The Lion City Sailors fell to a 1-0 defeat against Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (14 May) night, but the result did little to dampen the celebratory mood as they were officially crowned the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions by night’s end.
Having wrapped up the title this past weekend with a narrow win over Tanjong Pagar United, the Sailors rotated heavily with one eye on this Sunday’s Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Final against Sharjah FC.
Despite the result, there were still positives for the Sailors to take. Making his first SPL appearance for the club, goalkeeper Adib Azahari impressed with a superb double save just 13 minutes in to deny former Sailor Abdil Qaiyyim and Balestier’s Cher Garang.
Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar also made his return from injury and almost marked it with a bang, as he rattled the woodwork with a powerful free-kick shortly after.
But it was Balestier who found the breakthrough in the 31st minute. Another ex-Sailor, Kodai Tanaka, coolly converted from the spot after Ali Alrina was adjudged to have brought him down in the box — a goal that ultimately settled the contest.
Meanwhile, Zulqarnaen Suzliman looked sharp on his first start for the club since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in March 2024. The 27-year-old showed no signs of rust, and produced a perfectly timed challenge in the 50th minute to deny Anton Fase from doubling Balestier’s lead.
At the other end, Obren Kljajić came close to pulling the Sailors level just four minutes later — his firm header off a Hafiz Nor cross seemed destined for goal, but was kept out by a stunning acrobatic save from Balestier custodian Hafiz Ahmad.
Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković used the closing stages to hand opportunities to the Sailors’ next generation. Sixteen-year-old Andy Reefqy replaced Bart in the 75th minute and slotted straight into central midfield, while Enrico Silveira, Henry Spence, and Danie Hafiy were also introduced late on.
All four are key figures in the Sailors’ Under-21 side, which clinched the SPL Under-21 title with two games to spare last month. They were fittingly recognised at half-time, as they paraded the trophy on a night of double celebration.
The final whistle eventually confirmed just a fourth defeat for the Sailors in 31 league matches this season — but it mattered little. The night belonged to the champions, who toasted their second league triumph since the club’s inception in 2020.
Donning specially designed Champions Tees for the trophy presentation, the Sailors lifted the 15kg, 67.5cm SPL trophy high into the night sky — the reward for a season defined by grit, consistency, and collective belief.
“I said before the game that it was going to be a beautiful night, and it’s a well-deserved title for the club,” said Ranko, who guided the Sailors to glory in his first full season in charge. “I’m proud of the team, proud of my staff, and proud of everyone at the club. It’s something we’ll all remember.”
Reflecting on the match, he added: “Tonight was a game with no pressure, and the boys who played did really well. It’s not easy stepping in with a completely new line-up, so the result doesn’t matter too much. The young players haven’t had many minutes, but I’m glad I could give them a taste — to let them feel what it’s like to be part of a night like this.”
While this marked a second SPL title for seasoned Sailors like Hariss Harun, Hafiz Nor, and Song Uiyoung — all of whom returned to the club at the start of the season after a year away — it was a maiden league triumph for local stars such as Shawal Anuar and Lionel Tan, as well as European stalwarts Maxime Lestienne and Bailey Wright.
But even as the celebrations unfolded pitchside with family members, Bailey was quick to shift the focus to the next challenge — Sunday’s ACL Two Final, where the Sailors are aiming to become the first Singaporean club to win a major Asian football title.
“It’ll be something truly special — no team from Singapore has done this before,” said the 32-year-old, who has earned 29 caps for Australia. “These kinds of games don’t come around often, and we’re relishing the chance to put Singapore football on the Asian map.
“The belief and togetherness in this team has grown so much this season. We’re starting to believe that anything is possible. I’ve played in high-pressure games like the English Championship playoffs and World Cup qualifiers, and this is right up there as one of the biggest challenges of my career.
“It’s exciting knowing that 10,000 fans will be behind us, and we’re determined to put on the best possible showcase of what this club, and Singapore football, is all about.”
