Author: Lion City Sailors
Hariss Harun and the Lion City Sailors may be sporting a fresh new look alongside a rejuvenated squad with an influx of young players. But make no mistake, the Sailors Class of 2023 are poised to charge into the new season with the same old desire to succeed – perhaps even more boldly so.
With an sharp injection of the fearless vigour of youth, and driven by the Singapore Premier League trophy-shaped hole left last year, the Sailors will draw on inspiration provided by their 2022 experience.
“We remember the feeling very clearly, and there’s little doubt in our heads that we are capable of so much more. It’s been a fantastic pre-season with the spirit that the new players bring to the dressing room, and we’ve been able to blend this buzzy vibe with the lessons we carry with us from last season,” said the Sailors’ skipper.
“I’m personally feeling very positive about what we can achieve for our fans this year.”
The Sailors are about more than just the 11 on the pitch, more than just the 12th man, and indeed, representative of the community the club lives and works in – and its aspirations – that was the spirit with which the club was conceived.
“Walking across the Esplanade Bridge and taking in the experience of being surrounded by these buildings that represent the scale of what Singapore has achieved in such a short time was truly inspiring – especially when you think about the similarities to what the Sailors are aspiring to,” said Sailors’ Women’s defender, Umairah Hamdan.
“When we step out onto the pitch this year, we will be wearing more than just the club crest on our shirts, we will carry the shapes that represent our fans, our community, and the extended Sailors’ family.
“If it wasn’t clear before, it’s now very obvious – and I imagine that all of us will knowingly carry that inspiration with us every time we pull on the shirt,” she added.
While the Sailors women will drive to match a 2022 they finished as Invincibles in a memorable debut Deloitte Women’s Premier League campaign, their male counterparts are gunning to reclaim the SPL title and a return to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Group Stages for a second shot at battling against the best on the continent.
And Christopher van Huizen is optimistic of what the future holds.
“We’ve worked our socks off in pre-season, and we’re ready,” said the 30-year-old, who joined the Sailors from Tampines Rovers in the off-season.
“We’ve taken lessons on board, we’re inspired and we’re ready to turn 2023 White, Blue and Bold.”
As the Sailors celebrate the third anniversary of the club, Sporting Director Badri Ghent looks with optimism to the new domestic football season ahead.
Today the Lion City Sailors celebrate the third anniversary of the founding of our club and I am personally proud of how far the club has come since we were first formed on 14 February, 2020.
It brings me great pride to see our Lion City Sailors Training Centre on Mattar Road now bustling with activities, eight months on after our official opening in July 2022. This first-of-its-kind facility in Singapore has provided us with the perfect platform for our first team, Women’s team and youth development pathways to take root and grow.
The Training Centre is now equipped with the capability for our players to undergo focused individualised training programmes – that include technical sessions, strength and conditioning and even injury prevention and recovery – based on the needs of each player, this over and above tactical sessions with their respective teams.
A glance in the rear view
Our Women’s Team did incredibly well in their inaugural Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season last year, winning the league in a memorable unbeaten campaign under the tutelage of Yeong Sheau Shyan.
The First Team won our first-ever Community Shield and made a decent impression in the Asian Football Confederation (ACL).
There were of course disappointments across the season as well.
The way we ended the 2022 domestic football season hurt, for sure. We hold ourselves to high standards and we have to acknowledge that the past campaign was just not good enough for what the club wants to achieve.
We have taken a long hard look in the mirror and it is clear that building a culture of winning requires more than just having the best players and staff. We need to have a group of people who are hungry – and on the same page of achieving things together.
In football, there are always lessons to be taken from every season and we are now going into a new season shaped by those experiences. We have analysed and identified the areas which we were lacking in last year to improve for this year.
One thing is for sure: we are learning, adapting and improving as we go into our fourth year.
Eyes fixed on the horizon
It is important we now look ahead, and there are plenty of reasons to be positive. We have brought in Risto Vidaković, an experienced coach with a proven regional track record, and his teams have always displayed his philosophy of possession-based attacking football.
