Author: Lion City Sailors
The Choa Chu Kang Stadium could witness a family reunion of sorts this Sunday (23 June), when the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team takes to the pitch for their Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash with Geylang International.
For the first time since their days at Telok Kurau Primary School, sisters Natasha and Nurhidayu Naszri will don the same jersey — the Sailors’ — and could potentially line up side by side in the centre of midfield against the Eagles.
Natasha and Nurhidayu were among the four new signings made by the Sailors during the recent WPL mid-season transfer window. The other additions to the team are forward Priscille Le Helloco and Nur Ain Salleh, who is the first female Sailors Football Academy Scholar.
The Sailors signed 20-year-old Nurhidayu from BG Tampines Rovers, while her younger sister Natasha, who played for the club in 2023, has rejoined Daniel Ong’s squad until the end of the 2024 WPL season. Natasha will then return to Spain to continue her tenure at the ESC LaLiga Academy as part of her Unleash the Roar! (UTR) scholarship.
The prospect of sharing the pitch with her older sister once again is something that Natasha is looking forward to.
“On and off the pitch, we have great chemistry and always support each other. I think this will really help us both perform at our best,” Natasha said. “Since we both play in central midfield, I believe we’ll combine with each other really well.”
Natasha also revealed that watching Nurhidayu play football when she was younger inspired her to get into the game herself.
She shared, “I was inspired by her (Nurhidayu) as I watched her train with the school team and play with teams outside of school. So, playing with her in the WPL means a lot to me. It’s something I looked forward to while growing up.”
Nurhidayu acknowledged that sharing the pitch with her sister would be a special moment for both of them.
“Natasha first started playing football because she saw me join it as a CCA (co-curricular activity) and decided to follow in my footsteps,” Nurhidayu recalled fondly. “We bickered a lot, but no matter what, we always supported each other.
“We have a very close relationship, and it’s been great having her back. Since we play in similar positions and have different strengths and weaknesses, I look forward to seeing how we perform on the field together as teammates again.”
While excited to make her debut for the Sailors alongside her sister, Nurhidayu admitted that she is still not at her 100% yet, having just returned from a year-long ACL injury in April.
Nonetheless, she is determined to make up for lost time, as she works towards full fitness with the Sailors.
“Having missed a full year of football, I’m pushing myself harder to match the intensity at The Sailors,” she said. “With support from coaches, teammates, and my own determination, I’m confident that through rigorous training and effort, I’ll return to my peak condition with this team.”
Both Natasha and Nurhidayu will be aiming to help the Sailors extend their lead at the top of the WPL and maintain their perfect record this season — having secured seven wins out of seven — as they prepare to face Geylang, who are currently third in the table.
With a year of experience at the ESC LaLiga Academy in Spain under her belt, Natasha is eager to demonstrate what she learnt when she steps onto the pitch on Sunday.
“In Spain, they emphasised making quick decisions whenever I had the ball. By improving my possession skills and increasing my speed of play, I hope to help dictate the team’s tempo,” Natasha said.
“It’s crucial to maintain high intensity in both training and matches. To continue progressing, I need to uphold the same level of intensity I maintained in Spain so I can stay focused and disciplined, especially on Sunday.”
It is still early days, but the Lion City Sailors’ 2024/25 campaign could not have gotten off to a better start.
Having started the season by beating Albirex Niigata (S) to lift the Singapore Premier League (SPL) Community Shield, the Sailors have gone on to win their first three league matches, and are now second in the table on nine points – just one behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more.
While the fortunes of Aleksandar Ranković’s side appear to be on the rise, the opposite seems to be true for defending SPL champions Albirex. The White Swans’ rejigged squad, now comprising a predominantly local roster, has begun the season in uncharacteristically poor form, with just one win and three defeats from their first four games.
Nonetheless, Sailors defender Christopher van Huizen insists his side cannot afford to be complacent when the two teams meet again this Sunday (23 June) at Bishan Stadium.
“I know there are people saying they’re not the Albirex of old, but we shouldn’t see it that way. Look at the game against Young Lions (which the Sailors won 3-1 in May) – they posed a real threat to us as well. If we start taking teams for granted and slack off, that’s when these games will cost us,” emphasised the 31-year-old.
