Month: July 2024
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team will face opposition from Jordan and India in the inaugural Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL).
At the official draw ceremonies for both the 2024/25 AWCL Preliminary Stage and Group Stage, which took place at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur earlier this afternoon (18 July), the Sailors Women were placed in Group B of the Preliminary Stage, along with hosts Etihad Club and Odisha FC.
The matches for the Preliminary Stage are scheduled to be played in Jordan between August 25 and 31.
The group winner will progress into Group C of the tournament’s Group Stage, along with Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies and Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team – with matches to be played between October 6 and 12.
While the Sailors Women have been dominant domestically, winning the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) twice in a row without losing a game in 2022 and 2023, they will likely face a significant challenge in progressing from the Preliminary Stage.
Nonetheless, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong has backed his team to rise to the challenge and proudly represent Singapore at the regional level.
“To play in the AWCL has been our target for a long time, so it’s a dream come true for many of our players. Instead of being afraid or wary of the challenge, our girls are extremely excited at the prospect of facing the top teams in the region,” said the 35-year-old.
“While we aspire to reach the Group Stage, what’s more crucial is the development of our players and their ability to play our style of football against higher-level opponents. I’m confident that the team will perform well, and we’ll work very hard in the coming weeks to ensure we enter the competition in peak condition.”
It may still be early in the season, but the Lion City Sailors’ clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Thursday (18 July) night at the Bishan Stadium already feels pivotal in both teams’ hunt for the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title.
The Sailors and BG Tampines have started the season nearly identically – with six wins and a draw each, both teams are tied at the top with 19 points, though the Sailors’ superior goal difference currently gives them the edge over their title rivals.
With reigning SPL champions Albirex Niigata (S) struggling for form this season, the Sailors and BG Tampines — both of whom finished as the top two local sides behind Albirex for the past two campaigns — are now considered by many to be favourites for the 2024/25 SPL crown.
As such, a win for either team on Thursday would give them an early advantage in what promises to be a tight and enthralling race for the league title.
Nonetheless, Sailors captain Hariss Harun insists that while the team will be focused on beating Gavin Lee’s side, it is still too early in the season for the result of this match – the first of four league encounters between the two teams – to carry significant weight.
“We’re just completing Round 1 of the matches, so this match isn’t season-defining yet,” said Hariss. “However, things are quite tight at the top, so it’s still important to gain an advantage over them at this stage.
“BG Tampines have recruited well and have quality all over the pitch, but we’re focusing on our strengths and how we can hurt them. As footballers, these are the games everyone wants to play in, and we look forward to putting on another good show for our fans.”
Hariss played a crucial role in the Sailors’ last outing — a 4-2 win over Balestier Khalsa — as he won his side a crucial penalty in injury time. Maxime Lestienne duly converted the spot-kick to give the Sailors a 3-2 lead, before the Belgian scored again minutes later to wrap up the three points.
The dramatic victory over a resolute Tigers side showcased the Sailors’ fighting spirit and togetherness – qualities that Hariss believes will give his side the edge over the Stags when they meet.
The 33-year-old elaborated, “We didn’t play that well (against Balestier), but we kept going, which is testament to the team’s resolve and belief. In a long season like this, we’ll face different challenges and obstacles, so it’s important that we keep fighting to find a way through tricky matches.
“The victory gives us good momentum heading into the Tampines game, and we need to capitalise on this to secure another three points.”
While acknowledging that there are certain aspects of the Sailors’ game that still need improvement, Hariss is adamant that it is only a matter of time before they iron out their early-season kinks and hit their stride.
“We know that people have high expectations of us. We also have high expectations of ourselves – we know what we can do and where we can improve. There have been a couple of games where our performances were not up to par, but having said that, we are still unbeaten, so it’s a positive start to the season.
“There’s plenty of time to fine-tune things, and more importantly, we want to peak at the right time as a team.”
With the Sailors notching up 13 wins in 15 home league matches since returning to the Bishan Stadium in 2023, Hariss believes the Crew is crucial in spurring the Sailors on to victory, and urged the fans to fill the stadium on Thursday with a sea of white and blue.
Hariss said, “We’re grateful to have our fans with us. They have stuck with us through both the good and bad times, and they’re a huge part of the Sailors family. I’m really looking forward to a strong crowd on Thursday night – that’ll give us added motivation and the drive to push harder.
