Month: January 2025
The Lion City Sailors moved back to the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) table after beating Brunei DPMM 4-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium on Monday (13 January) night.
While not quite at their free-flowing best, the Sailors secured all three points with a classic centre-forward performance from Lennart Thy, who notched two goals and an assist. Shawal Anuar also played a pivotal role, netting a brace to help his side overcome a resilient DPMM side.
With the win, the Sailors moved ahead of BG Tampines Rovers at the top of the SPL table on goal difference, despite having played two fewer games than their title rivals.
“DPMM aren’t an easy team to play against, so I’m happy with the win — that was our main objective,” said Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković, who was without suspended duo Song Uiyoung and Lionel Tan, as well as star player Maxime Lestienne, who was rested.
“We were missing some key players, but the others stepped up and showed character tonight. I’m proud of how they came back from a goal down and demonstrated their commitment to fight.”
Since the appointment of head coach Jamie McAllister in July, DPMM have proven to be a tough nut to crack in the league, suffering just one defeat in their last eight games. They have also been bolstered by key mid-season signings, including Icelandic international Damir Muminović and Latvian international Davis Ikaunieks.
And the home side made life difficult for the Sailors early on, with captain Azwan Ali Rahman unleashing a stunning left-footed strike into Izwan Mahbud’s bottom corner in the fourth minute to give DPMM an early lead.
Despite struggling to break down a resolute DPMM defence early on, the Sailors sprang to life in the 17th minute. Lennart’s pinpoint clipped ball found Shawal, who ghosted into the box unmarked to direct a brilliant header beyond Kristijan Naumovski to level the score.
Shawal then turned provider in the 30th minute, slipping a neat ball across the box for Lennart, who coolly slotted it through Naumovski’s legs for his 12th goal of the season to put the Sailors 2-1 up.
But DPMM emerged from the break rejuvenated, and they pulled level in the 55th minute when a shot from top scorer Miguel Oliveira fortuitously deflected off Bailey Wright before evading Izwan in the Sailors goal.
The Sailors thought they had a chance to restore their lead two minutes later when Shawal was seemingly shoved by debutant Muminović in the box. However, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the challenge was deemed to be fair.
Undeterred, the Sailors continued to press forward in attack and were duly rewarded in the 64th minute, when Lennart produced a brilliant swivel and shot inside the DPMM box to restore the Sailors’ lead.
“We were up against a different opponent on a different pitch, so we knew it would be a tough game,” said Lennart. “We didn’t start the first and second halves well, but we took control as the game progressed and finished strongly with a well-deserved win.”
With the wind in their sails, full-back Christopher van Huizen, one of three changes made by Ranko for the night, would go on a marauding run into the DPMM box in the 69th minute.
His cross-shot took a wicked deflection off the Macedonian keeper that kindly landed at the feet of Shawal, who tapped home to give the Sailors a two-goal cushion.
With victory in their sights, the Sailors managed the closing stages professionally and nearly added a fifth goal in stoppage time, but Lennart was denied his hat-trick by a smart save from Naumovski.
With games coming thick and fast — the Sailors are set to face defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) in the SPL on Friday (17 January) — Ranko emphasised that proper recovery is crucial to navigating their busy schedule.
He elaborated, “We have a game in four days, so the most important thing is to rest and recover. It’s good that we’ll have some players back for Friday, and we need to keep this momentum going.”
As Song Uiyoung’s corner sailed through the air toward the back post, Sailors skipper Bailey Wright kept his eyes firmly locked on the ball.
With sheer strength, the central defender shrugged off his marker and connected with a thumping header from close range to give his side the crucial opener. The goal ultimately set the tone for a dominant Sailors performance against Kuala Lumpur (KL) City, as they secured their first win in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
“It was an important result for us — not just as a team, but as a club and for Singapore football,” said Bailey. “Obviously, we were disappointed with our previous two games in the Shopee Cup because we had set out to win, but we put in a good performance this time. Now, we just have to keep building and getting stronger from here.”
It was Bailey’s fifth goal in all competitions this season, with all of them coming from either corners or set pieces. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, however, Bailey was particularly pleased with the battling defensive performance his side delivered in the game.
