Month: October 2026
The Lion City Sailors came roaring back from an early setback to sweep aside the Young Lions 6-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (11 October), as they secured their first win under Head Coach Mark Jackson in emphatic fashion.
Taking charge of his first Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixture, the Englishman watched his side record their first league victory of the 2026/27 season through a Matthias Phaëton brace and goals from Bart Ramselaar, Hugo Gomes, Bailey Wright and Ilhan Fandi.
“I’m really relieved and happy to get the first victory. It’s an important milestone for us as a team and for me as a new coach coming into the club. As with every match, we’ll look at the positives and work on where we can do better,” said Jackson after the match.
Jackson made eight changes to the side that started the midweek ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup defeat to Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC, with Bart handed the captain’s armband for the first time in his Sailors career.
But it was the Young Lions who struck first in the 10th minute with Japanese midfielder Toi Kagami lofting a fine long-range effort over Ivan Sušak.
Despite the early setback, the Sailors needed just four minutes to respond, with Bart drilling a spectacular strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
“I had full belief in the players that they would get a grip on the match at some point. I’m glad we did that quite soon with a fantastic strike from Bart,” expressed Jackson.
With the Sailors growing into the contest, Nur Adam Abdullah and Antonio Mance both tried their luck before Hugo put the hosts ahead in the 37th minute. The Brazilian centre-back rose to meet Giovanni Haag’s inviting corner with a well-placed header, opening his goalscoring account for the club.
The same route brought the Sailors’ third goal six minutes after the restart. This time, it was Bailey who got on the end of Giovanni’s corner to score his first goal since returning from injury.
Former Sailors captain Hafiz Nor, the first player to reach 100 appearances for the club, then came on for the Young Lions around the hour mark, while Jackson introduced Ilhan, Kyoga Nakamura and Glenn Kweh from the bench.
And Ilhan soon made his mark against a Young Lions side featuring his brother Iryan Fandi, as he scored his first SPL goal since October 2022 to make it 4-1 in the 69th minute.
Bart helped create the opening with a flicked pass into Matthias’s path, and the winger unselfishly squared the ball for Ilhan to finish.
“Of course, it’s not easy when you go behind after a goal like that, but it was a really good reaction and a great second half performance from us. The team finally clicked in the final third today,” said Bart.
Four minutes later, Ilhan returned the favour when he headed Bailey’s cross back across goal for Matthias, who thundered his effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
There was another welcome return in the closing stages as Nur Muhammad Asis (pictured below) came on for his first Sailors appearance since returning from his loan spells in Portugal. At the other end, an injury to Young Lions goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud saw 17-year-old Kenneth Ng take his place.
The Sailors completed the scoring on the night in the 83rd minute. Nur Adam’s good work down the left eventually led to the ball reaching Matthias, who claimed his second goal to cap a productive night that also yielded two assists.
The Guadeloupe international nearly completed his hat-trick deep into added time, only for Iryan to deny him with a goal-line clearance.
Having called for “another step forward in our collective understanding of how we want to play”, Jackson was encouraged by his side’s aggressive, committed display.
“I’m pleased with the collective result for the team and a lot of impressive individual performances. I also want to give credit to our opponents today because they worked hard right until the end.”
The Sailors’ emphatic victory was not the only result that gave Bart reason to celebrate that evening. Across the city at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, compatriot Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix victory.
“Congratulations to Max, I’m happy for him! He used to regularly come to watch our matches at PSV. Sometimes he also came to the dressing room. He is a very nice and humble guy, and I’m very happy that he finally won in Singapore,” said Bart.
For the Sailors, attention now turns to Thursday’s (15 October) trip to Hong Kong to face Tai Po FC in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two, where they will seek their first continental win of the season.
Tai Po head into the clash following a 1-1 draw with Kowloon City in the Hong Kong Premier League on Saturday, while Jackson will look to build on Sunday’s performance as the Sailors continue a busy month of fixtures.
“I rotated a lot of players today because we have to manage the workload with a lot of games coming up,” said Jackson.
“It’s important when you are competing on multiple fronts that you utilise your squad. We’ll now have to recover and get ready for the trip to Hong Kong.”
For Ilhan Fandi and the Lion City Sailors, the games in October are coming quickly. And so must the improvement.
After a frustrating start to the season, the Singapore forward is backing the team’s growing chemistry under Head Coach Mark Jackson to translate into results, starting with Sunday’s (11 October) Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash against Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The Sailors head into their first home league fixture of the campaign looking to bounce back from Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC in their ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup opener, which followed draws against Hougang United in the SPL and BG Pathum United in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
“It was a tough start to our Shopee Cup campaign, but we have to look ahead to the next game because we have many matches this month,” said Ilhan.
