Month: November 2023
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team needed to dig deep and turn in a gritty, spirited performance to eke out a 1-0 win against Hougang United at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (19 November).
The Sailors had already secured their second Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) crown after beating Geylang International 11-0 on 5 November, but were tasked with the additional mission of getting through their last two league matches to secure a second unbeaten season in domestic football.
And they responded with a steely grit worthy of back to back WPL champions.
Nur Syazwani Ruzi — WPL Young Player of the Year nominee for 23 November’s Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Awards Night 2023 — converted a penalty late in the second half to claim the only goal on a night that saw more stout defending than goal scoring opportunities for both sides.
With compact defending by the Sailors and the Cheetahs in the first half, there were few good opportunities in front of goal. While the Sailors had more possession of the ball, Hougang’s relentless pressing made it difficult for Sailors’ Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan and her charges to find a breakthrough in the final third of the pitch.
“Credit to Hougang, they made it hard for us the entire match. It was impossible to get any rhythm or flow in the game as the ball was booted away as soon as it landed,” said Sheau Shyan.
But the Sailors did carve out a couple of half chances in the first half. A speedy run down the left flank and then a smart cut-back by Cara Chang found Miray Altun, but the latter’s shot was blocked. Skipper Ernie Sulastri Sontaril also tried her luck from long range twice, but to no avail.
“We prepared to play in a tight space and compact block for this match but what we could not replicate in practice was how aggressive they put their bodies on the line and legs into every challenge,” Sheau Shyan added. “I would say that we did prepare the team to stick with our style regardless of the frustration felt.”
Instrumental in helping to keep a clean sheet against the Hougang United team was centre-back Sara Hayduchok, who assertively shut down several Cheetahs’ attacks. Working alongside fellow defenders Syazwani, Munirah Mohamad and Ernie as well as goalkeeper Beatrice Tan — who all put in gutsy performances — Sara made her presence felt on the pitch.
“The first few minutes scared me actually because Hougang came out really strong, pressing us with a lot of intensity,” Sara admitted. However, after getting her first few touches on the ball, Sara soon settled into the game.
“Years of training help me to be strong in tackles physically,” Sara said. “However, when it comes to mentality, I always go into tackles with confidence and strategically put my body in a position that protects myself from potential injury.”
Pointing out that the Sailors had to learn to work in crowded spaces due to Hougang’s deep defensive block, Sara shared that the team has been focused on maintaining possession in these tight areas. “We also prepared defensively for a lot of long balls as we know Hougang is a fit team that can send the ball a considerable distance,” Sara added.
Fullback Tia Foong came on as a substitute in the second half and proved to be a lively force going forward, slipping in a well-timed pass to find Josephine Ang in the final third, with the latter’s shot zipping just wide of the goal.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 82nd minute with Syazwani calmly converting a penalty after Sara was brought down in the box.
Syazwani has found a knack for scoring game-winning goals from the penalty spot, after previously snatching the Sailors’ only goal in a similar fashion during a tightly-contested match against Tanjong Pagar.
The Sailors will close out their season on Saturday (25 Nov) against Tiong Bahru at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
“I would like to end the season with another win but most importantly, I hope we can play the last match in the style we want,” said Sheau Shyan.
The Lion City Sailors are well represented among those gunning for the honour of being named Singapore football’s best performers of 2023, with eight nominations on the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) list of nominees for the FAS Awards Night 2023.
Maxime Lestienne followed up an outstanding 2022 season with yet another sensational year in Singapore football. His 25 goals and 21 assists saw him top the Singapore Premier League’s goal-scoring and assist charts this season, with the beguiling Belgian also instrumental in the Sailors’ Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign that has already seen the team beat two-time ACL winners, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
For the second time in successive years, the magical Maxime was named as one of three players nominated for the AIA Player of the Year (POTY) award. The 31-year-old – who has forced his name into local pundits’ arguments for best foreign player to grace Singapore football – will be up against Balestier Khalsa’s Ryoya Taniguchi and Seia Kunori from Albirex Niigata (S).
Kunori has also been nominated for the AIA Young Player of the Year (YPOTY) gong, alongside Sailors’ own 22-year-old forward Abdul Rasaq and Brunei DPMM’s Hakeme Yazid.
Rasaq is the top local goalscorer in the SPL, his 10-goal haul including a sensational volley that sealed the Sailors 3-2 win over Albirex in May.
