The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team return to Women’s Premier League (WPL) action on Friday (12 June) after a month-long hiatus, with the stakes hardly higher as they take on title rivals Albirex Jurong in a top-of-the-table clash at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
The Sailors may trail the White Swans by six points, but with a game in hand and a slightly superior goal difference, they know their title destiny remains firmly in their own hands.
Ahead of the pivotal encounter, captain Umairah Hamdan believes the team’s unwavering focus will help drive them towards a crucial victory.
“Everyone in the team has been really looking forward to the chance to play Albirex again, and we have only one objective in our minds: to win,” said the 24-year-old. “We’ve prepared well, and we’re fully focused on delivering a strong performance and securing all three points.”
The first meeting between the two sides on 13 March ended in a 2-0 victory for Albirex, a result that has only strengthened the Sailors’ resolve as they look to make amends this time around.
“That game taught us the importance of being more clinical and composed on the ball. We need to seize our opportunities, be more decisive in key moments, and aim to get our goals early to put ourselves in a stronger position,” reflected Umairah.
Aside from that defeat, the Sailors have enjoyed an outstanding campaign, winning their other 12 matches while scoring an astonishing 130 goals and conceding just twice.
Umairah believes the team has continued to evolve throughout the season.
“We’ve improved significantly in our movement, understanding, and tactical play. We now have a much clearer understanding of how we want to play, and our chemistry on the pitch has grown stronger,” she explained.
“We have also developed a better understanding of each other’s strengths, which helps us move the ball more effectively and create better attacking opportunities.”
The majority of the squad, along with Head Coach Daniel Ong, returned from international duty with the Singapore Women’s National Team earlier this week for the final stretch of the season, with three matches left to determine the destination of the WPL title.
Despite balancing club and country commitments in recent weeks, Umairah has been encouraged by the squad’s commitment and mentality.
“The team’s mentality has remained incredibly positive throughout the season. The energy and atmosphere within the squad are always high, and everyone is hungry to keep improving,” she said.
“We play every game with our hearts on our sleeves and give everything for the badge. There is no complacency, only the desire to keep pushing forward.”
While Japanese duo Ami Takeuchi and Eri Kitagawa have dominated the headlines and the scoring charts, several young local players have also impressed, including Irsalina Irwan and Remi Ogawa.
“I am immensely proud of them. They have stepped up with confidence and shown great maturity throughout the season. It is never easy to take on bigger responsibilities, but they have embraced the challenge and made it look effortless. Their growth has been fantastic to watch,” lauded Umairah.
Albirex are expected to provide another stern test, but Umairah believes a combination of concentration, belief and strong support from the Sailors faithful can help carry the team to a vital result on Friday night.
“We are truly grateful for our fans. Rain or shine, they’ll be there for us at every game. Their support, passion, and chants create an incredible atmosphere that motivates us throughout the game.
“We are honoured to have people who dedicate their time and energy to support us week in and week out. To all our fans, thank you for believing in us. We promise to give everything on the pitch, play exciting football, and make you proud,” she said.
“We just need to stay calm, confident, and trust the work we have put in during training. Strong communication, good connections on the field, and being clinical in front of goal will be key if we want to come away with the win.”