After all, the Sailors had registered their first clean sheet in 10 games, with their last one coming against Zhejiang Professional in the AFC Champions League Two back in September.
“Clean sheets are always a bonus because, as a defender, that’s something you always strive for, so I hope there are many more to come,” explained the former Australian international, who joined the club in July 2023.
“To be honest, we’ve put in a lot of solid defensive performances, but this is football — we want to attack, and sometimes you concede goals. We have to remember these are tough competitions, so the most important thing is winning the game.”
Turning his attention back to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) as it returns from a long hiatus, the 32-year-old shared his enthusiasm about competing on the domestic front once again.
The Sailors are three points behind table-toppers BG Tampines Rovers, but crucially have three games in hand as they head into the final few months of the campaign.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of competitive fixtures in the Champions League, but it’s been a while since our last league game, so it’s good to be back,” he said. “If you speak to anyone who plays football, they’ll tell you that you want to keep playing games and have a regular calendar of fixtures — and now that’s started. Our target is to get back our position at the top.”
The Sailors’ next challenge awaits at Brunei’s Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium, where they will face Brunei DPMM on Monday (13 January).
For Bailey, this marks another reunion with head coach Jamie McAllister, with whom he shares a close relationship. The duo were teammates at Preston North End in 2012, and McAllister later served as Bailey’s assistant coach during his stints at Bristol City and Sunderland.
Admitting that he was looking forward to the prospect of facing his long-time friend, Bailey said, “He’s someone I still keep in touch with, and I know he’s a hardworking and committed coach.
“I’m sure he’s got the team working hard because if there’s one thing about him, it’s that he’s either a fighter or a winner. That’s the mark he’ll want to leave on his team. They’ll be compact and organised, so we have to be ready for that.”
McAllister’s DPMM side currently sit sixth in the nine-team table, but have suffered just one defeat in their last eight games. Since taking the helm in July, the former Scotland international has already masterminded victories over Geylang International, BG Tampines, and Albirex Niigata (S).
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The Bruneian outfit further strengthened their foreign contingent during the mid-season break with the additions of Icelandic international central defender Damir Muminović and Latvian forward Davis Ikaunieks. Ikaunieks, who boasts 47 international caps, also brings UEFA Europa League experience from his time with FK Jablonec.
The Sailors’ task will be made even tougher by the absence of defender Lionel Tan and Song, both of whom are suspended.
Reflecting on the threat posed by DPMM, Bailey said, “They are a strong team that has improved and used the break to work on their game. But ultimately, it’s about how we play and how we can hurt the opposition.
“As with every match, we’ll prepare properly and put in the work. We respect every opponent, but we’ll go into this game with confidence and belief that we can beat anyone.”
With the Sailors competing on four fronts, Bailey is determined to make this a memorable season for the Sailors.
He said, “We did very well in the first half of the season, and we hope that by the end, it will be a memorable and historic season for us, both as individuals and as a team.”
With their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup hanging by a thread after back-to-back defeats, the Lion City Sailors delivered a strong response in their third Group B match, securing a 2-0 victory over Kuala Lumpur (KL) City at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (9 January) night.
Goals from skipper Bailey Wright and Maxime Lestienne, one in each half, sealed the Sailors’ first points of the tournament in front of a 1,813-strong crowd. The win provided a much-needed boost for Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković and his team after a disappointing start to their Shopee Cup campaign.
“Today was a well-deserved win. We played a very mature game, controlled the match from start to finish, and restricted our opponents to very few shots,” said a visibly satisfied Ranko.
“This victory will give us plenty of motivation heading into the next game. However, as much as we’d like to keep celebrating, the next match is just a few days away, so we have to quickly prepare and assess who is fit and ready to play.”
Ranko’s words of praise for his players were well-deserved, as the Sailors stamped their authority on the match right from the first whistle.
They landed the first blow in the 26th minute when Bailey Wright displayed tremendous strength to outmuscle his marker and head home Song Uiyoung’s inswinging corner. The 32-year-old’s opener marked the first goal KL City had conceded in the tournament, ending their run of two consecutive clean sheets.
