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.”
