Month: August 2021
Two games, two draws.
An encouraging point against defending Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) was followed by a hard earned draw with Balestier Khalsa, having to dig deep before netting an injury-time leveller through a penalty.
The Lion City Sailors may not have won under Kim Do-hoon yet, but the Sailors believe this is merely a teething issue as they work towards being a multi-dimensional and unpredictable team.
“Coach Kim wants us to be able to play multiple formations during a game. That’s something quite new to us (in Singapore football),” shared forward Faris Ramli. “Previously a change of formation may only come when someone in the team receives a red card.
“I think what he wants to instill in our mindset is that we shouldn’t be too rigid on the pitch and that’s something which the team is in line with. He has a lot of experience (coaching in the K League and winning the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL)) and he’s clearly always pushing to impart that knowledge to us.
“We’re progressively improving as a team and adapting to his style. Everyone’s happy in training, now it’s just a matter of translating everything we learned onto the pitch in terms of results.”
Midfielder Saifullah Akbar shares the sentiment, noting that Kim “has several variations in how he wants the team to play”.
“Basically he wants us to be a multi-faceted team that has the ability to outwit teams at the regional level. For sure it’s been hard and intense training under him, but he has also introduced certain games during training sessions to make things interesting and help ease our minds,” added the 2020 SPL Young Player of the Year. “We have got to know him better since he took over in late June, and I’m sure the wins are coming.”
Next up for the Sailors is a huge fixture, entertaining Tampines Rovers in a battle between last season’s top two local sides on Sunday evening (15 August). Kim’s men – who are six points behind frontrunners Albirex with two games in hand – can put pressure on the league leaders and put more distance between themselves and the Stags.
The Sailors have a score to settle with Tampines, having not been able to get a victory over them in three encounters – two draws and a defeat – since their 2020 inception. The most recent fixture was an enthralling season-opening encounter in March, with the Sailors leading 3-1 before a quick-fire Yasir Hanapi brace ensured the Stags got a share of the spoils.
Saifullah believes the winless run against their title rivals comes as “a source of motivation”, while singling out the midfield battle between both sides as the key area that will decide the game.
“We definitely want to beat them this time round,” said the 22-year-old. “It’s important for us to take control of the midfield where they have players like Zehrudin Mehmedović and Kyoga Nakamura. We have fantastic midfielders as well in Hariss (Harun), Shahdan (Sulaiman) and Song (Ui-young) – there are many options for us, and I believe we can win this battle if we follow coach Kim’s instructions.”
Faris noted the difficulty playing against a Tampines side under the tutelage of Gavin Lee since 2019 and now armed with the experience of playing against top Asian sides in their maiden ACL campaign in June and July.
“They’ve been under the same coach and are already accustomed to their style of play, while we had a change of coach recently. That’s the key difference,” acknowledged the 28-year-old.
“We need to get our act together against them and show what we’re capable of. We don’t want to lose any more points after dropping four (against Albirex and Balestier) in the last two matches.”
On the personal front, there are reasons enough for Faris and Saifullah to step up and prove their worth as the league heads into the business end of the season.
Coming home to link up with the Sailors this year after a season north of the Causeway with Terengganu FC, Faris had to stick it out in a difficult first half of 2021 where he did not manage to break into the first eleven. Now he’s beginning to find some headway under Kim and is ready to make up for lost time.
“In my career, this is definitely the season where I had to stay the most patient as a player,” said the 2019 SPL Player of the Year, who has one goal and an assist to his name this campaign. “For me as a player, the priority is the team and the most important thing is that we’re playing to our strengths.
“At the start of the season, I was often on the bench. I just adopted a different mindset, being patient and supporting the team in whatever way was needed.
“I guess patience is really a virtue and now it’s starting to show. Coach Kim’s a coach who really likes to see how I play and I’m happy that he has me in his plans. Honestly I feel I have a lot more to give to the Sailors and now’s the time for me to show why I’m here. I just have to grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Enthusiastically grabbing opportunities that present themselves is a similar approach that Saifullah has adopted.
Playing alongside top players the likes of former Benfica midfielder Diego Lopes, Harris and Shahdan is an opportunity Saifullah is making the most of on a daily basis.
“It’s been so nice playing and learning from Diego. Sometimes there isn’t even the need to communicate on the pitch because you just know where he will be to receive the pass or to pass to you,” said the young playmaker who made his Singapore national team debut in a 4-0 defeat to Palestine in June.
“It’s my honour to train with players like him, Hariss and Shahdan where I can pick up something from them every day. I’m happy now that I’ve beaten my scoring record from last season (two goals), but I can’t be satisfied,” said Saifullah who has already exceeded his personal tally last season with three goals and an assist thus far.
“I know I need to continue to score and assist more to be regarded as a top player – and more importantly, I need to do my part to help the team get results and hit our target of winning the league.”
This Sunday (15 August), the Jalan Besar Stadium is the venue for a tasty tie that could well play a big part in deciding the destination of the Singapore Premier League title – and 500 fans will be able to get a close-up view of the action as it unfolds.