The Sailors women – back to back champions of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) – have representatives in all the top three awards in women’s football.
Izzati Rosni is nominated for the Deloitte Player of the Year award for the second successive year. While she did not win the 2022 award that went to Tanjong Pagar’s Manami Fukuzawa, Izzati was the top scorer and won the Goal of the Year gong last year.
Syazwani Ruzi has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, following a season that saw the 21-year-old defender stand up to be counted in a season that saw the Sailors women lose several players to long-term injuries as well as overseas work and education opportunities.
Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan, the 2022 WPL Coach of the Year, is up for the award again this year. She is up against Hougang United’s Sivaraj Geevananthan and Tanjong Pagar United coach, Samawira Basri.
The Sailors’ media team is, for the first time, among the contenders on the FAS Awards Night.
A story from the Sailors’ International Women’s Day special, the Yes, I play like a girl series titled: Yes, we work like women – and it’s been wildly effective is one of two features stories – along with a story delving into Izwan Mahbud return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury titled: I feel like a kid again: Izwan Mahbud back and ready to rediscover old groove – up for the Story of the Year award.
An Ashok Kumar photo of Maxime in full flight at the Bishan Stadium with the caption: Beguiling mix of Belgian muscle and magic is up for the Photo of the Year award.
The FAS Awards Night will be held on 23 November at the Orchard Hotel, with the theme: Unity.
Sailors’ nominees for FAS Awards Night 2023
AIA Player of the Year: Maxime Lestienne
AIA Young Player of the Year: Abdul Rasaq
SPL Top Scorer: Maxime Lestienne (Winner)
Deloitte WPL Player of the Year: Izzati Rosni
WPL Young Player of the Year: Syazwani Ruzi
WPL Coach of the Year: Yeong Sheau Shyan
Story of the Year: Yes, we work like women – and it’s been wildly effective and I feel like a kid again: Izwan Mahbud back and ready to rediscover old groove both by Kenneth Tan
Photo of the Year: Beguiling mix of Belgian muscle and magic by Ashok Kumar
Miray Altun netted a brace in last Sunday’s (5 November) Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) 11-0 win over Geylang International that sealed the title for the Lion City Sailors, with those goals taking her season tally to eight, the Sailors’ second highest goal tally behind Izzati Rosni’s 12.
And while the 18-year-old is hoping to keep up with her goal scoring form when the women take on Hougang United on Sunday (19 Nov) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, it is clear that the forward’s drive for team success trumps any ranking or goal scoring feats.
“I hope to contribute more to the team in the last two games by assisting and scoring in any given opportunity, and I am happy that I was able to contribute more than I did last year,” said Miray.
“But I believe it is a team effort, because at the end of the day, what matters is our total goals and the points we can gain per match.
“I’m not really keen on comparing myself to my teammates because we’re all skilful players in our own right. I am a competitive person but it’s really competing against myself.”
While Miray credits Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan’s training for her success in front of goal, Miray has added her own personal touch to a training system she believes has been effective.
“The training helps me in terms of learning how to get into open spaces and go into shooting positions more smoothly,” said the forward.
“What I’ve been doing differently from last year is having visualisation training where I picture myself scoring. I do that more actively now than ever and I think it is working.”
Looking ahead to facing an in-form Hougang side, Miray and the team have their eyes on three points and a clean sheet.
“Our team is different from the last time we played against Hougang in July because we have lost some players through injury and other commitments. The team dynamic has changed but Coach Sheau Shyan has given us new adaptations to make,” said Miray.
“We know that Hougang has a solid defence, but I am quite excited to see how we can break through them. We need to keep the same intensity we had this whole season and minimise mistakes so we don’t concede goals.”
Fellow forward Nica Siy was part of last weekend’s skeleton squad – the women only managed 11 players on the day, and not all of them were fully fit – when she returned to action after missing several games due to work commitments. Available for selection against Hougang, the mid-season signing called for her teammates to complete the job in a season that has witnessed consistently excellent performances.
“We’ve been unbeaten throughout the season and we would like to maintain that. We’re determined to finish the season with the same level of excellence that got us the title,” said Nica who signed with the Sailors women earlier this year, in August.
The Philippines-born forward got her first goal for the club last Sunday, making her the 19th Sailor to score this season.
“It was a remarkable experience and marked a significant moment in my journey with the team. The goal made me feel like I’m back in the groove,” she gushed.