“We want to be a consistent team that keeps winning matches, so the key is to focus on ourselves and keep our mindset firmly on how to play even better as a team.”
The Sailors’ drive for perfection and excellence is also fuelled by past disappointments – in particular, their failure to land the SPL title last season.
And Chris revealed that the team is determined not to let history repeat itself this year.
“It may sound cliché, but we’re going all out in every game because we know how important every point is. Personally, I go into every game with the mindset that I want to make amends for last season. The silly points that we dropped then, and the two or three matches where we weren’t switched on – that proved to be the difference in the title race and it still hurts,” he reflected.
“We worked so hard but in the end, we didn’t achieve our objective of winning the league. So, we’re going to push even harder this year, and we’re not going to let it slip away from us this time.”
Having featured prominently and impressed in every minute of the Sailors’ three SPL matches so far, Chris recognises that he has made a strong start to the season. This marks a significant turnaround from his pre-season, which was marred by an injury that hindered his progress.
“It means a lot to me (to be starting regularly) because it didn’t go that well for me in the initial part of pre-season,” the full-back admitted. “I guess I pushed too hard after coming back from a two-month break and got injured. But the pre-season trip to Thailand helped me get back up to speed, and I feel I’m now playing to the team’s strengths.”
With the Sailors playing well and winning matches, Chris acknowledges that the resilience and spirit within the team is as strong as it has ever been – qualities that he believes will help them go all the way in the title race this year.
“Of course, it took a bit of time for the newer boys like Toni (Datković) and Bart (Ramselaar) to adapt to us and how the dressing room is like,” said Chris. “But it didn’t take that long – I felt they really grew with us and we’re all now having fun together.
“We’re like one big family, and I’m sure these good vibes will help us throughout the season. We’re going to fight for one another and make sure we achieve success together.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team have strengthened their squad by adding four new signings during the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) mid-season transfer window.
Priscille Le Helloco, Nurhidayu Naszri, Natasha Naszri, and Nur Ain Salleh have joined the reigning WPL champions, who are aiming not only for a third consecutive league title but also to make an impression at the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Women Champions League (AWCL) Qualifiers.
Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes the four new additions will provide healthy competition within the team and help them cope with the demands of playing in two competitions.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve the team and evolve our style of play. The inclusion of these players will foster strong and healthy competition as we head into a crucial period of the season,” 35-year-old Daniel said.
“I’ve either worked with some of them or watched them up close before, so I know the qualities they will bring to the team. They’re all technically-gifted players who have a good understanding of the game. Equally important, they’re players who have great personalities and are eager to improve themselves.
“With these four additions, we now have cover for every role, and most of our players know how to operate in at least two positions. I know I can count on every player, and they can be relied upon to step in at any moment.”
Both Priscille and Nurhidayu have joined the Sailors from BG Tampines Rovers, where they spent the past one and half seasons.
Equally adept on the wings and as a striker, 17-year-old Priscille enjoyed an outstanding debut WPL campaign as she led BG Tampines in both assists and goals (nine) in 2023. Priscille, who was born in France, has lived in Singapore for the past eight years, and previously played in the JSSL League.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Nurhidayu – who can play both at left-back and in central midfield – is looking to revive her promising footballing career after spending a year out of the game due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Prior to the injury, she had established himself as a regular member of the Singapore Women’s National Team, and even featured in the Lionesses’ 2022 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign.
Joining Nurhidayu at the club is her younger sister, Natasha, who has rejoined the Sailors Women until the end of the 2024 WPL season. Thereafter, the 17-year-old will return to Madrid, Spain, to complete the final two years of her three-year stint at the ESC LaLiga Academy as part of her Unleash the Roar! (UTR) scholarship.
Having made her WPL debut for the Sailors Women back in 2023, Natasha will add creativity, power, and strength to the midfield alongside the likes of Ho Hui Xin and Dorcas Chu.
Ain, the first female Scholar of the Sailors Football Academy, will complete the new quartet, although her inclusion is subject to a technical assessment by the Football Association of Singapore. The 14-year-old has been promoted to the senior squad following several impressive displays for the club’s Under-13 Elite Boys’ team – a move that was endorsed by her coach, Ashraf Ariffin.
A right winger with superb technical ability, steely determination, and grit, Ain is a promising prospect poised for a breakthrough.