The Lion City Sailors sit second in the eight-team SPL standings just three points adrift of league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) but having played one game less. And victory over fellow title challengers Tampines Rovers – who sit in fourth spot seven points behind the Sailors with two games in hand over Albirex – on Sunday will see Kim Do-hoon’s men stay well in the hunt.
Earlier today the Football Association of Singapore announced that up to a maximum of 500 fans – up from 100 previously – will be allowed entry to SPL matches starting on Friday (13 Aug). This follows guidelines announced by Sport Singapore (SportSG) on 7 August, in line with the government directive regarding the calibrated easing of safe management measures.
The number of permitted spectators will be further raised to 1,000 with effect from 19 August. This boost in fan numbers comes in time for another crunch fixture for the Sailors, who will host another title-challenger, Hougang United. The Cheetahs currently sit third in the table, just two points behind the Sailors.
In order to gain entry, fans will have to produce proof of having received the full two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine in the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL); the latter includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca. Individuals who have been vaccinated will only be admitted if the date of the match falls at least 14 days after their second dose.
Fans who produce proof of a negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result, will also be allowed entry. The ART must be valid until the end of the event and must be taken at a Ministry of Health-certified ART practitioner; self-test kit results will not be valid for use of entry.
Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will be exempted from having to produce a negative ART result, but will need to present a Pre-Event Test Exemption Notice from any clinic offering ART or PCR testing services.
Fans will have to abide by entry requirements and safe management measures as directed by the FAS.
Ticketing and entry process details
Ticket Sales
1530hrs – 1600hrs: Exclusive time slot for 2020 and 2021 Lion City Sailors season pass* holders
1600 hrs – 1730 hrs: General Sale and Season Pass
*Season pass holders will need to show their season pass to exchange for a matchday ticket, with no purchase required. First 100 season pass holders who redeem tickets will receive an exclusive Lion City Sailors face mask.
Ticket Categories
Season Pass 2020 & 2021 – Complimentary
Adult – $15
Concession – $5 (16 and under with valid student pass & senior citizens above the age of 60)
*Concession tickets are applicable to the following:
– Students aged 16 and below with a valid Student Concession Card,
– Senior Citizens aged 60 and above with a valid Senior Citizen Concession Card.
Concession Cards and a recent Photo ID will be requested upon entry for verification purposes.
How to Enter
1530hrs-1730hrs
- Go to the Jalan Besar Stadium’s South Entrance to verify vaccination status and collect wrist tag
- Proceed to South Entrance ticket booth to redeem or purchase ticket (Each individual can only redeem/purchase 1 ticket)
1630hrs-1730hrs
- Check in via TraceTogether at north entrance
- Verify vaccination status and ticket
- Conduct bag checks if necessary
- Enjoy the match!
Make no mistake about it, the 1-1 draw against Balestier Khalsa at the Toa Payoh Stadium on Sunday night (8 August) was a disappointing result for the Lion City Sailors.
Trailing league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) by four points before kickoff – but with two games in hand – the Sailors could have reduced the gap to just one point. This after watching the White Swans’ surprising first defeat of the season on Friday, falling 2-1 to Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium.
In the end, Kim Do-hoon’s men had to be content with whittling down the deficit to three points, after a frustrating game in which the Sailors struggled to break down a dogged Tigers unit.
The Sailors went 1-0 down on the hour mark through a Šime Žužul’s strike that came against the run of play, but rallied, displaying a gritty determination to get back into the game.
Creating chance after chance, the Sailors reaped their reward five minutes into injury time when Jorge Fellipe’s goal-bound header was denied by a blatant Ensar Brunčević handball. Stipe Plazibat duly buried the resulting penalty to earn his side a share of the spoils.
It was not the result that the Sailors wanted, but one that they can still take heart from – they are very much still within touching distance of the summit.
“It wasn’t easy for us. The pitch was bumpy and we couldn’t really play our way of football,” explained Stipe, whose goal was his 11th of the season. “We were definitely the better team and had a few shots, but we just couldn’t find that final pass. Balestier didn’t really create one apart from that goal.
“We upped the tempo (after conceding) to be more direct and aggressive then we got the goal to draw level. After everything that has happened in this game, we can be satisfied with this one point although we’re still disappointed not to win.”
Right back Naqiuddin Eunos echoed similar sentiments – acknowledging that the Sailors were “not able to work our attacking moves into the box” through their typical passing style of play until adopting a more direct route towards the end.
“In the first half we were decent – we were playing our usual football without getting the results that we normally do,” explained the 24-year-old, who got his first start under Kim. “For the final 40 minutes (including the 10 minutes of injury time) after we went down, everyone pushed up – from the full-backs to the central midfielders.
“We had a lot more chances from there and perhaps we should have just played in this manner from the start. Going more direct is not what we usually do, but sometimes you just have to do it to get a result from a difficult game like this.”
The Route One approach was exactly how Balestier got the opening goal against the Sailors, with Shuhei Hoshino’s knock-on from Zaiful Nizam’s long free-kick causing all sorts of trouble before Croatian hotshot Žužul pounced to tap into an empty net.