“We promise to give everything, so that our fans can go home with a night to remember.”
As the clock ticked down at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (13 July) night, all eyes were on one man as he calmly placed the ball on the penalty spot.
Maxime Lestienne.
The time on the clock read 92 minutes 36 seconds. The scoreboard showed: Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Lion City Sailors.
One kick was all it would take for the Sailors to secure all three points, to keep them at the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL). Make no mistake, the pressure was on.
Maxime took a step forward. Then another, and another, and another. With his fourth step, he swung his left leg at the ball and placed it into the bottom corner, leaving a diving Hafiz Ahmad in the Balestier goal grasping at thin air.
Pressure? What pressure?
This was a penalty by a confident player in form, one who has so often produced clutch moments for the Sailors, and who has now scored in six consecutive games.
As it turned out, there was even time after the penalty for Maxime to put the icing on the cake with his second of the night, as he capped off a devastating counter-attacking move in the last minute of the game to secure a 4-2 victory for the Sailors.
The win sees the Sailors remain at the summit of the SPL, level on 19 points with fellow title contenders BG Tampines Rovers, who beat Brunei DPMM 3-0 in the other game played last night.
It also means that the Sailors have extended their unbeaten start to the season, setting up the stage for a blockbuster title clash against BG Tampines coming up next on Thursday (18 July).
While pleased with the dramatic win, Maxime – who also notched himself an assist and was named Man-of-the-Match – believes the Sailors can still improve on their overall display.
Reflecting on the game, he said, “We did our best, but we know that we still haven’t reached the level that we know we are capable of. Nonetheless, maybe in past seasons we would not have won such a game, so we’re happy with the win. However, in our next game (against BG Tampines), we will have to play much better than today.”
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković also acknowledged that his side did not play at their best, but gave credit to Balestier for giving them a tough challenge.
“I’m satisfied with the result, but the performance, not so much,” said Ranko. “Especially in the first-half, we had problems…with moving the ball, and this caused us to play at a low tempo.
“Credit must also go to our opponents today. They made it very difficult for us, and they might feel we stole the winner, because that’s what happened. Such games are expected during the season, and again, we faced a strong opponent equally determined to win. Overall, it was a good and exciting match.”
Indeed, Balestier started the game brightly and very nearly took the lead early on through striker Ismail Sassi, whose shot cannoned off the crossbar.
The Sailors – who made two changes to the starting line-up from their 3-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United last weekend, with Song Uiyoung and Sergio Carmona Pérez coming in for Shawal Anuar and Lionel Tan – fashioned their first real opportunity of the game in the 27th minute, when Maxime curled a left-footed shot just wide off the post.
Right at the stroke of half-time, Balestier forward Kodai Tanaka was almost presented with a golden opportunity to score, but Sailors defender Bailey Wright courageously slid in to intercept the ball – crashing into the post in the process – before it could reach the former Sailor.
Ranko’s charges came out of the half-time break looking sharper and hungrier, as they looked to put the visitors under pressure to try and force turnovers in dangerous positions.
In the 52nd minute, Ranko brought on Bart, Shawal Anuar, and Hafiz Nor in an attempt to reinvigorate his side’s attack.
The tactical decision paid off, as just eight minutes later, Bart opened the scoring for the Sailors by pouncing on Lennart Thy’s lofted cross and half-volleying it into the top right corner.
Unfortunately, Bart’s night was cut short not long after, as he had to be substituted after taking a knock.
“He (Bart) scored a goal in a moment that was very important for us.” Ranko said. “But I’m very disappointed that we might lose him in the next match.”
The Sailors were then pegged back, however, as in the 68th minute, Ismail Sassi cut in from the left flank and placed an accurate finish into the bottom corner to draw his side level.
But the equaliser did not dampen the Sailors’ spirits, and they continued to pepper the Tigers’ goal in search of a winner.
The Sailors’ persistence paid off in the 81st minute, when Toni Datković leapt highest to head home Maxime’s outswinging corner, scoring his first-ever goal for the club.
Once again, Balestier struck back just two minutes later, as Sassi smashed in a loose ball after the Sailors failed to clear their lines from a corner.
