SINGAPORE — When Tanjong Katong Secondary School (TKSS) claimed their first-ever National Inter-School “B” Division football title yesterday, there was a sense of optimism among the school’s coaches and players that it will not be the last.

At Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday, TKSS edged out defending champions and school football powerhouses Hong Kah Secondary School (HKSS) 1-0, thanks to a header from defender Lucas Ng in the 13th minute from a set piece.

HKSS looked out-of-sorts in the first half, but when they settled into the second half of the 80-minute match and started posing a real threat with their incessant attacking, it was too little too late.

The win was made all the more significant as, in the past 10 years, only two schools have won the “B” Division football title — HKSS and the Singapore Sports School — with the former claiming it four times since 2006.

“I think this could mark the start of an era whereby a new school, a third school, can rise up to challenge the two powerhouses for the national football title,” said TKSS coach Khidhir Kamis, who only joined TKSS in September last year.

“Hong Kah played really well and gave us quite a few scares with their attacking, but we showed that it is possible to beat them.

“The boys were really nervous throughout the match, but what I have installed over the past few months is a more solid structure for the team, which they tried to follow. I also emphasised discipline in the team, and I think their hard work has paid off today.”

The confidence from Khidhir, 30, who is a former coach at the Centre of Excellence (COE) at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), also stems from what he regards as the school’s commitment to grow the sport of football.

Over the past year, TKSS has not only brought in Khidhir, but also Azahari Aziz, who is a coach at the Football Association of Singapore’s Centre-of-Excellence programme. Its coaching set-up also includes former Singapore international goalkeeper Rezal Hassan and former Lions winger Mohd Noor Ali.

“Over the past two to three years, we changed quite a few head coaches. It was a bit difficult each time to adjust to the new coach’s style of play,” said match-winner Lucas. “There is some sense of continuity in the team now, and hopefully this will continue.”

While HKSS captain Muhd Nur Danial credited TKSS for a good match, he voiced his disappointment.

“A lot of the boys in the team today have been past champions of the schools’ football title for the past three years, from ‘C’ Division until the ‘B’ Division. To lose the title in our last year at the school is disappointing,” said the 16-year-old.

“But Hong Kah has always been good in football, and the school will definitely bounce back.”