On a bruising, hard-fought night in Hong Kong, one moment perhaps encapsulated the Lion City Sailors’ unity better than any other.

After battling to a 1-0 victory over Tai Po FC on Thursday (15 October), the Sailors gathered arm-in-arm at the final whistle to join their small but vocal contingent of travelling supporters in singing the familiar strains of “Lion City Sailors All The Way” — a fitting celebration of the bond between the team and its fans.

On the pitch, however, it had been anything but straightforward for the Sailors, who were made to dig deep to secure all three points.

Their collective resilience and determination ultimately proved decisive, with Portuguese full-back Diogo Costa among those who stood tall in a battling team performance.

“It was a difficult game, but we managed to get the goal and secure the win. The important thing now is to keep this momentum going, because moments like these bring the team closer together,” said Diogo.

“It’s a positive step forward, but this is only the beginning. We want to go on and achieve even bigger things.”

The 23-year-old was also quick to acknowledge the travelling supporters, whose unwavering backing made the victory all the more special.

“Everyone was exhausted after the game, but it’s important we celebrate these types of moments with our fans. Their support was incredible,” he recalled. “We knew they had travelled a long way to be there, and we could hear them cheering us on throughout the game.”

Diogo also played his part in the Sailors’ attacking forays, combining effectively down the flank with Matthias Phaëton, who struck the decisive goal as the Sailors showed glimpses of their attacking potential.

“Matthias and I have a good relationship. I enjoy getting forward and linking up with the winger ahead of me, just as I did with Bart Ramselaar previously,” explained Diogo. “Matthias and I have developed a really good understanding.”

Beyond his burgeoning partnership with Matthias, Diogo has also forged a close bond with fellow full-back Jorge Karseladze, who operates on the opposite flank.

Having himself arrived at the Sailors as a 21-year-old, Diogo knows first-hand the challenges of adapting to life in a new country and has taken it upon himself to help Jorge, who joined the club at the same age, settle into his new surroundings.

“Jorge played really well against Tai Po. He’s a good player with plenty of room to grow, and he plays with his heart. It’s great to have him here,” said Diogo.

“We speak the same language, which makes communication easier, and I try to help him whenever I can. Moving to the other side of the world at such a young age isn’t easy. I experienced that myself when I first arrived, so I want to make things easier for him.”

That willingness to look out for one another reflects the close-knit spirit within the Sailors’ dressing room, which has remained strong despite the significant changes at the club this season.

After managing just one win in their opening four matches across all competitions, the Sailors have begun to find their rhythm, recording back-to-back victories to build some much-needed momentum.

“When there are changes and new ideas at the start of a season, it takes time to adapt. But we have great depth in the squad and quality players in every position, which pushes everyone to keep improving,” said Diogo.

“More importantly, we have a great group of people, not just footballers. There are strong bonds throughout the squad, and what you see on the pitch is a reflection of the relationships we’ve built off it.”

The Sailors will now look to carry that renewed belief into their next assignment, with little time to rest before returning to Singapore Premier League (SPL) action against FC Jurong on Sunday (18 October).

Just 48 hours after returning from Hong Kong, the Sailors face another stern test at the Jurong East Stadium, where they will be seeking to end an unwanted run of eight winless visits against the western-based outfit since their inception.

The challenge is made all the more intriguing by the presence of several familiar faces in the Jurong ranks, including former Sailors full-backs Christopher van Huizen and Akram Azman, as well as former Japan international Keisuke Honda.

But Diogo is unfazed by the prospect of another demanding encounter and is confident the Sailors can rise to the occasion despite the quick turnaround.

“It’s a short turnaround, but our focus is on getting all three points against Jurong and building on our momentum,” he said.

“Playing at their stadium is never easy. They’re a good side who are aggressive and physical, but these are the challenges we relish.

“They also have a former World Cup player in Keisuke Honda and plenty of other quality players. But we have our own strengths, and we know what we need to do to get the win.”

Amid the Sailors’ recent resurgence, Diogo also spared a thought for teammate Nur Adam Abdullah, who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee against the Young Lions.

For Diogo, Thursday’s victory carried added significance as the team rallied around their injured teammate.

“That win was for Nur Adam too. Being away from the pitch and the game you love is never easy, and we wanted to show him that we’re all behind him,” he said.

As he closes in on 60 appearances for the Sailors, Diogo is also taking pride in how far he has come since arriving in Singapore last January, while remaining hungry to achieve even more in the club’s colours.

“It feels like just yesterday that I joined the club, so reaching this milestone means a lot to me,” he reflected.

“I’m happy here, and all I want is to keep helping the team improve and win as many trophies as possible.”