“It was disappointing to concede the decisive goal just before half-time. It came down to a lack of concentration in a match where we had chances but didn’t take them. When you play at this level, missed chances can come back to bite you, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Leo Artur’s goal in first-half stoppage time proved the difference for CAHN, and left the Sailors still searching for their first victory under Jackson, who was appointed on 9 September.
While the players continue adapting to the Englishman’s demands, Ilhan believes there are encouraging signs to build on as they prepare for a busy run of domestic and continental fixtures.
“We are still adapting to how Coach Mark wants us to play. There have been glimpses of good play, and we have to stay positive and build on those,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get back on track with a better performance and a win against the Young Lions on Sunday.”
On paper, the Sailors’ first home SPL fixture of the season presents an opportunity to do just that, with the Young Lions sitting bottom of the table after conceding nine goals in defeats in their opening two league matches.
But there is quality in Firdaus Kassim’s squad, which includes former Sailors Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Nathan Mao. However, one player holds a particularly close connection to Ilhan: his brother, Iryan Fandi.
“It will be nice to play against my brother, but my focus will be on helping my team score goals and win the match. At the end of the day, I’m here to do my job for the Lion City Sailors,” said Ilhan, who scored 13 SPL goals for Young Lions earlier in his career.
Sunday’s match begins a crucial stretch for the Sailors, with seven fixtures to navigate before the November international window. Building understanding within the squad will be key, especially as several players spent two weeks away on national team duty.
For Ilhan, who is one of several new arrivals this season, the time together on the training ground is already making a difference.
“Gradually, the chemistry in the team is improving. It’s been a little challenging with a new coach coming in and the national team boys returning after two weeks away,” he said.
“Now that we have more time together, we can build a better understanding and gel as a team for the upcoming matches. We’ll all hungry to deliver for the team and we’ll go all out for the three points on Sunday.”
The Lion City Sailors fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC in their opening Group B match of the 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (8 October) night.
Leo Artur’s goal in first-half stoppage time proved decisive for the reigning V.League 1 champions, as the Sailors were left to rue missed opportunities on their return to action following an extended international window.
“We’re extremely disappointed with the outcome. We wanted to go on the attack and get the three points at home. We have to learn quickly and adapt to my expectations, although I did see some improvement today,” said Sailors Head Coach Mark Jackson at the post-match press conference.
Both sides threatened in a lively opening, with Diogo Costa dragging his effort wide in the eighth minute before Artur did likewise two minutes later.
CAHN’s Brazilian forward then registered the game’s first notable effort on target in the 18th minute, as he forced Sailors custodian Victor Aznar to palm his shot away.
The Sailors responded with opportunities of their own. Giovanni Haag’s free-kick drifted wide in the 26th minute, before Matthias Phaëton broke behind the CAHN defence and had his close-range effort gathered by Filip Nguyen, although the winger was subsequently flagged offside.
Antonio Mance became increasingly involved as the half progressed, firing over from distance in the 40th minute before a promising opening fell his way two minutes later.
With the ball at his feet inside the box, the Croatian attempted to pick out Song Uiyoung across the face of goal, but his pass was overhit, much to the frustration of the home supporters among the 1,897 spectators.
And the Sailors were made to rue their missed chances as the visitors eventually broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Brayan Perea drove forward before setting up Artur with a backheel, leaving the Brazilian to tap into an empty net.
“A momentary lapse in concentration just before half-time cost us. Overall, I think we dominated the game. We played relatively well but lacked that extra bit to make the difference,” said Sailors captain Hariss Harun.
Jackson introduced Bart Ramselaar for the second half as the Sailors sought an equaliser, while his counterpart Mano Pölking also made changes, bringing on Nguyễn Quang Hải and Jason Quang-Vinh Pendant.
Artur, however, continued to threaten the Sailors goal. His shot on the hour mark was saved by Victor, before Stefan Mauk sent the rebound over. A minute later, the Sailors goalkeeper produced another excellent stop, spreading himself to deny Quang Vinh from point-blank range.
At the other end, Song was unable to test Nguyen from a tight angle after meeting Ryhan Stewart’s lofted cross in the 66th minute.
Bart then picked out Kyoga Nakamura, whose effort was deflected behind for a corner in the 71st minute. The Dutchman had an opportunity of his own six minutes later, but could not keep his attempt on target after a move involving Diogo and Ilhan Fandi.
CAHN also had chances to extend their advantage, with Nguyễn Đình Bắc and Lê Phạm Thành Long unable to capitalise in the closing stages.
The Sailors’ final opportunity arrived in the 96th minute, when Toni Datković found substitute Abdul Rasaq Akeem, but the forward was unable to hit the target with a chance that could have salvaged a point.
“It’s good that we’re creating chances, but in close games like this, taking one or two can make all the difference. Today wasn’t to be for us because we weren’t clinical enough,” said Hariss.
