The standard of ESPZEN football has been steadily rising evidenced in the news that three players from ESPZEN Div 1 Champions FC 204, have recently been signed by professional clubs, namely Mr. Muhammad Zakaria Yousif (signed for Woodlands Wellington FC in the S League), Mr. Mikky Amu (now playing in Segunda Division in La Liga, Spain) and Mr. Shadrack Ezeagu (now playing in Viasat Divisionen, Div 1 in Denmark). This follows a steady trend of professional signings from top ESPZEN clubs, for example, Mr. Paul Bekombo signed by S League club Balestier Khalsa FC from former ESPZEN Midweek League team Orchard Rovers FC, Mr. Walid Lounis signed by S League club Home United FC (now playing for Geylang United FC) from past ESPZEN Mid Week Champions Screamin Irish FC and Mr. Obot Udoaka (now playing in Denmark, former Sporting Afrique FC) signed from ESPZEN Saturday League Champions, International Soccer Academy (ISA).

Mr. Muhammad Zakaria Yousif

Mr. Mikky Amu

Mr. Shadrack Ezeagu

Whilst ESPZEN might be the premier platform for Amateur Football in Singapore, more and more ex professionals or even ex international players are now plying their trade in ESPZEN making the league one of the most competitive non professional leagues in this region. Div 1 Ale Vasco FC (and now Div 2 Holland Park 11 FC) boasts Mr. Dalis Supait, Mr. Nahar Daud, Mr. Ishamuddin Bharoocha and Mr. Samawira Basir (ex Singapore National Players and S League players), past ESPZEN Mid Week League Champions Screamin’ Irish FC have ex S League players in Mr. Esad Sedjic and Mr. Marko Kraljevic, ESPZEN Saturday League Champions ISA have Mr. Nathaniel Naplah (ex Liberian International and ex Tampines Rovers) and Mr. Surachai Jaturapatarapong (ex Thailand National Captain, Home Utd Assistant Coach) as current players and Malek Aweb (ex Singapore National Team), Mr V. Sundramoorthy (ex Singapore National Team and Jurong FC Players / Coach) and Mr Victor Konwlo (a Liberian footballer who has played for Canon Yaoundé in Cameroon, AS Cannes and AS Nancy in France, AZ in the Netherlands, and Paços de Ferreira and Caldas in Portugal) as a former players, whilst ESPZEN Div 5 SCC Tigers FC have ex English and Australian professional footballers and now celebrity pundits in Mr. PJ Roberts, Mr. Paul Masefield. Other TV pundits Mr Andrew Leci (ESPZEN Div 5 – The Usual Suspects FC) and Mr. Dez Corkhill (ESPZEN Midweek League - 1 Tanah Merah FC), both goalkeepers also have appeared regularly in ESPZEN games. Finally ex English Premier League starts Jason McAteer and Lee Sharpe have also made appearances for former ESPZEN Midweek Team: Orchard Rovers Football Club.

One of the most impressively assembled team would be ESPZEN Div 1 Champions (Season 9) FC 204 and brother team, ESPZEN Div 2 Champions (Season 9), FC PROTEGE 204 ESPZEN, whose playing staff consists of many ex professional players who have played in the top European and Asian leagues.

Dr B Maestro, Manager of both FC 204 and FC PROT