“Having a competition like the AFC Champions League Two is a great opportunity for a lot of clubs to have a chance to play in a really high level standard of football,” said Duric.

“It was a great tournament all the way with great balance, you have teams who really can progress and there's a lot of unexpected scorelines, and so everybody has a chance to win and go to the final.

“This kind of competition gives exposure to the clubs, to the country and to the leagues. The clubs push themselves to become champions and pursue the dream to play in this competition.”

In his playing days, Duric had turned out for Home United, Armed Forces and Tampines Rovers but Geylang United was where the striker flexed his muscles in the continental’s second-tier club competition.

The AFC Cup 2014 campaign saw Geylang United recover from an opening defeat to India’s East Bengal to qualify to the knockout stage as Group E runners-up with Duric scoring two goals in back-to-back wins against Negeri Sembilan.

The lanky striker then got into his element in the quarter-finals, scoring in both legs as Geylang defeated Perak FA 5-3 on aggregate, with Duric notching the opener in the 1-1 semi-final first leg tie against Syria’s Al Wahda.

A narrow defeat in the second leg put paid to Geylang’s hopes of reaching the final, which is why it gave Duric great pleasure to see Lion City Sailors FC’s run to the AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 final.

“I was proud, first of all, to have a team in the final and to organise the final in Singapore was a great opportunity to boost local football and bring the fans to watch this tournament. Actually, we were really unlucky in the final.

“I watched the competition closely last season, especially in the games Sailors played. Being a former striker, I usually watch the attacking players more than the rest of the team.

“Shawal Anwar did a really great job. For a local boy to score eight goals, he really carried the team in crucial moments and at times, not even as a starter. I thought he played really well, showing that some local boys also can shine and make their name on the international stage, which is important.”

For the 2025/26 season, Sailors and Tampines Rovers FC will once again represent Singapore in the AFC Champions League Two with Duric drawing them into Group G and H respectively during the glittering event on August 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m really hopeful for Sailors and also Tampines for the new season. Tampines actually changed their management, so hopefully they will prepare a much better team especially now that the foreign players quota has been increased to seven.”

The development of football in Southeast Asia in recent times has not eluded Duric and having been involved with the game in the region for such a long time, he understands the capability and possibility of even further growth, one which he is hopeful can be attained via this competition.

“If we look from a wider sense, not just Singapore, but Southeast Asia itself, you see Sailors making the final last season, JDT (Johor Darul Ta’zim) winning the AFC Cup years before and going far in Elite.

“What I would like to see is more clubs getting to the continental stage and not just the same clubs every season because that would mean the domestic leagues are thriving.

“Also at the moment, it's only one or two clubs per country that gets into this competition. If there can be room for expansion in the future with more clubs able to participate, then I feel that can have a great impact on each of the local leagues.”