Anchored by a resolute defence, the hosts made it difficult for the visitors to find their rhythm, limiting them to a few speculative efforts that posed little threat to Izwan Mahbud in the Sailors goal.
That defensive solidity was a marked improvement from the Sailors’ first two group games, where they conceded three goals to Indonesia’s Borneo FC Samarinda and five to Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC.
“Of course, the first two matches didn’t go our way, unfortunately. We experimented with a new system in the first match against Borneo, and while that’s no excuse, I’m happy we learned from those games and that my team could bounce back with such a performance,” Ranko explained.
“I think we’ve grown into the tournament, and playing in the AFC Champions League Two has helped us a lot. If we could play matches like these week in and week out, I’m confident we’d continue to improve physically, tactically, and mentally.”
With the two sides still separated by Bailey’s goal heading into the second half, Sailors’ key man Maxime stepped up to drive his team forward in search of a second goal.
He fired a warning shot in the 65th minute, whipping a stunning curling effort from range that crashed off the upright of goalkeeper Azri Ghani’s goal.
It proved to be a sign of things to come, as Maxime’s quality shone through just two minutes later.
Picking up the ball just outside the penalty area, he played it into Bart Ramselaar, who swiftly returned the favour with an inch-perfect through ball to meet the Belgian’s run into the box. Maxime made no mistake from close range, coolly clipping the ball into the bottom corner to double the Sailors’ lead.
Despite notching his 13th goal in all competitions, Maxime was quick to credit his teammates for their collective effort.
“It was very much a team effort from front to back. We knew we’d be out if we lost today, but everyone worked hard and gave their best,” reflected the forward. “We have plenty of quality in our team, so now we just need to stay focused and take it game by game from here.”
KL City’s best chance came in the closing minutes when Kamal Azizi’s ambitious effort rattled Izwan’s crossbar, but the Sailors held on to secure the first clean sheet of their campaign.
This crucial victory lifted the Sailors off the bottom of Group B, ahead of Philippines’ Kaya FC–Iloilo, who suffered a 1-2 defeat to group leaders CAHN FC on the same night.
The Sailors will host Thai League 1 powerhouse Buriram United next in a crunch Matchday Four clash on 23 January.
For now, though, Ranko’s team will shift their focus back to league action in the SPL, starting with an away trip to the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium to face Brunei DPMM next Monday (13 January).
“We haven’t played in the SPL for a while after missing a couple of games, so we’re very eager to be back,” said Ranko. “DPMM are not the same team they were before the break, so we have to embrace this new challenge.”
An intriguing Causeway battle awaits on Thursday night (9 January) as the Lion City Sailors host Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (KL) City in a Matchday Three Group B clash of the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
Going up against Group A’s joint-top leaders
KL City pose a serious challenge, given their strong performances in the competition so far. They are one of only two teams, along with group leaders Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC, to maintain a 100% record after the first two matchdays.
Back-to-back 1-0 wins over the Philippines’ Kaya FC–Iloilo and Indonesia’s Borneo FC Samarinda at home have put them in a strong position — second in the five-team table — and they will be looking to continue that momentum against the Sailors.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, KL City Head Coach Miroslav Kuljanac acknowledged the threat that the Sailors pose.
“I’ve analysed the Sailors and the way they play — they don’t change their style much, and I’m sure they’ll approach this game the same way and attack us in the same manner as they usually do,” said the 54-year-old Croatian, who has guided his side to 10 wins and two draws in 22 games across all competitions since taking charge in March 2024.
Some key absentees but a key threat remains
KL City’s bid for a third consecutive win is slightly hampered by the absence of two key players. In an interview with Malaysian television station Astro Arena last week, head coach Kuljanac revealed that experienced midfielder Brendan Gan and Bosnian winger Jovan Motika will miss out due to injury and family commitments, respectively.
Nonetheless, the City Boys can rely on a strong lineup, including Malaysian trio Paulo Josué, Haqimi Azim Rosli, and Declan Lambert, as well as veteran Philippines forward Patrick Reichelt, who returned unscathed from international duty at the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric (ME) Cup.
