Month: May 2026
A successful title defence has seen the Lion City Sailors emerge as contenders for some top honours at the upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) Awards Night 2025/26.
Bart Ramselaar is among the nominees for the coveted DONGFENG Player of the Year award after an outstanding campaign in which he contributed eight goals and 11 assists across 20 league appearances.
The Dutch playmaker will go up against BG Tampines Rovers duo Shah Shahiran and Hide Higashigawa for the league’s top individual honour.
Fellow midfielder Tsiy Ndenge is also in the running for the SELECT Goal of the Year award, with his scorching strike from distance in a 3-0 victory over Geylang International in January among the 14 nominated goals.
Excellence off the pitch has also been recognised, with the Sailors in contention for the media awards for a third consecutive season.
Kenneth Tan‘s feature, From loss to legacy: the making of Magic Max, has been nominated for the Story of the Year award. The piece spotlights Sailors legend Maxime Lestienne’s poignant football journey after losing both parents just over six weeks apart.
Kenneth won the same category in both 2023 and 2024/25.
Meanwhile, Ivan Sušak will become the first Sailors goalkeeper to receive the SPL Golden Glove award after keeping a league-high 10 clean sheets in 19 appearances during an outstanding debut season with the club.
The SPL Awards Night 2025/26 will take place this Friday, 22 May, at the Raffles City Convention Centre.
Lion City Sailors’ nominees and recipients for SPL Awards Night 2025/26
DONGFENG Player of the Year: Bart Ramselaar
SELECT Goal of the Year: Tsiy Ndenge (vs Geylang International, 18 January 2026)
Story of the Year: From loss to legacy: the making of Magic Max by Kenneth Tan
SPL Golden Glove Winner: Ivan Sušak
Seven Lion City Sailors players have been named in Gavin Lee’s 28-strong Singapore National Team squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Mongolia and China during the upcoming FIFA international window.
Lions captain Hariss Harun, along with Kyoga Nakamura, Shawal Anuar, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan, and Nur Adam Abdullah, retained their places from the previous March window, during which Singapore defeated Bangladesh 1-0 to round off a historic Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
Meanwhile, Song Uiyoung has earned a recall to the National Team after an impressive return to fitness over the past couple of months.
The 32-year-old started five of the Sailors’ last seven games, and capped off the campaign with a stunning long-range strike in a 3-2 defeat to BG Tampines Rovers on Sunday (17 May).
The Lions will face Mongolia on Sunday, 31 May, before taking on China the following Friday, 5 June, with both matches set to kick off at 7.30pm at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The friendlies will serve as preparation for the upcoming ASEAN Hyundai Cup, which is scheduled to take place in July and August.
The Lion City Sailors fell to a 3-2 defeat to closest rivals BG Tampines Rovers on the final day of the season on 17 May, but the result ultimately mattered little as they were officially crowned 2025/26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions at the end of the night.
All five goals came in an entertaining second half at Our Tampines Hub, as the match lived up to the billing of a clash between the league’s top two sides.
Song Uiyoung rifled home a piledriver from the edge of the box in the 50th minute to put the Sailors ahead, after excellent work by Bart Ramselaar to wriggle free of a couple of challenges.
BG Tampines drew level in the 57th minute when Jacob Mahler nodded home Koya Kazama’s corner, but the Sailors restored their lead just two minutes later. Nur Adam Abdullah delivered a teasing cross from the left for Lennart Thy to power home his 15th goal of the season with a firm header.
With qualification for next season’s Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two on the line, the hosts responded strongly and piled on the pressure in the final 20 minutes.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when former Japanese international Yuki Kobayashi lashed home a stunning effort from outside the box, before compatriot Hide Higashigawa pounced at the far post three minutes later after the Sailors failed to clear a corner.
The Sailors threw the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents late on, but were unable to find an equaliser. Substitute Shawal Anuar went close on two occasions, while Bailey Wright saw a goal-bound header tipped over by BG Tampines goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari.
The defeat brought the curtain down on yet another successful domestic season for the Sailors, who secured back-to-back SPL titles and a third league crown in six seasons since the club’s inception in 2020.
While the Sailors ultimately fell short of their ambition to complete an unbeaten league campaign, they can still take pride in recording the best points-per-game ratio in club history — 2.43 — after collecting 51 points from 21 matches.
Their previous best of 2.29 came during their maiden title-winning campaign in 2021, when they amassed 48 points from the same number of games.
