Author: Lion City Sailors
They showed their potential in a thrilling 4-2 Café Football Charity Cup victory over 2023 Women’s National League champions Royal Arion earlier in January.
Now, the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team – with a new coach at the helm and a refreshed playing roster – will be looking to attack the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season with the same vigour.
Daniel Ong’s charges will kickstart their campaign with a clash against last season’s bottom-placed side Tiong Bahru on Saturday, 9 March, at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, before facing off against fellow title challengers Albirex Niigata (S) on Sunday, 24 March in what promises to be a tasty second fixture.
Games against Hougang United and Tanjong Pagar United – who make up last season’s top four – on 14 and 20 April respectively round off an interesting opening four fixtures for the Sailors Women, as they seek to win the title for a third consecutive season.
Following the withdrawal of Police SA, the WPL is now a nine-team league. As such, each side will play 16 matches in a double round-robin format this season.
The Sailors Women will wrap up their 2024 WPL campaign on Sunday, 8 September against Geylang International at Choa Chu Kang.
Having put together a young and hungry squad filled with several promising youngsters, Daniel is looking forward to his first season in charge, as he looks to build on the solid foundation laid by two-time WPL Coach of the Year Yeong Sheau Shyan.
“It won’t be easy (to defend the title) as many of the other teams have strengthened their squads. For us, we’re largely focusing on ourselves and how we want to improve as a team,” said the 35-year-old.
“We’ve promoted some really talented youngsters from our Girls Academy, and this is the chance for them to show that they can be national team stalwarts in the future. I have full trust in them, and I’m personally excited to see what they can produce this coming season.”
The Sailors Women’s full fixtures list for the 2024 WPL season can be accessed here.
Sporting the archetype of a battle-hardened Eastern European, Toni Datković’s body is a canvas of tattoos and blemishes – each mark telling a story of battles fought.
It therefore comes as little surprise that Toni has been affectionately nicknamed El Sicario – a Spanish term that translates to “The Hitman” in English.
However, beneath Toni’s hard-as-nails exterior lies a soft core – a facet of his personality he would like to emphasise.
“When people first hear the term ‘Sicario’, they often think I’m a dangerous guy,” Toni elaborated “But after getting to know me, everybody says I should have nothing to do with the nickname.
“I’m a family-oriented guy. After training, I’ll just go home and play with my kids. I’m also someone who likes relaxing at the beach and going fishing. One day, when I’m done with football, I’ll go back to the island (Pag Island) where I was born, buy a boat, and enjoy a calm life there!”
So how did the El Sicario nickname come about?
According to Toni, it originated in 2019 when he joined LaLiga 2 side SD Huesca on loan from NK Lokomotiva Zagreb – his first big move out of Eastern Europe.
He explained: “When you arrive in Spain and you say that you come from Croatia, everyone’s first thought is that of war. And when I take my clothes off, I have a few scars on my body, so I look a bit like someone who’s always fighting. That’s why my teammates started calling me ‘Sicario’.
“The nickname stuck wherever I went and soon nobody was calling me by my actual name anymore. But I liked the nickname from the first moment, so I was perfectly fine with it.”
As further proof of Toni’s sentimentality, he revealed that each tattoo holds its own meaning. On his right arm is a picture of Pope John Paul II – who he calls his guardian angel – as well as his 5-year-old daughter, Luce. Across his right chest is the shape of Pag Island, as well as selected lyrics from a Croatian song that depicts a love of home.
What’s currently missing? A tattoo of his 2-year-old son, Roko.
“I need to do one for him soon, so maybe I’ll do it here (in Singapore)!” he exclaimed.
Throughout the interview, Toni made several references to Pag Island, clearly demonstrating his pride in how far he has come from his humble beginnings to carve out a successful football career.
It is a career that has seen him don the Croatian national team colours, win the LaLiga 2 title, as well as make a century of appearances in the second tier of Spanish football. Along the way, he has even crossed swords with internationally acclaimed stars like former Manchester United star Javier Hernández (Chicharito) and Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson.
Toni’s football adventure has taken him to Slovenia, Greece and USA. But it was in Spain where his experiences moulded him into the El Sicario who endeared himself to the fans with his heart-on-sleeve attitude and warm personality off the pitch.
Indeed, 75 of his LaLiga 2 appearances came at FC Cartagena, where he cemented his reputation as a reliable and steady defensive presence on the pitch, while building up synergy with the fans. This led to him winning the Fans’ Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 season.
