Author: Lion City Sailors
As the final whistle blew at the Jalan Besar Stadium last Thursday (19 September), confirming the Lion City Sailors’ 2-0 victory over China’s Zhejiang Professional in their AFC Champions League (ACL) Two debut, Christopher van Huizen was overcome with emotion and began to tear up.
For the full-back, the victory was a vindication of both the team’s and his hard work, especially during what he described as a ‘rough patch’ in his personal life.
“The past two months haven’t been great for me. It’s something personal and I don’t really want to go further into that… let’s just say that in general, things haven’t really been going my way,” shared the 31-year-old.
“My issues off the pitch, combined with the team’s results in August, made it a tough time for me. I’ve been trying my best to focus on myself – spending time with family and friends, and finding joy with my teammates at the club. As a team, we were turning things around after beating Tanjong Pagar the week before, and we really want to keep this winning momentum going.
“When Coach (Aleksandar Ranković) told me I was going to start against Zhejiang, I knew I had to set everything aside and stay focused, while still trying to express myself on the pitch. It’s so satisfying to see both myself and the team starting to perform well again. When the game ended, I couldn’t control my emotions – I just had to let it all out. I know it’s not pretty when someone cries, but those were happy tears.”
Just three days after the win over Zhejiang, Chris scored his first goal of the season to help the Sailors secure a crucial 3-1 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Balestier Khalsa.
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Ranko’s men will now turn their attention to the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, as they look to bounce back from a loss to Indonesia’s Borneo FC Samarinda on Matchday 1.
The Sailors are set to face 2023 V.League 1 champions Công An Hà Nội FC away at the Hàng Đẫy Stadium on Thursday night, and Chris is backing his side to pick up their first points of the campaign.
“Our result against Zhejiang has given us a lot of belief; we have a good energy within the team now, and we want to keep this momentum going,” declared the Singapore international, who was part of the Lions team that held Vietnam to a 0-0 draw in the 2022 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
“Vietnamese teams are technically very gifted and have good structures, but we know we have what it takes to match them. If we perform like we did against Zhejiang and play our cards right, we have a strong chance of coming away with a good result.”
Amid a hectic schedule, with the Sailors set to face BG Tampines Rovers in the SPL on Sunday (29 September) before travelling to Thailand for an ACL Two clash against Port FC the following Thursday (3 October), Chris has urged his side to adopt the tried-and-true approach of ‘taking it one game at a time.’
“It’s really about focusing on each game as it comes, even if it sounds boring to some,” Chris, who has started 17 out of the Sailors’ 18 matches across all competitions this season, said.
“We can’t pick and choose when to give our best – that’s the wrong mindset. It’s always about being fully present and giving our all for the club in every match or competition.
“We’ve already had the experience of balancing continental commitments with the SPL last season, so there are no excuses. We just need to strategise as a team and support one another to keep delivering strong results.
The Lion City Sailors chalked up another important three points in the enthralling 2024/25 Singapore Premier League title race as they dispatched Balestier Khalsa 3-1 on Sunday (September 22) evening at the Bishan Stadium.
Abdul Rasaq Akeem opened the scoring for Aleksandar Ranković’s side, before Christopher van Huizen and Sergio Carmona Pérez registered their first goals of the season to secure the Sailors’ third successive win in all competitions.
With SPL title rivals BG Tampines Rovers suffering their first defeat of the season – a 3-2 loss at the hands of Brunei DPMM – in the night’s other fixture, the Sailors have now extended their lead at the top of the table to three points.
With the Sailors navigating a packed fixture schedule across three competitions, Ranko praised his team for their professional handling of the Bishan Derby.
“It was a very mature performance, especially after our AFC Champions League (ACL) Two game,” Ranko said. “You can expect the opponent to push harder, thinking we’re fatigued, but we managed the game really well. Perhaps we should have scored one more in the first half, but we controlled the second half effectively.”
The Sailors came into this fixture on a high, following a superb 2-0 win over China’s Zhejiang Professional on Thursday (September 19). However, Balestier were also on a good run of form, and were unbeaten in their last six league matches.
To keep things fresh, Ranko made several changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Carmona, Song Uiyoung, Shawal Anuar, Rasaq, and Haiqal Pashia — with Pashia handed his first start of the campaign.
It took just 12 minutes for the Sailors to break the deadlock in front of their home fans when Balestier goalkeeper Hafiz Ahmad fumbled Carmona’s cross; the loose ball fell to Shawal, who unselfishly squared it to Rasaq for an easy tap-in from close range.
That was the 23-year-old’s second league goal in as many matches as he continued his strong return to the fold after a year-long injury layoff.
