Month: April 2021
If their last three Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches are anything to go by, it’s evident the Lion City Sailors have finally clicked into gear after a mixed start to the season.
Since returning from the international break, the Sailors have beaten the Young Lions 3-1, held reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) to a 2-2 draw – fighting back from two goals down in the process – and most recently, thumped Geylang International 8-0 in a dazzling display of attacking football.
We round up the major talking points from the Sailors’ last three outings as Aurelio Vidmar’s men sent a clear signal of intent to the rest of their title rivals.
Diego has found his groove
Having joined the Sailors in January as Singapore football’s first-ever million-dollar signing, there are understandably high expectations of the former Benfica midfielder.
After making two substitute appearances before the international break, Diego made his first start for the Sailors against Young Lions, registering an assist with a superb ball over the top for Stipe Plazibat, who left his defender for dead before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
A slightly more subdued display in the subsequent bumper clash against Albirex, however, saw Diego cop a bit of criticism on social media.
But he proved his critics wrong just four days later with a hat-trick and two assists in the Sailors’ big win over Geylang. Pulling the strings for the Sailors in the number 10 role, the 26-year-old was at his devastating best as he ran the Geylang defence ragged with his creativity and passing.
Take that chest-down for Saifullah Akbar to score for example – a simple move, but one that required incredible vision, speed of thought and technical ability to execute to perfection as Diego did.
Diego’s second assist showcased how dangerous he can be when on the counter. Surging through the middle of the pitch with the ball, Diego had the presence of mind and composure in the final third to set Stipe through on goal with a perfectly-weighted pass. Stipe, of course, made no mistake with his finish.
Considering that Diego arrived late in pre-season, is still adapting to a new country, a new style of football, and learning a new language, it is perhaps understandable why he failed to really sparkle in his first two matches.
Diego now looks like he has found his feet in Singapore football and is feeling right at home with the Sailors. And while it is still early in the season, there has been more than enough evidence to suggest that SPL fans are going to be in for a treat in the months ahead.
Jorge and Adli forming a mean centre-back partnership
Defensive issues were one of the reasons why the Sailors did not have the best of starts to the season. With six goals conceded in their opening three matches, it was clear that the Sailors needed to better protect their goal if they were to mount a serious title challenge.
And with just three goals conceded in the next three games following the international break, it would be fair to say that coach Aurelio has managed to find some answers.
A large part of that improved defensive solidity must be credited to the presence of Jorge Fellipe.
After impressing in his debut against Young Lions, the towering Brazilian centre-back scored his first goal for the club in the very next fixture – a crucial late equaliser in the comeback draw against defending SPL champions Albirex. And he followed that up with another commanding showing against Geylang, helping the Sailors to a precious clean sheet.
Tactically disciplined, hard in the tackle, and an excellent reader of the game, Jorge’s qualities perfectly complement Amirul Adli’s more front-footed style of defending, and the two have already formed a decent understanding with each other at the back.
In the two matches they were paired in defence – against the Young Lions and Geylang – both Jorge and Adli rarely gave an inch to opposing attackers, and were key in helping the Sailors build up from the back.
With more games under their belt, the Jorge-Adli partnership will surely improve, perhaps providing the solid foundation from which the Sailors can launch a serious title challenge.
The best part? There is strength in depth in this area for the Sailors, with Aurelio able to call upon other quality centre-backs in the team, including Tajeli Salamat and Abdil Qaiyyim.
Young guns pulling their weight
Apart from achieving on-field success, a huge part of the Sailors’ philosophy is to nurture up-and-coming talents of Singapore football, and take them to the next level.
With a number of young Sailors already impressing this season, it seems the club is on the right track.
Reigning SPL Young Player of the Year, Saifullah, has carried on where he left off last season, with a goal and an assist to his name. Playing alongside Diego in midfield, the 22-year-old has the perfect role model to learn from.
Left-back Nur Adam Abdullah, 20, has been a revelation in defence. With his tough-tackling style and ability to whip in dangerous crosses into the box, Nur Adam has been an absolute menace on the left-flank. While he has registered just one assist so far, Nur Adam has been crucial in the build-up for a number of the Sailors’ goals this season.
Fellow new recruit Justin Hui is also beginning to stamp his mark after his arrival from Hougang United, with the industrious 23-year-old proving to be a livewire down the left flank. Justin already has an assist this season, after his superb first-time low cross was tapped in by Gabriel Quak for the Sailors’ opening goal against Geylang.