“Playing in Singapore has been an incredible journey. I’ve enjoyed every moment of evolving alongside my teammates and embracing the unique spirit of this country. With just two games remaining, my focus is to continue improving, maintain a high performance and contribute to our team’s success.”
A stunning 3-0 win over Daegu FC in April 2022 for a Singaporean club’s first-ever win over a K League 1 side, a plucky 2-1 victory over Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC a month ago and now a brilliant 2-0 upset over two-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
There is clearly something about the ACL that brings out the best in the Lion City Sailors.
Adam Swandi, one of the key members of the Sailors squad, believes it boils to the desire of wanting to push the Sailors and Singapore to the forefront of Asia in the continent’s flagship club competition.
“It’s a huge honour for us to play at the highest level in Asia, on the same stage players like Ronaldo are also playing. We’re so motivated coming into the Champions League because it’s really important to show what we – a Singaporean team – can do,” said the 27-year-old.
“The level’s really high of course – we’re not just coming up against teams from Korea and Japan, but the champions in these countries. It’s tough, but I’ve always believed that the bigger the pressure, the better the rewards are.
“Getting results in this competition brings happiness not just to our fans, but to the entire Singapore football fraternity. It helps to elevate the sport here as a whole, so we want to keep doing well.”
And motivation to excel is very easily found.
“Whenever we’re going up against big teams, there’ll be many people saying ‘sure lose’, ‘sure bantai’ (Malay word for massacre) – it’s like we’re going there to get shot. But in football, the ball is round. You can always get surprising results if you work hard as a team.
“We’ve shown these two years that we can get good results against teams that people least expect us to deliver against, and that’s a great feeling that we want to keep replicating,” said Adam.
After achieving seven points – the best-ever points tally by a Singaporean club in the ACL group stages – in an impressive debut voyage last year, the Sailors were always going to be under pressure to do even better in their second year participating in the competition.
Adam acknowledges that expectations levels have rocketed but the Sailors are embracing the pressure, and indeed, cherishing jostling with the continent’s best players.
“We’re a decently good team who can do well in this competition. While we understand these expectations, we’re also setting our own targets high because that’s the only way to go forward,” he said.
“As much as there’s pressure, it’s definitely an experience that us Singaporean players have to cherish. There was a time we wouldn’t even imagine being at this stage. I did talk to Hami (Syahin) recently, saying that ‘a few years down the road, we’ll realise what a big stage this was for us’.
“Footballers sometimes feel like we’re going through motions, trying to get through a run of games. But if we sit down and look back for a moment, we’d realise that it’s something really significant and one that we all should be proud of.”
To Adam, nothing tops the feeling of winning ACL matches and he has already been involved in a few significant ones since 2022.
“Honestly, that feeling of joy once the final whistle is blown is indescribable. It just feels like everyone’s hard work as a team – from the players to the backroom staff, and even the kit man – have come off together.
“And it’s a kind of feeling that we want to feel week in week out and we’re definitely now fueled to go for more,” he said.
While the Sailors are bidding to become the first Singaporean club to qualify for the ACL knockout stages, the club is already looking further into the future and the work that lies ahead.
“Obviously as a club, we have ambitions of being a big club in Asia and there’ve been investments to ensure we’re on the way to achieving that. But it’s a difficult process – football looks simple, but it’s actually very complicated and takes a lot of work outside the pitch to succeed. Even the smallest of details will matter in a game,” said Adam.
“Everyone hopes the road to success can be instant or cut short somehow, but it definitely takes some time. A good example is our neighbours JDT (Johor Darul Ta’zim) – it took them quite some time to get used to the ACL and they’re now competing at a very good level, so we’re definitely looking to emulate them.
“The key is to be exposed to this level of competition every year, where we have to play our A game and raise our levels physically and mentally. First, we need to make sure we do well in the league to gain a spot in the ACL every year.”
An incredible upset of Jeonbuk on Matchday Four has sparked life into the Sailors’ ACL campaign reigniting their chance of qualifying for the Round of 16, and Adam continues to believe in that dream.
“It won’t be easy because we also have our eyes set on the domestic (Singapore) Cup while the ACL is going on. We want to win the Cup, but at the same time we want to help the team create history. I think this team is on a good way to achieve all our aspirations, if we continue to play like this and work as a team.”
After referee Mooud Bonyadifard blew the full-time whistle at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (8 November), a deafening roar reverberated around the entire ground as fans applauded the players off the pitch and reveled in the winning atmosphere.