I am an admirer of his football philosophy and I have enjoyed insightful football conversations with him when our teams – Home United, the previous iteration of the Sailors, and Ceres-Negros – met in the 2017 and 2018 AFC Cup zonal finals. It was clear to me then that he had made Ceres one of the most competitive sides in the Southeast Asia.
I am confident he will rally the troops and we will have a successful season together in 2023.
The Sailors Class of 2023 is a rather young one – a team that has hunger and raw talent, and I’m confident we will excite our fans.
Zharfan Rohaizad is one of Singapore’s rising custodians and is bound to feature strongly for the Lions, and the likes of Christopher van Huizen, Lionel Tan and Shawal Anuar have proved their pedigree in the league for the past few campaigns.
The fans are understandably excited about the arrival of Kodai Tanaka and I am equally excited too – obviously we are happy to have him wearing our white and blue.
With his presence and under Risto’s tutelage, we will see dynamic attacking play at the Bishan Stadium – especially when you consider the fact that we have Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes providing ammunition – and you guys deserve to see that, for all the support you have given us.
And yes, we’re returning to our rightful Bishan home and the team behind the team is working their socks off to deliver a quality matchday experience for you. Our hope is that you continue to support us like you did in droves at Jalan Besar.
An infusion of youthful vigour
Our academy trainees are starting to come through our system at Mattar and there is starting to be an infusion of youthful vigour in the first team. The club is more than just about our professional team, we want our youth footballers to grow and I think it will soon be clear that for them to be embedded in this world class facility is the way to go, even as we do our part to help Singapore football as a whole to improve.
The training centre is now a solid base where auxiliary industries – sports science, nutrition, data analytics – all come together, with Kodai even mentioning that in his opinion, it is better than the standards seen in the Japanese second-tier.
It is important that our players work hard, deepening the professional mindset and improving the way we train.
We have two functional artificial pitches, with the hybrid pitch set to be operational later this year, and we cannot wait to train on that.
The long-term target is to become one of Asia’s top clubs and we have never lost sight of that, even with the challenges we have faced. We want to continue to forge a new path that is beneficial to Singapore football and inspire the future.
We are looking forward to kick off our 2023 adventure, and we hope you will be alongside us in the stands at Bishan Stadium.
Happy birthday, Sailors!
Badri
New season, new threads.
The Lion City Sailors will be decked in a bold blue kit designed by PUMA when they go on the road this season.
With intricate trapeziums, triangles and chevrons set against a vivid blue sky, the design elements on the front of the 2023 Lion City Sailors Away Jersey represent the shapes of us – of our team, our fans, our community – that shape the future of our club.
“This was a new experience for me, modelling a jersey – and that in the middle of town as well, but it was really quite funny when we started being uncomfortable, before settling into a groove,” said Abdul Rasaq Akeem, who modelled the kit alongside fellow new recruit Christopher van Huizen as well as WPL counterparts the likes of Beatrice Tan and Umairah Hamdan.
“The final product was slick, with our club kit and colours against the Singapore skyline: our shapes set against the shapes of our country – that was very cool.”
The shoot took place in downtown Singapore, around the Esplanade Bridge and Helix Bridge with the Sailors soaking in the feeling of being surrounded by the shapes – our distinct skyline – that are deeply intertwined with the success of our country.
The 2023 Lion City Sailors Away Jersey will go on sale soon!
Stay tuned to our social media platforms for more information.
The Lion City Sailors are back and raring to get going in the 2023 domestic football campaign.
The Sailors’ First Team and Women’s Team are gunning for top honours in the upcoming season, and on their hunt for trophies, they will be decked in the bold white Sailors Home Kit designed by PUMA.
With a swathe of warm grey triangles and rectangles on a sea of white, the design elements of the Home jersey represents the shapes of us – of our team, our fans, and our community – that shape the future of the club.
The Sailors men will battle for the Singapore Premier League crown they last won in 2021, while the women are looking to build on a memorable title-winning campaign in 2022, going through the entire Deloitte Women’s Premier League season unbeaten in what was the WPL debut of the Sailors’ Women’s Team.