Elsewhere in Group B, Thailand’s Port FC lost 3-1 at home to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, while Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim defeated Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng FC 6-0.
Despite the disappointment, Jackson stressed the importance of focusing on the improvements needed as the Sailors look to build momentum early in the campaign.
“We will continue working. If you get transfixed on the outcome, it can be a negative thing. Sometimes you might play really well and lose, and sometimes you might not play so well and still win,” he said.
“We’ll identify the areas where we need to be better, and it’s my job to address those as quickly as possible.”
With most of the Sailors’ local players away on national team duty at the recently concluded FIFA ASEAN Cup, Jackson has had limited time to work with his squad since taking charge.
The Englishman will continue implementing his playing philosophy as the Sailors turn their attention to Sunday’s (11 October) Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash against the Young Lions.
He also paid tribute to the home supporters, who continued to urge the team forward as they searched for a late equaliser.
“The fans were fantastic tonight, pushing us on right until the end. We couldn’t get the result for them, but we’re appreciative of their support,” said Jackson.
“We need them to come and get behind the team again on Sunday when we’re back in league action. We need to dust ourselves off quickly, prepare for the next game and aim for the three points again.”
The Lion City Sailors will kick off their 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign with a tough home assignment against V.League 1 powerhouse Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (8 October).
After group-stage exits in the past two editions, the Sailors are determined to mount a stronger challenge this time around as they target a spot in the quarter-finals.
Stern opening test
However, CAHN also have a point to prove. Having reached the final of the competition’s inaugural edition, they were eliminated in the group stage last season after finishing fourth in their group.
The Vietnamese side will enter this year’s competition with high expectations, having established themselves as one of the country’s most successful clubs in recent years. Since earning promotion as V.League 2 champions in 2022, CAHN have won two of the last four V.League 1 titles, two Vietnamese Super Cups and one Vietnamese Cup.
They have also started the new season in fine form, securing qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite with a 2-0 play-off victory over Adelaide United. Domestically, they have won all three league matches so far, scoring 11 goals without conceding.
At the helm of the club is Head Coach Mano Pölking, who was named V.League 1 Manager of the Season last year. The German-Brazilian is a familiar figure to many of the Singapore internationals in the Sailors squad, having previously coached the Thai national team.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Coach Pölking stressed the need for a strong performance against the Sailors as his side begin their pursuit of a first Shopee Cup title.
“I won my first title (the 2020 ASEAN Championship) as a coach with the Thai national team in Singapore, so this place holds very fond memories for me. Tomorrow, we have a very tough game, and we need to stay focused against a strong team,” said Pölking.
“There are a lot of familiar faces at the Sailors whom we’ve known for a long time, and their coach knows me better now too. I hope we can deliver an entertaining game for the fans and the competition, and come away with all three points.”
Polking has refreshed his foreign contingent with the arrivals of defender Frans Putros, an Indonesian league winner with Persib Bandung who was part of Iraq’s squad at the recent FIFA World Cup, former Lazio centre-forward Brayan Perea and winger David Henen, who made more than 50 appearances for Everton’s Under-23 side in Premier League 2.
They add to an already formidable squad featuring Brazilian duo Léo Artur and Alan Grafite. Artur registered 10 goals and seven assists last season, while Grafite was the club’s leading scorer in domestic competition with 16 goals. Midfielder Stefan Mauk, a seasoned A-League campaigner, provides another goal threat.
CAHN also boast a strong Vietnamese contingent, which includes attacking midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải, rising winger Nguyễn Đình Bắc, defender Đoàn Văn Hậu, and left-back Jason Pendant.
Văn Hậu echoed his head coach’s sentiments, and stressed CAHN’s determination to improve on their previous final appearance.
“Whenever we enter this competition, we aim to go far. We reached the final two years ago but could not lift the trophy, so we want the best possible outcome this season. That starts with a strong performance against the Sailors on Thursday,” said the defender.
Sailors looking to make their mark
Head Coach Mark Jackson will take charge of his first Shopee Cup match for the Sailors as they seek a return to winning ways, following draws against Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League and BG Pathum United in the AFC Champions League Two.
The two-week international break has given the Englishman valuable time on the training pitch to work with his players, while the return of the Singapore internationals following their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign has further bolstered the squad, with the past week focused on reintegrating them into preparations for Thursday’s.
“We have been working hard with the players. It was initially difficult with some away on Singapore national team duty, but we are fully supportive of the national team, and they have all returned in good shape,” explained Coach Jackson.
“It was important to reintegrate them into the group and manage their physical workload, while bringing them up to speed with what we have shared with the other players: how we want to play, my ideas in and out of possession, and how we want to move forward as a club.
“The players have taken everything on board very well. They have been focused and disciplined, and have shown a clear understanding of what we are trying to achieve.”