The Lion City Sailors beat South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 in a crucial Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) 2023/24 Group F clash, and the impact of that result was not lost on anyone present at Jalan Besar.
Richairo Živković’s brace means Aleksandar Ranković’s Sailors sit third in the group with six points after four matches, behind Jeonbuk only on goal difference.
The win revives the Sailors’ hopes of progressing into the next round, with leaders Bangkok United (10 points) and bottom placed Kitchee SC (1 point) playing out a 1-1 draw in the group’s other match on Wednesday.
The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advance to the Round of 16.
Against the nine-time K League 1 winners and two-time ACL champions, the Sailors put in a solid all-rounded display in front of a boisterous crowd of 3,562 fans.
The figure included some 100 Team Nila volunteers, as well as German legend and South Korea’s national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who was here on a scouting mission ahead of the Taegeuk Warriors’ World Cup qualifying game against Singapore on 16 November.
It was a much improved result from two weeks ago when Jeonbuk defeated the Sailors 3-0 at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Ranko was satisfied with how his charges bounced back from the loss.
“We gave the perfect response which was really necessary. I want the players to realise the significance of what they’ve done,” the 45-year-old Serb said at the post-match press conference.
Man-of-the-match Richi added: “We played very well from our goalkeeper all the way to the forwards. We executed our game plan well.”
Sailors fans, who will be feeling a sense of déjà vu after defeating fellow South Korean outfit Daegu FC 3-0 in the ACL group stage last year, will have much to cheer about this time round.
This comes after they were unable to witness that victory up close due to Covid-19 restrictions causing matches to be played at a neutral venue in 2022.
Ranko reserved special praise for the fans decked in blue and white, who turned out in droves and never failed to cheer throughout the 90 minutes.
“The supporters were tremendous, they helped us a lot and they’re a part of our club, in the way they support us, even in away games,” he noted.
“I hope we gave them something they could be proud of, and I hope to see at every game we play that we have crowds like this, not only in the ACL but in the league and Singapore Cup as well.”
The Sailors opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Maxime Lestienne’s cross-field pass found Shawal Anuar, who leaped above his defender and nodded the ball into Richi’s path. The 27-year-old Curaçaon international finished with aplomb, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The lead was doubled 10 minutes into the second half after Richi played a one-two with Shawal and curled the ball into the corner beyond Jeonbuk goalkeeper Jeong Min Ki’s reach.
Jeonbuk were given a lifeline in the dying stages of the game when Sailors centre-back Manuel Herrera López (Súper) was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, but Gustavo Henrique Sousa’s penalty was high and wide of Zharfan Rohaizad’s goal.
There was still time for a heartwarming moment at Jalan Besar as striker Kodai Tanaka made his first appearance since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in March as a substitute two minutes into stoppage time.
The Sailors’ organised shape while defending was enough for them to pull off the win in the end, a fact Jeonbuk Head Coach Dan Petrescu credited the home side for.
“The Sailors have good foreign players and also locals who are part of the national team. They defended well for 90 minutes and we couldn’t find space to attack,” said the former Chelsea man.
For the Sailors, the two remaining games in the continental competition will be crucial – they will next take on group leaders Bangkok away on 29 November before hosting Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC on 13 December.
“The main thing we spoke about last week was to at least take something away from this game, so I’m very happy we’re still in the running to progress to the knockout phase,” said Ranko.
But next up for the Sailors is a Singapore Cup Group B clash against Hougang United at Jalan Besar on 21 November. They will be looking to reach the maximum nine points as they aim to top the group.
“First I need to refresh my guys, then we’ll focus on the Cup game before turning our attention to the away game against Bangkok,” said Ranko.
Zulqarnaen Suzliman and nine other Lion City Sailors players are in line for a reunion with Son Heung-min just months after facing the Tottenham Hotspur star in July’s Tiger Cup – this after being named in Takayuki Nishigaya’s 24-strong Singapore squad that will face South Korea and Thailand during the November FIFA international window.
These two games will kick off Round 2 of the joint qualification process for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.
Mamat, along with Singapore captain Hariss Harun, Lionel Tan, Christopher van Huizen, M. Anumanthan, Hafiz Nor, Hami Syahin, Adam Swandi, Shawal Anuar, as well as custodian Zharfan Rohaizad kept their places after being named in the squad for October’s double-header against Guam which saw the Lions prevail 3-1 on aggregate to progress to this stage.
