The Lion City Sailors are ready to turn the page as they embark on their 2026/27 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two campaign with a home fixture against Thai League 1 heavyweights BG Pathum United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (17 September) evening.
A new era dawns under Mark Jackson
Thursday night will mark Mark Jackson’s official debut on the touchline for the Sailors, with the Englishman’s employment visa approved earlier this week following his appointment as Head Coach of the reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions.
Jackson arrives in Singapore with a proven continental pedigree, having guided Australian outfit Central Coast Mariners to victory in the 2023/24 AFC Cup – the final edition of Asia’s second-tier competition before its rebranding to ACL Two.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the 48-year-old, who also spearheaded Thailand’s Buriram United to the ACL Elite quarter-finals last season, expressed his excitement at kicking off this fresh chapter and driving the Sailors to greater heights on the continental stage.
“It’s great for me to finally get on the pitch to work with the players yesterday after I got cleared for my work visa. The energy I felt from the boys was superb – there’s a real intensity and togetherness within this team. I can already see from the first 24 hours that we’ve a galvanised group who wants to work towards success for this club,” said the 47-year-old.
“It’s a quick turnaround for tomorrow’s game so I can’t implement too many new ideas, but I do have good knowledge of BG Pathum. I came up against them in pre-season when I was with Buriram; I know their coach. They’ve a very organised team with very good players and a distinct playing style.
“But I know we have enough quality in this team and I’m confident of a really positive performance and result from us in this game.”
The Sailors face a formidable opening hurdle in BG Pathum, who are one of Thai football’s powerhouse clubs.
The Rabbits secured their ACL Two berth after edging out Bangkok United for fourth place in Thai League 1 last season, and they have bolstered their squad significantly ahead of the new campaign.
Their revamped roster features several high-profile additions, including former Australia U23 international Ryan Edwards, former Ligue 1 midfielder Anthony Belmonte, Bundesliga 2 veteran Fabio Kaufmann, and imposing 1.95m Brazilian striker João Magno, who will enter the clash fresh off a match-winning brace against Rasisalai United over the weekend.
These newcomers complement an established core of Thai international talent, which includes Chanathip Songkrasin, Kritsada Kaman, and club captain Sarach Yooyen, as the visitors aim to banish the memories of last season’s early group-stage exit.
Speaking on behalf of Head Coach Vladimir Vujović, who currently lacks the required AFC coaching accreditation, long-serving team manager Surachai Jaturapattarapong acknowledged the challenge posed by the Sailors.
“Even though their new coach just arrived, the system of their team still remains so we cannot underestimate our opponents,” said Surachai, who previously represented the Sailors’ predecessor, Home United, between 2003 and 2005. “Mark Jackson knows us very well because he managed Buriram last season, but we also know him and his tactics very well.
“We’ve played in this competition for a few seasons now, so we’re aware of the quality at this level. Lion City Sailors are a strong team and we have to make sure we prepare very well to play them.”
Fired-up Sailors gunning for strong start
Far from being deterred by the opposition’s star power, however, the Sailors’ Class of 2026/27 are focused on writing a new chapter after falling short of the knockout rounds last season.
Bolstered by shrewd player acquisitions and a clear tactical vision under Jackson, the Singaporean giants are determined to mount a deep run in a competition where they reached the final just two seasons ago in May 2025.
And Hariss Harun emphasised the squad’s readiness to set the tone early in front of the home crowd.
“We’re playing at home where we know our fans will be there throughout singing and chanting for us for the whole 90 minutes. As long as they’re there, we always know we can do something special on the pitch,” said the Sailors captain.
“Of course we reached the final before, but that’s something in the past now and we have to live in the present – and that’s with a new coach and new ideas here now. Coach Mark has a rough idea of how he wants us to play and we’ll try to execute his game plan on the pitch. It also helps when he has good knowledge of Thai football, which can be an advantage for us.
“We’ve shown in the last couple of seasons that we can compete at this level, but now we’ve to push ourselves a little bit more and aim to go a little bit further in this competition. The priority now is to prepare as best as we can and get off to a winning start.”