Shawal himself could have got on the scoresheet a few minutes later when he found himself one-on-one with Hafiz, but he unfortunately scuffed his shot at the crucial moment.
In the 26th minute, more indecision within the Balestier backline cost the visitors again, as Fudhil I’yadh’s short back pass caught Hafiz out. Under pressure from Rasaq, Balestier failed to clear their lines, and the ball eventually fell to Chris, who calmly curled home from outside the area for his first goal for the club since August 2023.
Balestier tried to find a way back into the match, but the best they could muster in the opening 45 minutes were tame efforts from Kodai Tanaka and Ismaïl Sassi that Izwan Mahbud easily claimed.
Ranko brought out the big guns in the second half, with Hariss Harun and Maxime Lestienne coming on at half-time and the 59th minute respectively, and the Belgian almost made an immediate impact as he put the ball in the back of the net in the 63rd minute. His effort, however, was ruled out for offside.
Balestier halved the deficit in the 69th minute with centre-back Jordan Emaviwe sweeping the ball home from close range after an uncleared corner.
However, the Tigers’ joy would prove to be short lived, as a minute later Carmona restored the Sailors’ two-goal cushion, with the Spaniard drilling the ball into the bottom corner after being set up by Maxime.
It was the 20-year-old Madrid native’s first goal for the club since joining in April, and after the match, he revealed that it was dedicated to someone special.
“I’m so happy we won and that I could help the team. I’m really delighted to have scored my first goal for the club. My grandfather passed away in June, and I want to dedicate this goal to him,” said Carmona, who was named Man-of-the-Match.
The Sailors came close to extending their lead in second-half stoppage time when Maxime’s clever reverse pass found Hafiz Nor, but the 36-year-old’s effort was cleared off the line.
With three crucial SPL points secured, the Sailors will next turn their attention to an away trip to Hanoi, where they will face Công An Hà Nội FC on Thursday, 26 September, in Group B of the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
Ranko acknowledged that maintaining winning momentum at this stage of the season is crucial for keeping the pressure on their SPL rivals, even as they strive to make Singapore proud on the international stage.
He said, “It’s very important for us to keep winning game after game. Now we have to prepare for the trip to Vietnam, followed by Tampines in the SPL and then ACL Two again (away against Port FC). Fortunately, the guys know what to do, how to play, and the system we are using. We are looking forward to it, and I’m very happy that nobody got injured.”
Resilient Rasaq ready to rise again
He had to go through not one, but two surgeries within a year. But now, Abdul Rasaq Akeem is finally back and ready to play a big part for the Lion City Sailors once again.
The 23-year-old looked sharp on his return from a year-long absence, starting in the Sailors’ 6-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Tanjong Pagar United last weekend (14 September). He even got on the scoresheet with a well-taken penalty for the opening goal during his 70 minutes on the pitch.
“It was such an amazing feeling to be back in the starting line-up and scoring,” said Rasaq. “I feel 100 percent now, and I just want to keep doing what I do best to help the team.”
It has been a long way back for Rasaq, who enjoyed an outstanding debut season for the Sailors in 2023 – he finished as joint-top local scorer alongside teammate Shawal Anuar with 10 goals, including a memorable winner in a 3-2 comeback victory over Albirex Niigata (S).
Then tragedy struck as he sustained a meniscus injury while representing Singapore in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers last September. It was an injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of the season, including all six of the Sailors’ group-stage matches in last season’s AFC Champions League (ACL), and their winning run in the Singapore Cup.
“I came to the Sailors to play in competitions like the ACL, but it wasn’t to be last season,” lamented Rasaq. “I still recall the moment when I got injured – the Guam defender came from the side and hit me on the knee. The pain got worse after a few days and after some checks, it was confirmed that I had to go for surgery.
“There were a lot of tears and damage on both the medial and lateral sides of the meniscus, so they had to stitch them up, and it required some time to heal.”
Rasaq returned to training during pre-season earlier this year, but something still felt off. The pain in his meniscus persisted, and it soon became clear that he needed a second operation to repair the damage – this was the blow that hit him the hardest.
“Initially, I thought that it’s normal to feel this way because I just got back to training, but the pain did not get better,” Rasaq recounted. “So, we sought a second opinion and found out that the stitching on the medial side had come out. It was very difficult for me to accept, especially when I found out I had to undergo another surgery.
“To work so hard to get back to a certain level, thinking you’re almost there, only to find out things aren’t as you perceived and be hit by another setback — that was a real mountain to climb for me.”