Toni left at the end of that campaign due to matters out of his control, but he remained popular with the fans. Chants of “Sicario, Sicario” from the Cartagena faithful echoed around the Estadio Municipal Cartagonova when he came on as a late substitute for Albacete Balompié in a 1-1 draw against them last November – just a couple of months after his switch of club.
That moment led to the emotional scene of the hard man tearing up at the final whistle as he went over to acknowledge his former fans.
“Cartagena is the most special club in my life; the way the people there loved me and still love me after everything is just amazing,” said Toni, who also has a FC Cartagena-related tattoo on his right leg. “The love they gave really fired me up and provided me with the energy to fight for them on the pitch, so that was huge for me.”
Unfortunately for Toni, his move to Albacete did not work out the way he envisaged it would, leading him to seek new opportunities.
That was when the Sailors came calling – a call that he had no hesitation answering.
“When my agent told me there was interest from Singapore, I started to do some research and speak to some Croatian guys who used to play here – one of them is Mirko Šugić (formerly from Tanjong Pagar United), who I played with a while in the youth academy of Rijeka,” he recounted.
“The club shared with me a really good vision of what they want to do in the future. I see a lot of potential, a really big will in what they want to achieve, so it fired me up, and I didn’t think much in agreeing to this deal.”
It might seem like a brave move to take the road less travelled. But it is nothing new for Toni, who left his home in Pag Island to go to the city of Rijeka at the age of 13 to pursue his footballing dream.
“It’s a big thing to leave a small village and move to a big city at that age – living alone, learning to cook and taking care of yourself,” said Toni. “But I did everything for football from the first day, so taking risks – this is how I’ve always lived my life.”
Toni envisions going back to relax in Pag after his career, but for now, he is keen to write a new chapter with the Sailors – and to strike up synergy with the club’s faithful fans, The Crew.
“I want to contribute a lot of energy on the pitch – energy that will move fans and help my team win matches. I’ve heard about the tremendous support from the Sailors fans, and I want to witness that for myself,” he stated.
“If we play good football and do well in competitions like the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2), more fans will come to the stadium. I want to promise the fans that they’ll get everything from me and I’ll try to pass on this energy to the other players. Together as a team, I’m sure we’ll make this a really good season.”
The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce Croatian defender Toni Datković as the club’s first signing for the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season. The 30-year-old adds to the spine of a side that is determined to reclaim top honours domestically and make a splash regionally in the newly-formed Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2 (ACL2).
Toni joins the Sailors on a season-long contract after recently leaving LaLiga 2 outfit Albacete Balompié, for whom he made eight appearances in the ongoing 2023/24 season. A left-footed centre-back who is strong aerially and comfortable playing the ball out of defence, Toni bolsters a strong Sailors backline that already boasts former Australia World Cup player Bailey Wright, as well as Singapore internationals such as Hariss Harun and Lionel Tan.
Toni brings significant experience from the Spanish second-tier, having amassed a century of appearances in LaLiga 2. The majority of these came in FC Cartagena colours, while he was also part of SD Huesca’s 2019/20 title-winning side that earned promotion to LaLiga the following season.
In a storied playing career to date, Toni has also played in top-tier competitions such as USA’s Major League Soccer with Real Salt Lake and the UEFA Europa League with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki, in addition to being capped once at the international level with Croatia.
“Toni has some great touches and the ability to drive into space with the ball – these are qualities that will help the team grow in our all-round play. Above all, he’s a fierce competitor who demands the absolute best from the teammates around him and has the ability to guide the younger defenders at the club,” Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković said of his 1.84m new signing.
“I’m already excited at the level of competitiveness that he will bring and that’ll only help us drive higher standards at this club.”
Sailors Sporting Director Badri Ghent added, “It’s no secret that a left-footed centre-back gives the team the balance and a different dimension in terms of building up play from the back, so we’re delighted to have secured Toni’s services.
“His strong mentality and wealth of experience in major leagues will be an asset for us, especially in the ACL2.”
Toni is equally excited to get started and is already looking forward to a fruitful voyage with the Sailors.
“It’s a very ambitious project that the Sailors are trying to build in Singapore and that got me really excited at the prospect of coming here. It’s a very competitive team that wants to challenge for every honour and I want to help the team to become league champions again,” he declared.
“I think I can help the team with my experience, but at the same time I’m aware that there are already quality foreigners and local players who have played many games for the Singapore national team. I’m here to fight together with the team and hopefully we can achieve history for the club.”
