Gabriel Quak in Warriors colours in 2018 (Photo: Warriors FC)

SINGAPORE, 19 FEBRUARY 2019 – Singapore international Gabriel Quak will ply his trade at home this season in Warriors FC colours in the 2019 Singapore Premier League (SPL).

The 28-year-old returns to join the record nine-time league champions after spending last season with Thai top-flight side Navy FC.

Quak became the first Singaporean to score in the Thai League 1 during his stint and recorded four goals and one assist in 23 appearances.

According to FOX Sports Asia, the loyalty shown by Warriors – whom he signed for at the start of the 2018 season before the Thai offer came in – was a key reason in him turning down other offers.

“It all felt very right to join Warriors because of the faith that the club hierarchy had shown,” Quak said. “I already started training with the club at the start of 2018 but when the offer to play in Thailand came in, the club allowed me to chase my dream at Navy and when they found out I was thinking of returning to Singapore, they welcomed me back in with open arms.”

Photo: Warriors FC

The Lions winger, who has three goals in 27 international appearances and was involved in last year’s AFF Suzuki Cup, added that family commitments played a major role in the decision to stay in Singapore. Having missed out on much of his first-born’s childhood moments, Quak wants to spend more time at home with his wife expecting a second child.

“When my first child Gladys was born, I went on national team duty when she was just three-days old and then I spent 2018 in Thailand… There are things money can’t buy, like watching your baby grow up, especially in the first few months. I want to be here to support my wife and ensure my kids settle in before looking to play abroad again,” he said.

The former Young Lions, LionsXII and Geylang International attacker has trained with Warriors for over a week and is returning to “peak condition” as he looks to do well with the team.

“The ideal scenario will be if we can be right there at the top and qualify for the AFC tournaments like the AFC Cup or Champions League qualification,” he said.

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