With a draw looking likely as the game neared its conclusion, the Sailors were handed a lifeline in the 90th minute when captain Hariss Harun earned his side a penalty after being brought down in the box.
Up stepped Maxime – and the rest, as they say, is history.
Timing his jump to perfection, Lion City Sailors centre-back Bailey Wright rose highest in the box to nod home Adam Swandi’s pinpoint corner for his team’s third – and final – goal of the night.
The Australian was immediately embraced by his jubilant teammates, who knew that his 84th-minute goal had just guaranteed them all three points against Tanjong Pagar United.
And so it proved, as the Sailors eventually ran out 3-0 winners against the Jaguars last Sunday (7 July) at the Bishan Stadium.
Notably, this was Bailey’s second goal in consecutive home games, having found the back of the net in the 7-1 thrashing of defending Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) last month. With two goals to his name, the 31-year-old has already equalled his goal tally from last season.
Bailey, however, was keen to downplay his individual contribution, and instead emphasised the Sailors’ resilience and tenacity in beating Tanjong Pagar.
“There’s going to be times throughout the season when… we have to find different ways to play and win. I’m happy that I scored that header, but the most important thing for us is to win, and we fully deserved the three points,” said the Australian.
“We could have had more (goals), but I think there’s still more to come from us. It’s still early in the season. We know how good we can be, and we know we can still reach another level. That is what’s driving us in every game – to get better and keep winning.”
It has not gone unnoticed that the Sailors have looked more threatening on set-pieces this season, and Bailey admits that it is an aspect of the game the team has been working hard on.
He explained, “Set pieces are a significant part of football, and considering the quality we have throughout the team – both in terms of the set-piece takers and the players getting on the end of chances – we know we are capable of capitalising more on these opportunities. We’ve discussed it internally, and it’s definitely something that we pay attention to.”
At the other end of the pitch, Bailey has forged a strong partnership with Toni Datković in the heart of the Sailors defence. Despite joining the club in February this year, Toni – who came with experience in Spain’s LaLiga 2 – has quickly established himself as a key presence in the backline alongside Bailey, impressing with his ball-playing abilities and aerial dominance.
Having seen Toni up close in action, Bailey knows just how good the Croatian is.
“From the moment Toni walked in the door, he brought a top mentality. And you can see that on the pitch – he’s real quality.” said Bailey.
Bailey also attributes his on-field partnership with Toni to their strong relationship off the pitch.
“When you have a good relationship with someone off the field, you tend to have a good relationship with them on the pitch,” shared Bailey. “Toni and I get each other without having to say too much at times. When you feel that sense of confidence in your partner, you go out there and have fun. It’s always nice when you’re playing alongside a mate.”
Around this time last year, Bailey travelled more than 10,000km to carve out a new chapter of his career in Singapore with the Sailors.
Despite a rocky start to his Sailors career – he was sent off on his debut – Bailey has since won over the fans with his gutsy, all-action displays in defence. Now with a full pre-season under his belt, the former Sunderland captain is determined to push on even further.
“It was quite an experience, getting a red card on my debut.” Bailey recounted with a chuckle. “It was tough at the start without my family here, and when I got injured. This season though, I’ve had a full pre-season with the club, and now that I have my family living with me, I feel more settled in Singapore.”
Having already lifted both the Singapore Cup and Community Shield with the Sailors, Bailey is eager to add more silverware to his collection.
He stated, “A goal of mine this season is to play well and help the team that wins. It was nice to come here and lift two trophies, but I’m always hungry for more.”
Up next for Bailey and the Sailors is an intriguing encounter against fourth-placed Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (13 July) evening.
Though the Sailors – who are unbeaten this season – are viewed as the favourites to win, Bailey is under no illusions about the challenge that the Tigers will pose this weekend.
“They (Balestier) are doing well, and we know that they’ll be tough opposition. Overall, I think the league is stronger this season, and we have full respect for everyone we play. We’re well aware of what Balestier are capable of, and I’m looking forward to the game.”
The Tigers have only lost just one out of their six games played so far – a 4-2 defeat to title challengers BG Tampines Rovers. They also possess in-form forward Kodai Tanaka, who has already scored eight goals this season after making a successful recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for the majority of 2023 when he was still with the Sailors.
While acknowledging that his former teammate will be a threat for Balestier, Bailey is looking forward to the challenge of keeping him in check.
