Month: August 2026
The Lion City Sailors’ match schedule for the 2026/27 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two Group Stage has been confirmed, with all six matches to be played on Thursday nights.
Jesús Casas’s men will kick off their Group F campaign with a home game against Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United on 17 September, before travelling to Hong Kong to face Tai Po FC at Mong Kok Stadium on 15 October.
A double-header against Adelaide United then beckons, with an away day at Coopers Stadium on 29 October, before the Sailors play hosts to the A-League powerhouse a week later on 5 November.
The Sailors will then jet off to Thailand to play BG Pathum away at the True BG Stadium on 26 November, before wrapping up the group stage with a home game against Tai Po on 3 December.
All three of the Sailors’ home ACL Two group-stage fixtures will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium and are scheduled to kick off at 6.00pm SGT.
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The Lion City Sailors will face opposition from Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong in the group stage of the 2026/27 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two competition.
The Sailors were drawn into Group F in the East Region following the Official Group Stage Draw held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon (18 August).
They will come up against A-League powerhouse Adelaide United, Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United, and reigning Hong Kong FA Cup winners Tai Po FC as they look to mount another strong campaign on the continental stage.
The draw meant the Sailors will play a Thai team for a third straight season in the ACL Two, after facing Port FC in 2024/25 and Bangkok United in 2025/26.
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The 2026/27 tournament will retain last season’s format, with 32 teams divided equally between the West and East regions. The eight groups will each feature four teams, who will play one another home and away between 16 September and 3 December.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the Round of 16 in February 2027, with the tournament culminating in a one-off final on 15 May.
The Sailors have experienced contrasting fortunes in the past two editions of the ACL Two.
In 2024/25, they captured the imagination of the region by reaching the final, becoming the first Singaporean club to contest the showpiece of a major Asian club competition.
Their campaign last season, however, fell short of their lofty standards.
Drawn in a fiercely contested all-Southeast Asian group, the Sailors remained in contention until the final matchday and finished with 10 points — the same number they accumulated when topping their group the previous season. An inferior head-to-head record ultimately saw them edged out by Bangkok United for the second qualification spot.
“The ACL Two is a very tough competition with many strong teams fighting to win it. As a club, our core memory of this competition is no longer about having reached the final in 2024/25, but how we failed to make it out of the group stage in 2025/26,” said Sailors Executive Director Bruce Liang.
“In preparation for 2026/27 and beyond, we’ve strengthened significantly and we’re determined to go much further this new season.
“We’re a club from Singapore and we’re determined to deliver performances that bring joy and pride to the nation.”
Lion City Sailors midfielder Jonan Tan will continue his development in Europe after securing a season-long loan move to Croatian second-tier side NK Dugopolje for the 2026/27 campaign.
Based near the coastal city of Split, Dugopolje finished fourth in the 12-team Prva NL last season and will be targeting promotion to Croatia’s top flight in the coming campaign.
The move puts the 20-year-old in line to become the first Singaporean footballer to play professionally in Croatia, marking another milestone in his promising journey since emerging from the Sailors’ Elite Academy.
Jonan was among the first scholars selected for the Sailors’ Elite Development Programme when it was launched in 2020. After progressing through the Academy ranks, he made his senior debut in a league encounter against Tanjong Pagar United in March 2023 at the age of just 16 years, seven months and 28 days to become the club’s third-youngest debutant.
He subsequently took up the Lion City Sailors Early Enlistment Bond, which enables selected Academy trainees to enlist for National Service (NS) after completing their secondary education. By fulfilling their military obligations by the age of 19, these players are afforded a longer uninterrupted runway to pursue professional football.
After completing his NS commitments in January 2025, Jonan moved to Portugal, where he turned out for Estrela da Amadora and FC Vizela in the Liga Revelação Under-23 competition during the 2025/26 season.
(Photo: FC Vizela)
Jonan, who received his first call-up to the Singapore senior national team in October 2025, then joined Dugopolje for a two-week trial in early May. His technical quality, deft touches, and versatility impressed the Croatian outfit enough to earn him a season-long loan move.
Dugopolje president Mario Smodlaka said, “Jonan joined us on trial at a time when our focus was largely on trying to secure promotion to the First League, but he still stood out with the quality he showed. His versatility and speed in the final third are exactly what we need.