Nonetheless, the ups-and-downs of his recovery and rehabilitation process taught Rasaq plenty of lessons. He also credited his strong religious faith for helping him through these challenging times.
“This whole year I’ve been out, I’ve learned so much about the importance of being patient and trusting the process. What helped me most was my belief in God and trusting Him on this journey,” said Rasaq, who is a Muslim.
“Having undergone the first surgery, I was also better able to handle the post-op recovery after the second one. There were days where I was frustrated and wanted to rush things, but I learnt to be more honest with myself – to listen to my body, and know when to take things slow.
“I took the process day-by-day, working with our rehab specialist David Conde, who has done so much for me. I’m very thankful to him, as well as the doctors who performed the surgeries.”
After making the bench for three matches, Rasaq was finally given his opportunity to start against the Jaguars a week ago. The emotions were written all over his face after his goal — to him, it was about more than just scoring.
Rasaq revealed, “The goal was important not just for me, but to my family, as I lost my grandfather about a month ago. I’m glad I had the opportunity to dedicate it to him and my family.”
He was then named in the matchday squad for a continental game for the first time, when the Sailors memorably beat China’s Zhejiang Professional 2-0 in their ACL Two opener. It was a special victory that fueled Rasaq’s hunger for more.
“It was special just to be with the boys and be part of this team that achieved such a remarkable victory. I felt the commitment from everyone, from the players, to the staff to the fans; everyone played their part,” Rasaq mused.
“This is the benchmark for us, and we should be building on this, not just for regional matches, but also for our domestic matches. We need to constantly push ourselves to play at this higher intensity.”
For now, Rasaq and the Sailors are fully focused on their immediate task on Sunday (22 September) – taking on a high-flying Balestier Khalsa side that are currently fourth in the SPL and unbeaten in their last six matches.
“As players, it’s important that we build on this momentum and bring the same commitment back into the SPL,” said Rasaq. “Balestier are one of the most entertaining teams in the league and will be tough to play against, so we need to show the same commitment we did against Zhejiang.
“The fans always stand up for us, and we need to stand up for them and try to deliver the results they deserve.”
Two well-taken goals, by Hariss Harun and Maxime Lestienne, helped the Lion City Sailors secure a well-deserved 2-0 victory over China’s Zhejiang Professional in their 2024/25 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two Group F opener on Thursday (19 September) night at the Jalan Besar Stadium in front of 2,468 fans.
With this victory, the Sailors added to their list of memorable wins in Asian football, having previously defeated notable teams such as South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Daegu FC, and Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC.
Ranko was delighted with his team after securing a vital win which puts them top of Group F after Matchday One, which also saw Thailand’s Port FC claim a late away victory over Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in the other group game.
“It’s a great feeling, especially playing at home in front of our fans,” he said. “We deserved this win and were solid throughout. Considering the chances we had, I think we outperformed our opponents. I’m very proud of the boys for digging deep to earn these three points. It’s just the start.”
Both teams came into this with contrasting fortunes – the Sailors are top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) following their 6-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United last weekend, while Zhejiang are seventh in the Chinese Super League (CSL), having won just one of their last seven domestic matches.
The Sailors made several changes to the starting line-up as Maxime, Toni Datković and Hami Syahin were named in the first eleven, while Zhejiang also had to rejig their team due to the suspension of several key players.
Nonetheless, it was the visitors who had the first notable chance of the game in the fourth minute, when full-back Liu Haofan’s attempt was deflected away by Christopher van Huizen.
A minute later, the Sailors offered a glimpse of what they were capable of when Lennart Thy, Maxime, and Bart Ramselaar played a triangle of passes between them, before the latter eventually shot over the bar after drifting into an offside position.
Both teams continued to feel each other out in what proved to be a cagey opening, before another beautiful passage of play in the 28th minute saw Lennart’s backheel find Bart, who shot straight into the hands of Zhejiang custodian Dong Chunyu.
Just past the half hour mark, Aleksandar Ranković’s side thought they had the lead after Lennart put the ball into the back of the net from a well-executed corner routine, but the linesman on the far side raised his flag for offside.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 44th minute. As the ball rolled along the edge of the Zhejiang box, Hariss pounced and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to give the Sailors the lead going into the break.
This was the Sailors captain’s first continental goal since 2017, when he scored for Home United against Ceres-Negros in the AFC Cup.
While Hariss was happy with his goal, he was quick to credit the entire team for contributing to the win.
“We’re used to the AFC Champions League, especially at home. It’s good to be able to play in this competition. I think it was pretty tight and everyone did their part,” he said.
Zhejiang started the second half on the front foot, but the Sailors – cheered on by the vocal home support – were able to withstand the pressure.