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“It won’t be easy without them (Gan and Motika),” Kuljanac admitted. “When we’re at full strength, I would say we’re a very dangerous team. But even though they’re not with us, we’ll do our best.
“The substitutes are ready to prove themselves, and I hope the players who step in are 100% ready to fight for new points. We have a lot of good players, and we are a well-structured team. Every minute, our players know exactly what they want to do, and so we’ll see how it plays out.”
Josué, in particular, could pose a significant threat to the Sailors, having scored 11 goals in 13 Malaysia Super League (MSL) matches this season, making him the second-highest scorer in the league, behind Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Bérgson da Silva.
“We played two games at home and managed to get six points,” said the Brazil-born Malaysian international, who faced several Sailors during the Tigers’ 0-0 draw with Singapore three weeks ago — a result that saw Malaysia bow out of the ME Cup in the group stages.
“Now it’s time to play away. It’s a different environment, a different pitch, and strong opponents make it very tough for us, but we hope to collect some points here and stay alive in the race to qualify for the semi-finals. When we come here, it’s always just one game — anything can happen. We could beat them here, or they could beat us there. We have tough teams in the group, and that’s great. It’s great to be part of this and to be involved in such a tournament.”
Sailors looking for a first win
For the Sailors, a historic end to 2024 — becoming the first Singaporean team to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two — has fuelled their ambitions and strengthened their belief as they look to turn things around in the Shopee Cup.
The seven players who represented Singapore at the ME Cup have returned to training this week after a week’s break, providing the Sailors with a boost in their continental aspirations as they look to represent Singapore with pride in this competition.
After back-to-back away defeats to Borneo and CAHN FC, the Sailors are determined to secure their first win in the competition, and belief within the camp remains strong as they seek a much-needed lift-off.
“The first two matches didn’t go the way we wanted. In the first match, I’d say we were a bit unlucky. But both games were played away, and this is a new competition for us — we’re still settling in. Tomorrow, we play at home, and it’s a great chance to get our first points,” said Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković.
“It’s our first game after a short break, and we’re going straight up against very good opponents who already have six points in the group, so they’ve proved their quality. But we’ve prepared well. All the players are back from the national team, and apart from one or two who can’t play, there are no major injuries. We’re ready to prove something in this competition.”
As the Sailors prepare for their first home game in this competition, midfielder Rui Pires hopes the fans will turn out in force to support the team.
“When the stadium is full, it helps us a lot,” said Pires, who returns to the squad after serving a one-match ban against CAHN last September. “I hope the fans come tomorrow to support us because their presence is very important.
“As I’ve said before, we need to win these three points because if we don’t, we’ll be out of this competition. We know how crucial this game is, and we’ll do everything to secure the three points.”
As the Singapore national team players in the Sailors squad swapped their blue-and-white kits for the red Lions jerseys for the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric (ME) Cup last December, one notable name was absent from the Lions squad — Song Uiyoung.
While the ME Cup was underway, the 31-year-old midfielder returned to South Korea to spend some much-needed time with his family.
Family has always held a special place in Song’s heart, and so this long-overdue trip was especially meaningful to the Incheon native.
“Ever since I came to Singapore, I haven’t had many opportunities to spend time with my family,” said Song, who moved to the Lion City in 2011.
“Going back to Korea this time was a precious experience. I had a great time with my family, especially my mum. I didn’t do much other than spend time with them, but that was more than enough for me.”
After twelve days in his hometown, Song is now back in Singapore and ready to fight for the Sailors as the club navigates challenging waters in 2025.
The Sailors are set to compete on four fronts when club competition resumes this month: the Singapore Premier League (SPL), the Singapore Cup, and challenging regional tournaments such as the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, and the knockout stages of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
Despite the demanding schedule of games ahead, Song emphasised that it is the players’ responsibility to manage their heavy workload.
“It’s up to us to manage the tight schedule. Although it won’t be easy with all the regional games, we are professionals, so the key is to prepare well and stick together as a team,” explained Song.
“Honestly, we don’t have the biggest squad, so it’s also crucial to take care of our bodies and stay injury-free. That will help us achieve our desired results in the upcoming games.”