And she cannot wait to make her WPL bow.
“I’m really excited to be given this opportunity to represent the Sailors Women’s Team. It’s a goal I’ve been working towards for the last couple of years. I’ve to thank Coach Achap (Ashraf) for all his guidance and encouragement in helping me make this step up,” said the teenager.
“I’m going to work very hard to show my qualities and prove that I can play at this level. Being on the same team with such talented and experienced players is something that I’m really looking forward to, and I just want to make the best of this chance by learning everything I can from them.”
Meanwhile, three players will be de-registered from the squad for the remainder of the season. They are German midfielder Laura Gänser, and defenders Nadia Nuraffendi and Fatin Aqillah, who are still recovering from their ACL injuries.
The Lion City Sailors will find out who their opponents in the revamped Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two will be on Friday, 16 August, when the official draw ceremony for its Group Stage takes place at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The AFC confirmed yesterday (19 June) that Aleksandar Ranković’s charges will gain direct entry into the brand new second-tier men’s club competition in Asia.
Having qualified for the competition by finishing last season as the top local side in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), the Sailors are among the 32 clubs that will be divided evenly into eight groups to contest a round-robin, home-and-away format between September 17 to December 5.
(Photo: AFC)
The knockout stages will be played in the first half of 2025, with a one-off final slated for 17 May next year.
During their inaugural ACL campaign two years ago, the Sailors made history as the first local team to defeat a K-League 1 side with a stunning 3-0 victory over Daegu FC. They went on to accumulate seven points in the group stages, the highest ever for a Singaporean team in the ACL.
In 2023, they recorded a couple of notable results as they defeated Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC 2-1, before claiming a significant victory over two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a 2-0 win at Jalan Besar Stadium.
This will be the third consecutive season that the Sailors will represent Singapore in AFC club competitions, and captain Hariss Harun is looking forward to flying the nation’s flag high again at the regional level.
“It’s a huge honour for the club to consistently compete in Asia’s top club competitions – it’s something we don’t take for granted, and we’re always going out there with the mentality to showcase what Singapore football can achieve,” said the 33-year-old, who holds the record for the most ACL appearances by a Singaporean player with 18 under his belt.
“We may be competing in the ACL Two this year, but the prestige of the competition remains high, and the team’s determination to continually raise our standards is stronger than ever. Currently, our focus is on our SPL title charge, but we’ll also work hard to prepare for our debut campaign in the ACL Two.”
They huffed and puffed, and after 86 gruelling minutes, finally brought the resilient Brunei DPMM house down.
In doing so, the Lion City Sailors maintained their 100% record in the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL), making them the only team in the league to remain perfect this season.
Goals from Shawal Anuar and Maxime Lestienne in the 87th and 95th minute respectively helped the Sailors secure all three points against DPMM, who suffered their first defeat of their campaign.
The Sailors’ 2-0 victory at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday (18 June) night also marked a new club record of eight consecutive SPL wins – an impressive streak that dates back to July 2023.
This is also the first time that the Sailors have won their first three games of the season since its inception in 2020.
Despite the win, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković admitted there were aspects of the game, particularly in the attacking third, where he felt his side could have performed better. Nevertheless, he credited their never-say-die spirit for eventually securing the breakthrough.
“We didn’t capitalise on a few good chances in the first half. In the second half, DPMM made it very tough – they were really compact and didn’t allow us much space,” the Serb explained.
“I felt we could have done better and moved the ball faster. But credit to the boys, they gave everything, and I have to say it was a well-deserved win for us in the end.”
The match also saw new signing Lennart Thy make his Sailors debut – the former Dutch Eredivisie forward proved to be a lively presence up top, linking play well and coming close to scoring on several occasions.
While Lennart— who was substituted in the 69th minute for M. Anumanthan — did not score, his overall performance was encouraging enough for Ranko to feel optimistic about what he can bring to the team in the months ahead.
“The plan was always to substitute him off in the second half as he’s still settling in and quite fatigued,” Ranko revealed. “We’re being very cautious with how we handle him. He’s proven he can score goals at the highest level, and I’m sure we’ll see a different Lennart in the coming weeks.”
The Sailors started the match brightly and quickly asserted their dominance in the first 45 minutes, creating numerous promising goalscoring opportunities.