At the other end of the pitch, Chris was proving to be a threat in the final third – he first delivered a low cross into the box towards Bart, whose shot was blocked by Zhejiang centre-back Lucas Possignolo, before he had an attempt of his own in the 67th minute that had Dong worried, but ultimately came to nothing.
What was clear was that the Sailors had come into this match with a clear game plan – to hit Zhejiang on the break.
“We did a lot of work on counter attacks because we knew how they (Zhejiang) play,” Ranko admitted. “We also knew that in their competition (CSL) they conceded most goals out of transition. When you play in the ACL, you have to be really compact and wait for your chances. I think we executed the game plan very well.”
And the Sailors got their rewards for executing their game plan to perfection in the 79th minute.
Bart laid the ball out to the right for Maxime, who unleashed a peach of a strike that curled away from the Zhejiang goalkeeper and into the net for one of the Sailors’ best goals of the season so far.
Maxime, who has also scored in the UEFA Champions League for PSV Eindhoven against CSKA Moscow back in October 2015, revealed he was initially due to be subbed off, but he convinced Ranko to allow him to continue on for a few more minutes.
He said, “Five minutes before I scored, the coach wanted me to be substituted, but I asked him to wait a little bit. Thankfully, I scored! I’m happy with the goal, but also with the way we played. We played aggressively and we deserved to win.”
Skipper Hariss also acknowledged the importance of the Belgian attacker, as he said, “Maxime was the best player (on the night). It was a match where he gave us a bit of breathing space, and I think he was very consistent. We are really lucky and happy to have him in the team.”
Zhejiang kept pushing in search of a goal, and in the 88th minute, a long ball over the top found substitute Wang Yudong, but Izwan Mahbud made a smart save to keep his clean sheet intact.
With games coming thick and fast, the Sailors must swiftly shift their focus back to the SPL as they face fourth-placed Balestier Khalsa on Sunday (September 22).
As they continue their charge at the top of the table, Ranko has emphasised the importance of player recovery.
“We need to focus on Sunday’s league game. I must get my players ready to perform. We want to be champions of Singapore very badly this season, and my players love these kinds of challenges,” said Ranko.
An out-of-form Zhejiang Professional side will face the Lion City Sailors on Thursday (19 September) night in the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two Group F opener, hoping to put their recent troubles behind them at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Not the best of seasons for Zhejiang
The Green Giants finished third in the 2023 Chinese Super League (CSL) to qualify for ACL Two, but have struggled to replicate that form this season. With 13 losses in 25 league matches and 50 goals conceded, Zhejiang now sit seventh in the 16-team CSL.
They have won just once in their last seven games, most recently losing 4-3 to title-chasing Shanghai Shenhua last Friday (13 September) after squandering a 2-0 lead. With five matches left, they are out of the race for continental qualification next season.
Zhejiang beset by suspensions
Zhejiang’s task will be made harder by having four players serving lengthy suspensions due to their involvement in a mass brawl during an ACL group game against Thailand’s Buriram United last November. Their biggest miss will be Brazilian hot shot Leonardo, who is the CSL’s third-highest scorer in 2024 with 18 goals to date – 11 behind Shanghai Port’s Wu Lei.
However, Zhejiang Head Coach Jordi Vinyals claims that they are solely focused on the players available for the game.
“We will only count on the players we have in the squad and focus on our starting eleven to achieve our objectives,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
“Last year was the first time after many years that we played in the ACL, and when you play at this level, you learn a lot. So we’ll take this opportunity again this year to try and learn as much as we can.”
Despite the absences of their key players, Zhejiang still boast quality within their ranks, including captain Franko Andrijašević, who has three caps for Croatia, Ivorian international Jean Evrard Kouassi, former Ajax Amsterdam youth player Deabeas Owusu-Sekyere, and midfielder Cheng Jin, who was recently called up to China’s squad for their September World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
As such, midfielder Qian Jiegei (Alexander N’Doumbou) believes his side can match the Sailors if they play at their best. The former Marseille midfielder said, “The Sailors are one of the top teams in Singapore. They have big players with experience at this level, and they play with good tempo and intensity, so we need to be at 100 percent to match them.”
Sailors looking to build on past ACL showings
This is the third consecutive season that the Sailors will represent Singapore in AFC club competitions, following their participation in the ACL over the past two years. While they are competing in the second-tier ACL Two this time around, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković believes that the gap in quality between ACL Two and ACL Elite teams is minimal.
He said, “I think the quality of the teams in ACL Two is similar to that of the ACL Elite. If you look at the teams playing in ACL Two, we have two sides we faced in ACL last year — Bangkok United and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — so there are still top teams here.
