Month: April 2026
The Lion City Sailors made it three straight wins under Head Coach Jesús Casas with a composed 4-0 victory over 10-man Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium on Monday (6 April) night.
Goals from Lennart Thy, Bart Ramselaar, Bailey Wright and Diogo Costa ensured the reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions moved eight points clear at the top, while remaining unbeaten with six matches left to go in the 2025/26 season.
And while Jesús was pleased with a professional display, he stressed that higher standards will be needed as the title race intensifies.
“I’m very happy with the win. There were quite a few positive aspects, such as the clean sheet, and how players like Song (Uiyoung) and Chris (van Huizen) were able to feature, and they were at a good level,” said the Spaniard.
“However, we need to keep improving in all areas. I thought our pressing was good today, but we dropped off a bit towards the end. We need to maintain our intensity throughout, because a game can change in an instant if we concede. I hope we can perform even better in the next match.”
With nearly a month since their last league outing, Jesús made one notable change, handing Chris his first start since 18 October, while Diogo retained his place on the right wing after an impressive showing against Balestier Khalsa.
The Sailors controlled proceedings from the outset, with Lennart testing Matt Silva early on, before forcing another save with a sharp volley from Bart’s cross minutes later.
Diogo then came close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute with a curling effort that drifted just wide, as the visitors continued to probe down the flanks.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 33rd minute. Deployed on the left wing, Chris delivered a precise cross for Lennart to guide home his 11th goal of the season.
The Sailors nearly doubled their lead before the break as Shodai Nishikawa produced a goal-line clearance to deny Lennart, while Diogo was unable to convert the rebound.
Jesús introduced Shawal Anuar during the break, and the change paid immediate dividends, as three minutes into the second half, the Singapore international surged to the byline and picked out Bart, who scored his first headed goal for the club.
Another Sailors substitute, Lucas Agueiro, also made his mark in the 65th minute, when his flicked header from a corner fell kindly for Bailey, who powered home a thumping volley for his fifth goal of the campaign.
Tanjong Pagar’s task became even harder in the 77th minute when Faizal Roslan was sent off following a VAR review for a reckless challenge on Diogo.
Despite the healthy lead, the Sailors continued to push forward and were rewarded deep into stoppage time, as Diogo sealed the win with an acrobatic first-time volley off Bart’s searching cross.
While the Sailors’ attack impressed, their defensive unit proved to be just as assured, with the Jaguars failing to register a single shot on target and allowing Ivan Sušak to claim his seventh clean sheet of the season.
And it was centre-back Bailey, who delivered at both ends, who was deservedly named Man of the Match.
“It’s always important to start the first game after a break with a win and a strong performance. We created many chances and could have scored more, but we showed clear signs of the style we want to play and were comfortable throughout the 90 minutes,” he said.
The Sailors return to action this Sunday (12 April) against Hougang United at the Jalan Besar Stadium, before facing Young Lions at the same venue the following Monday (20 April) in a crucial stretch of the run-in.
“Tampines are strong contenders and there are still plenty of games left, but we are focused on ourselves,” Bailey added.
“We’ve been in this position before, so it’s nothing new. Everything is in our hands and we know what we need to do. We just have to take it one game at a time.”
Fresh off an unbeaten Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualifying campaign with Singapore, Lion City Sailors captain Hariss Harun is already turning his focus back to the next task at hand — defending the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title.
While the Lions’ final qualifier against Bangladesh was billed as a celebratory occasion, it still required grit and discipline, as Hariss and his teammates battled to a 1-0 win in front of a partisan 30,105 crowd at the National Stadium.
“It was amazing to see the fans come out in huge numbers to support the team, and to end the campaign unbeaten is a fantastic achievement,” said Hariss.
“Performance-wise, there’s still a lot of work ahead of us. But overall, it’s a positive for Singapore football, and we’ll go forward with our hearts and minds in the right place.”
(Photo: Football Association of Singapore)
That same mindset now carries into club duties, with Hariss one of four Sailors involved in the match. He also reserved special praise for teammate Nur Adam, whose resurgence has been one of the standout stories in recent weeks.
