Month: July 2025
The Lion City Sailors are pleased to announce the loan signing of experienced Singapore international Safuwan Baharudin for the 2025/26 season, bolstering the club’s defensive ranks as the Sailors gear up for another pivotal campaign both at home and on the continental stage.
Widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s finest and most dependable defenders, Safuwan – who has earned 124 caps for Singapore – brings leadership, composure, and a wealth of experience to the Sailors’ backline.
The 33-year-old made history in 2015 as the first Singaporean to play in Australia’s A-League with Melbourne City, before cementing his reputation across the Causeway with a number of clubs in the Malaysia Super League over the past decade.
Safuwan joins the Sailors on loan from Selangor FC, as the club builds on a 2024/25 season that saw the team win the Community Shield, Singapore Premier League (SPL), and Singapore Cup. The Sailors also became the first Singaporean club to reach the final of a major Asian club competition in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
“Safuwan is a proven top player in the region. His calming presence, winning mentality and versatility will add valuable strength and depth to our squad,” said Sailors Executive Director Bruce Liang.
The move marks a homecoming of sorts for Safuwan, who began his professional career in 2009 with the Young Lions, before joining the LionsXII in 2012, where he won the Malaysia Super League and the Malaysia FA Cup. He then moved abroad to join Melbourne City on loan, before plying his trade in Malaysia with the likes of PDRM, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor.
He is now excited to be part of the Sailors’ ambitious voyage — one that will see him reunite with familiar national teammates such as Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan, and Shawal Anuar.
“I’m very excited to be part of a team that’s doing everything it can to raise the bar for Singapore football,” said the Singapore stalwart. “I followed the club’s run in last season’s ACL Two closely — it was something truly inspiring for the country. The club’s lofty ambitions are very much aligned with my own goals, and I’m ready to help us reach even greater heights this season.”
Safuwan will begin training with the Sailors next week as the club kickstarts pre-season preparations for a massive campaign ahead — one where they aim to defend their domestic titles and make further strides in both the ACL Two and the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
A fiery Causeway battle against 11-time Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) awaits the Lion City Sailors after they were drawn into Group B of the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
The other teams to be drawn with the Sailors in the group are 2024/25 Thai League 1 runners-up Bangkok United, reigning V.League 1 champions Nam Định FC, Cambodian Premier League champions PKR Svay Rieng, and the winner of a two-legged playoff tie between Laos’ Ezra FC and and Myanmar’s Shan United.
There is another familiar opponent for the Sailors in the form of Bangkok United, who they last crossed paths with in 2023/24 Asian Football Confederation Champions League, losing both group-stage encounters 2-1 and 1-0.
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Meanwhile, Group A consists of Malaysia’s Selangor FA, Vietnam’s ’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC, fellow Singapore Premier League (SPL) representative BG Tampines Rovers, the winner of the playoff tie between Brunei’s Kasuka FC and Philippines’ Dynamic Herb (DH) Cebu, as well as two Thai clubs in defending champions Buriram United and BG Pathum United.
The draw for the second edition of the ACC Shopee Cup took place in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday afternoon (4 July).
The Sailors are set to fly the Singapore flag once more in Southeast Asia’s premier club competition which kicks off in August, as they make their second consecutive appearance in the tournament.
Teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
The inaugural edition of the Shopee Cup concluded in dramatic fashion this past May, with Buriram edging CAHN FC on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 aggregate draw.
For the Sailors, the objective is clear: to build on last season’s debut and secure a spot in the knockout stages.
In their maiden campaign, the Sailors held eventual champions Buriram and defeated Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur City at home, but fell to Borneo FC Samarinda, CAHN and Kaya FC-Iloilo on the road.
“We didn’t have the best of campaigns last season and felt we didn’t show our full potential. But our run in last season’s ACL Two proved that we have what it takes to compete at the continental level, and now we’re hungry to show that again in Southeast Asia,” said captain Hariss Harun.
“It’s an exciting draw for us, especially going up against JDT — that always adds a bit of Causeway rivalry. Our target is clear: we want to at least make the semi-finals.”
The Sailors’ full fixtures list for the 2025/26 Shopee Cup will be confirmed in due course.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team are set for their second foray into the prestigious Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL), where they will face opposition from Malaysia, Jordan and the Kyrgyz Republic in the Preliminary Stage.
Drawn into Group C alongside hosts Kelana United, Etihad Club and SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal, the Sailors will battle for a coveted spot in the Group Stage — following the official draw held earlier this afternoon (3 July) at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The Preliminary Stage will be contested in a centralised league format in Malaysia from 23 to 31 August, with only the winner of the group progressing to the Group Stage.
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The Sailors secured their return to the AWCL after clinching a third consecutive Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024. The objective for Head Coach Daniel Ong and his charges is clear: to get points on the board and deliver a strong showcase of Singapore women’s football on the continental stage.
In their maiden AWCL campaign last year, the Sailors put in spirited performances but ultimately fell short against higher-ranked opponents in Etihad Club and India’s Odisha FC.
“Last season’s AWCL taught us a lot, and the girls are determined to represent Singapore again on this big stage,” said 36-year-old Daniel.
“It won’t be easy, but we’re ready to fight the odds. It’s interesting for us to face Etihad Club again and we’re looking forward to all three matches. No matter how difficult it gets, I want us to stay true to our identity and play our football.”