“We know he (Kodai) is a good player and tough to play against. But as a footballer, that’s what you want. I’m sure he’ll be relishing the challenge as much as I am,” Bailey said.
“Kodai has had a tough time with his injury, but he worked really hard to get himself back fit. It seems like he’s enjoying his football and scoring goals. I’m just happy that he’s back to doing what he loves, because at the end of the day, everyone wants a healthy and happy career.”
Nonetheless, Bailey is confident that his team will be able to come away from the challenge of Balestier with all three points.
“We have a lot of firepower and quality within the team to score, and it’s evident in the strong goal difference we’ve amassed so far,” Bailey noted. “I think we just need to keep doing and executing it better as we continue to improve and practice.
“By continuing to build on the foundation that has brought us success so far, we will grow stronger as a team with each game.”
The Lion City Sailors are pleased to announce the appointment of Firdaus Kassim as the club’s new Under-21 Head Coach.
The 37-year-old replaces José Mataix, who leaves the club to take up a coaching role with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq.
Recognised as one of the brightest coaching minds in the local football fraternity, Firdaus brings with him extensive experience from his overseas coaching stints with Thailand’s Muangthong United and the Laos national team. He also previously led Singapore Premier League (SPL) side Hougang United to their first-ever trophy, the 2022 Singapore Cup.
He is also one of the youngest coaches in Asia to attain an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Professional Coaching Diploma, also known as the AFC Pro-Diploma – the highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the AFC.
“It’s a proud moment for me to be given this huge responsibility of developing the next generation of players at the Sailors. I’ve always loved working with young talents, and it’s exciting to be here because we have plenty of players with very high potential,” said Firdaus.
“Coach José prepared the team well during pre-season, introducing excellent ideas and implementing the Academy’s playing style. My goal is not only to build on the strong foundation already in place but also to positively influence this group of players. I hope they, in turn, will do the same for the next generation, fostering a culture of mentorship and support within our Academy.”
Firdaus came onboard the Sailors’ Academy earlier this year, taking on the roles of Under-15 Head Coach and Development Coordinator for the Under-13 to Under-18 teams.
It was an enriching experience that left him yearning for more. He elaborated, “I have to say this is by far the best environment I’ve worked in during all my years in coaching. The professionalism here is top-notch.
“We have a diverse group of coaches and players with varying backgrounds and profiles to learn from and share experiences with, and we’re all working towards a common goal.
“I enjoyed coaching the U15 team. The exciting football we played during our recent training camp in Madrid, Spain, showcased how brave and special these players are.”
A firm believer in having players develop as both individuals and as part of a collective, Firdaus’s primary target is to implement a style of play that is aligned with the club’s philosophy.
“Our idea is to always dominate the game, both with and without the ball,” Firdaus explained. “Every player who started playing football at a young age did so because they love having the ball, and found great pleasure in attacking and scoring goals.
“So, I hope we remain competitive against every team, playing with the intention to win while adhering to our style of football. It’s also important to maintain the same joy of playing that the players had as kids. We have a set of ideologies as an Academy about how we want to play, and I want everyone to take ownership of their responsibilities within the system. At the same time, we aim to create flexibility and freedom to allow individuals to flourish.”
Crucially, Firdaus is looking forward to being the bridge between the Academy and the first team. Much like how Academy graduates such as Nathan Mao and Nur Muhammad Asis have established themselves in the club’s senior squad, Firdaus hopes to be able to develop more talent for the Sailors’ first team in the future.
“As a club, we’re focused on developing players through training and leveraging the resources available to us. We aim to create an optimal environment for these players to seamlessly transition into first-team football,” he said.
“The ideal scenario, of course, is for some players to secure moves to overseas clubs to aid in their development as footballers and individuals. However, our primary goal is to produce players who not only break into the first team but also dominate and play a significant role in the club’s future successes, as well as contribute to the Singapore national team.”
Firdaus is now focused on preparing the boys for the resumption of their SPL Under-21 campaign. Having begun the season with a 3-1 win over Balestier Khalsa earlier in May, the Sailors will next take on Albirex Niigata (S) on Monday, 29 July.
Firdaus insists that he will look beyond just the team’s results this season and instead focus on the process of development.