Apart from Son, the Sailors’ National Team representatives will also face internationally renowned South Korean stars in the likes of Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae, Paris Saint Germain’s Lee Kang-in and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan.
They will also face Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ duo of Kim Jin-su and Moon Seon-min – just a week after facing the Korean pair in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday (8 November).
Hariss and the Lions will kick off their Group C qualifying campaign against Jürgen Klinsmann’s South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on 16 November, before hosting Thailand at the National Stadium in Singapore five days later.
Dan Petrescu: Sailors are no pushovers
Heading into their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) 2023/24 Group F clash against the Lion City Sailors on Wednesday (8 November), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will feel like a wounded animal.
After all, they have just suffered a 4-2 loss to Pohang Steelers in the Korean FA Cup final last Saturday (4 Nov), a defeat that means the South Korean powerhouse will end the season without a single trophy for the first time since 2013.
With that result still stinging, Jeonbuk will walk out at the Jalan Besar Stadium with fire in their belly.
Last season’s ACL semi-finalists will be encouraged by the fact they recorded a 3-0 win against the Sailors in their previous clash at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium on 25 October.
No room for complacency
But Head Coach Dan Petrescu warned his charges against any hint of complacency.
“We’re talking about different competitions. This is the ACL, where top teams from Asia play, and just like teams in Europe, we have to forget about the FA Cup game and focus on this competition,” said the former Chelsea defender.
“Losing the FA Cup final was not a good result, but It’s going to be an exciting match between both teams. I’m sure the Sailors will play well just like they did in previous matches and it’s going to be hard for us.”
The FA Cup loss will not be the only thing on Jeonbuk minds.
Earlier on Tuesday (7 Nov), the Korea Football Association rejected their appeal over an issue of an additional opposition player on the pitch in their K League 1 match against Pohang on 28 October. The match that ended 1-1 saw Pohang played with 12 men on the pitch for six minutes.
A successful appeal would have meant a 3-0 win awarded in favour of them and given them a significant boost in their chances of finishing third – which comes with a spot in the play-off rounds of the 2024/25 ACL Elite competition.
Jeonbuk are now in fourth, four points off third-placed Gwangju FC with three matches left in the 2023 K League 1 season.
But Petrescu insists that the events surrounding the team will not affect their performances on the pitch.
“Of course I heard the news, but this is football sometimes, we have to accept this and quickly move on to our next match.”
Fatigue may be a factor
Since their previous encounter with the Sailors, Jeonbuk have played three competitive matches in the space of eight days, while the Sailors will undoubtedly come into Wednesday’s clash the fresher of the two sides, having not played any competitive games since falling to Jeonbuk in Jeonju on 25 October.
But midfielder Paik Seung-ho, who played the full 90 minutes across the three matches, is confident that their players are fully prepared for Wednesday’s clash.
“Of course we’re a little tired, but as players we’re thankful we get the chance to play so many games and competitions,” said the 26-year-old, who scored against Brazil in last year’s Qatar World Cup.
“Our strength is we have a lot of quality and depth in our squad, and those who go out onto the pitch will fight hard to get us the result we need.”
Weather and pitch conditions may play a part
For Jeonbuk, playing on an artificial pitch and adjusting to the weather conditions here will be challenges the players have to overcome.
“The weather here is totally different to that of Korea, and in these one or two days we have to try our best and adapt,” Petrescu said.
“In football, the game will never be the same, and we expect our chances to be even for tomorrow’s match.”
Sailors braced and ready
The Sailors are also in need of a result to keep their dream of becoming the first Singapore team to get through the ACL group stage alive.
And Sailors defender Manuel Herrera López (Súper) revealed that the lengthy rest the team has enjoyed will aid their cause, adding: “Right now we’re ready and everyone’s expecting a tough game.”
Jeonbuk have won twice at home – against Kitchee SC and the Sailors – in the group stage of the continental competition, but suffered a 3-2 defeat to Bangkok United in their only Group F away fixture thus far.
And at the halfway mark of the group stage, the nine-time K League 1 champions and two-time ACL winners are second in Group F with six points, three ahead of the Sailors.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković highlighted the changes his side will need to make in order to achieve a better result this time.
“In the away game, the defensive side was something we didn’t do well, especially the second balls we didn’t win. That’s something we’ve been working on for the last two weeks,” he said.
“We’ll need the fans tomorrow for us to play the perfect game and get the result we want.”