And while winger Haiqal Pashia is currently on the comeback trail from injury, it should not be overlooked that the 22-year-old was the one who contributed the assist for the Sailors’ opening goal of the season.
All in all, it looks like the Sailors’ Under-23 contingent are flourishing this season – and this bodes well for the future of Sailors, and perhaps the Singapore National Team too.
It may have taken six Singapore Premier League (SPL) games for Diego Lopes to open his account for the Lion City Sailors, but the Brazilian made sure it was all worth the wait as he scored a well-taken hat-trick to help his team to an 8-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Geylang International yesterday.
Inventive, sprightly, and full of drive, it was a well-rounded performance that showcased just why the Sailors opted to make him Singapore’s first multi-million dollar footballer in January this year.
It is still early days for Diego in his voyage with the Sailors and Singapore football, but if he wants to establish himself as among the best foreign players to play in the SPL, then he need only look to his Sailors teammate Stipe Plazibat for inspiration.
Since making his debut in the SPL – then known as the S.League – in 2016, Stipe has grown from strength to strength and is now regarded by his peers and fans alike as one of the most potent strikers in the league.
Following his two goals against Geylang last evening, Stipe’s goal tally in the league now stands at 70 – a fantastic return, considering the Croatian is now only into his fifth SPL campaign.
But the 31-year-old, who won the SPL Top Scorer award last season, is not about to rest on his laurels any time soon. The ambitious Stipe revealed he has set his sights on hitting the 100-goal mark in the SPL.
“It feels good to hit the 70-goal mark, but I’ve actually set 100 goals (in the SPL) as one of my career targets,” said Stipe. “My two goals (against Geylang) brought me closer to that figure, but I still have to grind and continue working hard.
“For now, though, I’m quite happy with my (goal) figures, especially considering that I didn’t always play as a striker in the SPL. More importantly for me is that I can ultimately help the Sailors win silverware.”
Stipe’s dream of helping the Sailors win silverware could well be realised sooner rather than later if the team continues to play the way they did against Geylang.
Ruthless, disciplined, and efficient in possession, the Sailors overwhelmed the Eagles with goals from Diego (3), Stipe (2), Gabriel Quak (2) and Saifullah Akbar doing the damage.
After a mixed start to the season – which saw the Sailors win twice, draw twice and lose once in their first five games – Stipe is confident that this huge victory will galvanise the team as they look to mount a sustained challenge for the SPL title.
“To be honest, we needed a result like this,” admitted Stipe. “This will have a positive impact on the team for sure, and be a huge boost in terms of team chemistry and confidence.
“We also played well in previous games, but today, everything just went our way. That’s why the result is so impressive.”
Stipe also reserved words of praise for hat-trick hero Diego. Said Stipe: “The whole team and I are happy that he scored today. People expect a lot of him and he is under huge pressure, so it’s great that he got the goals.
“On a personal level, it’s a joy to link up with him because he sees and understands my runs, which is a dream for any striker.”
The Sailors will next take on Balestier Khalsa this Sunday, 8.30pm, at the Jalan Besar Stadium. While Stipe believes the Tigers will be a tough test, he knows it is imperative that the Sailors get another win.
“They are a solid team, and never easy to go up against,” Stipe mused. “Still, anything less than three points against would be a failure for us, because it’s important that we build up some momentum after our Geylang win.”
They had been teammates at no less than four different clubs – including at the Lion City Sailors – and have fought side by side while donning the Singapore National Team jersey at various international competitions.
In all, it is a friendship that stretches for over a decade. But come this Sunday evening at 5.30pm, both Shahdan Sulaiman and Izzdin Shafiq will be standing on opposing sides when the Sailors take on Geylang International in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at Our Tampines Hub.
Having played with – and, on several occasions, against – Izzdin for so many years now, Shahdan is fully aware of how influential the former Sailors captain can be from the middle of the park.
With Izzdin having formed a tidy partnership in the Eagles midfield alongside Firdaus Kasman and playing well at Geylang this season, Shahdan knows the Sailors will have their hands full in the battle for midfield supremacy on Sunday.
“I think everyone knows how good Izzdin is – he’s shown over the years that he’s very capable of dominating the midfield, and he has the vision to split defences with one pass,” Shahdan explained.
