Brothers Kyen and Tylan Sasikumar are boys from a tiny island with big dreams and the world at their feet.
At the Atlético de Madrid Academy trials in Spain, Kyen and Tylan Sasikumar played their hearts out. After securing their spots on the youth team two years ago, the real work began. The boys knew it was hard to get in and even harder to stay in the team. They’re navigating a competitive environment with a higher intensity and a faster rhythm of play than they are used to.
“No te rindas. Sigue trabajando,” Tylan says fluently in Spanish, which means, “Don’t give up. Keep working.” The mantra keeps their head in the game as they hustle to score their ultimate goal of playing professionally in the big leagues.
The family uprooted their lives in Singapore and moved to Spain to give their sons the opportunity to train in Europe, where football isn’t just a game—it’s tradition.
The boy’s father, a former professional football player, helps facilitate their ambitions. Ramu Sasikumar represented his home country, Singapore, and is remembered for scoring the winning goal at the ASEAN Football Federation Championship 1998. Now, he’s a proud father who doubles as their live-in coach.
Kyen and Tylan’s ultimate goal is to play in La Liga and represent Singapore at the World Cup. They believe anything is possible with hard work and unwavering support from their family.