Defiant Sailors plotting Jeonbuk revenge
Even as the Lion City Sailors trudged off the Jeonju World Cup Stadium some two weeks ago, they already had that look on their faces.
The 3-0 defeat to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors that night stung, and it was clear that even as they dragged their feet off the pitch and into the dressing room in South Korea, the Sailors were plotting revenge.
The Singapore Premier League’s representatives at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) line up against Jeonbuk, two-time ACL champions, on 8 November at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Matchday Four of the ACL 2023/24 group stage, and they are hell-bent on making amends.
“I don’t think we did that bad. We tried to execute what we worked on in training, but a small mistake or lapse in concentration became crucial, as they do in games like these.
“When you concede a goal in the first five minutes against a team that has such quality, things become very difficult,” said Manuel Herrera López (Súper), referring to Jun Amano’s 5th-minute opener on the night.
“If we had gone into half time 0-0, they would’ve been in a rush, possibly making mistakes and we could have had more chances.”
The 31-year-old has already set his mind on a specific goal in the rematch.
“Playing against their no. 10, the striker (1.93m tall Park Jae-yong) was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced,” said Súper.
“And I need revenge.
“Every day since, I’ve been thinking about how I could have done better, and I’m sure my teammates are also thinking how they can improve, and help the team get a result.”
Christopher van Huizen is another who has revenge on his mind.
“We could have kept better shape as a team and been stronger in one-on-one situations – especially me. I was quite disappointed with the way I played, especially because I was in quite good form for the previous one and a half months,” said the 30-year-old.
“I know one thing for sure, I’m not going to let this happen again.”
With a clearer picture of how Jeonbuk set up, coupled with the factor of playing in front of a home crowd at Jalan Besar, Súper is certain that the Sailors can jettison the underdogs tag and go all out for a victory on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a different game here because it is hotter here than in Korea, the field is smaller and we are playing on an artificial surface. Jeonbuk play really nice football, but we are going to make it tough for them,” said the Spaniard.
“I’m not talking about one point – we’re going for three. I’m an optimist and I want to get the win so that we can keep dreaming of qualifying for the Round of 16.”
The Sailors are three points behind second-placed Jeonbuk at the halfway mark in Group F and six behind leaders Bangkok United. A win is the perfect tonic to revive the Sailors’ chances of progression ahead of the final two group games.
It is a fact not lost on Chris.
“We came into the competition believing we can do something, and we know we could have done better thus far – but we’re not giving up without a fight, even though it’s tough to get out of the group now,” said the Singapore international.
“Whenever we’re playing at home, we are pretty hyped and we’re going to draw on that energy from the crowd to push ourselves beyond our limits. It’s about keeping our shape, encouraging each other and keeping our heads screwed on throughout the 90 minutes.
“Let’s do that and see where it gets us.”
When the final whistle was blown at the Clementi Stadium, the stands erupted in wild cheers before chants of “Campeones” rang out, lauding the eleven players that made up the entire matchday squad of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team on Sunday (5 November).
The evening’s resounding 11-0 victory over Geylang International saw the women seal the Deloitte Women’s Premier League title for the second year running, and there was a mix of joy and relief.
The team weathered a tough 2023, losing several players to long-term injuries while others headed overseas on football scholarships. The Sailors have had to dig deep several times all season, with last night proving a unique challenge – the women only managed 11 players on the day, and not all of them were fully fit.
“I already told the players that we should enjoy these two matches because for the whole season, we’ve been struggling with different challenges,” said Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan, who was effusive with praise for her players.
The Sailors got off to an energetic start, with Lila Tan taking two shots at goal and Josephine Ang hitting the woodwork.
“Initially, it was quite hard to break down the defence because they packed the middle,” said captain Ho Hui Xin. “I told the team at the start that if there is a half-chance, we have to take it.”
The team’s patient build-up play was rewarded in the 12th minute after Julia Farr hammered in the opening goal from the left flank.
Still working through rehabilitation for a knee injury, the early goal provided the German a big confidence boost.
“I haven’t played a full match in a while and knowing I could get some tackles did make me a bit nervous,” said Julia. “But everybody was amazingly supportive, kept pushing me, helping me and cheering me — that helped tremendously.”
In the 20th minute, fullback-turned-centre back Nur Syazwani Ruzi sent a delightful through-ball to Miray Altun on the right flank, beating the entire Eagles defence. Miray calmly slotted home the Sailors’ second goal of the night.