“The quality of the competition is quite high, and if you look at how these teams are performing in their domestic leagues, most are consistently among the top few.”
The ACL Two is just one of four competitions that the Sailors find themselves involved in this season, and Ranko admits that he will have to be careful in how he rotates his squad moving forward.
“We have four competitions this year, and if you include the youth players, we have around 18 to 20 players,” Ranko reflected. “It’s not a very big squad, so we’re managing the load carefully from game to game.
“Every match, we need to field a team that can get the result, while also ensuring the players don’t become overly fatigued or risk injury — because then we’d face major issues. It’s a big challenge for my staff, myself, and of course, for the players to perform under these conditions.”
Buoyed by a 6-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United that saw them leapfrog BG Tampines Rovers to go top last weekend, the Sailors will head into this game on a high and ready to get their ACL Two campaign off to a good start.
The Sailors delivered encouraging performances against Asia’s elite in the ACL over the past couple of years, highlighted by impressive victories over K League 1 sides Daegu FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in consecutive campaigns.
And Sailors captain Hariss Harun, Singapore’s top ACL appearance maker with 18 appearances, is looking forward to another promising campaign on the regional stage.
He said, “This is our third year playing in a regional competition. The past campaigns were tough, but we gained a lot of valuable experience, especially last year when we faced high-calibre teams that punished any mistakes or lapses in concentration.
“From a competitive standpoint, I believe we are at that level — we had some strong performances last year, and we aim to build on that this season, even though the format has changed slightly. The quality of opposition remains high, and we’re excited to get this campaign underway.”
For the past two seasons, the Lion City Sailors have proudly represented Singapore in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL), securing impressive victories over K-League 1 sides Daegu FC and two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
As the Sailors gear up for their third consecutive season in AFC club competitions, with their 2024/25 ACL Two campaign opener on Thursday (19 September) night against China’s Zhejiang Professional, attacker Maxime Lestienne remains hungry for more, and has set his sights on making history in the newly revamped second-tier club tournament in Asia.
“I know we’ve had good campaigns in the ACL previously; we achieved seven points in 2022, which was our best record, and we got six points in 2023. But we can still do more,” declared the 32-year-old, who has played in each of the Sailors’ 12 ACL games across the two campaigns.
“We have the quality to do something special in this competition. As long as we play and fight as a team, I think we have a chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
“We want to achieve this not just for ourselves and the club, but also for our chairman Forrest Li. He gives his best for everyone here, and he deserves something in return. I hope we can make him proud this season.”
Maxime’s strong belief in the team stems from the Sailors’ impressive performances in previous campaigns. To him, it is clear that playing against the region’s top clubs brings the best in the team.
“We went to Hong Kong and managed to beat their champions (Kitchee SC)… we lost to Jeonbuk in Korea, but when we played them in Singapore, we showed our mentality and intensity. With the fans behind us, we played a great game and showed what we can bring at this level,” said the Belgian, who has previously featured in the UEFA Champions League with PSV Eindhoven.
Looking ahead to this year’s revamped ACL Two tournament, where the Sailors are placed in Group F alongside 2023 Chinese Super League runners-up Zhejiang, 2023/24 Thai League 1 third-placed Port FC, and reigning Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, Maxime emphasised the importance of being solid as a unit to progress to the knockout stages.
“Honestly, I don’t care who we play, it’s still 11 vs 11. It’s a privilege to be playing in the ACL – as a club and as players, we live for these moments, and we have to leave everything on the pitch,” he said.
“Everyone must be at their best and be willing to push a bit more. At this level, we won’t have that many chances to score, so we have to be clinical in front of goal, and fight together for a clean sheet.”
The Sailors are often noted for their foreign A-listers with European pedigree, but Maxime believes that the local players are just as crucial to the team’s success.
“I cannot do everything alone; we’re a team. I can tell you, our best player in this team is Shawal (Anuar). He’s an amazing player and the things he can do is unbelievable,” the former Belgian youth international revealed.
“We’ve players like Hariss (Harun) and Hami (Syahin) – they do a lot for the team, but sometimes, their work is not seen. Of course, we have Song (Uiyoung) back this year – everyone saw what he did in the ACL (for the Sailors) two years ago, and he’s someone who always fights for the team.
“We need everyone in this squad, and I’m lucky to be teammates with these players.”
With confidence and excitement building for another season of competing with Asia’s best, Maxime has urged his team to represent Singapore football with pride.
He said, “Maybe there’ll be those who think playing a Singapore club will be easy, but it’s our job to show them that it’s not. We want to show to all of Asia our quality. It’s our responsibility to bring up the name of this club.”