Reflecting on the season, Sailors Director of Football Luka Lalić acknowledged that there were areas that could have gone better, but was pleased to see the club retain its place at the summit of Singapore football while securing another shot at competing against Asia’s best in the ACL Two next season.
“Of course, having a coach who won the most trophies for the club leaving midway was never easy and we’re very grateful for everything Aleks (Aleksandar Ranković) has done for us, but the situation called for a change,” he elaborated.
“The team had to go through a bit of a transition, so the most important thing thereafter was to secure the title, and we did that. I also have to say good things about the other teams in the league — Tampines had a great season and Albirex Niigata (S) also improved a lot. A competitive league can only be good for everyone.”
Jesús Casas took over from Ranko in late February and oversaw the club’s latest success, but the Spaniard was absent from the touchline last night and missed the festivities as he had to fly home for Achilles surgery.
“It was a pity that Jesús couldn’t be here with us, but I know he’s very happy for the whole team, from the players to the staff to the fans,” said Assistant Coach Salva Romero, who led the team alongside fellow assistant Alejandro Varela.
“We changed a few things after we came here a few months ago, and we’re very happy because this team has been very receptive. We have many top-class professionals here, and it says a lot about their mentality that they managed to secure back-to-back championships.
“They started pre-season in July and now we’re in the middle of May. There has been a lot of effort, hard work and difficult moments along the way, so full credit to them. They deserve this title.”
Sailors players and staff then changed into specially designed Champions Tees for the trophy presentation — now a club tradition — before lifting the 15kg, 67.5cm SPL trophy high into the night sky at OTH.
The celebrations extended beyond the squad, with families and friends joining the players and staff on the pitch for photographs to commemorate the occasion.
And even as the floodlights at OTH slowly dimmed at the end of the night, the Sailors’ ambitions continue to burn brightly, with the club already laying the foundations for an even stronger 2026/27 campaign.
“As a club, we know we’re capable of much more and this is football. Not every season is perfect, but it gave us valuable lessons that will help us grow as a club,” said Luka.
“The target for next season is clear: we want to do much better, especially in the international competitions, and we want to represent Singapore with pride on the continental stage.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team kept up their relentless pursuit of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title on Friday (15 May) night with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Geylang International at Choa Chu Kang Stadium to record their 12th win in 13 matches this season.
A hat-trick from the irrepressible Ami Takeuchi (pictured below), coupled with braces from Eri Kitagawa and Farah Nurzahirah, as well as Priscille Le Helloco’s first goal of the season, sealed a handsome victory over an Eagles side that had won seven of their previous 10 matches.
The result also saw the Sailors hit the 130-goal mark for the season, a testament to both their attacking firepower and the hard work being put in on the training ground.
Most crucially, the Sailors preserved their superior goal difference in the title race, boasting a +128 differential ahead of Albirex Jurong’s clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Saturday (16 May), with the latter currently on +115.
“We train really hard before every game to sharpen our attacking moves, so definitely how hard we train is reflected in the performance tonight,” reflected Priscille. “As for myself, I’m definitely happy to see some improvements in my game and my ability to help the team.
“But I know I still have a lot to improve on, especially my touches in the final third, and I’m going to keep working on that to contribute even more.”
With several past and present Singapore internationals such as Hamizah Talib, Farhanah Ruhaizat and former Sailor Sarah Zu’riqsha in their ranks, Geylang were always expected to pose a stern challenge. That proved true in a tightly-contested opening half-hour, with the Eagles restricting the Sailors to just a single goal.
The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute, when Priscille popped up in the six-yard box to turn home Ami’s well-weighted pass after some excellent work down the left by Nur Ain Salleh.
In doing so, the French teenager became the Sailors’ 15th different scorer of the season.
Daniel Ong’s charges then struck twice in quick succession in the 30th and 31st minutes to finally break Geylang’s resistance, with Priscille heavily involved in both goals.
First, she applied a crucial touch after Eri’s inswinging corner caused chaos in the box, allowing Farah to flick home. Moments later, she showed great determination to chase down a loose clearance from Geylang goalkeeper Nurul Illyanis before cutting the ball back from the byline for Eri to finish.