Sailors’ Women’s Team Captain Ernie Sontaril is confident the style and comfort of the kit sets her team up for further success in 2023.
“I simply love the trendy retro style of the jersey with the V-neck collar,” she said.
“The material feels light and the fabric is of excellent quality in the sense that it’s extremely cooling. The jersey won’t stick to our bodies even if we sweat a lot and we will be much more comfortable when we’re battling out on the pitch,” added the 33-year-old, who modelled the kit alongside teammate Nur Izzati Rosni and her male counterparts the likes of Hariss Harun and Maxime Lestienne.
“The unique retro design and cooling fabric is perfect for those who wear jerseys as a fashion statement and very suitable for our humid climate – I’m sure our fans will be very comfortable wearing this in stadiums.”
The 2023 Lion City Sailors Home Jersey will go on sale soon!
Stay tuned to our social media platforms for more information.
The Lion City Sailors are gradually settling into life under Risto Vidaković and it is in no small part down to his two trusty lieutenants – Pablo Muñiz from Spain and 39-year-old Bosnian Dževad Šarić – who have joined him onboard at the club.
Alongside Risto, the pair have bedded into life at 8 Mattar Road, pulling the Sailors players, technical and auxiliary teams together for the battles that lie ahead on the upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
The 45-year-old Pablo – who holds a UEFA A Coaching License – is the Sailors’ assistant coach and Risto’s right-hand man, key to ensuring the team grows into the new football philosophy laid out for the Sailors’ Class of 2023.
Doubling up as the club’s Head of Video Analytics, Pablo is relishing the opportunity to play a key role in what he believes is an ambitious Sailors project.
“There’s a lot of excitement here because the club is still quite new and wants to achieve big things in the future,” said Pablo.
He played similar dual roles at various clubs: in Thailand with BG Pathum United, Suphanburi FC and Bangkok Glass between 2017 to 2022, as well as for the El Salvador national team from 2015 to 2016.
“I can already sense a good synergy between everyone at the club in these few weeks that I’ve been here and we have a great training centre too – so we have all the right elements here to be a successful club. I just want to play a part in helping the club fulfil our ambitions,” added Pablo, who is working alongside Risto in a club setting for the first time.
“Risto needed some help with information about Southeast Asian teams playing in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL), that’s how we first connected. We clicked well because he also has a Spanish background and understood football in the same way I do, so I was happy to come to the Sailors when he called me,” he added.
Pablo started out as a fitness coach in the youth teams of Sporting de Gijón in the early 2000s, but was inspired by Rui Faria, José Mourinho’s well-known right hand man, to venture into the tactical analysis side of football, and soon went on to head the Tactical Analysis department for the club’s first team in the Spanish second division between 2012 to 2013.
“In football, every aspect is connected – from tactical periodisation to contextual analysis on football moments. When you have the capacity for video analysis, you can really connect with the players on virtually all aspects of the training,” he explained.
“I always say that curiosity is the mother of knowledge. I was hungry to learn and understand the game more to be able to help the head coach, so I took up qualifications to try to be savvier with video analysis tools. That helped me when I went to El Salvador and also afterwards in Thailand.”
In Thailand, Pablo worked with several notable Thai internationals including Teerasil Danga and Sarach Yooyen, as well as the Singaporean duo of Irfan and Ikhsan Fandi. He was assistant to Aurelio Vidmar at BG Pathum for part of the 2021-22 Thai League 1 season and it was that friendship with the former Sailors Head Coach that nudged him to join the Sailors’ journey.
“I obviously spoke to “Viddie” when I got this offer, and he always has very good things to say about his time with the Sailors, so he told me to go for it,” revealed Pablo. “I see some parallels between what the Sailors and BG are trying to achieve, so there was no doubt that I must take this step.”
Dževad was similarly convinced by the Sailors’ long-term vision and blueprint to get here.
He is the Sailors’ new Head Strength & Conditioning (S&C) Coach, tasked to ensure players get in tip-top shape for the season ahead.
Having worked under Risto at Indonesia’s Borneo and Melaka United in Malaysia between 2021 to 2022, Pablo had no hesitation in joining Risto at a third club in Southeast Asia when the Serbian came calling.