“Having seen Nur Adam grow from a young player, he is much more mature and settled now,” Hariss said. “Ever since he returned from National Service, he has been putting in full effort into every training and match.
“He has earned his place for club and country, and he has the potential to hold on to that spot for many years. I’m glad to see his hard work paying off.”
With international football now behind him for the season, Hariss is fully locked in on the Sailors’ domestic ambitions. The reigning champions remain five points clear at the top of the SPL table, but the skipper is taking nothing for granted.
“We are ahead at the moment, but we cannot take anything for granted. The other teams are chasing us, and we still have to play them.
“To maintain that gap, we need to collect as many points as possible. That means full focus in every game until the end of the season, as defending the title is our top priority.”
Having previously enjoyed sustained success in the Malaysia Super League with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Hariss knows what it takes to stay on top. Yet, retaining the SPL crown would mark a new milestone in his career.
“Defending titles is always difficult, and it gets harder with each passing year. Every season brings new challenges,” he said.
“It will be special for me and everyone at the club to defend the title, and it will give us valuable experience to push on in the years to come.”
Leading that charge is Spanish head coach Jesús Casas, who has made a steady start with two wins and a draw from his first three matches in charge.
“Coach Jesús brings a different style of football compared to what we’ve been used to. He has fresh ideas and is working to implement them into the team,” said Hariss.
“We faced some difficulties in the first game against Albirex, but there’s still a lot of adapting to do. With time, we will get there.”
Next up for the Sailors is a clash against bottom side Tanjong Pagar United, who are enduring a difficult campaign. But Hariss is wary of complacency, despite his side’s dominant recent record in the fixture.
“It may seem like a straightforward match on paper, but these are the games that can surprise you,” he cautioned. “Tanjong Pagar are most dangerous when teams take it easy, so we must stay focused.
“We have seven cup finals left, and we’ll give it our all to keep the SPL trophy with the Sailors. Our goal is to entertain the fans and bring the three points home.”
It was an evening to remember for Lion City Sailors Women as they made Women’s Premier League (WPL) history with a 20-0 victory over Hougang United at Bukit Gombak Stadium on Saturday (4 April).
The result set a new record for the largest winning margin in WPL history, overtaking the previous record of 18-0 set by the team against Balestier Khalsa in May 2024.
Ami Takeuchi led the charge with a remarkable nine-goal haul, while Eri Kitagawa and Nurhidayu Naszri both struck hat-tricks. Ami Kawase added a brace, with Venetia Lim, Wan Nashirah (pictured below) and Remi Ogawa all netting their first goals of the campaign to add gloss to the scoreline.
“It’s a good feeling to set a new record, but we didn’t focus on the scoreline,” said vice-captain Syazwani Ruzi. “Our focus was on ourselves, our playing style, keeping the ball and controlling the tempo.”
The Sailors made three changes from their 7-0 win over Tiong Bahru last weekend, while Hougang came into the match rooted to the bottom following a 5-1 defeat to Geylang International.
Hougang head coach Al-Ameen Maricar, a former Sailors assistant, was forced to name just nine starting players due to several unavailable players and that set the tone for what proved a long evening for the Cheetahs.
And the Sailors made their numerical advantage count within five minutes, when Venetia’s mis-hit effort was headed in by Ami Takeuchi. The Japanese forward then added a long-range strike before completing her hat-trick inside the opening 15 minutes.
Eri made it 4-0 in the 27th minute after capitalising on a goalkeeping error, before turning provider for Takeuchi to add another. Eri then got her second of the night soon after.
Ayu then joined in the party as she opened her account for the season with a close-range finish to make it 7-0, before Venetia headed in Dhaniyah Qasimah’s cross for her first goal of the campaign.
“I was determined to contribute and make a real impact,” said Ayu. “Now that I’m back in the starting lineup, I need to step up and prove my worth.”
Takeuchi then scored with a superb long-range effort to send the Sailors into the break 9-0 up.