The Sailors headed into the break 5-0 up, with Venetia Lim teeing up Farah for a tight-angled finish in the 38th minute before Ami converted from the spot four minutes later after Nurul fouled Ain in the box.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Geylang continuing to make life difficult for the Sailors despite the scoreline. Alongside captain Umairah Hamdan in central defence, 15-year-old Remi Ogawa once again impressed with an assured display.
“This was definitely not an easy game. Geylang has really strong players, especially Sarah Z. I’ve only trained with her before and never played against her, so I didn’t know what to expect,” shared Remi.
“Playing at centre-back is an important role and comes with pressure, so I’m very happy to have Coach Dan’s trust. Mai has also helped me so much with her ability to read the game.”
The Sailors grabbed their sixth goal in the 60th minute when Ami dusted herself off after being fouled by Nadia Nuraffendi in the area to convert her second penalty of the night. Farah then came close to completing her hat-trick a minute later, only to see her effort crash against the bar.
It was not until the 72nd minute that the Sailors added to their tally again, with Ami slipping Eri through on goal before the latter slalomed past her marker and fired home a low finish for her 26th goal of the season.
Ami then completed her hat-trick two minutes later, latching onto Nurhidayu Naszri’s ball over the top before thumping home her 47th goal of a sensational debut WPL campaign.
Geylang had a chance to pull one back in the 79th minute after Eri was adjudged to have handled the ball while attempting to block Naureen Qadriyah’s shot. Former Sailor Sarah had the chance to score against her old club, but her penalty struck the woodwork and bounced away to safety.
There was also a special moment late on for Alicia Geste (pictured below), who made her WPL debut at the age of 14 to become the 21st Girls Academy graduate to feature for the club in the top flight, further underlining the Sailors’ commitment to developing young talent.
“It’s wonderful to see us continually giving young players opportunities because they can learn so much from playing with class players like Eri and Ami,” said Priscille. “Personally, playing with them has helped me see a whole new level of football and think faster on the ball.
“We’re lucky to have them in the team, and their presence will continue to inspire more young players.”
The Sailors will now take a short break before resuming their WPL campaign in June, beginning with a potentially decisive clash against Albirex Jurong on 12 June.
For Remi, it is the squad’s relentless mentality that could prove decisive in the title race.
“No matter how many goals we score, Coach Dan always tells us to keep a positive mindset, keep pushing and get the best result possible for the team, even in the last few minutes,” she said.
“That mindset is what sets this team apart, and I’m confident we can carry it through until the end of the season.”
The curtain will come down on the 2025/26 season this weekend, as the Lion City Sailors play their final Singapore Premier League (SPL) match of the campaign.
It has been a season of highs and lows for the Sailors. While they clinched back-to-back league titles for the first time in club history, they also fell short of progressing beyond the group stage in both the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two and ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
Midfielder Hami Syahin reflected on the campaign in what was his fourth season with the club.
“There are aspects of the campaign we could have done better, especially in terms of the international competitions, and we’ll look to improve next season,” said the 27-year-old, who made 28 appearances in all competitions this term.
“But to finish the season by retaining our domestic league title is still an important achievement for us, and we want to build on this foundation.”
The Sailors have not looked back since beginning the season on 25 August 2025 with a 2-1 win over Hougang United, chalking up 16 wins and three draws to seal the title with two games to spare earlier this month.
It is no surprise they lead the league in statistics at both ends of the pitch: most goals scored (68) and the fewest goals conceded (11) going into the final weekend of the season.
The strong collective effort has been backed up by a number of standout individual performances across the squad.
Strike duo Lennart Thy and Anderson Lopes have combined for 25 SPL goals this season, while Bart Ramselaar has once again been a creative force in midfield with his tally of 10 assists.
Hami himself has also been a consistent performer and has grown into one of the leaders of the team. With 123 appearances to his name, only three players in the current squad have featured more times for the Sailors.
“I’m satisfied with how the season has gone for me personally, and it’s always an honour to represent this club. The presence of so many quality players in the team definitely pushes you to improve as a player,” said Hami, who has contributed assists across three different competitions in 2025/26.
“It’s a daily challenge because everyone wants to give their best in training. Every session is intense at this club.”
It was a disappointing outing last time out for the Sailors as their hopes of completing an unbeaten league campaign were dashed in a 2-0 defeat to Albirex Niigata (S).
That result has fuelled the team’s determination to regroup and end the season on a positive note as they take on rivals BG Tampines Rovers away at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (17 May).