“We have players with high potential, but we need to be patient and remember they’re still in the developmental stage. We should not expect too much from young players too early. Instead, we will balance this by giving them opportunities at the right moments, with a strong support system around them to help them succeed.
“We have to get this process right in order to bring through these talented young players.”
Over S$132,000 in donations and sponsorships was raised at the Tasek Sailors Charity Football fundraiser on Sunday, 7 July, with 20 corporations and organisations, along with approximately more than 75 Tasek Sailors youths and their families, coming together for the second edition of the event.
The funds raised will empower and uplift disadvantaged children and youth across Singapore through Tasek Sailors – a collaborative initiative between Lion City Sailors and Tasek Academy and Social Services. Established in June 2023, this initiative aims to provide a comprehensive program that integrates football training with mentorship, academic support, and life skills development.
The multi-dimensional approach is designed to inspire children and youth to dream big, reach their full potential, and positively impact their communities.
After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the second edition of the Tasek Sailors Charity Football tournament returned to the Lion City Sailors Training Centre, with corporate donors and members of the local football community gathering once again in the spirit of the Beautiful Game.
Ms Jane Ittogi, graced the event as Guest of Honour and praised the work of the Tasek Sailors.
Ms Ittogi, who is also the Chair of Tasek Academy and Social Services, said, “The important thing… is that it’s not just about football. As Tasek Sailors continue to make waves, their journey shows us all that doors do open, and dreams can come true with self-belief, perseverance, and support from all. Football, like all sports, is about what we each do, as players, as parents, as teachers, as coaches, as donors, to open doors.”
The fundraiser saw esteemed organisations like JP Morgan, MSIG, Prudential, Deloitte, Singapore Pools, X-Press Feeders and the Ministry of Education (MOE) taking part in the Corporate tournament, with Kstone beating Studio 8 Interior 2-0 in the final to win the tournament.
Former and current Singapore internationals from both the Men’s and Women’s teams, including Lionel Lewis, Aleksandar Duric, Ho Hui Xin, and Zulfahmi Arifin, along with local media personalities Ian Fang and Nicholas Teo, added stardust to the event, as they led the Under-14 to Under-16 youth teams from Tasek Sailors in friendly matches against their counterparts, while also sharing their own personal life journey and giving advice to the young participants.
There were also workshops scheduled for the youths, featuring guest speakers from MOE – Ghazali Abdul Wahab, Noor Aishah Haja Mohideen, Khairunnisa Ismail and Nasrun Mizzy – and entrepreneur Nabill Shukry Johari, who is the founder of Cheekies SG. Participants at these workshops gained insights into entrepreneurship, sports nutrition and leadership.
In addition, selected post-secondary youths took on various event-related roles such as youth team managers and business managers, empowering them with leadership opportunities.
“This is the second time we’re holding this fundraiser and it’s even more meaningful this year with the inclusion of various aspects to enrich the youths that came,” said Lion City Sailors General Manager, Tan Li Yu. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and sponsors who contributed to the success of this event.
“We’re delighted by the support given and we’ll channel the funds raised into further improving the Tasek Sailors program to benefit the youths even more.”
The funds will be channelled towards three key pillars: Enhancing wraparound mentoring support for disadvantaged children and youth, Elevating the quality of the Tasek Sailors football program, and Expanding outreach to include more girls.
The Tasek Sailors have achieved several notable milestones since their inception a year ago.
The funds raised in 2023 enabled the entity to establish East Centres at Bedok Green Primary School and Manjusri Secondary School, extending self-development opportunities through football to 200 additional children and youth. In total, the initiative has impacted over 750 socially disadvantaged children and youth till date.
With centres established in the East and West, the Tasek Sailors aim to expand their programme by opening centres in the North and South, making it accessible island-wide.
Exposure to youth competitions was enhanced, with a total of five teams across the East and West centres participating in this year’s inaugural Singapore Youth League in the Under-15 and Under-17 categories. The U15 Tasek Sailors West A Team exceeded expectations by advancing from the classification round to Division 1.
Individuals – both boys and girls – who shone with their potential and dedication received the opportunity to get into the Sailors’ youth setup. Eir’man Aqel, who is now with the Sailors’ Development Centre (DC) Under-12 team,will be going for a 10-day training camp in Portugal in end-2024, while another two – Ziecqy Fadzreeq and Rasul Aufirzuansyah – got into the Sailors’ Football School (FS) 1 team, which competed in the JSSL U11 League and emerged as champions of their division.