One player who knows the opposition well is centre-back Hugo Gomes. The Brazilian is set to face his former club, having played the full 90 minutes in CAHN’s 5-0 victory over the Sailors during the 2024/25 Shopee Cup. He will look to draw on that experience to help his new teammates meet the challenge.
“It’s always exciting to face your former club. But I am a professional, and my goal is to help my new club win. We are also representing Singapore against a Vietnamese team,” said Hugo.
“I want to win this competition. We have a coach who has already won it and a strong, talented squad. But for now, our focus is on this game because it is the first step towards our target of reaching the final.”
Jackson, too, brings valuable experience of success in the region. He guided Central Coast Mariners to the A-League Men Premiership and Championship double, alongside the AFC Cup title, in the 2023/24 season.
Most recently, he led Buriram United to a treble of the Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Shopee Cup, as well as the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals. He will now look to build a similar winning culture at the Sailors, starting with a strong showing against CAHN.
“The success I’ve had at my previous clubs comes down to many things: the players, the staff and the work that goes into building a strong culture,” said the 48-year-old.
“It takes time, but we have all the right ingredients here. Now it’s about putting in the work on the training ground and translating that into our performances in matches. We are heading in the right direction.
“This game is going to be a battle. Our tactical ideas will be important, but so will our physicality and winning mindset. We want to start my first campaign in this competition with the Sailors with three points, and I’m very optimistic that we can be successful.”
The Lion City Sailors return to action after a two-week international break this Thursday (8 October), determined to make a stronger mark on the regional stage as they begin their 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign.
While their Group B opener against Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium presents a stern test, full-back Nur Adam Abdullah believes the Sailors’ quality and close bonds will stand them in good stead as they prepare for their second game under new Head Coach Mark Jackson.
“I’m excited to be back playing for the Sailors after the international break. My focus is on giving 100% in every training session and every match this season,” said the 25-year-old.
“Looking at the calibre of players we have, our goal is clear: to win every competition we can. There’s no reason to believe we can’t do that. We want to build a winning mentality at the club, and that starts with doing well in the Shopee Cup.
“We have a good coach on this journey with us. He has done well at his previous clubs and has plenty of experience in ASEAN tournaments, so I believe he can take us to the next level. The team feels very positive about working with him.”
Several of the Sailors’ national team players have returned from a difficult FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign, which saw Singapore bow out of a group featuring Indonesia and Malaysia.
For Nur Adam, however, the priority is to take those lessons back to the club and respond with stronger performances.
“Despite the results not being what we wanted, playing in the tournament was still a great experience and an eye-opener for all of us. One lesson we took from it was not to take things for granted and to ensure we always perform at the highest level,” he explained.
(Photo: Football Association of Singapore)
“We have a group of national team players at the Sailors who know how to bounce back from defeats like these. I know they will come back stronger and be looking to prove themselves again at club level.”
Thursday’s opponents will put that resolve to the test, with Mano Pölking’s CAHN boasting a squad packed with quality. Indeed, the Sailors are familiar with the threat they pose, having lost 5-0 to the Vietnamese side in the 2024/25 Shopee Cup.
But Nur Adam is determined to help the Sailors make amends, as he highlighted composure and togetherness as being central to their approach.
“It will be a difficult challenge, especially since they beat us the last time we played, but things are different this season. We have prepared well, and what matters is how we respond, especially if things don’t go our way during the game. Ultimately, our performance will determine the result.
“Besides the quality we have in the team, the close bonds we share will drive us to give everything to get a positive result on Thursday.”
While the Sailors have endured a testing start to the season, Nur Adam believes their fans can provide a timely lift as they look to return to winning ways.
“I would like to thank our fans for always being there for us. Even when things get difficult, they still make the effort to come down and cheer us on,” he said.
“The atmosphere they create gives us an extra boost. They are a very important part of our team as we look to get back to winning ways.”
“The Shopee Cup is a tournament we want to go far in this season, and our target for this match is clear: to start our campaign with a win in front of our fans.”
The Lion City Sailors’ home Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixture against Tampines Rovers, originally scheduled for 21 October, has been moved to 4 February 2027.
The change reduces the Sailors’ October schedule to six matches, although it remains their busiest month of the campaign so far as they compete on three fronts.
The Sailors will begin their 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup Group B campaign against Vietnamese champions Công An Hà Nội FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday, 8 October. They will then host Young Lions in their first SPL home game of the new season three days later.
A trip to Hong Kong to face Tai Po FC on 15 October follows, before the Sailors return to Singapore for an away fixture against FC Jurong at the Jurong East Stadium on 18 October.
Mark Jackson’s men will then host Tanjong Pagar United on 25 October, before rounding off the month with a challenging trip to face A-League side Adelaide United on 29 October.
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