“We have so many things in common such as the way we view football and football tactics, so obviously I’m very happy when he called me to join him here and I had just finished my contract with my previous club,” said Dževad, who spent the second half of 2022 back home with FK Tuzla City after leaving Melaka last April.
“I did some research before coming, so I knew there’s good infrastructure and an excellent academy system here. I’m very happy to be here and I hope to help the club improve step by step,” added Dževad, who holds a UEFA Pro License.
The well-travelled Dževad comes with a wealth of experience, having worked across the globe in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
He was technical director at Myanmar’s Shan United between 2014 to 2015. That was followed by spells as assistant coach at Oman’s Al-Nasr SCSC, Angola’s CD 1º de Agosto and China’s Meizhou Hakka between 2016 to 2018, before working as a fitness coach at Egypt’s Ismaily SC in 2021.
Dževad hopes to tap on his regional experience to put in place building blocks for the Sailors to succeed in the coming season.
“I don’t have a lot of demands for our players – I just want them to build good habits and to be responsible for their behaviour. We have many young players at this club, so I’m excited to help them grow,” he said matter-of-factly.
“My main job is to help the head coach develop the team, so everything I do is connected to his ideas. I’m here to help improve the area of team communication and make an impact on the physical aspects of the players.
“So far, I’ve seen a lot of positive things in this team and I strongly believe that we can grow even further.”
Dževad, alongside Pablo and Risto, have all lauded the support they have received from their comrades in the trenches at the Sailors – the technical, auxiliary, and even administrative teams at the club.
Pablo and Sailors Under-21 Head Coach Daan van Oudheusden have joined hands with Head of Individual Training, Rodrigo Costa, to assist Risto with the broad targets of the team, as well as the nuanced requirements of every role across the length of the pitch.
The long-serving Chua Lye Heng supports Kris Stergulc – who comes with experience working with Slovenia’s Under-17s – in the goalkeeping department, while Mike Kerklaan heads the rehabilitation department which comes under the purview of Head of Performance, Mark Onderwater, who oversees the aspects of analytics, S&C, rehab and nutrition.
“We’ve a good structure here and everyone is doing their part to ensure the team goes into the season fully prepared for the challenges ahead. There’s a very good atmosphere within the team now, we’ve some very hungry players here and they’re beginning to understand my game philosophy.
“I can feel this team is really pulling in the same direction and that’s key to us achieving our objectives for 2023,” said Risto.
Mark your calendars.
After two seasons away, the Lion City Sailors finally return to their Bishan Stadium home in 2023, and will kickstart the Singapore Premier League (SPL) campaign hosting Tanjong Pagar United on Friday, 24 February.
Risto Vidaković’s men will look to bank on home comforts for what is a fast and furious start to the season, with four out of their opening five fixtures to be played at the venue.
The fixture list for the 2023 SPL season was officially announced by the Football Association of Singapore on Friday evening (27 January).
The Sailors won four times and drew twice at Bishan in their inaugural SPL season in 2020, before upgrading works meant taking up temporary residence at Jalan Besar Stadium in the following two years.
Fans can also look forward to Sailors’ first visit to Brunei in Round 2 when they play Brunei DPMM at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium at Bandar Seri Begawan on Saturday, 13 May.
Shortened from four rounds in 2022 to three, the 2023 SPL season will conclude on Sunday, 27 August with the Sailors facing Geylang International in their last league fixture of the year.
The Sailors’ full SPL fixtures list for the new season can be accessed here.
Under the watchful eyes of new Head Coach Risto Vidaković, the Lion City Sailors have been hard at work for the past month as they look to gear up for the upcoming 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season which is expected to kick off in late February.
The six players which were involved in Singapore’s recent AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup campaign have returned to training with the puzzle slowly coming together for Risto, who wants to set his team out to entertain with possession-based attacking football.
Captain Hariss Harun, Hafiz Nor, M. Anumanthan and Hami Syahin are joined by new signings Shawal Anuar and Christopher van Huizen as the Sailors’ Lions representatives returned to the fold this week to ramp up preparations for an important campaign ahead.