“It was very easy and enjoyable to play alongside him in midfield. We don’t need to say too much to each other on the pitch because we’ve got good chemistry and are on the same wavelength. We both understand how to control the game from midfield. While it’s a shame we’re no longer club teammates, I’m happy for him that he’s doing well at Geylang.
“We’ve faced each other before, so I know it’s going to be very tough playing against him. But at the same time, this will be a good challenge for the team and I.”
The Sailors will be seeking a return to winning ways against Geylang following their thrilling 2-2 draw with reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) last Wednesday evening.
The match saw the Sailors’ indomitable fighting spirit come to the fore as they fought back from two goals down to rescue a point.
While Shahdan was encouraged to see the resilience shown by the Sailors, he knows they will have to step up if they want to get all three points against a tricky Geylang side who are determined to end a four-match winless streak.
“The team really showed a lot of desire and a positive attitude to keep going although we were down by two goals. We knew that we were capable of producing a comeback, so we kept going and I’m happy our efforts paid off in the end,” said Shahdan.
“But we’ve to keep pushing and improve as a team. Especially since we’re coming up against Geylang, who have been tough opponents. We cannot take them lightly.”
With two wins, two draws and a loss so far this season, the Sailors have admittedly not enjoyed the best start to the season.
Nonetheless, they are still only just three points behind current league leaders Albirex. But, with the Sailors having kept just one clean sheet this year, Shahdan knows the entire team will have to work harder to protect their goal if they want to win the SPL title.
“At the end of the day, it’s the whole team’s duty to come back and defend. It’s not just the responsibility of the four or five players at the back,” the 32-year-old elaborated.
“We can definitely get better defensively, and we’ve been working hard in training to improve this aspect of our game. It helps that Jorge (Fellipe) is also now settling well into the team with two games under his belt – his commanding presence at the back and calmness on the ball will help us a lot in the long run.”
Shahdan asserts that every player in the team has been giving their 100 per cent during matches and even in training sessions – and that can only help drive the Sailors forward.
“The competition for places is good because it keeps everyone on their toes, and every performance matters,” Shahdan mused. “If we don’t play well, we know we may well be dropped by the coach.
“For myself as well as the team, we know it’s important to be consistent. We’ve got to maintain a good run of form to achieve our target of winning trophies, and I believe we have all the right tools to make this a successful season for all of us.”
A new date has been set for the Lion City Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) away clash against Hougang United.
The match, which was initially pencilled in for May 19, has now been rescheduled to April 24 (Saturday), 8.30pm.
The Sailors and Hougang both agreed to the rescheduling that was made to allow the Singapore National Team more time to prepare for the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
You can view the Sailors’ updated fixture list here.
The news that up to 250 fans will be allowed into stadiums to watch Singapore Premier League (SPL) games starting from this weekend has been met with great enthusiasm by everyone at the Lion City Sailors.
Following the news, Sailors CEO Chew Chun-Liang expressed his excitement at the prospect of seeing Sailors fans back in the stands again after more than a year.
“I think I speak for every Sailor when I say we are all eagerly looking forward to the return of fans to the stadium,” said Chun-Liang.
“We have sorely missed the presence of our fans supporting us from the stands.”
According to an announcement by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on Wednesday (Apr 7), fans who wish to attend SPL games will have to produce proof that they have tested negative for Covid-19 – either of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or antigen rapid test (ART) – or show the certification of having received the full two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The PCR test must have been taken within the last 14 days from the date of the game, while the ART must be taken within 24 hours prior to end of the event. Meanwhile, individuals who have been vaccinated will only be admitted if the date of the match falls at least two weeks after their second dose.
Fans who are eligible to enter the stadiums can obtain a wrist tag at dedicated booths that will be set up at each match venue. This tag – which will be unique to the match – will allow the fan to enter the venue 60 minutes before kick-off.
All fans who enter the stadium will be subjected to both safe-distancing and security protocols. It is advised that fans do not bring bags when attending the matches.
From April 24 onwards, however, up to 250 fans will be allowed into match venues without the need for testing, as per the Covid-19 guidelines announced by the multi-ministry task force on March 24.
