More than S$160,000 in donations and sponsorships were raised at the third edition of the annual Tasek Sailors Charity Football fundraiser, held on Sunday, 22 June at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre.
The event saw over 100 Tasek Sailors youths and their families come together with representatives from 20 corporations and organisations — united by a common goal to uplift disadvantaged children and youth in Singapore through the power of football.
The funds raised will go towards the Tasek Sailors initiative — a partnership between the Lion City Sailors and Tasek Academy and Social Services, which was launched in June 2023. The initiative delivers a holistic programme that integrates football training with mentorship, academic support, and life skills development. Its mission: to empower youth to dream big, fulfil their potential, and positively impact their communities.
Building on the momentum of the past two editions — which together raised nearly S$400,000 — this year’s tournament once again rallied support from across the football fraternity and corporate Singapore in a vibrant celebration of sport and solidarity.
Guest of Honour Ms Jane Ittogi, who graced the event for a second consecutive year, commended the continued impact of the programme and the strong spirit of partnership that fuels its success.
Ms Ittogi, who is also the Chair of Tasek Academy and Social Services, said, “The partnership between LCS and Tasek has brought many benefits, and most especially for our players and their parents. But it is not just about winning a game. It is about hope, and about the years after and the journey we walk together with our youth.”
The Corporate Tournament featured esteemed organisations such as SGX, MSIG, Deloitte Singapore, Royal Bank of Canada, Static Power, and Singapore Pools, with H&H edging out HSBC 1-0 in a tightly contested final to lift the trophy.
Adding a touch of star power to the day were former Sailors Academy talents Muhammad Nur Asis and Khairin Nadim, Sailors Women’s Team attacker Dorcas Chu, Singapore women’s internationals Nadhra Aqilah and Chloe Koh, as well as local celebrities Brian Ng and Leon Lee. Together, they led Tasek Sailors youth teams (Under-14 to Under-16) in friendly matches against their peers, while also sharing personal stories and offering words of encouragement to inspire the next generation.
(Sailors Academy graduate Nur Muhammad Asis led the Tasek Sailors Under-14 East team in a friendly match)
The Sailors also contributed off the pitch, conducting workshops for the youth on specialised topics such as social media, strength and conditioning, and injury management.
Beyond the matches and mentoring, the fundraiser doubled as a platform for leadership development. Selected post-secondary Tasek Sailors youths stepped up in key event roles — from tournament coordinators and team managers to business managers — which allowed them to gain valuable hands-on experience in planning and operations.
(A social media workshop led by Sailors’ commercial & marketing representatives Nur Anizza Norman and Adam Swandi)
“This is the third time we’re holding this fundraiser, and it’s always extremely heartwarming to see the strong show of support, with everyone coming together for the love of the Beautiful Game,” said Lion City Sailors Academy General Manager, Tan Li Yu.
“We’re truly grateful to all participants and sponsors who came forward to support this event. Their generosity will go a long way in supporting and expanding the Tasek Sailors programmes to benefit even more disadvantaged children and youths.”
The funds will be channelled towards three key pillars: Deepening wraparound social support for disadvantaged children and youth; Strengthening the Tasek Sailors girls’ football programme through enhanced technical training; and Providing more individualised developmental opportunities for children and youth in football and other areas of promise.
(Sailors’ First Team sports trainer Rezal Mashuri conducting a talk on injury management)
Support from previous editions of the fundraiser has already enabled the establishment of four Tasek Sailors centres across Singapore — located at Victoria School, Manjusri Secondary, Millennia Institute and Crest Secondary School — extending football-based self-development opportunities to over 200 additional children and youth.
The Girls’ Academy has also expanded, with the launch of a second Under-16 Girls’ team at the East Centre, complementing the original team in the West.
To date, the Tasek Sailors initiative has positively impacted close to 800 socially disadvantaged children and youth.
(Sailors Women’s Team attacker Dorcas Chu led the Tasek Sailors Under-16 Girls West Team in a friendly match)
The quality of the football programme has also been steadily elevated — especially within the competitive teams — leading to greater participation in structured youth competitions. In 2025, the number of teams representing the East and West Centres in the Singapore Youth League (SYL) grew from five to eight, across the Under-14, Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 categories. Notably, this includes the first-ever girls’ team fielded in the SYL Under-14 division.
An early success story is that of Saarvin Raj, who graduated from the Tasek Sailors programme in 2023 and has since become a key member of both the Sailors Elite Under-21 squad and the Singapore National Under-17 team — paving the way for many others to follow in his footsteps.
To date, 10 individuals — both boys and girls — have demonstrated the potential and dedication to earn a place in the Sailors’ youth setup, including six new additions over the past year: Rayhana Shanaz and Shiya Abrianna (now with the Sailors Girls’ Under-14s), Roiyshky Daneal Alamsha (Development Centre U7), Qais Abdullah (DC U12), Anik Shauqie (DC U14), and Faiq Anaqi (DC U15).
Rayhana has stood out in particular, earning a call-up to the Singapore National Under-16 Girls Team.
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Two other promising young players, 10-year-old Aniqa Shaista and 13-year-old Nur Irnissa Munifa, who joined the Sailors Girls’ Academy in 2024, have continued to impress, as both featured prominently for their respective age-group teams at the JSSL Sevens tournament in April.
To better support youths with higher needs, a formal casework structure has been implemented — on par with those of established social service agencies. This includes deeper mentorship in areas such as academic support, educational and career guidance (e.g. goal-setting, early admissions exercise applications), youth development pathways (e.g. the Assistant Coach Development Framework), and general life skills such as positive coping strategies and setting healthy boundaries.
Moving forwards, Tasek Sailors will look to continue to deepen their work through mentoring.
(Sailors’ Academy Head of Performance Lewin Kösterke offer expert tips on strength and conditioning)
“Over the past three years, Tasek has experienced growth in the number of participants, reflecting the programme’s strong appeal. Our increasing involvement in competitions has further amplified its attractiveness to both boys and girls—especially those who might otherwise lack such opportunities,” said Dr ‘Ain Azman, Lead Manager at Tasek Academy and Social Services.
“Central to this growth is our unwavering commitment to wraparound mentoring, which remains vital in supporting the holistic development of our children and youth. Through mentoring, we empower them to dream boldly and confidently chart their paths toward those dreams, with Tasek walking alongside them every step of the way.”