The Stags are seeking to seal second place and qualification for the ACL Two, but Hami insists the Sailors are focused solely on ending their season on a high in front of their supporters.
“It was disappointing to lose to Albirex because remaining unbeaten became one of our goals midway through the season. But that’s football — sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn,” acknowledged Hami.
“In football, it’s important we move forward quickly. Tampines have enjoyed a very good season and we have a lot of respect for them, but our focus is on bringing out our style of football and making an enjoyable final game of the season for our fans.”
The Sailors are set to be presented with the SPL trophy following the conclusion of the clash against the Stags, officially marking back-to-back league triumphs for the first time — another milestone that underlines the club’s rapid rise in recent years.
Once the final whistle blows at OTH, the players will then have the chance to celebrate the fruits of their labour with their loved ones and the supporters.
“It’s always an occasion to look forward to — to be able to celebrate a season’s worth of hard work along with the team, our fans, and most importantly our families,” said Hami, a father of two.
“These people are the reason why we push so hard throughout the season, so let’s celebrate this special moment together as one team.”
12 games, 122 goals.
Goals have come thick and fast for the Lion City Sailors Women this season, with the side hitting double figures in seven of their 12 Women’s Premier League (WPL) matches so far.
While Ami Takeuchi leads the league scoring charts with a staggering 44 goals and Eri Kitagawa has added 24 of her own, Farah Nurzahirah has quietly emerged as the WPL’s top local scorer, having netted 14 goals thus far in 2026.
And the 22-year-old, who will look to continue that form when the Sailors take on Geylang on Friday (15 May) night at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, credits her consistency in front of goal to the hard work being put in on the training ground throughout the season.
“For me, the key has been remaining consistent in training and following the coaches’ plans. We do a lot of passing and shooting drills, which have really helped us in games where we need to stay calm inside the box and create chances,” she explained.
Her tally this season has also been a source of personal pride, although Farah remains determined to keep improving in the weeks ahead.
“It feels amazing to be the local top scorer at the moment because I feel like I’ve put in a lot of effort throughout the season,” said the striker.
“I’m grateful to be contributing to the team, but it doesn’t stop here. There are still more games ahead, and I want to keep getting on the scoresheet.”
Farah’s development this year has also been shaped by playing alongside two of the league’s most prolific attackers in Ami and Eri, whose influence has been central to the Sailors’ dominant campaign.
In fact, Farah’s latest goal — scored in last weekend’s 13-0 victory over BG Tampines Rovers — came from an incisive through ball by Eri.
“Eri has been such a solid player. She contributes so much with her goals and assists, which really help the team,” gushed Farah.
“We need someone like her who can see passes through channels that not many others can. I love playing with her because she’s super tactical and understands the game so well. I’ve learned a lot from her on and off the pitch.”
Farah also revealed how closely she studies both Eri and Ami in a bid to sharpen her own attacking instincts.
“I’ve learned so much from Eri and Ami just by watching them play, especially their movement, how they ask for the ball, and how composed they are in front of goal,” she shared.
“I’ve been trying to improve myself by learning from them because they are both very smart players.”
Friday’s encounter will carry extra significance for Farah as she prepares to face her former club, a side she still holds in high regard after their strong performances this season, which have lifted them to third in the standings with seven wins from 10 matches.
The clash will also see the Sailors face off against a trio of ex-players in Nor Adriana Lim, Nadia Nuraffendi, and recent Geylang signing Sarah Zu’risqha — last season’s WPL Young Player of the Year.
“I’m really happy to see Geylang doing well this season. They’ve always had strong team spirit, and it’s nice to see them growing together as a team,” said Farah.
“But a game is a game, and our focus is to perform well as a team and try to score as many goals as we can.”
Farah is also expecting a stern challenge from a Geylang side she believes has grown significantly over the course of the campaign.
“We’re definitely aware of their work rate. The Geylang players are very hardworking and never stop until the final whistle,” she noted.
“They’re confident on the ball and strong defensively, so we know it won’t be easy.”
Despite the emotions of facing familiar faces, Farah remains fully focused on helping the Sailors maintain their momentum with another commanding display.
“I just want to keep doing the things I’ve been doing and help the team in any way I can,” she said.
“It’ll definitely be a bagful of emotions playing against my former teammates, but I’ll focus on doing my best for the team and concentrating on our performance.”