Two girls, Nur Irnissa Munifa and Aniqa Shaista Bte Saufi, have also impressed enough to now be training with the Sailors’ Girls Academy.
The Tasek U16 girls team recently emerged champions in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Football Day tournament. They are also participating in the inaugural FAS Women’s Youth League, giving them exposure to both local and expatriate Singapore-based teams like the French Football Academy and ANZA.
Going forward, more training groups will be established to cater to competitive, developmental, and social players.
“Our goal is to make a lasting impact on the lives of our young participants by offering comprehensive support, high-quality training, and inclusive opportunities that empower them to realise their full potential,” said Muhammad Sufri Ramli, Lead Manager at Tasek Academy and Social Services.
“By integrating tiered leadership opportunities, psychoeducation, academic support, and increasing the presence of dedicated mentors, we aim to foster long-term personal growth alongside football development for our Tasek children and youth.”
The Lion City Sailors got the job done with a gritty performance, securing a 3-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) on Sunday (7 July) evening at the Bishan Stadium.
With the win, the Sailors – who dropped points for the first time this season following their 1-1 draw with Geylang International last Friday (28 June) – moved back to the top of the table, leapfrogging BG Tampines Rovers on goal difference.
The Sailors wasted no time in asserting their dominance over the Jaguars from the get-go, getting off to a perfect start when Maxime Lestienne gave them the lead after just two minutes with a precise left-footed curler.
The goal, which was assisted by Shawal Anuar, marked the fifth straight game in which Maxime has scored in the SPL this season.
Just three minutes after Maxime’s goal, Hami Syahin had the chance to double the Sailors’ lead when he beat his defender with a slick L-drag, only to see his shot go wide from close range.
In the 23rd minute, new Sailors signing Lennart Thy saw his goalbound effort blocked by a crowd of Tanjong Pagar defenders. This led to the visitors launching a counterattack which culminated in Zenivio Mota – the first Timor Leste player in the SPL – crossing the ball for Frenchman Salif Cissé, whose volleyed effort was well held by Sailors custodian Zharfan Rohaizad.
Midfielder Adam Swandi, who made his return to the Sailors starting line-up, staked his claim for a more regular role in the first-11 with a dazzling display, as he wowed the crowd with his skill and confidence on the ball throughout the first-half. And the 28-year-old was rewarded for his endeavour with a goal in the 41st minute, volleying home Maxime’s cross into the bottom corner of the net to double the Sailors’ lead.
“Starting a game means a lot to me, and I just want to contribute to the team as much as I can,” said Adam. “I’m happy to get a goal for myself, but of course, all the credit goes back to the team – Hariss (Harun) picked up a loose ball, Lennart created space in front of me, and Maxime, as always, created the chance. I just told myself to get some contact on the ball, and since it was near the goal, anything can happen.”
Despite holding a comfortable two-goal lead, the Sailors were determined not to rest on their laurels and immediately looked to extend their advantage in the second half, with Maxime’s 49th minute free-kick rattling the crossbar.
Christopher van Huizen reacted quickest to reach the loose ball, but his shot was parried by Tanjong Pagar goalkeeper Prathip Ekamparam. The rebound fell to Shawal, but the Singapore international lost his footing at the crucial moment, allowing the Tanjong Pagar defence to clear the danger.
At the other end of the pitch, Cissé missed several good opportunities to pull a goal back for Tanjong Pagar. The closest chance came in the 69th minute when his header from close range sailed over the bar.
Cissé’s misses ultimately proved costly for Tanjong Pagar as the Sailors secured all three points with a third goal in the 84th minute when Bailey Wright rose highest to head home Adam Swandi’s corner.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković was ultimately pleased to secure the win, and highlighted Adam for his impressive performance, which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
He said, “We scored three goals, got the three points and a clean sheet, so I’m glad the guys did their job. I’m happy that Adam stepped up for us today – he scored a goal and played a good game.”
Adam acknowledged that the Sailors could have performed better on the night, but credited the team for holding firm to deny Tanjong Pagar any chance of an upset and claiming a second clean sheet in the league this season.
