PUBLISHED ONAugust 22, 2026 11:30 PMBYKhoo Yi-HangDuring the day, they set goals, manage people, grow businesses and keep a keen eye on the bottom line.
By evening, they slip into their jerseys and boots and gather on a football field to play, train and network.
Bosses United is a group of business owners in Singapore who bond over a game of football at least once a week, and which also doubles up as a networking group, its co-founder Albert Ng told AsiaOne on Tuesday (Aug 11).
Ng is the head of Docu Connex, which deals mostly in printers.
Other companies in the almost 100-strong membership roster include recognisable brands spanning various industries from food to landscaping such as Jack's Place, Way Fengshui and TEHC Group.
Bosses United plays in venues across Singapore, against corporate teams, including local banks and Singapore Airlines' cabin crew.
They take their football seriously, and even have the likes of football legend Fandi Ahmad and former national footballer Samawira Basri coaching them occasionally and giving them tips.
"We do proper training," Ng, 44, said. "We want them to learn… I also want to give them a gentle reminder that when you come here, you aren't just a boss — you're a student."
Ng started Bosses United four years ago with Bai Yaozhong when they were a part of the Bosses Network Young Chapter (BNYC), a networking group for bosses in Singapore.
Bai, 44, who runs Mei De Coffeeshop, was a founding member of BNYC in 2015 where he was chairman between 2020 and 2021.
Before his term as chairman ended, Bai came up with the idea of using football to network, tasking Ng to organise teams for games.
The idea took off, growing big enough to eventually split from BNYC.
Now Bosses United have about 100 members, Ng said, and is looking to expand the group overseas.
"Singapore's market is very small, it's also saturated… we are still in our comfort zone," Ng said, adding that bosses must step out, connect with others and learn new things to expand and survive.
"If we don't make use of the opportunities now to expose ourselves to [knowledge] from other countries, we will fall behind."
Ng asserted that playing football and training with Bosses United is an excellent opportunity for networking and engagement.
Aside from the sport itself being a healthy alternative to meeting up over dinner, it also creates a shared interest that can help initiate conversations and bonds.
Football also allows for a larger group compared to sports like golf, making the effort to meet more worthwhile, Ng said.
"We accept [bosses] of all walks of life," Ng said, sharing that some of the current members are one-man companies.
"We don't only take those who are rich… different bosses have different situations, and they may be facing difficulties — all bosses will face difficulties eventually, and we'll help each other out when things get tight."
Bosses United also get opportunities to play with legends.
In 2024, Ng invited ex-Japan World Cup star Keisuke Honda and Fandi's teammate Abbas Saad for a game.
Former Singapore international Noh Alam Shah, too, also played with Bosses United that year, giving members a star-studded and memorable experience on the field.
"I don't think a lot of people have a chance to play or train with legends like Honda or Saad… We bring in these people to motivate the team, to give them a sense of pride."
Landscaping company TEHC Group's third-generation boss Benjamin Toh told AsiaOne that aside from playing with football stars, it's the trips to various countries that are the most memorable.
"Bangkok, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China — always good to spend time with teammates as business owners have a lot to talk about and share," Toh, 39, said.
He added: "We know of many business owner sports groups out there but nothing beats being in a football team."
Clement Fu, one half of the brains behind Two Men Bagel House, also highlighted the camaraderie formed among teammates, describing the experience as "brilliant".
"I've definitely learned a lot, especially since my business partner Jereborne Lam (co-founder of Two Men Bagel House) and I do not have any business mentors — there are a lot of experienced entrepreneurs from various industries to discuss ideologies and stories," Fu, 36, said.
Jack's Place's third-generation owner Alvin Say chimed in, saying that networking happens "around the football".
"After training and after games, we often go for meals together and unwind," the 44-year-old said.
"That’s when we get to know each other better and understand how we can support one another."
Bosses United has also supported Jack's Place by engaging catering services for various charity and social events, Say stated.
He also revealed that in his youth, he was very passionate about football, but never had the time to nurture talent for it.
Bosses United reignited that passion for Say, he told AsiaOne.
"What I really like is that skill is secondary here. As long as you have the right attitude, you’re welcome. Football is our passion, but business is our mission."
Last year, Ng's efforts at expanding Bosses United took him to Hong Kong, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Amateur Football Association.
On Aug 7, Bosses United partnered with WorldFirst, a global payment platform for entrepreneurs, to help expand Bosses United's network in the Asia-Pacific region, at an event officiated by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash.
Now, he's focusing efforts on expanding Bosses United in Thailand, South Korea and Japan to give members opportunities to travel and connect with businesses overseas.
"My dream is to get Netflix to feature us," Ng said.
"I think fulfilling it might not be possible — but at least I dare to dream big."
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