A Geylang handball in the box gave the Sailors a 32nd-minute penalty, with Josephine converting from the spot to pick up her first goal of the evening. She later scored another two goals to snag her first WPL hat-trick.
Josephine is now the team’s third-highest scorer with seven goals, only behind Miray who has eight and Nur Izzati Rosni who netted 12.
“I think that we are really a team,” Sheau Shyan said. “We are passing the ball around trying to find the free player. It’s not about who is a good goal-scorer, but who is in the correct position.”
Before half-time, Julia bagged another goal while Lila capitalised on a smart switch in play to send the Sailors 5-0 up going into the break.
“It was definitely such a good feeling, especially after coming back from a five-month injury break,” said Julia, after her two-goal showing. “I just kept telling myself: do what you can and try to enjoy the game. Try to help the team and keep it simple. Focus on the basics and then see what I can do.”
In the second half, skipper Hui Xin and mid-season signing Nica Siy each picked up their first goals of the season. The Sailors now boast 19 different goal-scorers in this season, testament to the depth and clinical finishing across the entire squad.
Teenager Madelin Lock also got herself on the scoresheet in the 58th minute, after a solid performance in the Sailors midfield. The 16-year-old played a big role in relentlessly switching plays across both flanks, consistently opening up pockets of space for her teammates.
Miray then secured a brace for herself after firing a spectacular shot into the top corner in the 71st minute.
“Everybody knows their roles and responsibilities,” Hui Xin said. “As captain, I only had to remind everybody about the game plan, because everybody carried their weight tonight.”
Looking ahead, Hui Xin acknowledged that their next match against Hougang United, currently ranked third in the league, a fortnight later on 19 November will be a stern test.
“At the end of the day, we are a team and can be very proud to have overcome so many different challenges and obstacles this year,” added Julia.
“We always believed that we could win the league again and, after a lot of hard work from everyone, here we are.”
After last weekend’s (29 October) 3-0 win against second-placed Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors propelled themselves seven points clear at the top of the 10-team Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table.
With just three games left to play in the WPL 2023 season, that hard-fought victory now gives the Sailors the opportunity to seal back-to-back WPL titles this Sunday (5 November), if they beat Geylang International at Clementi Stadium.
In a challenging season that saw several key players sit out with long-term injuries and others leaving in mid-season to either further their studies or go on scholarships, several youngsters – seven in total – stepped up and into the spotlight after being promoted from the Sailors Girls’ Academy.
One of them is Josephine Ang, who will always remember the moment Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan told her she was going to be promoted to the WPL team.
“It was very shocking to me, but I knew I had to make Coach Sheau Shyan proud because she really believed in me from the start. She talked to me about the discipline and the commitment I need to have in order to be in the senior team,” said the 17-year-old forward.
There is little doubt that Josephine has come a long way as a player, but it is the team ethic and unity that makes her heart swell with pride.
“We lost many players due to long-term injuries and instead of us being negative about it, we worked even harder to get closer to the WPL title. The team has put in an incredible amount of effort this year – it’s surreal,” said the teenager, who already has four goals in her debut WPL campaign.
“The Albirex game last weekend was one of my proudest moments. The whole team worked hard and fought for one another. I saw my teammates score while I was on the bench and I’ve never been more proud of my team.”
Josephine called for discipline and composure as the women prepare to take what could be the final step up to be crowned champions this Sunday.
“We must treat this game like any other game but we cannot be complacent,” she explained. “We need to stick to Coach Sheau Shyan’s game plan, play to our strengths – keeping the ball in tight areas and being able to switch it out – and play with a higher intensity too.”
Lila Tan, who has three years on her younger teammate, has already established herself as one of the Sailors’ senior players. She is confident that the team has what it takes to get the job done on Sunday.
“I believe with an optimistic mentality and a strong team cohesion, we will be able to remain composed and execute our game plan,” she said.
“I do still get pre-match jitters, but I am eager to simply play my part in the team to get us that win. We have been pushing ourselves for the potential title at training and I’m confident we will implement what we have learned.”
Lila has watched the young ones come into the team this year, and the 20-year-old has enjoyed seeing them grow into their respective roles.
“It has been such a privilege to play with the juniors, they are full of spirit and determination,” gushed Lila.
“There is a growing unity between the juniors and the seniors, and I think it’s also important that we are having fun at training sessions – that can only help us improve as a team, and consistently get results, like we aim to do on Sunday.”