Even as blue and silver confetti rained down at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (September 15) night to commemorate the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team’s third consecutive Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, there was a palpable feeling among the players that this was just the start of something bigger.
Indeed, the celebrations had barely died down before the WPL champions began thinking of a loftier goal – to make a stronger impression on the regional stage next year.
After all, winning the WPL title – which they did with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Still Aerion – meant that they qualified for next season’s Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL).
The Sailors Women had previously represented Singapore in their maiden AWCL campaign earlier in August, and acquitted themselves well in the Preliminary Stage despite losses against India’s Odisha FC and Jordan’s Etihad Club.
“The stakes were very high coming into this game as we wanted the chance to play in the AWCL again. Our first AWCL campaign set a new benchmark for us in terms of fitness and tactical levels, and that’s a level that we want to be constantly competing at. I’m glad that we have given ourselves another chance to compete against these top Asian teams,” said Raeka Ee, who scored the Sailors’ – and Singapore’s – first-ever goal in the AWCL in that opening game against Odisha.
The Sailors no. 9 – who turns 21 on Monday (September 16) – certainly walked the talk, as she nodded home Syazwani Ruzi’s right-wing cross after just five minutes to put the Sailors in front.
Raeka was at it again in the 31st minute, producing a cheeky lob off Qarissa Putri’s lofted ball into the area to double the Sailors’ lead – the goal means she will end her debut WPL campaign as the league’s second-highest scorer with 18 goals, five behind Albirex’s Manami Fukuzawa.
In front of a boisterous crowd filled with Sailors fans who came out in support with their drums and scarves, Daniel Ong’s charges kept pushing Aerion after the break and eventually scored another four goals.
First, Sarah Zu’risqha cut inside her marker to fire home a brilliant low shot to make it 3-0 in the 60th minute, before mid-season signing Nurhidayu Naszri got in on the act with a sizzling 30-yard strike 15 minutes later for her first-ever Sailors goal, making her the 18th different scorer for the club in the WPL this season.
Sarah then lashed a stunner into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 82th minute for the Sailors’ fifth, before teenager Nur Ain Salleh completed the rout with a fine volley just before full time.
The final whistle was the cue for celebrations from the Sailors camp, as they duly donned t-shirts emblazoned with the words ‘3-peat champions: 2022. 2023. 2024’. In what has become an annual heartwarming ritual, the Sailors Women also held up the jerseys of players who were not present or had left the team, after contributing to the season.
This included Madison Telmer, who left to further her education in the United States, and Nadia Nuraffendi, who missed the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, along with German midfielder Laura Gänser, who joined in the celebrations despite being deregistered in mid-season.
In a season that saw significant changes within the Sailors’ ranks, with a shift towards a younger playing squad — most of whom are under the age of 22, including seven players promoted from the Girls Academy in 2024 — the Sailors Women can look back on a brilliant campaign, where they were pushed all the way by an Albirex side filled with experienced Singapore internationals.
“To win the title with this squad, which is younger compared to previous years, means a lot; it shows that the development pathway from our Academy to the WPL team is there, and I’m sure there will be more youths joining the senior team in the coming years,” said captain Umairah Hamdan.
“It definitely took some time for the newer girls to get used to the intensity and grow accustomed to our style of play. But these girls are good players; they adapted to the changes and were willing to learn. They had the grit and confidence to play, which made a lot of difference.”
The planning has already started for 2025, with Daniel casting his eye towards their second AWCL voyage.
“For us, it’s not just about being the best in Singapore. As a club, we want to be out there competing and excelling at the regional level,” said the 35-year-old, who succeeded Yeong Sheau Shyan in the off-season.
“I believe we can challenge the teams overseas if we really focus on the development of our girls in Singapore. We’re going to focus on getting the team to close the gap in terms of fitness, as well as technically and tactically, so that we can put up a better performance in the AWCL.
“This exposure is very important, and we want the girls to constantly be playing football at a higher level.”
Three goals in each half saw the Lion City Sailors return to winning ways with a 6-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United, sending them top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) on Saturday (14 September) night at the Jurong East Stadium.
With title rivals BG Tampines Rovers dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Young Lions in the night’s other game, the Sailors now lead the league on goal difference.
The Sailors had gone three matches without a win in all competitions, and following the international break, Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković used the time for a much-needed reassessment, making seven changes to the starting lineup.
Song Uiyoung, Toni Datković, and Maxime Lestienne were all left out for this fixture – this was the first time since October 2022 that Maxime was not included in an SPL matchday squad.