“He is an exciting player who can operate in several positions, and the fact that he is under 21 is also a big plus for us. I hope he can show his best qualities here and open the door to a fruitful relationship between Dugopolje and the Sailors.”
Jonan is currently recovering from an injury but hopes to return in time to feature in the 2026/27 Prva NL season, which kicks off on 22 August, and play his part in Dugopolje’s pursuit of a maiden promotion to the top flight.
(Photo: NK Dugopolje)
“It has always been my dream to play professionally overseas, and I’m delighted to be joining a club and football environment that knows how to develop young players,” said the Sailors Academy graduate. “I want to thank everyone who made this move possible, and I’ll do everything I can to repay the club’s faith in me.
“I’ve already been here for a few weeks and am gradually adjusting to the tempo of the game. The training sessions have been of a really high quality, and I cannot wait to help the team achieve our goal of winning promotion.”
Jonan remains firmly in the Sailors’ long-term plans, having signed a professional contract with the club until 2029. His latest move also marks another significant step for the Sailors’ Elite Academy, which is one of only four in Southeast Asia to have been awarded Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation under its Elite Youth Scheme.
The Lion City Sailors have strengthened their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of Brazilian shot-stopper Victor Aznar from Spanish side Cádiz CF on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old arrives in Singapore to add further quality and competition to the Sailors’ goalkeeping department as the club gears up for another demanding campaign across multiple competitions.
Standing at 1.92m, Victor is known for his sharp reflexes, excellent positioning and ability to close down spaces quickly — qualities that have marked him out as a promising young goalkeeper in Spanish football.
Victor began his footballing journey in the academy of Brazilian giants Corinthians before continuing his development in Italy with Hellas Verona’s youth setup. He subsequently moved to Cádiz, where he made more than 100 appearances for the club’s B and first teams, including 36 in LaLiga 2.
Victor was also named on the Cádiz first-team bench on five occasions during the 2023/24 LaLiga season.
The Brazilian enjoyed a breakthrough 2025/26 campaign as he established himself as Cádiz’s first-choice goalkeeper, recording nine clean sheets and 106 saves in 34 appearances.
His performances included a shutout in a 1-0 victory over eventual promotion winners Málaga CF and earned him the prestigious Manuel Jiménez Trophy, an accolade organised by Radio Cádiz Cadena SER to recognise the club’s most consistent performer of the season.
Driven by a desire to step out of his comfort zone and continue improving, Victor is relishing the opportunity to begin a new chapter in Asia with the Sailors.
“It’s a huge honour to be joining this ambitious club that has big dreams of becoming one of Asia’s top clubs,” said Victor. “After the Sailors came calling, I began researching the club, and everything I found was fascinating, from the Training Centre to reaching an AFC Champions League Two final just last year.
“I spent five beautiful years in Cádiz, but it’s time for me to take my career to the next level, and I believe this is the best place for me to develop my game. I know we have two other top goalkeepers in this team, but I’m here to add value, push myself every day and help the team achieve success in international competitions.”
Head Coach Jesús Casas welcomed Victor’s arrival, and believes the added competition will raise standards across the goalkeeping department.
“Victor is a goalkeeper with strong fundamentals and excellent potential,” said the Spaniard. “His hunger and high level of professionalism are qualities that we look for.
“It is crucial for any successful team to have a competitive goalkeeping department. The players must push each other every day to learn, improve and maintain high standards. That competition will make us stronger and drive everyone to perform at their best throughout the season.”
Victor’s arrival further underlines the Sailors’ commitment to assembling a squad capable of challenging for honours on multiple fronts, including in the AFC Champions League Two and ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
He has shared a pitch with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and trained alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mané.
Yet for all those encounters with footballing royalty, the message that perhaps best captures Bobby Adekanye’s eventful career can be found not on a team sheet or in a match report, but on his WhatsApp profile picture: “I never lose. I either win or learn”.
The quote, often attributed to the late Nelson Mandela, has stayed with Bobby over the years, and is particularly apt for someone whose footballing journey has taken him through some of Europe’s most prestigious academies and into the top flights of Italy and Spain.
From Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool as a highly rated youngster to Lazio, Cádiz and several clubs in the Netherlands and Turkey, Bobby’s journey has brought exhilarating highs as well as difficult setbacks.
Now 27 and embarking on a new chapter with the Lion City Sailors, he is at peace with how his career has unfolded, and hungry to put everything he has learnt to good use.
“I really like this quote. In life or any profession, you can suffer setbacks, but what is most important is how you get back up and learn from them,” shared Bobby.
“You only fail or lose when you do not learn anything from your experiences. Life is not always about the joyous moments; it is also about learning from the tough ones and using them to do better in the future.”
That philosophy has guided Bobby throughout a journey that began in Nigeria and took him to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Formative years
Born in Ibadan, Bobby lived in Nigeria until the age of four before moving to Amsterdam to join his father, who had already been working in the Netherlands for several years.
There, he entered Ajax’s renowned youth academy and spent much of his childhood with the Dutch giants before being recruited by FC Barcelona in 2011 at the age of 12.
Becoming part of Barça’s famed La Masia academy was “a dream come true” for Bobby. With his parents remaining in the Netherlands – he did not want them to give up their jobs to relocate – the young winger devoted himself to football, and even managed to secure a treasured photograph with his idol, Messi.
While he dreamt of progressing through the ranks at Barcelona, circumstances beyond his control intervened. After the club were found to have breached FIFA regulations governing the international transfer of minors in signing Bobby and several other youngsters, he was barred from playing competitive matches.
Bobby subsequently spent the 2014/15 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven while awaiting the resolution of the dispute.
By then, his performances had attracted widespread attention. In particular, his acceleration and ability to cut inside from the right drew comparisons in the Netherlands with Arjen Robben, and Bobby found himself with no shortage of options.
PSV wanted him to stay, Ajax were interested in bringing him home, and Barcelona hoped to retain him.
Instead, Bobby chose the bright lights of Liverpool.
The Liverpool chapter
“When Liverpool came calling, it was a no-brainer,” recalled Bobby, who moved to Anfield at the age of 16 in July 2015.
“The club’s incredible comeback in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul had always stayed in my memory, so Liverpool was a dream place for me.”
(Photo: thisisanfield.com)
Nonetheless, Bobby had to overcome early difficulties, including a wait for his work visa and an ankle injury that sidelined him for several months. He eventually established himself as a regular for Liverpool’s Under-18 and Under-23 sides during his four years on Merseyside.
Among his most memorable moments were goals against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Napoli in the UEFA Youth League, as well as strikes against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Premier League 2.
He also had several opportunities to train with Jürgen Klopp’s first team at Melwood.
“It was a great time at Liverpool. I trained under Steven Gerrard at youth level, and I was part of a talent group that trained with the first team twice a week,” he recalled.
“It was surreal to train alongside players like Virgil, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané, Salah and Lucas Leiva, who later became my teammate at Lazio.”
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Among Bobby’s closest teammates at Liverpool was Curtis Jones. The pair made 29 appearances together from Under-18 to Under-23 level, with Jones setting up both of Bobby’s goals against PSG and Napoli in September and October 2018 respectively.
“He’s a top player. We played together many times and he gave me a lot of assists back then,” said Bobby.
“He’s Liverpool born and bred, so to see him representing one of the biggest clubs in England and competing among the elite makes me very happy for him.”
However, a first-team appearance ultimately proved elusive. The turning point came during the 2018 pre-season, when Bobby was left out of Liverpool’s tour of the United States despite having featured in earlier friendlies.
Increasingly uncertain about his route into the senior side, he rejected the offer of a new three-year contract and joined Serie A giants Lazio the following season.
“I was 19, turning 20, and I had enjoyed a really good campaign with the Under-23s. I felt I was ready to take that next step into the first-team dressing room,” he explained.
“Liverpool wanted to renew my contract and then send me on loan to League One or the Championship. But I believed in my ability and felt I was ready to play at the highest level, which was why I decided to join Lazio.
“It was unfortunate that I could not make my professional debut for Liverpool, but I have no regrets. I took so much from my time there, and those experiences helped me become the player I am today.”
Finding his feet in senior football
Bobby eventually made his professional breakthrough at Lazio, as he featured three times in the UEFA Europa League and made 11 Serie A appearances.