Admitting that the defence “switched off” for that moment, Naqiuddin knew the team ought to have done better.
“We all know what Balestier’s strength is – they have tall players and are very good at set-pieces. We prepared throughout the week for this, but yet this happened,” said the former Singapore Under-22 player. “I think we lost focus for that second… that’s something that we have to learn from. We cannot afford to let in such easy goals.”
There were further reverberations in the process of conceding that goal, with Sailors captain Hassan Sunny suffering an unfortunate collision with the towering Jorge that left him needing lengthy medical attention. An oxygen mask was put on Hassan who was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in what was a worrying scene for all watching. The 37-year-old custodian was then rushed to the hospital with a suspected neck injury.
Both Naqiuddin and Stipe concurred that it was “not nice” to see a teammate lying down on the pitch, almost motionless. “I didn’t even think of the goal conceded, I was just hoping he will be okay,” added Stipe.
Rudy Khairullah deputised for Hassan in the last half-hour against the Tigers and the reliable 27-year-old may well find himself starting in next Sunday’s (15 August) fixture against title rivals Tampines at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Turning their attentions to the crunch tie between last season’s top two local sides – Tampines finished 2020 second in the eight-team SPL, with the Sailors two points behind in third – Naqiuddin and Stipe know exactly what is at stake.
“We’ve one week to prepare for this game and we’re definitely up for this battle. We need to get all three points and nothing less,” declared Naqiuddin.
“We’ve to treat our last eight remaining games as cup finals and not slip up anymore,” added Stipe. “We need to start from the very beginning and take control of each game.”
Balestier Khalsa may be on an eight-match winless streak, but Lion City Sailors defensive lynchpin Jorge Fellipe is not taking victory for granted when the two sides meet at Toa Payoh Stadium on Sunday night (8 August).
Under the tutelage of Croatian tactician Marko Kraljevic, the Tigers are known to play an aggressive style of football with strong and powerful players who are not afraid to play the physical game. Jorge is one who clearly knows the threat they pose, especially on set-piece situations, and has emphasised the need for aerial domination.
“In these types of games, the little details may define the result,” explained the 32-year-old, who is one of the tallest defenders in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at 1.9 metres tall. “It could be from a free-kick or a loose ball in the box that could win or lose you the game.
“We know how difficult it is to play against Balestier at their home ground. Their pitch there is not so ideal as well, so we may not be able to present the best of our football. But it’s not a reason not to perform and I believe our team has the ability to control the outcome of the game.”
The Balestier game will be another opportunity for the Sailors to showcase the improvement that they have made under Kim Do-hoon since he officially took charge in late June. The Sailors played out an encouraging 1-1 draw against defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) in coach Kim’s first game at the helm on 23 July. The team was much more organised at the back and as a unit – which bodes well for the matches ahead.
It is still very much early days in the Kim Do-hoon era, but the highly successful former Ulsan Hyundai man has wasted little time in making his mark, paying close attention to small details. With the physical work hugely ramped up since he took over, the players are only going to benefit as the Sailors go into the business end of the season.
“Training is very physical and high in intensity under Coach Kim. I particularly like this style and it’s not new to me because I’ve worked with a few other coaches with this style in the past,” said Jorge.
“The load is demanding, but everyone in the team has been adapting well and is eager to learn more from him. I believe this intensity is perfect because it builds us up to perform better in games.”
So far it has been a good first year in Singapore for Jorge, who has been an ever-present since he made his club debut in a 3-1 win over Young Lions in early April. Since then, he has played every minute for the Sailors and the team has never lost a game with him on the pitch.
His centre-back partnership with one of Singapore’s best young defenders Amirul Adli is also a key reason in the club’s ongoing best run of form in a nine-match unbeaten run (since a 3-1 loss to Hougang United in mid-March).
“We have an excellent relationship not only on the pitch, but we’re also friends off it,” shared Jorge. “That really helps as the better we understand each other outside and as a person, it will better reflect in our game.
“Me being the more experienced one and him being the younger one, I always try to pass my knowledge on to him. But he is also a superb defender in his own right. The key is communication so we always talk a lot on the pitch so that our partnership can flourish.”
The Brazilian’s towering presence and leadership has also been effective at the attacking end of the pitch, with Jorge scoring two goals to aid the Sailors’ title challenge.
With Saifullah Akbar and Shahdan Sulaiman coming back from suspension to complement new arrival Hariss Harun in midfield, Jorge is excited at the prospect of playing in front of such a quality engine room against Balestier.
“It’s fantastic to be playing right in front of these fantastic players and I’m looking forward to this new midfield combo. They can certainly add more to our game,” he said.
With Albirex expected to pick up all three points against Tanjong Pagar United on Friday, the gap between the White Swans and second-placed Sailors could grow to seven points – although Kim’s men would still have two games in hand. Thus three points against the Tigers is of paramount importance to their title charge.
“The race for the title is still wide open and no one has won it yet,” said a defiant Jorge. “We have to treat each game from now as a final and don’t let the gap grow. We have to be united, be focused and take every three points on offer.”
