When captain Shahril Jantan was given a break after a bad patch, Hyrulnizam Juma'at played in both the  Warriors' 3-0 win over Geylang United and 0-1 loss to Gombak United.

It is something that Hyrul, who turns 24 in November, relished. Although Shahril has since reclaimed his spot, Hyrul has no qualms playing second fiddle - for now.

He said: "It's good for Shahril to be back. I know it would be hard for me to play regularly when I came here as I'm still young and have lots to learn.

Both Shahril and Rezal (Hassan, goalkeeper cum coach) have years of experience, and I always look up to them for guidance.

"I was excited when I knew I would be playing in those games and I would like to thank Richard for giving me the opportunities and trusting in me to do the job."

However, Hyrul is quick to qualify that he does not intend to stay on the bench forever.

He added: "I'm not afraid of these challenges. I want to compete with an on-form Shahril and I want to give Richard a headache when he picks his goalkeeper."

It is a headache that Warriors coach Richard Bok welcomes. He said: "It can only be good for the team and me that the two goalkeepers are fighting for the position. It also shows that Hyrul has matured."

But beneath the healthy competition, there is also mutual support between both goalkeepers.

Shahril was generous with advice when Hyrul deputised for him. Said Hyrul: "He told me what to expect from opponents and encouraged me."

When Shahril had a bad patch, Hyrul gave him a pat on the back. There was no need for words.

Said Hyrul: "Footballers are also human. We do make mistakes."

Indeed, a footballer's life is often about taking the ups along with the downs.

It is something that has struck Hyrul from an early age.

As a schoolboy at Hong Kah Secondary, he recalled feeling devastasted when he couldn't even make the school team.

He thought he would never become anywhere near his idol, David Seaman of his favourite team Arsenal.

He said: "I cried after hearing the news (that I didn't get selected). Serious, I really cried.

"I was a bad goalkeeper. 'Hancur' (Malay for being ruined) was how they would describe me."

But he didn't give up.

In between wistfully watching his school team at games and training, he went for trials.

In 2002, he tagged along with a friend for a COE trial at the former Clementi Khalsa and he made the cut.

"I think I was lucky then," he said.

And he hasn't looked back. In the following years, he played for the Warriors U-18 (2003, 2004) and then the Prime League (2005).

After enlisting for national service, he was called up to the Young Lions where he spent four seasons learning from national goalkeeper coach Lee Bee Seng.

Today, the first-year Sports Science student at Republic Polytechnic is considered one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in the country.

"Even my former coach (at Hong Kah) is shocked (at my progress)," he said.

And many of his peers, including the goalkeepers who beat him during school team selection at Hong Kah and the friend whom he tagged along with for the Clementi Khalsa trials, remain amateur players.

It wasn't easy for Hyrul and he does not take things for granted as he delicately balances both studies and football.

He has lessons from 8.30am to 3.30pm before he goes for training. And on days when he has morning training or has to travel with the team, he would have to miss lessons.

"If it's good for my future, why not?" he said, "It's better to be tired now than to regret later in my life."

For the future, Hyrul already has plans.

"I wish to establish myself here at SAFFC. I hope to work here even after I retire," he said.

"SAFFC are my boyhood club. I watched them in the S-League during the early days at the Jurong Stadium."

He went on to list the names that were synonymous with the successful Warriors squad of the late 1990s.

They include Jure Eres, Velimir Crljen, Fandi Ahmad, Nazri Nasir and of course Rezal Hassan, who is now his coach.