His first senior goal came in a 5-1 victory over SPAL in February 2020, during a season in which he played alongside the likes of European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinković-Savić as Simone Inzaghi’s side finished fourth in Serie A.
(Photo: www.thenationalnews.com)
“It was a great time in Rome. Simone Inzaghi saw a lot of talent in me, and I managed to play several games and score my first professional goal,” reflected Bobby.
“But the mentality in Italy is a little different. Clubs tend to trust more experienced players, and I was still very young, so it was difficult to establish myself as a starter.”
His desire for more regular football led to a loan move to Cádiz CF in October 2020. Although his stay in Spain lasted only three months, it included a memorable 2-1 LaLiga victory over a Barcelona side led by Messi.
That came just months after Bobby had faced Ronaldo in Lazio’s 2-1 Serie A defeat by Juventus in July 2020 — two encounters that underlined the rarefied level at which he was competing.
Maurizio Sarri’s arrival as Inzaghi’s successor at Lazio in the summer of 2021 further complicated Bobby’s prospects. Loan spells at ADO Den Haag and Crotone followed before he left the Italian club in 2022.
“Sarri was honest with me from the first day,” revealed Bobby. “He said, ‘Bobby, you’re not in my plans.’ So I had to move on and find a way to enjoy football again.
“That was why I went on those loans and eventually returned home to the Netherlands. Fortunately, I joined Go Ahead Eagles and regained my confidence there.”
Bobby made more than 70 appearances for Go Ahead in the Eredivisie and domestic cup competitions between 2022 and 2024, before moving to Turkey, where he represented Amedspor and Manisa FK. over the following 18 months.
“Turkey was an interesting experience. The supporters there have so much passion, and if you watched my games, you could see that I played with that same passion,” he said.
“I’m thankful for my time at both clubs, but this is a new chapter. Now, I’m fully focused on the Sailors.”
Docked and ready to go
Bobby admitted he initially knew little about Singapore or the Sailors. However, his research and conversations with the club convinced him to turn down other opportunities in Asia and Europe — including offers from the Netherlands — in favour of an intriguing new challenge.
“There are many positive things about the Sailors. The club has a very good foundation and has already enjoyed a lot of success, but it is still working every year to improve,” he said.
“The team reached an Asian final in the AFC Champions League Two just last year, and the environment here is top-notch.
“After speaking with Director of Football Luka Lalić, everything clicked immediately. From that point, I was just eager to get here.”
Bobby has only been at Mattar Road for a few days, but the facilities at the Sailors Training Centre have already made an impression. He rates it among the top three training environments he has experienced during his career — no small compliment given the clubs he has represented.
The former Netherlands Under-20 international is also pleased to link up with Bart Ramselaar and Lennart Thy, two familiar faces from his time in the Eredivisie.
“I played against both Bart and Lennart in the Eredivisie, so we have some good memories. I’m really glad they’re on my side now,” he said.
“They are highly respected players in the Netherlands, and they are still showing their quality here in Singapore. I hope we can continue growing together.”
Still hungry for more
Bobby’s journey has already been extensively chronicled, from numerous YouTube compilations to features by major British media outlets and Liverpool-focused publications.
Plenty has happened since he first entered Ajax’s academy, but at just 27, Bobby believes his best years remain ahead of him.
Now, he is hungry to show Sailors fans exactly what he can do, and to live out the mantra that has accompanied him throughout his career: “I never lose. I either win or learn.”
“I’m in the prime of my career, so there is no better time to show my teammates, the staff and the fans that I’m ready to give everything and demonstrate what I’m capable of,” he said.
“I’m a player who likes to dribble, take defenders on one-versus-one and beat my marker. As a winger, I want to score goals and provide assists.
“Most importantly, I want to step up in the biggest games and in the moments that really matter to help the team.
“I have gained a lot of experience from every part of my journey, and I know that bringing it here can help my teammates. This team has big ambitions for the season, and I’m excited to help us achieve them all — and hopefully finish the campaign with big smiles.”
The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce the signing of former Liverpool youngster Bobby Adekanye on a two-year contract – adding pace, flair, and proven European experience to the squad ahead of the upcoming season.