The latter duo is part of the group of eight new arrivals – the other six are below the age of 26 – in a refreshing 2023 roster for the Sailors, which sports a much youthful outlook – one that is hungry and determined to charge ahead to usher in a new era of success for the club.
Zharfan Rohaizad – who made the highest numbers of saves across the SPL last season for Tanjong Pagar United – adds depth to the Sailors goalkeeping department. He will compete with Rudy Khairullah and Adib Azahari for a starting spot, while Izwan Mahbud continues his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
One of the country’s top defensive talents, Lionel Tan, provides defensive steel and stability to the Sailors, alongside the likes of Hariss, Pedro Henrique and Bill Mamadou.
The signing of Rusyaidi Salime gives the Sailors some much-needed bite in midfield beside Hami, Adam Swandi, and the versatile Anu.
Chris and Danish Qayyum joining the club means there are now options aplenty on the Sailors flanks, with Nur Adam Abdullah, Haiqal Pashia, Arshad Shamim and Zulqarnaen Suzliman all also champing at the bit to be starters for the team.
The Sailors look set to pose a serious threat to opposition defences with the presence of Kodai Tanaka, Shawal and rising talent Abdul Rasaq Akeem – more so with the effervescent Diego Lopes and last season’s top assist-provider Maxime Lestienne now more familiar with local football.
With a matter of weeks to the start of the new season, training intensity is steadily increasing but the Sailors class of 2023 is undaunted and has already begun to get to grips with the demands of Risto’s philosophy.
“Coach Risto wants us to play attacking football and keep the ball more often, that’s something which we’re working on and I’ve to say the progress has been good so far. Everyone has been very welcoming and we have already started to build good bonds within the squad,” said Rasaq.
“We have to keep going and continue to improve our chemistry so that we can be successful in the season ahead.”
Fellow new recruit Lionel, who is enjoying the start of his life with the Sailors, sang from the same hymn book.
“It’s been an eye-opener for me. Over here, we have a very structured program on how we’re building up to the season. Coach Risto is very direct and detailed on how we’re supposed to train and play – he has made it very clear what he wants the team to do,” said the former Singapore Under-23 international.
“The mood in the camp is really good, training has been fun and we’re all enjoying ourselves. This should always be what football is all about – we want to train hard, while having fun and looking forward to coming into work every single day.”
Nur Adam is already feeling the zest Lionel and the new boys bring to the dressing room, and the 21-year-old has no doubt that the positive vibe will provide an ideal platform for the team to launch a campaign to reclaim the SPL title in 2023.
“With new players coming in, it usually takes quite a while at the start of the season to come together as a unit but even at this point we’ve really bonded well. There are no egos and everyone is training hard and working towards the same end goal – to entertain the fans and deliver success for the club,” he said.
“The atmosphere is great and we’re adapting well to what Coach Risto has envisioned for us. It’s important we keep working on our fitness levels and improve our touches even more to be prepared for the season ahead.”
There will be an infusion of youth in the Sailors first team this year, with several talented boys from the Sailors’ Under-21 squad joining pre-season training and gunning for SPL debuts this season, if they continue to grow.
Despite his relative youth, Nur Adam is already into his third year at the club and relishing the added responsibility of being a leader. He has taken it upon himself to help those even younger than himself assimilate.
“I’m someone who likes to guide younger players, motivate them, and help them reach their maximum potential,” explained the 2021 SPL Young Player of the Year.
“I know there are high expectations for players here because we’re expected to win every match, but at the same time it’s important for youngsters to come through for the long-term future of the club. I see a lot of potential in our players here and we are definitely going on the right path.”
There was little doubt that Christopher van Huizen was one of Singapore’s best performers at the recent ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup. He stood out with his ability to cross with both feet and his commitment to the cause came to the fore with several full-blooded defensive challenges that saw him put his body on the line.
The 30-year-old, who can play at full-back as well as on the wings, has joined the Lion City Sailors and will showcase his talents at the Bishan Stadium in the season ahead.