However, their efforts were thwarted by a combination of wasteful finishing and outstanding goalkeeping from DPMM’s Macedonian goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski, with the 35-year-old producing at least four crucial saves to deny Lennart, Maxime, and Bart Ramselaar in a half where the Sailors outshot DPMM 16 to 5.
DPMM gained a stronger foothold after the break and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute through Julio Cruz. However, the Mexican forward’s speculative drive from 35 yards out was denied by the woodwork.
That was the cue for Ranko to rejig his frontline, as Song Uiyoung came on to support Shawal, who moved from the flanks to go up top.
The change helped Ranko’s charges keep the pressure on DPMM, and they would finally reap the rewards of their endeavour in the 87th minute through the ever-reliable Shawal.
When the DPMM defence failed to clear Toni Datković’s inswinging cross, Shawal – who had taken the captain’s armband after Hariss Harun was substituted – controlled the ball with a deft touch before executing an acrobatic volley to score and give his side the lead.
The goal means the 33-year-old has now scored in each of his four appearances this campaign, including the season-opening SPL Community Shield.
Reflecting on his match-winning strike, Shawal said, “My goal was a result of the team’s hard work to get this win. We’re happy with this result, but it’s back to the training ground tomorrow – we want to improve further as a team, play good football and continue to deliver victories for our fans to savour.”
But the Sailors were not done just yet. In the fifth minute of injury time, Shawal turned provider as he teed up Maxime, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a stupendous drive from the edge of the box beyond a hapless Naumovski.
As a result of the win, the Sailors have moved up to second in the table, a point behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more. The Sailors will next take on defending SPL champions Albirex Niigata (S) at Bishan Stadium on Sunday (23 June) evening.
Local healthcare practitioner Bone Setting SG has come onboard as the Official Partner of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team for the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
This partnership represents a shared commitment between both organisations to enhance the well-being and performance of women’s football players in Singapore, as the women’s game continues to experience exponential growth in the country.
Specialising in bone setting manipulation to help reset bones, muscles, and joints, Bone Setting SG brings forth their expertise to empower the reigning WPL champions with key injury prevention and recovery solutions.
An integral part of orthopaedic medicine
Through this partnership, Bone Setting SG will provide bone setting services for the Sailors Women for all matches (both pre-match and half-time therapy) throughout the 2024 season. In addition, they will offer oil massage therapy for individual players at their Marsiling or Centropod outlets upon request.
Bone Setting SG will also conduct educational workshops for the Sailors Women, sharing knowledge on rehabilitation techniques and overall musculoskeletal wellness to benefit the team.
Founded in 2021, Bone Setting SG applies the principles of traditional Chinese Tit Tar for their treatment. These treatments consist of three segments: massage, stretching, and a full body adjustment.
Utilising specialised manipulation techniques to correct misalignments and remove obstruction in the joints, bone setting therapy facilitates the body’s natural healing processes and enhances the body’s mobility.
This helps ease or prevent issues such as chronic pain, frozen shoulders, migraines, lower back pain, and arthritis.
Clear vision to empower women’s football
While they have partnered Singapore Football League Division One side Singapore Khalsa Association over the past couple of years, this is Bone Setting SG’s first foray into women’s football.
“Women’s football has progressed swiftly over the past few years, and we’d like to play our part to help lift the game here to another level. Our objectives are very much aligned with the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team, and what we aim to achieve is to improve the holistic health of female athletes, both on and off the pitch,” said founder Zul Nor Farahin, a former national Under-23 and professional footballer.
“The recovery options for female sportsmen are still inadequate, and we are committed to bridging this gap by educating them on the importance of proper body care. Proper treatment and care are essential so that they can prolong their career as athletes.”
The Sailors Women have already benefited from Bone Setting’s treatment this season.
“Sometimes, our muscles get tensed up and stiff before a match. So the pre-game muscle release helps us get a better adjustment of our bodies, and gets us warmed up quicker. It certainly puts us in a better condition, and helps enhance our performances on the pitch,” said Sailors vice-captain Ho Hui Xin.