A dynamic left-footed forward who can operate on the right wing or as a second striker, the 27-year-old brings explosiveness and creativity in the final third. Renowned for his dribbling and ability to take on defenders one-on-one, Bobby’s direct running, agility, and knack for navigating tight spaces will add a fresh dimension to the Sailors’ attack.
Bobby honed his craft at some of Europe’s most prestigious academies, having developed within the youth systems of Ajax Amsterdam, FC Barcelona, and Liverpool. During his time with the Reds, he featured regularly at Under-18 and Under-23 level, representing the club in competitions such as the UEFA Youth League and Premier League 2.
He subsequently gained valuable senior experience across Europe, playing in Italy’s Serie A with Lazio and Spain’s LaLiga with Cádiz CF, while also featuring in the UEFA Europa League.
The Nigerian-born attacker, who represented the Netherlands up to Under-20 level, has also amassed close to 90 appearances in the Dutch Eredivisie, underlining his pedigree at the highest levels of European football.
Bobby arrives in Singapore after spending the past one-and-a-half seasons in Turkey, and is relishing the opportunity to embrace a new challenge in Asia.
“Honestly, I didn’t know too much about Singapore before this, but after speaking to the club and learning about its vision and ambitions, it immediately felt like the right place for me,” said Bobby, who also received offers from clubs in Asia and Europe, including the Netherlands.
“The club was very sincere about bringing me over, and the project they presented was very exciting. I’ve had many interesting experiences throughout my career, and I hope to draw on them to help this team challenge for every trophy and become one of the top clubs in the region.
“I’m a direct player who tries to bring joy to the fans through my style of play, and I can’t wait to show that on the pitch for the Sailors.”
Sailors Director of Football Luka Lalić welcomed Bobby’s arrival, highlighting the attacker’s quality and experience as valuable additions to the team.
“Bobby brings excellent technical quality and valuable experience from some of Europe’s top footballing environments. His unpredictability and ability to beat opponents one-on-one will give us something different in attack,” said Luka.
“At 27, he is at an excellent age where he combines maturity and experience with hunger and ambition, and we believe he will make a strong impact on the team.”
Bobby’s arrival further strengthens the Sailors’ squad as the club prepares for a demanding campaign across domestic and regional competitions, while continuing to bring in players capable of elevating performances and exciting supporters.
The Lion City Sailors have bolstered their midfield with the signing of French midfielder Giovanni Haag on a two-year contract.
The 26-year-old arrives with considerable European experience, bringing steel, physicality, and composure to the Sailors’ engine room. Standing at 1.87m, Giovanni offers a commanding presence both in the air and on the ground, with his wide passing range, astute reading of the game, and ability to drive forward from midfield among his key qualities.
A former France Under-19 international, Giovanni has amassed more than 100 appearances in France’s Ligue 2 across three clubs, while also featuring close to 30 times in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, underlining his reliability and ability to perform at a high level.
Of his 116 Ligue 2 appearances, 53 came for boyhood club Nancy, where he made his professional debut in 2018. He also went on to represent Rodez AF and Red Star FC in the same division.
Giovanni moved to Germany to join Fortuna Düsseldorf in August 2024, scoring twice as the club finished sixth in the 2. Bundesliga. He returned to France on loan with Red Star last season, featuring in 27 of a possible 31 league matches and helping the Parisian club finish fourth, just four points shy of automatic promotion to Ligue 1.
“Giovanni is exactly the profile we were looking for in midfield,” said Sailors Director of Football Luka Lalić. “He is an aggressive, intelligent and technically-sound number six who reads the game well, wins duels and is comfortable progressing the ball forward.
“He has built solid experience in competitive European leagues, and we believe he will bring the stability, balance and competition we need in midfield.”
Motivated by the opportunity to experience a new style of football and continue developing his game, Giovanni expressed his excitement at embarking on a new chapter with the Sailors.
“I’m really hungry to test myself, and after my discussions with the club, I feel this is an exciting project with big ambitions,” said Giovanni. “This team has achieved a lot over the past few years, but there remains a strong vision and desire to achieve even more and create further history for the club in Singapore.
“I’m a very competitive player who loves having the ball. I’m looking forward to showing my strengths, helping the team play good football and achieving our objectives on the continental stage.”