“We are happy because we achieved our target of getting all three points today. Of course, there are still lots of things for us to work on on the pitch, and we are training hard every single day to correct it,” Adam elaborated.
“It’s never a perfect game… sometimes it’s scrappy like today. Certain aspects of our game did not click well but the biggest thing for us is to not concede goals. Everyone worked really hard to get the clean sheet today, and it gives us a morale boost for the upcoming games.”
Next up for the Sailors is a home game against fourth-placed Balestier Khalsa on Saturday (13 July).
It was a week ago when the final whistle blew at the Jalan Besar Stadium to signal the end of the Lion City Sailors’ perfect start to the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League season, as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Geylang International.
While Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković insisted that the draw was “justified” based on how the game went, it was ultimately still a disappointing result for his side, who were hoping to make it five wins out of five.
Nonetheless, there were a few Sailors who acquitted themselves well on the night against a resilient and tenacious Geylang side.
Among them was full-back Obren Kljajić, who has begun the season in fine form. Indeed, the 20-year-old Australian has played every minute of the Sailors’ five games so far, catching the eye with his industry, pace, and technical ability on the ball.
Despite the encouraging start to his Sailors career, Obren acknowledges the need to remain humble and not take his spot in the first team for granted.
Obren, who opened his Sailors account with a goal against Hougang United in their first SPL match of the season, explained, “It’s definitely a huge honour to be starting every game for a big club like the Sailors, especially given my age. All I can do is give my 100% everytime I step onto the pitch, and then it’s up to Coach Ranko to decide what he thinks is best for the team.”
When asked what his personal goals for the rest of the season were, Obren replied, “To be honest, I hope to play every game, and I want to contribute to the team in various ways. As long as I’m fit and healthy, and I can help the team, that’s all that matters to me.
“Overall, I think we have a really good group of players who have gelled really well together. We’ve all bought into what the coach wants us to do, so I’m confident it’ll be a good season for us.”
One of the criticisms levelled at the Sailors in the aftermath of their draw with Geylang was their supposed over-reliance in attack on last season’s SPL Player of the Year, Maxime Lestienne, who scored the equaliser to salvage a point for his side.
But Obren was quick to dismiss that notion, as he highlighted the depth and quality of attacking talent the Sailors possess – with already eight players on the scoresheet this season.
“We have numerous attacking threats in the team, including Bart (Ramselaar), Lennart (Thy), and Shawal (Anuar). Even midfielders like Song (Uiyoung) and Adam Swandi can make significant contributions in the final third,” Obren elaborated.
“I also see myself as a threat when I push forward from the left-back position. So apart from Maxime, we have plenty of firepower, which is evident in the goals we’ve scored this season.”
The Sailors will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Tanjong Pagar United at the Bishan Stadium on Sunday (July 7) evening.
While the Sailors are heavy favourites to pick up all three points against seventh-placed Jaguars, Obren warned against complacency. The visitors got their first win of the season the last time out in a stunning 3-2 win over title challengers Brunei DPMM and will be looking to claim another scalp.
“I don’t think any game is easy in this league, so it will be a challenge for us,” said Obren. “If we drop our guard, we could get punished. Tanjong Pagar also just beat Brunei (DPMM), which shows that they are not a team to be taken lightly.
“We have to stay focused and play at our best. Our goal is to approach the game correctly, play well, and return to winning ways.”
Club Statement
We have noted FAS’s statement on 3 July 2024 regarding a goal in our Singapore Premier League match against Albirex Niigata (S) that was erroneously awarded due to an opposition player being in an offside position, and we would like to place on record our appreciation of their efforts in conducting a thorough investigation and review of internal processes to prevent a repeat of a similar incident. We fully recognise the huge responsibilities that match officials have and are very mindful of the intricacies that come with their roles.
We also are aware that a club official made certain comments on his personal social media account pertaining to the incident. The post has since been taken down and can no longer be viewed from his personal account. While the post was not intended to unfairly criticise, the official has acknowledged it was inappropriate for him to air his views through social media and understands that feedback should be submitted through the proper channels. We have taken disciplinary action against the club official.
At the Lion City Sailors, we uphold values of respect and integrity – and we will continue to work with FAS to foster the betterment of Singapore football together.