Teenage teammate Nur Sarah Zu’risqha echoed Hui Xin’s sentiments, and added, “We do have a busy schedule filled with training sessions and matches, so it really helps when our recovery is properly taken care of. Sometimes, I have aches in my body that makes me really uncomfortable, but after the treatment, I feel more relaxed, which helps me in my daily life.”
Bone Setting SG is hopeful that this partnership will mark the start of a long and rewarding journey in empowering women’s football.
“Ultimately, what we want is for female football players to understand their bodies better, and to elevate their performances on the field,” said Bone Setting SG co-founder, Nadya Lim Shanna. “I’m sure the Sailors women players have ambitious goals, and we want to help them in any way we can to achieve their targets.”
Exactly a month after their last Singapore Premier League (SPL) game – a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Young Lions – the Lion City Sailors will return to league action once again, when they take on Brunei DPMM in a rescheduled game on Tuesday (18 June) night.
With the return to training of several key Sailors such as Hariss Harun and Christopher van Huizen from the recent international break, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges have ramped up their preparations for the DPMM game over the past few days.
Sailors midfielder Adam Swandi revealed that the whole team is eagerly anticipating the restart of the league, and urged his teammates to build on their winning start to the season.
“Everyone in the team has been training very hard, even during the international break. Now, with the (Singapore) national team boys back, we’ve intensified our preparations, and all of us are raring to get back on the pitch to show what we can do,” said the 28-year-old.
Unfortunately for Adam, he was not among the six Sailors who were called up to the Lions for the recent international break.
While admitting it was slightly ‘disheartening’ not to receive a call-up, he is determined to channel that frustration into motivation, as he looks to drive the Sailors forward in their pursuit of the title.
“Playing for the national team is the highest honour for a footballer, so I’m definitely disappointed on that front,” Adam said. “But I’m going to work hard to show my abilities whenever I’m on the pitch, and the aim is really to put up good performances to help the team get the results we need.”
While the Sailors have delivered a series of strong performances this season, they will likely be tested by a reinvigorated DPMM side featuring a new foreign attacking trio — Miguel Oliveira, Julio Cruz, and Gabriel Gama — along with homegrown sensation Hakeme Yazid.
Nonetheless, Sailors Head Coach Ranko has backed his players to rise up to the challenge.
“We’ve watched and analysed DPMM’s first two matches (2-1 and 4-1 victories over Young Lions and Albirex Niigata (S) respectively). They’ve improved a lot from last season, and the foreigners they brought in are real quality. It’s going to be challenging, but I’m confident that our boys have the ability to get the victory.”
There might be a new face in the Sailors’ line-up for their match against DPMM, as forward Lennart Thy could potentially make his debut.
With fans eager to see what Lennart will bring to the team, Adam has reassured them that the German is a quality addition and believes he will make a positive difference this season.
“Lennart has been training with the team for two weeks now, and he’s been a great addition on and off the pitch,” said Adam. “Everyone can agree that he’s a goalscoring machine – he can score with his left foot, right foot and with his head. I’m sure with every small chance he gets, he can convert and help us win matches.
“We’re all excited to work with a player of his calibre. All of us have been helping him as much as possible to integrate into the team and I’m sure he’ll be someone that can light up the league – and hopefully that starts against DPMM.
“We all recognise how important this game against DPMM is. They are also on a good run of form and will likely contest for the title, so we’ll need to put up a dominant performance to get all three points.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to compete in the inaugural season of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL), which will get underway in August.
The AFC confirmed earlier today (14 June) that the Sailors are among the 22 clubs – one from each country – that will participate in the first-ever flagship club competition for women’s football in Asia.
Clubs from the top eight AFC Member Associations (MAs), based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of 15 March 2024, will qualify directly for the Group Stage. This stage features three groups of four teams each, and will be contested in a centralised league format from October 6 to 12.
The remaining 14 clubs, including the Sailors, will compete in the Preliminary Stage, which consists of four groups: two groups of four teams, and two groups of three teams. This stage will be played in a centralised league format between August 25 and 31 in either Malaysia, Thailand, Jordan, or Saudi Arabia. The winners of each group will then advance to the Group Stage.
The knockout stages will be played next year, with the final slated for May 24, 2025.
The competition represents a huge opportunity for the Sailors Women, who have dominated the domestic Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), winning the last two league titles without suffering a single defeat.