Explaining the changes to the line-up, Ranko said, “We rotated a lot because, as I mentioned before the match, it’s going to be a very tough 20 days with many games. Especially in our league, we face tough matches, but I also want to highlight the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two and the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.”
Abdul Rasaq Akeem returned to the fray for the first time since August last year after recovering from his injury setback, while there was also a first start of the season at right back for Bill Mamadou.
After a slow start to the match, it was Rasaq who had the Sailors’ first attempt on target with a header from Obren Kljajić’s cross in the 28th minute.
“When you put a team together that normally doesn’t play so many games, there’s bound to be some nerves. I knew that, so we just needed to settle into the game, and I think from the first goal onwards, we were pretty comfortable,” said Ranko.
The important first goal came about after some neat play by the lively Obren, who was brought down in the box by Tanjong Pagar defender Syed Akmal, and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot for a penalty.
Rasaq, who last scored in August 2023, stepped up with a calm penalty to make it 1-0 to the Sailors in the 32nd minute.
“After such a long injury, and especially as a striker, I know it can be very frustrating when you’re not on the field. He worked so hard to get back, and for his first game, I have to say he played really well. Everyone is very happy for him,” remarked a delighted Ranko on Rasaq’s successful return.
The majority of the Sailors’ attack came down the left with Sergio Carmona Pérez – making his third start of the season – a livewire on that flank.
It was the Spaniard’s cross that found Adam Swandi’s head to double the Sailors’ lead in the 36th minute. Just a minute later, the 20-year-old was at it again with a superb ball that found Shawal Anuar, who timed his run to perfection and finished clinically to make it 3-0.
However, just before the break, Adam had to be substituted due to what appeared to be a chest issue.
Amidst all the goals, both teams were reduced to 10 men as Tanjong Pagar’s Uzbek defender Timur Talipov and the Sailors’ M. Anumanthan were sent off in two separate incidents.
Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar came on at half time to great effect, and he found himself on the scoresheet nine minutes into the second half by applying the finishing touch to a great team move.
Bart then turned provider with a clever scoop assist for substitute Lennart Thy to rifle home the Sailors’ fifth of the night in the 73rd minute.
The Sailors’ number 9 put the icing on the cake with a diving header for his ninth goal of the season ten minutes later after being brilliantly found by Carmona, who completed his hat-trick of assists in the process.
Man of the Match Lennart was back amongst the goals, and the German was delighted with his personal display.
“I think I had a bit of a tough start with difficulties in scoring, and I needed time to adapt — to the weather, the league. But now I think I’ve found my way in both the league and the team. I like how things are going, and it’s been a lot of fun with the guys, on and off the pitch,” said the German centre-forward.
It was the 10th SPL win of the season for the Sailors, who made light work of the bottom-placed Jaguars. Ranko believes this victory will provide the squad with renewed confidence for the tougher challenges that lie ahead this month.
“I’m very happy that the guys that played today showed what they can do and they delivered a good result. The only thing I’m not happy about is the red card, but I’m pleased with the three points,” the Serb said.
The Sailors will next turn their attention to the commencement of their eagerly awaited AFC Champions League (ACL) Two campaign, which begins with a home game against China’s Zhejiang Professional on Thursday (19 September).
And this time, Ranko insists that he will utilise the full complement of his squad.
“Our squad isn’t very large. We rested a couple of players today because they needed it. Toni and Maxime weren’t left out because I wanted to rest them, but because they had slight injuries and needed to be looked after,” said Ranko. “Against Zhejiang, everyone can play, and everyone will play.”
Six months of hard work will come down to 90 minutes at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (15 September) evening, when the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team take on fourth-placed Still Aerion in their final match of the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
Currently two points behind current leaders Albirex Niigata (S), who have already completed their campaign, the equation for the Sailors Women is straightforward: win, and they will secure their third consecutive WPL title.
Fresh off an impressive 10-0 win over BG Tampines Rovers in midweek, Daniel Ong’s young charges are raring to go as they look to bring the trophy back to Mattar Road once again.
“It was nerve-racking against Tampines because we had to win; we were admittedly rushing things a bit at the start, so I was glad to to score the first goal and lift the weight off the team’s shoulders,” said midfielder Dorcas Chu, whose 25th-minute header opened the floodgates against the Stags.
“Overall, we had a good game, but the job is still not done yet. We have to give 100 percent (against Aerion), leave everything out there, and make sure we get our hands on that trophy come the final whistle on Sunday.”
Title race going down to the wire
The 2024 season has admittedly presented a different challenge to the Sailors Women. After all, this is the first time that the title race has gone down to the wire, having been pushed hard by a dogged Albirex side which had brought in several Singapore internationals.
