Silvas came through the youth system of the Seattle Sounders, playing for the MLS side's U18 and reserve teams. After only three matches for Tampines' Prime League side, eyebrows were raised when he was selected in the matchday squad for a must-win game against Hougang United on Wednesday. In the end, he was left on the bench as Tampines suffered a late 2-1 defeat, but is expected to make his debut soon.
"We were both blessed with speed and skill, and like to score goals, but Diego is much more professional and disciplined than I ever was," Silvas said.
"We came here because Diego could make an impact in the S.League while I could help off the field by working with the youth players in Singapore, and elsewhere in Asia, as I have done with the Silvas Family Soccer Foundation in the U.S."
Silvas, who has a U.S. Soccer Federation A licence, sponsored disadvantaged youngsters as coach of successful Californian junior side Almaden FC, for whom Diego was a key team member. He would provide counselling for the players and their families and help them apply for university scholarships.