The Sailors’ first assignment of the new year is a Matchday Three clash in the ACC Shopee Cup against Malaysia Super League side Kuala Lumpur FC this Thursday (9 January) at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Aleksandar Ranković’s men find themselves bottom of the table after bruising defeats to Indonesia’s Borneo FC and Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC in their opening two games — and are yet to register their first goal in the tournament.
Despite their rough start, Song remains confident that it is not too late for the Sailors to turn their campaign around.
“Everybody knows the past two results weren’t what we wanted, but we’re still confident that we can get the result against KL City,” Song insisted.
“We don’t need to change anything — just prepare the way we always do and believe in ourselves. As long as we give our best, I’m sure we can secure the three points.”
Song has displayed a knack for rising to the occasion on the continental stage. He ended 2024 with five goals and an assist in just four ACL Two games, including a stunning hat-trick against Port FC that helped the Sailors qualify for the tournament’s last 16 for the first time in the club’s history.
Now, the 31-year-old is aiming to carry that excellent form into the new year.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on the pitch,” said Song. “I have my routine and prepare for each game seriously. Even after the hat-trick against Port FC in my last game, I made sure not to overreact or become overconfident.
“I’m very clear about the role Coach Ranko wants me to play in this team, and overall, I’m feeling confident and motivated to work hard for the team and the club.”
Song also expressed his gratitude to the Sailors fans for their unwavering support over the past year and believes they will give the team a crucial boost on Thursday.
“I’m always happy to see the fans standing by us and constantly supporting the team at the stadium. We’ll keep working hard for them and aim to get the result we need on Thursday.”
The Lion City Sailors are aiming for another strong performance in the Singapore Cup, which is set to kick off in February.
The Cup holders will face Thai League 1 powerhouse BG Pathum United, Geylang International, Tanjong Pagar United and Balestier Khalsa in Group B, following the tournament’s official draw which was held at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday (6 January) morning.
Meanwhile, in Group A, reigning Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata (S) were drawn with Young Lions, Brunei DPMM, BG Tampines Rovers and Hougang United.
The Sailors will open their 2024/25 Singapore Cup campaign against Tanjong Pagar at home on 16 February, before taking on Geylang International away on 2 March.
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Aleksandar Ranković’s men will then host Balestier Khalsa on 16 March, before wrapping up the group stage with a plum tie against BG Pathum at Jalan Besar Stadium on 30 March.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the two-legged semi-finals, which is scheduled to take place on 22 April and 6 May. The grand final is set for Saturday, 31 May, with the fixture marking the conclusion of the 2024/25 domestic football season.
Last season’s Singapore Cup was a memorable one for the Sailors, as they triumphed over Hougang United 3-1 in the final to claim the trophy — their first since the club’s inception in 2020.
Sailors captain Hariss Harun has urged the team to replicate their success and finish the season on the best possible note.
“Last season’s triumph was a significant step forward for the club, and our goal is to defend this title,” said the 34-year-old.
“It won’t be straightforward, with plenty of matches on both the domestic and continental fronts ahead. But we’re ready for the challenge, and we want to give our fans plenty of moments to celebrate by the end of the season.”
(Photo: Unleash the Roar! /Ng Chrong Meng)
The Lion City Sailors are pleased to announce that Nur Ain Salleh, our first female Scholar of the Sailors Football Academy, has been awarded the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) Overseas Football Scholarship, and will be leaving for Spain to further her football education.
Ain, who turns 15 on 7 January, will spend the next four years training and playing for the youth team of Madrid CFF. The Spanish club’s senior team is currently 10th in Liga F, Spain’s top-tier women’s professional league. Liga F ranks among the top six national leagues under the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) coefficient, and thus offers a high calibre of competition and development for emerging players like Ain.
Notable players who have emerged from Madrid CFF’s youth system include members of the current Spanish national women’s team, Ona Batlle and Vicky López, both of whom now play for FC Barcelona.
Ain will also continue her academic pursuits in Spain, and will enrol in King’s College School Soto de Viñuelas, a British international school in Madrid. There, she will work towards completing the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which is equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level).