Chris enjoyed a good 2022 with Tampines Rovers, making himself a national team regular with his consistent performances, but the opportunity of being embedded in a top-class setup that is looking to make a mark at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) was too much of a lure.
“This is going to be the biggest challenge in my whole career, on top of being in the national team and fighting for a spot in the AFF squad,” said Chris, who represented Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors – between 2017 to 2018.
“It took me quite a while to decide on my next club and the Sailors have always been on my mind since the club started in 2020. There are massive ambitions to go to the next level, so it’s one of my biggest dreams to come true to now call myself a Lion City Sailor.
“I’ve spoken to (Sailors captain) Hariss (Harun) and he basically endorsed whatever I’ve been thinking about coming here. This is undoubtedly the biggest club in Singapore with good facilities and very talented players, so I really can’t wait to don the Sailors jersey and get onto the pitch with my new teammates.”
A self-professed late bloomer, Chris has truly come into his own and established himself in the past year. Now at the peak of his powers and going into his 30s, he is relishing the opportunity to impart his know-how to younger teammates and is determined to play out his best years at the highest level.
“I’m very happy that I’m going through my peak right now and I don’t want to stop here – I want to keep pushing myself and see how far I can go,” said the wide player, who earned nine of his 13 Singapore caps in 2022 and 2023.
“It’s going to be pretty much the same situation that I had at Tampines – there are several young players. I hope I’ll be able to pass down whatever I’ve learned over my professional career to them, because it will give me great happiness to see them fulfilling their potential at this club.”
With familiar faces at the Sailors, including the likes of Hariss, M. Anumanthan and Adam Swandi, players which he has played alongside at the international level, Chris should bed in easily, and he is already looking forward to supplying ammunition for Sailors attackers to score.
“We’ve got a very good crosser of the ball in Max (Maxime Lestienne), so I hope I’ll be able to work really well with him and Diego (Lopes) to provide assists for the team. I will try my best and work on putting in good crosses like players like Kodai (Tanaka) and Shawal (Anuar) to score.
“My goal for this year is simple – to go all out in every game for the club and help the club deliver on all fronts.”
Lionel Tan knew exactly what would be in store for him the moment he put pen to paper to sign for the Lion City Sailors.
Making the leap over from Hougang United, the 25-year-old defender is acutely aware he is now entering an environment steeped with higher expectations – a club that is expected to challenge for all honours in the domestic game.
“I knew by signing for the club, I’m going to get out of my comfort zone. Making this decision required a leap of faith, but I am sure that I’ve made the right call.
“I know the pressure that will be on us to perform well and win trophies, but that’s normal – there’s pressure and expectations in every job. It’s about adapting to the culture of this club and I’m sure I can do so very quickly with the help of my new teammates,” said Lionel.
Having spent four years with Hougang across two separate spells and developing into one of the country’s finest young defenders there, Lionel acknowledged it was not an easy decision to leave the Cheetahs but knew this was a step he ought to take to bring his career to the next level.
“I enjoyed a great affinity with everyone at Hougang including the fans, so I’m very glad to end 2022 on a high note by winning the Singapore Cup with the club.
“But I don’t want to remain stagnant and it’s important at this stage of my football chapter to test my abilities and develop myself further – both as a person and as a player,” said the 1.84m tall Lionel, who has represented Singapore at various age-group levels and captained the nation’s Under-22s on several occasions.
This is a return to Bishan Stadium of sorts for Lionel, who made his professional debut for the Sailors’ predecessor, Home United, in 2016 in a League Cup fixture against Albirex Niigata (S).
He knows that doing well here will boost his chances of realising his childhood dream of representing the Lions, but the new Sailors no. 5 is first putting the club’s objectives as his top priority.
“What’s most important is that I do my best and be consistent in my performances to help the club be successful. Of course, I will love to start every game, but there’s very healthy competition for places here and that can only be good for the team.
“Hopefully I can make my debut for Singapore in the near future, but my main focus now is to give my 100 percent commitment to the club and let’s see how things go from there.”
As the ball hung in the Buriram sky following Maxime Lestienne’s cross, Song Ui-young leaped like a salmon and connected superbly with a looping header that nestled in the back of the net.