“I know for a fact that the players are very excited to be able to play in front of a live crowd once again, and they are especially eager to entertain all our loyal fans who have been supporting us even when they haven’t been able to come to matches,” said Chun-Liang
“Huge credit to the FAS and everyone who was involved in helping to facilitate the return of fans as well. We’re fully appreciative of their hard work and dedication to make this happen.”
Details for entry to the Sailors’ home game against Balestier Khalsa on April 18, 8.30pm, at the Jalan Besar Stadium, will be released soon.
Having seen his side fight back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S), one might have expected Lion City Sailors head coach Aurelio Vidmar to be a happy man once the full-time whistle was blown at the Jalan Besar Stadium last night.
But he was far from pleased with the final result.
The Australian firmly believes that the Sailors should have beaten Albirex, especially considering the golden opportunities – including having a penalty saved – they had in the game. And he admits his side only have themselves to blame for allowing Albirex to take a two-goal lead in the first place.
“We made it difficult for ourselves giving them a two-goal lead,” Aurelio conceded. “We did that to ourselves last year as well, and we lost that game (a 3-2 defeat). This time, we thankfully managed to get a draw.
“But on the balance of things, we probably should have gotten the win tonight. We had two or three very good chances that we didn’t put away, whereas the first time they (Albirex) really went forward, they got a corner and scored.”
Both the goals that the Sailors conceded came from corners – Shuya Yamashita broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, before he popped up again three minutes before the break to double his side’s lead.
While Stipe Plazibat pulled one back for the Sailors with a header on the stroke of half-time, it took nearly all of the second-half for Aurelio’s men to get the equaliser, with Jorge Fellipe rising highest to head home Naqiuddin Eunos’ cross in the 87th minute.
Reflecting on Jorge’s contribution to the team since his debut against the Young Lions the past weekend, Aurelio said: “I think Jorge’s performances in the two games he’s played so far were very good.
“You can definitely see tonight that it was not easy to be back up after three days, especially when he’s just had his first match last weekend. He showed a very calm head, he’s very aggressive and he is strong with the ball at his feet and also in the air.
“We also can see he has an enormous appetite for fighting his way through things. Look at the way he pushed himself forward to score the equaliser. That shows you the character that he has as well.”
The draw against Albirex means the Sailors are now fourth in the table on eight points after five matches. The current league leaders, Albirex, are just three points ahead of the Sailors, while Hougang United and Tampines Rovers are second and third respectively on 10 points.
While the result extends the Sailors’ winless streak against Albirex to three matches, Aurelio insists that statistic is not something that will keep him awake just yet.
“I’m not concerned (about the winless streak against Albirex),” said Aurelio. “Had we not got a point, had we lost the game, then it would have been a little bit different. But right now, it’s still very close in the table.
“Of course, if you want to win the championship, you have to win games. You can say there’s no room for draws or losses, but it’s going to happen. No one wants it to happen, but there’s going to be days where it won’t go your way.
“At this point, however, I think we’re still playing some very good football but not getting maximum points. But once we get into the second round, it’ll become even more important for us to win the games (against our title rivals) if we want to be champions.”
Up next for the Sailors is a clash against a Geylang International side that has struggled for consistency – they have recorded one win, one draw, and three losses – this season.
Nonetheless, Aurelio expects them to put up a fierce battle when the Sailors come calling at Our Tampines Hub this Sunday, 5.30pm.
“For now, we have to recover, refocus, and get our energy up again and go into battle again on Sunday against Geylang,” said Aurelio. “They haven’t been hitting their stride this season, but they’re a dangerous opponent, so it’s going to be a difficult game against an opponent we have to be wary of.”
There was a marked air of self-assurance about Gabriel Quak as he rounded Young Lions goalkeeper Nurshafiq Zaini before slotting the ball into an empty net for the Lion City Sailors’ third goal in their 3-1 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Philippe Aw’s men last Saturday (April 3).
Composed, confident, clinical.
The goal – his second of the game – perfectly encapsulated the evolution of Gabriel into a bona fide goalscorer.
Where Gabriel might have preferred to hug the touchline and send crosses into the box in seasons past, the 30-year-old now often runs into more central areas to get himself into better goal scoring positions.
Indeed, that was how he scored both of his goals against the Young Lions. The first saw him make a lung-busting sprint to latch onto Stipe Plazibat’s pass before bending the ball into the top corner, while his second goal owed much to the intelligent run he made in behind two Young Lions defenders to meet Saifullah Akbar’s precise through ball.
