SINGAPORE — Three years ago, Adam Swandi was sitting at the back of the bus with his headphones on, happily crooning American band Fun’s hit song We Are Young before a training stint at Japan’s Albirex Niigata Football Club arranged by the Singapore Sports School.

But beyond its catchy tune and lyrics — it included a line that went “so let’s set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun” — the song probably did not mean much to Adam at that time.

Now though, that could resonate differently.

With his eye for that killer pass and his ability to kick equally well with both feet, Adam could set Singapore alight by helping to finally nab that elusive first gold medal in the men’s football at the upcoming SEA Games here.

Currently back in Japan for a week-long training tour with Singapore’s provisional 25-man national under-23 side, he is vying to make the cut for head coach Aide Iskandar’s final 20-man squad for the Games.

Results have not been going their way in recent months, with the latest being Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Japanese fourth division side Azul-Claro Numazu in Shizuoka.

But speaking on Sunday before the team left for Japan, Adam told TODAY the SEA Games is a huge opportunity for them to make history.

“It is a huge opportunity for us (to win gold), especially since we’re playing at home,” he said.

“We do feel the pressure, but I hope the team channels that positively, because there is history to be made. Personally, the expectations shown by the fans spur me on and make me feel like working even harder to do them and the country proud.”

The son of former Singapore international forward Swandi Kitto, Adam began training under former national goalkeeper Yaacob Hashim around the age of four.

Adam, 19, first caught the eye in 2011 when he captained Singapore to a third-place finish at the biennial under-16 competition Lion City Cup.

In a bid to maximise the obvious potential of arguably the country’s brightest young talent since Fandi Ahmad, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) arranged trials for him at various top European clubs — its efforts culminated in Adam securing a two-year contract with French Ligue 2 side FC Metz in 2013.

If selected, the forthcoming SEA Games will be the perfect stage for him to really show what he can do and stake a claim for a regular place in Singapore national coach Bernd Stange’s side.

As part of preparations for the Games, Singapore’s national under-23 team recently completed a nine-day centralised training stint at the Singapore Sports School, before departing on Sunday for their training tour of Japan.

They are scheduled to face the Shizuoka Sangyo University in their second and final friendly match in Japan today before they return home on Sunday, where two further friendly matches have been lined up, before Aide decides on his final squad for the Games.

The previous time Singapore reached the SEA Games final was in 1989, when they lost 3-1 to Malaysia. The target this time is to reach the final again on June 15 at the National Stadium.

Singapore are in Group A with Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, which are their first opponents on June 1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Tournament favourites and record 14-time champions Thailand are in Group B with Malaysia, Laos and Timor Leste.

While Aide has remained tight-lipped on who could make his final 20-man squad, the likes of attacking midfielder Irfan Fandi — he scored Singapore’s solitary goal against Azul-Claro Numazu on Thursday — defender Shakir Hamzah, midfielder Safirul Sulaiman, forward Sahil Suhaimi and Adam are expected to get the nod.

Noted for his two-footedness, technique and vision, Adam stressed there are still aspects of his game he needs to work on, especially in the areas of physical strength and defensive awareness.

“I hope to show the coach that I deserve a place in the first 11. I also need to improve physically because I’m not the biggest player, so I’m brushing up on the physical aspect of my game to be able to go in harder for challenges.”

But the former Singapore Sports School student insists he has enough confidence in his abilities to take the lead on and off the pitch whenever needed.

“It is true the team will look to the senior players such sa Al-Qaasimy (Rahman) and Shakir (Hamzah) for leadership at the Games,” said Adam.

“But on the pitch, everyone is equal. For example, I’ve also been sharing my own experiences and whatever I’ve learnt in France with the rest of the team.

“We have bonded very well and so it doesn’t matter if you’re a youngster or not; if there comes a time when I feel like I need to say or do something to try and pick the team up, I’ll do it.”

Adam’s football may not “set the world on fire”, but it would send Singapore into a frenzy if it helps his country to a historic first SEA Games gold medal in the sport on June 15.