The Sailors picked up where they left off after the restart, as Venetia set up Ayu to bring up double figures in the 52nd minute, before teenage substitute Ami Kawase struck almost immediately to make it 11.
Takeuchi then added three more in quick succession to extend the lead to 14-0, before Ayu completed her hat-trick in the 69th minute after neat work from Venetia.
“I’m really grateful to have scored a hat-trick today,” said Ayu. “I’ll keep working hard to improve, especially when it comes to taking my chances.”
The goals kept coming, with five coming after the 80th-minute mark.
14-year-old Kawase grabbed her second in the 82nd minute to bring her goal tally to seven for the season, before Nashirah lashed home to make it 17-0.
Substitute Remi added another and Eri then completed her hat-trick, before Takeuchi sealed the 20-goal victory deep into stoppage time with her ninth goal of the night.
The glut of goals meant Takeuchi brought her season tally up to 27 as she continued her strong bid for the WPL Golden Boot.
The emphatic victory meant the Sailors kept pace at the top of the table, while also boosting their goal difference to +72 ahead of Albirex’s clash with Tiong Bahru on Sunday (5 April).
Despite the one-sided contest, the Sailors were quick to acknowledge their opponents’ resolve with a depleted squad.
“Kudos to Hougang for their determination and resilience,” said Ayu. “It’s not easy playing with nine players from the start, and we wish them all the best for their other matches ahead.”
The Sailors Women will next be in action on 21 April against Balestier Khalsa as they continue their push for the WPL title.
There was renewed energy about the Lion City Sailors Women as they returned to winning ways in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) last weekend.
But for one player, it meant far more.
Making her first appearance for the Sailors since 2023, midfielder Venetia Lim marked her long-awaited return in style as she made her presence felt in the 24th minute with a well-weighted assist for Ami Takeuchi in a dominant 7-0 victory over Tiong Bahru.
The 22-year-old had spent the past two years studying and competing in Australia before returning to Singapore at the start of 2026. However, a frustrating patella tendon injury delayed her comeback, ruling her out for the opening two months of the season.
Now, as the Sailors prepare to face Hougang United on Saturday (4 April) at the Bukit Gombak Stadium, Venetia’s return has provided a timely lift to a side looking to build momentum in the title race.
For Venetia, stepping back onto the pitch was a moment shaped by patience and perseverance.
“There was a mix of emotions. I felt so thankful to be back on the pitch, but there’s no denying that I was nervous since it’s been a while,” she shared.
“I really wanted to do well for the team, and I’m glad to have contributed to a goal. But it was a collective effort to finish the move.”
Her performance offered a glimpse of what she brings to the side: composure in midfield, sharp movement, and the vision to unlock defences.
But the road back was far from easy.
“It was a long and challenging journey, with many ups and downs that were out of my control. But it taught me a lot,” she reflected. “I’m very grateful for the support from my family, friends, and physiotherapists, they kept me going throughout rehab.
“It has helped me become more resilient, especially in handling the highs and lows that come with playing at this level.”
Her time abroad also played a key role in her development. Turning out for Boroondara-Carey Eagles and Eltham Redbacks in Down Under, Venetia grew both as a player and as a person.
“The experience pushed me to match a higher level of intensity. Being out of my comfort zone also built accountability and discipline, which I carry into how I train now,” she said. “I hope to keep improving and contribute to the team’s goals this season.”
That growth has been evident in how she has reintegrated into a squad that has evolved during her absence.
“More than anything, I’m just grateful to be back. The team has changed, but the environment is still very positive. I’m thankful to be part of a group with so many players to learn from,” she said.
“The team has been very welcoming, and I appreciate the support from the coaches and my teammates, and especially Coach Daniel (Ong) for giving me this opportunity.”
With her minutes being managed carefully, Venetia remains focused on building her fitness and sharpness.
“My focus now is to keep improving each day. Whether on or off the pitch, I want to contribute in any way I can,” she said.
“I approach every game the same way — train well, learn, and be prepared. Hougang will be a tough challenge, and if I get the chance to play, I’ll look to execute my role and help the team get the result.”