With four goals to his name in the first four games of this season, the Singapore international currently leads the Sailors in the goalscoring charts alongside last year’s SPL Top Scorer, Stipe.
To put his hot goal streak in context, Gabriel only found the back of the net five times in total last season. His career-best tally in the league remains the nine-goal season he enjoyed in 2019 with Warriors FC.
So, it comes as no surprise that Gabriel has set himself an ambitious personal target this season: for the first time in his illustrious career, he wants to hit double figures for league goals.
“Yes, it (hitting double figures for goals) is something I want to achieve,” Gabriel acknowledged. “As an attacker, I always give myself added pressure to deliver in the attacking third – that’s how I push myself to work on my end product every single time. But I’m definitely pleased with my output in terms of goals so far.”
But while Gabriel might seem like a natural predator in front of goal these days, he revealed that it actually took hours upon hours of hard work on the training ground to develop his goal scoring prowess.
“It’s important to put in your best effort during training so it becomes almost like a repetition,” Gabriel explained. “Whatever you do on the training ground – such as the kind of runs you make and the kind of passes you give – you will subconsciously bring it with you into the game.
“Take that first goal which I scored against Young Lions for example. I scored the exact same type of goal during training two days before the game. This is what I mean by it being a routine.
“It also helps that I’m enjoying my game right now. When you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll be able to flourish because you won’t feel like you’re forcing things to happen.”
Conversely, however, Gabriel is yet to notch an assist this year – a surprise, considering that he topped last season’s assists chart with seven.
But Gabriel remains unperturbed by that statistic, as he believes it comes as a natural consequence of playing in a team that has a plethora of players who have the ability to pick a pass in the final third.
“We have plenty of quality ball carriers this season in Shahdan (Sulaiman), Diego (Lopes), Song (Uiyoung) and Stipe. Let’s not forget Faris (Ramli) and Adam (Swandi) as well. Really, it’s not that bad being at the receiving end of their passes!” he chuckled.
“Anyway, football is a team sport. It’s important how I bring the best out of my teammates, and how they can bring the best out of me. Somebody has to make the runs (to score from their passes), and I’m happy to be that player. Ultimately, if it means the team achieves victory, that’s all that really matters.”
Having won last season’s Player of the Year (POTY) award, Gabriel knows that there are high expectations placed on him to excel again this season.
But Gabriel insists that he thrives upon such pressure, although he remains adamant that the needs of the team come first.
“If you don’t have this kind of pressure, you wouldn’t try to push past your boundaries,” said Gabriel. “I want to be seen as the type of player to stand up and lead the team when the chips are down.
“In the past three to four years, I’ve been working on my consistency, which I admittedly lacked when I was younger. I’m glad that my efforts were finally recognised with the POTY honour last season, and I would love to win the award back-to-back, but the team comes first. Whatever I do must go towards helping the team achieve success.”
Up next for the Sailors is a big clash against reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night (April 7). The Japanese side has carried on where they left off last year – they currently lead the table on 10 points, have conceded just one goal, and remain the only unbeaten team in the SPL so far.
But Aurelio Vidmar’s side has a score to settle with the White Swans – last season, the Sailors were narrowly beaten 2-3 by Albirex in both encounters despite arguably playing the better football.
The Sailors will go level on points with Albirex with a victory on Wednesday, and Gabriel says that everyone in the Sailors camp is eager to get one over their title rivals.
“This is a six-pointer and we want to show a statement of intent by beating a fellow title challenger,” Gabriel declared. “We were disappointed not to beat Tampines on the opening day of the season (a 3-3 draw), and we know we need to pick up maximum points in these types of games.
“Playing against Albirex is always tough…they change several of their players every year, but the philosophy remains the same. These players are hungry because they know this is a stepping stone to bigger things in their career.
“They showed over the course of last season why they are deserving champions, but we also did show in the two games against them that we’re more than capable of beating them.”
Unfortunately, the Sailors will have to rejig their defence, with centre-back Amirul Adli serving a one-match suspension after his dismissal against the Young Lions.
While Gabriel labelled Adli’s absence a “big blow”, he is confident that the teammate who steps in to fill the void in the centre of defence will be able to “rise to the occasion”.
He said: “Adli has been very important to us – he brings stability to our defence. But we have Tajeli (Salamat) and Abdil (Qaiyyim) who can step in and play a good game as well.