Sailors’ unbeaten run ends in Albirex defeat
The Lion City Sailors’ hopes of an invincible Singapore Premier League (SPL) season came to an end as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Albirex Niigata (S) in their penultimate game of the campaign at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (10 May).
Goals from Shingo Nakano and a Toni Datković own goal meant the recently crowned champions fell short of becoming only the second side in league history to complete a season unbeaten. The Sailors had won 16 and drew three in 19 league matches prior to last night.
Reflecting on the setback, Head Coach Jesús Casas pointed to a lack of clinical edge in front of goal as the decisive factor.
“When you make a lot of changes to the lineup, it is normal for mistakes to happen. We played well in the first half, but they scored two goals from two moments in the second half and won the match,” said the Spaniard.
“We had a lot of opportunities in the second half, but they were the ones who scored more goals than us. All of the players in my squad deserve to play. We’ve already won the title, so it’s a good opportunity to experiment and test some aspects of the team.”
Jesús’s faith in his squad was evident in a local-heavy starting XI, with seven Singaporean players, including Lionel Tan, Akram Azman and Hafiz Nor, being handed starts.
In a classy gesture, the Albirex players formed a guard of honour for the champions as the Sailors walked out with their children.
However, a much-changed Sailors side took time to find their rhythm, with chances at a premium in the opening half. The best opportunity fell to Bart Ramselaar in the 26th minute, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Albirex threatened through Nakano in the 33rd minute after he carved out space in the box, but Ivan Sušak reacted sharply to tip the shot away from goal. Four minutes later, Ryang Hyon-ju had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
The breakthrough eventually arrived five minutes into the second half, when Ryang delivered a precise cross for Nakano, who guided his header beyond Ivan.
Albirex then doubled their lead just two minutes later. After Ivan saved Ryang’s initial effort at the near post, Sailors loanee Zulqarnaen Suzliman reacted quickest, with the rebound deflecting off Toni and into the net.
Seeking a response, Jesús turned to his bench, introducing Lennart Thy, Kyoga Nakamura and Luka Adžić.
The changes immediately injected urgency into the Sailors’ play, with Luka making an immediate impact, as he surged down the flank in the 57th minute before picking out Lucas Agueiro, whose header was brilliantly repelled by Hassan Sunny.
Luka was involved again moments later, when he latched onto an inch-perfect pass from Kyoga but his effort from a tight angle was kept out by Hassan.
Lennart came closest to pulling one back for the Sailors, striking the post from close range in the 62nd minute before sending a header narrowly over shortly after.
At the other end, Nakano nearly extended Albirex’s lead in the 69th minute, but Ivan produced another fine save to keep the deficit at two.
The Sailors’ hopes of a late comeback were effectively ended when Toni was sent off late on for pulling back Nakano, reducing the hosts to 10 men.
Despite the setback, the result does not overshadow what has been a solid campaign for the champions, who will lift the league trophy after their final match against BG Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub this coming Sunday (17 May).
“As always, we will try to win every match,” said Jesús. “Our last game will be special because we want to say goodbye to the season and the fans with a win. The focus will be on training hard during the week so we can get all three points next week.”
The Lion City Sailors Women delivered a resounding 13-0 victory over BG Tampines Rovers in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Saturday (9 May) evening to keep the pressure firmly on leaders Albirex Jurong, while hitting double figures for the seventh time in 12 matches.
With Albirex in action against Tanjong Pagar United at the Bukit Gombak Stadium concurrently, there was added intrigue across both fixtures, with goal difference looming as a potentially decisive factor in the title race.
And the Sailors rose to the occasion emphatically.
Head Coach Daniel Ong praised the squad’s cohesion, regardless of selection.
“The lineup wasn’t intentional, it’s based on performance in training, their condition and ability, and also what we want to achieve in gameplay. Every player is fighting for their spot, and there’s healthy competition within the team,” he explained.
“Today, the combination play and movement were definitely among our strengths, and we’ve been working on that week after week. It doesn’t matter who I start, I know whoever is called upon will show great chemistry.”
Captain Umairah Hamdan echoed those sentiments.
“Whoever starts follows the coach’s game plan. Some players carry momentum as starters, while others come on as finishers to lift intensity and spirit. That’s how we sustain our level for 90 minutes,” she said.
Entering the weekend three points behind Albirex with a crucial head-to-head clash still to come in June, the Sailors not only secured another vital win, but also maintained their goal difference advantage with a ruthless attacking display.