The latest addition to the 2024 cohort of UTR! Overseas Football Scholarship recipients, Ain joins Nadila Nur Danisha and Charlotte Chong to complete a trio of national Under-19 starlets at Madrid CFF.
Ain’s football potential has been evident since the age of six, when she began her journey in organised football through the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) Girls’ Programme. She later joined the LFA Protectors in 2017, and in June 2020, became the first female scholar in the Lion City Sailors Football Academy Elite Development Programme (EDP) following the club’s revamp.
A right winger with superb technical ability and a steely determination, Ain has consistently impressed over the past few years, representing the Academy’s Elite boys’ teams in both local and international matches, where she showcased her potential against European counterparts of her age.
In June 2024, Ain was promoted to the Sailors Women’s Team, becoming one of the youngest players ever to feature in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL). She played a significant role in helping the team secure a historic three-peat, scoring five goals despite only joining mid-season.
Ain was also a standout performer in Daniel Ong’s side during their inaugural Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League campaign, where she started both matches against India’s Odisha FC and Jordan’s Etihad Club.
The Sailors had initially planned to nominate Ain for an overseas stint in the latter stages of 2025. However, her exceptional performances and rapid development led the club and the UTR! Overseas Football Scholarship committee to accelerate her trajectory, as they recognised that playing abroad now would be most beneficial for her growth.
Sport Singapore’s Chief of Sport Development Group, Mr Marcus Tan, said, “We are delighted to be able to help Ain in her pursuit of becoming a professional player.
“At just 14, she has proven that she is a top prospect, having set the Women’s Premier League alight with some assured performances. We are confident she will benefit from her time in Spain, the current Women’s World Cup champions.”
Sailors Academy General Manager Tan Li Yu believes Ain is fully ready to take this big step toward her pursuit of a professional football career.
“We’ve been looking for opportunities to send Ain overseas and we felt this is the right time and the right move for her. While she has the talent, it is her attitude and hunger to learn that will take her far in achieving her goals,” he said.
“She has shown consistently over the years that she is one of the best in her age group, despite playing against boys. She is an exciting talent that we in Singapore football should cherish and properly nurture. We feel that Spain is the right environment for her to develop her game and we’re excited at what comes of this for her.”
Yeong Sheau Shyan, Head of the Sailors Women’s Programme, first spotted Ain’s talent when she was just six years old, and has since backed her to become a catalyst for the rise of women’s football in Singapore, with the potential to become the country’s first bona fide female football star.
“From when she was six years old playing with the FAS Cubs, to her stints with Arion FA and the LFA girls, anyone who has watched her could see that she’s different. She’s hugely talented and easily outplays everyone, including boys of her age,” said the former national player.
“The worry I had was whether we had the kind of environment in Singapore for a girl of her talent to develop into her fullest potential, but the rise of the LCS Elite Programme filled that gap. Over the years, I’ve seen her take her talent up quite a few notches to a level that was unimaginable before.
“I’m proud of how far she’s come and I hope she’ll keep working hard over in Spain and eventually become the player who can change Singapore women’s football.”
As she prepares to embark on a journey of over 10,000 kilometres to chase her dreams, Ain is determined to follow in the footsteps of current Brisbane Roar star Danelle Tan and become one of the few Singaporean female footballers to play professionally abroad — while paving the way as a trailblazer for future generations.
“It has always been a goal of mine to play professionally overseas, and I want to play in the Liga F one day. It won’t be easy – I will need to adapt to the physicality and the technicality of the game there, but I want to get out of my comfort zone and make my family proud,“ said Ain, who already had a taste of Spain during two-week training stints with Atletico Madrid’s Under-14 girls’ team in December 2022 and December 2023.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who made this move possible, including my coaches at the Sailors Academy, and I’m going to work my hardest to show what I’m capable of over there.”
Ain’s move comes on the heels of another milestone for the Sailors Academy: in July 2024, Nur Muhammad Asis became the first Singaporean in history to sign a professional football contract with a top-flight Portuguese club, securing a one-year loan to Portuguese Primeira Liga side C.F. Estrela da Amadora.
The Sailors Academy are one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to be conferred a Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