“Jorge (Fellipe) had a great game (vs Young Lions), and I’m sure he will help whoever that plays alongside him.”
Gabriel was equally bullish about the Sailors’ capability in attack – in particular, he hailed the quality of star signing Diego, and tipped him to make a positive impact in the coming games.
“Diego came with very big hype and a lot of attention in the media, so I was looking forward to meeting him when he came,” Gabriel shared. “To me, the behaviour of a person says a lot about their personality – there are no airs about him, he has been respectful of everyone, and we all enjoy having him around.
“We’ve been combining well when we play small-sided games in training, so we’re building some chemistry between us. It’s important for us attackers to understand each other’s style of play, which makes things easier in the game. I’m sure you’ll see more good things from him – and from us throughout the season.”
Given that the Lion City Sailors scored nine and conceded none against the Young Lions over two games last season, many had expected last evening’s Singapore Premier League clash between the two sides to be a cakewalk for Aurelio Vidmar’s men.
But the Young Lions are a different entity this season. Organised, adventurous, and unafraid to go toe-to-toe with the big boys, Philippe Aw’s side have proven themselves to be a handful in each of their three previous games, drawing twice and losing just once.
And so, coach Aurelio’s message to the Sailors was simple: make sure you play to your very best.
It was a message that each and every Sailor on the pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium took on board, putting in a professional and disciplined performance to record a 3-1 win over the Young Lions.
Midfielder Saifullah Akbar, who notched an assist in the game with a delightful through ball for Gabriel Quak to score in the 62nd minute, revealed that the entire team was fired-up to get the three points right from the get-go.
“The Young Lions have been a decent footballing team this season, so every one of us knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park,” said Saifullah. “The message was very clear. We had to compete, fight, and perform at our highest level individually and as a team in order to get the three points.
“It was especially important for us to get the win after our loss to Hougang (United) in the previous game. It would’ve put us in a very tough situation in the league if we did not get the three points, so I dare say today’s game was almost as crucial as a cup final.”
It took 27 minutes for the Sailors to break the deadlock through Gabriel Quak, before Stipe Plazibat doubled the advantage just seven minutes later.
Gabriel effectively made the game safe with another goal after the break, but the Sailors then went down to 10 men after Amirul Adli was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 76th minute. Two minutes later, Ilhan Fandi pulled one back for the Young Lions to make the final stages of the game a nervy one for the Sailors, but they held firm despite their numerical disadvantage to secure the win.
One noticeable aspect of the Sailors’ game was how much more measured they were in attacking the Young Lions, and Saifullah believes this ‘patient’ approach paid dividends at both ends of the pitch.
“We did well in terms of keeping possession for a longer period of time,” the 22-year-old mused. “For the previous three games, I felt even with the lead, we rushed to get forward to try and get three, four goals to kill the game. That caused us to concede a few goals during quick transitions, because our players weren’t close enough as a group to stop the opposition’s attacking play.
“Against the Young Lions, however, we were very patient and retained possession well even when we were leading. We made sure our shape was intact, kept playing, and eventually we were rewarded with the second and third goals.”
Last night’s game was also notable for the debut of new signing Jorge Fellipe. The 1.92m-tall centre-back was a calm and composed presence in the Sailors backline throughout, and even came close to opening his account with a first-half header that crashed off the crossbar.
Reflecting on how Jorge performed in his first outing with the Sailors, Saifullah had nothing but words of praise for his Brazilian teammate.
“Jorge brings a different kind of experience to the team. He’s a big asset for us not only at set pieces, but also in building up play from the back,” said Saifullah. “He did really well for us in his debut today – his positioning, covering and passes were all spot-on.”
With Hougang recording a surprising 5-1 win over Tampines Rovers in the night’s other SPL game, Saifullah knows there will still be more twists and turns in this year’s title race. As of Saturday night, the Sailors are currently second in the eight-team table on seven points after four games, just two points behind league leaders Hougang.
And ahead of the Sailors’ next match against Albirex Niigata (S) on Wednesday, 7.45pm at the Jalan Besar Stadium, last season’s SPL Young Player of the Year claims his side are eager to send a clear statement of intent with victory over the reigning SPL champions.
