar Punggol FC in 2005 (now known as Hougang United FC). Whilst at the club, he wore the #10 jersey. At 27 years old, he was not called up to the Singapore National Team which marked the end of his professional football career.

Coaching career

In 2010, Sugunan became the head coach of Park View Primary School where he found current U19 Singapore National Team goalkeeper, Zharfan Rohaizad who plays for the Garena Young Lions. Zharfan was playing for the school’s hockey team, but Sugunan convinced him to join the football team. Whilst at Park View Primary School, Sugunan led the football team to the East Zone finals, only losing to the hot favourites Tanjong Katong Primary School 1-2. Sugunan moved on to Radin Mas Primary School in 2011 and was the head coach for the football team.Only spending a year at the school, he moved to Geylang International FC in 2012 to coach the U14s team. As head coach, he led the team to win the Challenge Cup that year, beating Tampines Rovers FC in the finals 3-0. He went back to coaching school teams and was the head coach of Tanjong Katong Secondary School’s football team between 2013 and 2015. During his time at the school, he led the team to reach the nationals top four. Currently in 2016, Sugunan is the head coach of Tampines Rovers FC U15s team that takes part in Singapore’s COE League, playing against teams from clubs such as Home United FC, Geylang International FC and Balestier Khalsa FC.

Sport Cares

Sugunan has been working at Sport Cares since 2013, a voluntary organisation in Singapore that provides pure football training for boys and girls that come from families that are broken or have financial issues. There are a total of 60-65 boys from the junior, senior and alumni divisions. Four boys from Sports Care also play for the 2016 Tampines Rovers FC U15s team.