An off-season shakeup to inject youth into the squad has further reinvigorated the side. The reigning WPL champions have won all seven of their games so far, and currently lead the nine-team WPL by three points.
While acknowledging that the AWCL will present a significant challenge for his team, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes his players have the ability to rise to the occasion and showcase Singaporean women’s football in the best possible light.
“It’s a real honour for the club to represent Singapore in the first-ever AWCL,” said the 35-year-old. “We’re excited by the opportunity to test ourselves against high-calibre opposition and see how we match up against our counterparts from Asia.
“More importantly, we want the players to have this huge goal to aspire to as they continually elevate themselves. I’m confident they’ll be able to give a good account of themselves in this competition.”
Sailors Women captain Umairah Hamdan echoed these sentiments, adding, “Seeing our Men’s professional team represent the nation in the ACL for the past two seasons truly inspired us and fuelled our determination to strive for a similar goal.
“It’ll be challenging for sure, but these matches will bring out the best in us. We have many young players here, and our participation in this tournament will help us improve both individually and as a team.”
The official draw ceremonies for both the 2024/25 AWCL Preliminary Stage and Group Stage will be conducted on Thursday, 18 July at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The Lion City Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) away fixture against Brunei DPMM, originally pencilled for Saturday, 15 June in Bandar Seri Begawan, has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, 18 June in Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium at 7.45pm.
The change was made upon the request of DPMM to allow them to address technical issues which they are currently facing at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
The clash against the two-time league champions will be the Sailors’ first game after the June international break.
Thereafter, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges will return home to Bishan Stadium to face defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) on Sunday, 23 June before wrapping the month up with an away game against Geylang International at Jalan Besar five days later.
Ranko’s men are currently second in the nine-team SPL table, a point behind leaders Tampines Rovers after winning their opening two matches against Hougang United (4-1) and Young Lions (3-1).
The Lion City Sailors (LCS) Football Academy has been recognised for its robust development system for elite youth footballers in Singapore, having been conferred Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
The LCS Football Academy – which develops players from the age of three to 18 – is now one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to receive Two-Star grading, alongside Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim FC Academy, NFDP Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD), as well as Thailand’s Chonburi FC Academy.
Launched in 2017, the AFC Elite Youth Scheme recognises academies in elite youth football through three tiers: One, Two, and Three-Star. A total of 22 club academies have been endorsed under this scheme, with only two currently on the highest tier of Three-Star – namely, South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Academy, and Vietnam’s PVF Academy.
The LCS Football Academy received a Two-Star accreditation in April after meeting the assessment criteria set out by the Asian football governing body’s Youth Panel. The evaluation covers 20 performance categories, including administration, facilities, programmes, as well as player-centric factors such as welfare, psychology, and education.
“We’re proud to be amongst an elite group who have been awarded with the Two-Star Academy status,” said LCS chairman Forrest Li. “This is testament to the hard work that our Academy has put in over the past few years to ensure professionalism in all areas, from having specialist staff for every age-group team, to establishing a clear pipeline from the Academy to the First Team.”
AFC assessors Withaya Laohakul and Razip Ismail paid a visit to the Lion City Sailors Training Centre earlier in March and were impressed by the efforts that the Academy puts in to ensure the holistic development of the youth players.
“The LCS Football Academy has a good foundation, including a well-defined coaching structure, development plan for the club, coaching and playing philosophy, player profiles by position, training methodology, and financial stability.
“With strong leadership led by the club’s Technical Director, Sporting Director, and General Manager, along with their clear planning, vision, and philosophy, they’re heading in the right direction to succeed in youth development,” said Withaya.
Since attaining a One-Star grade back in September 2020, the LCS Football Academy has made sustained improvement and remarkable strides in various aspects.
Infrastructure
The operationalisation of the LCS Training Centre – the first-of-its-kind integrated football training facility in Singapore – in July 2022 is perhaps the biggest improvement that has been made over the past four years.
Equipped with physiotherapy rooms, a gym, an analysis room, and study facilities for academy trainees, alongside five top-of-the-line football fields, the Training Centre houses both Academy and First Team staff. Regular meetings between both parties ensure that goals and objectives are aligned, providing the club with the software and hardware needed to handle the rigours and demands of a modern and competitive football academy.
