Chinese soccer fans have shown their appreciation for Singaporean goalkeeper Hassan Sunny by flocking to his food stall and showering him with support after his stellar performance in a recent game indirectly helped China advance to the third qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup.
Sunny, a 40-year-old goalkeeper for the Singapore national team, gained overnight fame on Chinese social media following Singapore's 3-1 loss to Thailand. Had Thailand won by three goals, China would have been eliminated, but Sunny's impressive saves prevented that outcome.
Chinese fans have been enthusiastically patronizing the food stall run by Sunny and his wife in Singapore, with reports of fans buying out all the food available. Additionally, supporters in China have been sending money using the stall's QR payment code, which has been widely circulated online.
Despite being a popular spectator sport in China, the men's national soccer team has faced challenges, having only qualified for the World Cup once in 2002. Some fans have hailed Sunny as the 'best 12th player' on the Chinese team, while others have expressed concerns about potential tax implications due to the influx of money.
There have been mixed reactions on social media, with some fans feeling proud of China's advancement, while others view it as a reliance on external factors rather than the team's own abilities.
The food stall, Dapur Hassan, quickly rose to the top spot in the Singaporean snack and food section on Dianping, a popular Chinese restaurant review app. The stall specializes in 'nasi lemak,' a beloved rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves.
Fans have shared screenshots of their transactions, sending varying amounts ranging from 1 to 10 Singapore dollars, along with messages of appreciation and love for Sunny. Despite the overwhelming support, Sunny has urged fans to refrain from sending money online and cautioned against fraudulent QR codes posing as his shop's.
In a statement posted in Chinese on Thursday night, Sunny expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from Chinese fans and called for rational backing, asking fans to cease transferring money through the internet.