While Albirex defeated the Jaguars 16-0, the Sailors lead on goal difference with a +120 differential to the White Swans’ +115.
Farah Nurzahirah set the tone early with a brace, while Ami Takeuchi and Eri Kitagawa each netted four. Ami Kawase, Nur Ain Salleh and Venetia Lim also got on the scoresheet.
The goals took Farah to 14 for the season, making her the league’s top local scorer, while Takeuchi leads the overall charts with a remarkable 44 — keeping her five goals ahead of Albirex’s Ruriko Takashima.
Despite the stakes, the Sailors played with composure and clarity.
“There was no pressure. We focused on our game and what we could control, which was beating Tampines,” said Umairah.
And the Sailors’ breakthrough came just two minutes in, when Dhaniyah Qasimah slipped a pass through to Farah, who spun away from her marker and finished calmly. Farah doubled the lead 10 minutes later with Eri’s involvement, before Eri added a third in the 16th minute with a sharp turn and finish.
Takeuchi made it four just before the half-hour mark with a composed strike, before combining with Eri to make it 5-0 — capping a dominant first half.
The pair picked up where they left off after the break, with Eri completing her hat-trick in the 54th minute. Kawase added a seventh four minutes later to bring up her 10th goal of the season in an impressive debut campaign.
Substitute Nur Ain Salleh made an immediate impact in the 64th minute, finishing off another incisive Takeuchi assist for her eighth of the campaign, while Izzati Rosni also made her mark shortly after coming on — setting up Takeuchi for her second before the Japanese forward completed her hat-trick in the 76th minute.
Venetia Lim added her name to the scoresheet with a long-range lob, before Eri grabbed her fourth of the night in the 80th minute with her 24th goal of the season. Takeuchi then wrapped up the scoring with a fourth of her own late on.
Despite the emphatic win, the Sailors remain focused on improving for the coming games.
“We can see the team’s hunger to win the league and fight for goal difference, it’s very positive,” said Daniel.
“But we can still improve in holding the ball with confidence and in our final passes. Finishing is something we continue to work on, though the girls have shown great progression.”
Umairah added, “The team is very determined and has great character. Everyone kept going and applying what we worked on in training. We train the way we want to play, so the intensity comes naturally in matches.”
The Sailors will next turn their attention to an in-form Geylang International side, with the clash set for Friday (15 May) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Fresh off back-to-back Singapore Premier League (SPL) title triumphs, the Lion City Sailors have set their sights on a new objective — finishing the season unbeaten.
With two games remaining against Albirex Niigata (S) and BG Tampines Rovers, there will be no easing off as the Sailors look to cap a successful campaign in style.
Having already sealed the title with a 0-0 draw against the Stags last Sunday, playmaker Bart Ramselaar reflected on a hard-fought encounter that required resilience and discipline.
“Tampines are a very tough team to play against. We knew that we needed a point, but we still wanted to win the game,” said the Dutchman. “We did well defensively and did not allow them to create many chances. Everyone was fighting till the end, and we are happy with the result.”
The title marked Bart’s third league crown of his career and second with the Sailors, taking his trophy haul in Singapore to five in just over two years. Equally significant for him, however, was maintaining fitness throughout the campaign after struggling with niggling injuries last season.
“Being fit and available was my main goal for the season, as I always want to help the team. I was able to play in almost every game, so I’m happy because I love the game and just enjoy being on the pitch,” said Bart, who chalked up eight goals and 10 assists in 18 SPL appearances in 2025/26.
“I never thought of winning that many trophies when I joined the Sailors, so it feels really special to be part of this team. It’s important for the club that we qualify directly for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two, because we want to perform on that stage.”
Bart will now be aiming to help the Sailors move one step closer to becoming only the second side in league history to complete an unbeaten season when they take on Albirex on Sunday (10 May) — a feat last achieved by the White Swans in 2018.
“We are looking forward to making this title win even more special, so we will prepare and approach the final two games with the same focus we have shown,” he said.
The clash also sets up a reunion with two familiar faces in the Albirex ranks, in Sailors loanees Zulqarnaen Suzliman and Abdul Rasaq Akeem. Both have played key roles for the Swans this season, with Rasaq netting four goals since making the move in January.
“I’m happy to see them doing well there. They’ve been getting plenty of minutes and contributing to the team, with Rasaq scoring some important goals. I’m looking forward to seeing them on the pitch again,” said Bart.
Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Bart acknowledged the mix of highs and setbacks. While the Sailors secured both the league and the Singapore Cup, they also fell short in their regional campaigns, exiting the ACL Two and the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup at the group stage.
“We came really close to qualifying for the ACL Two knockout stages, but we did not perform well enough in the Shopee Cup, so there are many lessons to be learned from those experiences,” said the 29-year-old.
“Coach Aleksandar Ranković leaving was also a low point after we won the treble last season, as we had a really good time together. But we understand this is part and parcel of football; we’re now just focused on this journey with Head Coach Jesús Casas and playing a high-pressing style of football.”
The departure of winger Maxime Lestienne earlier this season also placed greater creative responsibility on Bart, but he was quick to highlight the collective response from the squad.
“Maxime is a special player, and we all miss him on and off the pitch. But that’s football, and things move on. We stepped up as a team and achieved our main objectives, so I think we coped well with his absence,” he explained.
As the season draws to a close, Bart reflected on his journey with the Sailors and the progress made over the past two years.
“Two years have flown by, and being here feels like family to me. I’m happy to be part of this project as we continue to grow, and I’m thankful to everyone at the club — including our amazing fans,” he said.
“I’m confident that this club can continue to achieve great things as long as everyone pulls in the same direction. For now, the focus is on the final two games and we want to achieve an unbeaten season together.”
As the Lion City Sailors Women gear up for their clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Saturday (9 May) evening at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, they do so with a timely boost. as their squad edges closer to full strength at a pivotal stage of the season.
In recent weeks, captain Umairah Hamdan and Venetia Lim have returned from injuries that sidelined them for much of the first round of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Now, forward Raeka Ee and veteran goalkeeper Beatrice Tan have also made their comebacks, adding depth to an already formidable squad as the title race intensifies.
Raeka marked her return on 21 April against Balestier Khalsa, before opening her account for the season in last weekend’s 11-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United. In the same match, Beatrice featured between the sticks for the first time in 230 days and kept a clean sheet.
“It’s great to be back. I had a bad sense of ‘fear of missing out’ watching from the sidelines the past few months,” Raeka said with a laugh.
“It was a huge sense of relief to finally get off the mark. Sitting out for half of the season was very disappointing, so I’ve been eager to contribute since coming back.”
For Raeka, the layoff was as much a mental test as it was physical.
“It was difficult to see my teammates train and play while I was forced to sit out. When I returned, I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up. I also needed time to regain confidence in my physical abilities.”
However, support from the club played a key role in easing her return.
“I’m especially grateful to our physiotherapist, Lucas (Tay). Beyond planning my rehabilitation and working closely with me, he encouraged me to trust myself and the work we’ve put in. My teammates have also been instrumental, and their belief in me made the transition back much easier.
“This setback taught me patience and consistency. It reminded me to trust the process and keep putting in the work.”
Beatrice, who resumed team training in March and built match fitness with the Sailors’ B Team, echoed similar sentiments.
“Getting back on the field, even just being able to stand and move, meant everything to me. The injury was a big reminder not to take our bodies for granted and to enjoy every moment.”
Initially, the setback was difficult to accept, especially with the prospect of missing out on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League and the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. But adopting a positive mindset helped her navigate the period.
“What helped was documenting my progress. Whenever I felt doubt, I’d look back at my videos and remind myself how far I’d come.”
Like Raeka, Beatrice also felt the distance from the team during her recovery.
“I made an effort to stay connected to the team. For example, I would say hi to them before heading to rehab and attending matches. It may seem small, but it made a huge difference mentally. It reminded me I was still part of the team, just on a different programme.”
Balancing rehabilitation with work added another layer to her journey, but strong support from those around her made it manageable.
“There were periods of double sessions, such as field rehab early in the morning before work, then gym rehab in the evening. It was intense, but I enjoyed it. As long as I was improving, it made me happy.
“Special shoutout to Lucas for accommodating my schedule and supporting my recovery. I’m very fortunate to have such a strong support system at the club, at home, and at work.”
With Raeka and Beatrice back in the fold, the Sailors are beginning to resemble a side restored after a disrupted first round — one with renewed depth, experience, and belief.
And with leaders Albirex Jurong still ahead, there is little margin for error in the run-in.
“At this stage of the title race, improving our goal difference is a priority,” said Raeka. “We’ve been working on sharpening our attacking combinations and being more clinical in front of goal.”