To complement the facility, the Academy has emphasised staffing in terms of both quantity and the variety of roles. Specialist staff now oversee every age-group team, including strength & conditioning coaches, sports psychologists, doctors, academic officers, and a full-time nutritionist who tailors the diet and nutritional requirements of the academy trainees.
The Academy also fully utilises technology to support academy trainees, employing match analysis tools like Hudl, and monitoring systems such as GPS and heart rate monitors.
Scholarship and education
The Academy’s Elite Development Programme – a multi-million dollar scholarship programme – is now into its fourth batch of scholars, with over 50 players from cohorts born between 2008 and 2011 benefitting from a well-rounded programme. This includes weekly local matches, quarterly overseas training camps, an annual major overseas tournament, as well as training stints with top foreign clubs.
The LCS Football Academy also ensures that its top talents are able to balance their footballing progress with robust academic development by partnering with St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) International.
The SJI International-LCS Elite Development Scholarship covers all associated school costs incurred leading up to either the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or, for some scholars, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The IGCSE is equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level), which enables entry into local polytechnics and junior colleges.
Acceptance into SJI International is subject to the scholars being deemed to be able to cope with its academic rigours, with entry evaluation carried out by the institution.
At present, there are two cohorts of scholars enrolled in the scholarship programme. Selected scholars also have the opportunity to pursue early enlistment for National Service (NS) after completing the IGCSE, facilitated by the Lion City Sailors Early Enlistment Bond. This initiative aims to prepare scholars for a career in professional football.
Early Enlistment Bond
The bond, launched in December 2020, involves selected trainees enlisting for NS after completing secondary education, under Singapore’s Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme. The aim is for them to fully immerse themselves in the rite of passage for Singaporean males before directing their full attention towards pursuing their footballing dreams.
When these players return to football, they are guaranteed a four-year professional contract with the club. Their primary aim would then be to battle for a spot in the Sailors’ first team, before eventually seeking to secure a move to a European club.
There have been four cohorts under the bond since its launch, with the first two batches already completing their Operationally Ready Date (ORD). Nur Muhammad Asis, from the inaugural cohort, is the first player from the LCS Football Academy to sign a professional contract with the Sailors, paving the way for many more to follow in his footsteps.
Overseas exposure
Thanks to the academy’s partnerships and strong relationships with top foreign clubs such as Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid, Sailors trainees are afforded unique opportunities to participate in training and exchanges across Europe.
In 2024, all LCS Football Academy teams from Under-13 and above are travelling to Europe for either training camps or tournaments. They will visit countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and Portugal.
LCS Football Academy Technical Director, Luka Lalić, said, “We place a strong emphasis on our youth players measuring up against their European counterparts, from their game understanding to the tactical, technical and physical aspects, as well as their responsibilities off the football pitch. We want them to see for themselves what the benchmark is, so they know what to work on and what they should aspire to become.
“We have excellent relationships with several top European clubs, and we want to continue leveraging these connections to provide our trainees with the best possible exposure, helping them become top-level professionals in the future.”
Building a pipeline for Singapore
The Sailors are also committed to consistently producing players for the national youth squads. At last year’s Lion City Cup final, eight out of the 11 players who started for the National Development Centre’s Under-15 squad were from the LCS Football Academy — a testament to the club’s strong development efforts and pivotal role in boosting football in the country.
LCS Football Academy General Manager Tan Li Yu stressed, “Ultimately, our goal is to help the national cause and build up a strong pool of players who can go on to play in the Singapore national team in the future.
“We firmly believe that there are plenty of budding football talents in the country. Our aim is to remove the obstacles or boundaries that prevent them from reaching their full potential. We are fully committed to our vision of being an elite development hub and will leave no stone unturned to help our youth players.”
With players like 16-year-old Nathan Mao and Asis already establishing themselves in the club’s first team squad, the Sailors remain dedicated to advancing their youth development efforts, and will strive to help the academy achieve the highest grade: Three-Star.
Reaffirming the Sailors’ commitment to youth development in the coming years, Li said, “We’re humbled by this Two-Star accreditation, and it only strengthens our determination to nurture the next generation of football stars in Singapore. We will continue to work extremely hard to develop the infrastructure and capabilities needed to attain the Three-Star grading in the coming years.”