That goal back in April 2022 set the Lion City Sailors on their way to a stunning 3-0 win over K-League side Daegu FC in Group F of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL).
With that, Song wrote himself firmly into the club’s history books and it was a moment that he holds dearly in his heart – even as he sealed a move to Thai League 1 side Nongbua Pitchaya on Sunday (15 January).
“That was my first ACL goal and we took the three points against a Korean team – no Singapore team has done it before so it was a very special moment for me. it was definitely one of my best memories with the Sailors,” said the 29-year-old attacker in his farewell interview with the club.
“I had big motivation to play in the ACL because I really wanted to compete against the strongest teams in Asia. I’m very happy and thankful to my teammates and coaches – we did and achieved everything together.
“I was so proud to see our fans coming to Buriram (where the ACL group stage campaign was hosted) to support and cheer for us – they even brought the Singapore flag, and that was a big motivation for us to put in extra effort.”
In his three years with the Sailors, Song was often looked upon as a player who would stand up to be counted when it mattered. And he underlined this by scoring at critical moments, including bagging the opening strike against Balestier Khalsa in a 4-1 win that secured the Sailors their first-ever Singapore Premier League (SPL) title in 2021.
He signs off as the current all-time leading scorer for the Sailors with 32 goals in all competitions, including three in the ACL which makes Song the Singaporean with the most number of goals in the top-tier continental competition.
“I’m just very happy that I helped the team achieve our targets then (two years ago). A Singapore team had not won the SPL title for seven years at that time, and I had also never won a domestic league title before that, so it was an amazing feeling to finally get our hands on the trophy.
“We were very proud to be able to achieve that as a team,” reflected Song.
Song’s unwavering commitment on the pitch stood out in the eyes of local football fans, but it was perhaps his love for Singapore and burning desire to represent the Republic’s Lions that won their hearts.
It took him three attempts to secure permanent residency in 2020, before finally becoming a citizen the following August with strong support from the Sailors management and local authorities.
And he remains eternally grateful.
“That moment I received the Singapore passport, I couldn’t describe my exact feelings but I was very happy because I really feel at home in Singapore after so many years here and I really wanted to play for the Singapore national team,” recalled the Incheon native, who first came to the Lion City at the end of 2011 as an 18-year-old.
“I know behind the scenes, many people helped me in this process so deep in my heart I really appreciate all the help and support. Without everyone, this would not have happened and I won’t be able to achieve this dream.”
Song played a total of 11 seasons – more than one-third of his life – in Singapore and witnessed the transformation of the club from Home United to the wildly ambitious Lion City Sailors.
Even as he departs the club to embark on the next chapter of his career, Song looks back fondly on the opportunity to be involved in the exciting project.
“There have been ups and downs of course, but I’m glad to have grown together with this club – both as a footballer and as a man. There’s obviously a big difference since the club became the Sailors and it’s great what the club has built up so far from the facilities to the personnel.
“As a player, I could really focus on my football here so you can tell there’s a great deal of professionalism in how we do things here,” he said.
Song came to Singapore as a hungry young footballer looking to carve out a career, and now leaves as a man – and an established Singapore international. It is very much a mission accomplished for Song, who said the decision to leave the Sailors was difficult but one that had to be taken.
“Honestly, I’m quite sad to be leaving this club but after competing in the AFC Cup, ACL, winning the SPL and being here for so long, I feel I need to get out of my comfort zone and go abroad to become a better player.” revealed the forward, who will turn 30 this November.
“I cannot just continue being relaxed and being comfortable at where I am right now if I want to develop further. I need to find a new platform to improve, develop and continue to show good performances as a football player.”
It is safe to say the Sailors will always have a special place in Song’s heart, for the friendships and bonds forged over the years and he hinted that the Sailors fans may not have seen the last of him just yet.
“I want to thank all my teammates, coaches and the management for taking really good care of me and making so many good memories together. I also want to tell the fans that I really appreciate all their support over the years.
“One day, I hope I’ll be back to play for them and the club again.”