In contrast, the past two seasons in 2022 and 2023 had seen the Sailors Women secure the title with two games left to spare.
However, Dorcas believes the pressure of being involved in a title race is something that is bringing the best out of the Sailors.
“Of course, there’s an element of stress that comes with a title race, but this is what football is all about, and it’s through this that we learn and improve,” said the 22-year-old, who noted that having another team challenge for the title is testament to the ever-improving level of women’s football in Singapore.
“I’m actually glad we have this pressure, and I’m really proud to see that instead of allowing the pressure to break us, it’s bringing the team together and developing us.
“I can see the desire and hunger among the younger players here; they’re always giving their 100 percent, and trying everything to become even better individuals. I hope we keep this attitude up because we have plenty more to achieve.”
Young squad proving their worth
After shifting to a younger squad — with seven players promoted from the Girls Academy in the off-season and the majority of the team under the age of 22 — the Sailors Women have done exceptionally well to stand on the cusp of another WPL triumph.
Among the seven Academy players who were promoted to the senior squad include Yuvika Suresh. The 15-year-old has impressed in her maiden WPL campaign, scoring two goals – one of which came against the Stags in their previous encounter.
“I’m really grateful to be promoted to the first team this season; it’s been a great journey with this team,” said the winger.
“The intensity of training and the competition for places are two of the things that really stand out for me. We all have to fight for our spot; every training, we have to be fully switched on so that we can prove our worth in this team.”
Another AWCL campaign in sight
The Sailors’ motivation to win the WPL title also stems from a bigger goal in mind: to return to compete in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) qualifiers for a second straight year.
“Our participation in the AWCL last month really gave us something to work towards, and this is our target as a team: to play in the AWCL again, so that we can be exposed to the level of the game at the international level.
“To do that, we’ve to make sure we win on Sunday and be champions of the WPL,” said Yuvika.
Lifting the 2024 WPL trophy will also mean a lot for Dorcas, who missed the 2023 triumph due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Dorcas, who has since made a full recovery and been a key part of the Sailors Women this season, said, “Winning the league will mean the whole world to me. It will be a vindication of all the hard work I put in during rehab so that I can get back to playing.
“But it’s not just about me; it’s about the team. We’re going to focus on the playing style that Coach Daniel has drilled us on all season, and hopefully we can enjoy the winning moment together as a team.”
After a two-week break for the FIFA international window, the Lion City Sailors will return to action on Saturday (14 September) with an away Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash against bottom-placed Tanjong Pagar United at Jurong East Stadium.
The match will kickstart a hectic run of six games in 20 days, concluding with an away trip to Bangkok, Thailand, to face Port FC in the second matchday of the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Group Stage on 3 October.
In between are crucial matches across three competitions – the SPL, ACL Two and ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup – before the October international window begins.
Despite the demanding schedule, Sailors defender Bailey Wright is relishing the challenge, and has emphasised the need to ‘take each game as it comes’.
“It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true – the most important game is always the next one, and right now, it’s the one against Tanjong Pagar. It’s a long season which hasn’t even reached its halfway mark, so we’re not thinking about how many games we have to play,” insisted the 32-year-old.
“Each competition is important to us, and we want to represent the club in the best possible way.”
With the recent international break serving as a chance for the Sailors to recalibrate after a few less-than-ideal results in August, Bailey is confident that his side is now equipped to deliver a better report card this month.
“The break has given us the opportunity to build as a team on the training ground and work on some little details. Obviously, our previous results haven’t been what we expected from ourselves, so we have to do better,” said the former Sunderland captain.
“It’s quite straightforward – we’re focusing on being more compact defensively and giving fewer opportunities to the opposition. At the other end of the pitch, we need to keep creating chances and finish them.
“The most important thing is the players look fresh and fit; we’re all energised and ready for the run of games ahead.”
While the Sailors emerged 3-0 victors in their first meeting with Tanjong Pagar earlier in July, Bailey acknowledged that the Jaguars could be tricky opponents — especially with their recent change in Head Coach from Hasrin Jailani to Hyrizan Jufri just over a week ago.
The 53-year-old Hyrizan brings vast experience from the domestic football scene, having held roles at both the professional and grassroots level.
“Any team that changes a coach will have a different playing style and it’s hard for us to predict how they’ll set up. For us, we’re focused on translating what we’ve practised in training into the game, and we know where we can hurt them,” said Bailey who was on the scoresheet in the last encounter against the Jaguars.
“The confidence levels among the boys are high, and we want to get a win before we head into the ACL Two competition next week.”