“Everyone knew this season was going to be an exciting one with every team making great signings,” said Saifullah. “And with the current standings and results, it looks like it’s going to be an open and unpredictable season, which is great for the league.
“For now, though, we’re focused on our upcoming game against Albirex. We lost twice against them last season despite playing really well and being on top of them for most part of both games. But we made errors and they punished us.
“But we’ve learnt from our mistakes and we won’t commit them again. I’m confident we will put up a good performance and get all three points against Albirex on Wednesday.”
It took all of five minutes for Nur Adam Abdullah to make an impact in his Singapore Premier League (SPL) debut for the Lion City Sailors.
Driving infield with the ball from his left-back position, Nur Adam split the Tampines Rovers defence with a neat slide-rule pass into the attacking third to Gabriel Quak.
Four touches later, the ball was in the back of the Tampines net, with Song Uiyoung tapping in Haiqal Pashia’s cross from close range.
The teamwork shown in the build-up to that first goal in a thrilling season opening 3-3 draw was impressive, but what really caught the eye was how willing and comfortable Nur Adam was in bringing the ball forward.
Nur Adam’s critical role in the goal perfectly encapsulated the talented youngster’s rapid rise to the big stage. The fact that he has played every minute for the Sailors so far is also testament to the trust that Coach Aurelio Vidmar has in him.
Reflecting on the goal, Nur Adam said: “I’m glad that I was able to contribute to the team in that game. It may not be an assist, but it was something which I created that ultimately led to the goal, so I’m quite happy with that.”
It would be fair to say the 19-year-old has taken to life with the Sailors like a fish takes to water, impressing local football observers with his all-action style of play and never-say-die attitude.
But Nur Adam knows he has only just begun. With competition for places in the starting XI as fierce as it is, he is fully aware that he has to keep working hard to build on the fine start to his Sailors career – starting with this weekend’s SPL clash against the Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
“Going forward, I want to improve my level of performance even more and add more numbers to my game,” Nur Adam declared. “I want to get goals and assists if I can, but the priority, of course, is we keep winning as a team.
“It’s amazing to be part of this squad. I felt very welcomed from day one – everyone’s so friendly and approachable at this club. There is this healthy environment which keeps the younger players like myself motivated, and I’m really glad I made the decision to come here.”
Despite standing at just 1.68m tall, Nur Adam does not shy away from facing off against bigger and stronger opponents. Instead, he relishes the challenge, and makes up for his lack of height with a tenacious playing style.
“My teammates and coaches used to call me a ‘bulldog’ who just rams through!” he recalled, chuckling. “I’ve adopted this fearless attitude since young, and I’ve always liked the physical side of the game. To me, size doesn’t matter on the pitch – it’s the heart.”
His promising displays for the Sailors have not gone unnoticed, and he was recently rewarded with a first call-up to the senior national team by coach Tatsuma Yoshida – a moment which he will always cherish.
“I’m honoured and thankful that I got to be part of the national team after a long journey,” said Nur Adam, who is now into his third and final year as a sports management student at Republic Polytechnic (RP).
“At first, I felt the pressure of training with the big boys, but I managed to settle down and enjoy the process because this is the level I want to be at as a professional footballer. The training was highly intense, and we had to keep running and pushing ourselves throughout. One lesson I learnt was not to give up so easily.”
After a week away with the Lions, Nur Adam now has to shift his focus back to club level where he will face his former side.
While the Young Lions have yet to win this season (two draws and a loss), Philippe Aw’s team has earned the admiration of many with their enterprising play. And so, Nur Adam knows that the Sailors cannot afford to take this game lightly.
“People always underestimate the Young Lions and say that they’re weak. But from my experience, I know that’s not the case,” he said. “They have a pretty strong squad this year, with the likes of Hami (Syahin) and Syahrul (Sazali). So, we will have to play our best to defeat them.”
Coach Aurelio echoed Nur Adam’s remarks, challenging the Sailors to make a return to winning ways after a mixed start to the season. The Sailors held fellow title challengers Tampines to a 3-3 draw, then thrashed Tanjong Pagar United 5-0 in the next game, before falling to a shock 1-3 defeat to Hougang United.
“The Young Lions are playing very well at the moment – they’re very aggressive and play a good brand of football,” said Aurelio. “Looking at the metrics, it was our mistakes that cost us (against Hougang). Now, we’ve to bounce back and do it in a big way.”