As the Sailors celebrate the fourth anniversary of the club’s founding, Sporting Director Badri Ghent reflects on a memorable 2023 campaign while looking ahead with optimism to the new 2024/25 season.
Today, as the Lion City Sailors celebrate the fourth anniversary of our club’s founding, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what a fruitful year 2023 was for us, and look ahead to the exciting changes that the 2024/25 season will bring.
Last year ended with silverware for both our First Team and the Women’s Team.
A glance in the rear view
Despite a challenging season that saw the squad depleted by injuries and players leaving to pursue studies abroad or overseas scholarships, our Women overcame the odds to clinch a second straight Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title.
I am especially proud of the seven girls – Ardhra Arul Ganeswaran, Chloe Koh, Natasha Naszri, Josephine Ang, Cara Chang, Tia Foong and Madelin Lock – who made the step up from the club’s Girls Academy to help the team retain their crown.
The First Team also wrapped up the year by beating Hougang United 3-1 for our first-ever Singapore Cup triumph. It was just reward for the boys who worked hard all season for the team’s cause.
We also continued to take steps forward on the regional front, producing several resilient and encouraging displays in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) under Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković.
While we were unable to surpass our 2022 tally of seven points from the ACL group stage, we did fly the Singapore flag high, defeating Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC in our first ACL game in opposition territory. And who will forget that night at Jalan Besar when we stunned nine-time K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0?
Of course, not being able to reclaim the Singapore Premier League trophy was a disappointment – but it is one that has only served to fuel our determination to reclaim our place at the pinnacle of Singapore football in the coming campaign.
Recalibrating for further success
But it is not enough to simply have an insatiable thirst for success. We also need to constantly reinvigorate the team to ensure it stays motivated and well-equipped to challenge for honours.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Diego Lopes, Pedro Henrique, Súper (Manuel Herrera López), Kodai Tanaka, Rusyaidi Salime and Rudy Khairullah for their commitment to the Sailors’ cause. They have left the club in a better place than when they first arrived, and we’ll want to build on that foundation.
While it has been a quiet off-season for the club thus far, I can assure you that we have been working hard behind the scenes scouring the region and beyond for exciting talent who can take the Sailors to the next level.
We’re currently in the midst of finalising our new signings for the 2024/25 season and will be able to share these in due course.
While we wait for the announcement of new arrivals, it is good to remember that we have kept a very strong local core in the squad. The likes of Zharfan Rohaizad, Lionel Tan, Hami Syahin and Zulqarnaen Suzliman are all maturing and entering the peak of their careers, and I am really looking forward to seeing their progress continue this coming season.
With a combination of exciting new signings and local talent both experienced and up-and-coming, we are building a squad for the new campaign that you can be excited about – one that can make a splash regionally in the new ACL2 competition.
This season also marks Coach Ranko’s first proper pre-season with the team, which will give him the opportunity and time to bring his football ideologies and philosophy across to the boys. Having already seen the positive impact he had after taking over midway through the 2023 season, I am confident that the team will continue to evolve and produce the attractive brand of football that he aspires to.
A key facet that is driving the Sailors revolution is the launch of our hybrid pitch – with natural lawn grass reinforced by synthetic fibres – to complement the two artificial pitches at our Training Centre in the second half of 2023. It has given our first-team players the best possible platform to train and prepare for matches, and no doubt contributed to the improved levels of performance towards the end of last year.
A continual push in youth development
As a club, we’ve been investing a lot in our youth talents and preparing them for the eventual step up to professional football. Nathan Mao was a starter in last year’s Singapore Cup final at 15 years and 258 days old and gave a great account of himself – he is just one of four Academy graduates who made the step up to the first team last season, alongside Nur Muhammad Asis, Idzham Eszuan Shah and Jonan Tan.
To support our youth development efforts, we have established a robust Elite Development Program to groom future football stars at Mattar Road, with these youth players benefitting from being embedded in a professional environment with elements of sport science, analytics and nutrition to bring their game to the next level.
The Academy trainees have the opportunity to train under a combination of accomplished European coaches and experienced local coaches like Firdaus Kassim (pictured below), Tengku Mushadad, Hamqamaal Shah and Shahril Jantan.
At the Sailors, we understand the key role we play in building Singapore’s football ecosystem and are committed to nurturing the stars of tomorrow who can become national stalwarts that wear the Singapore badge with pride.
After a rigorous 2023 season which saw 36 games at club level as well as a number of high-level international matches for many in the team, the boys are getting a well-deserved break but will be returning for 2024 pre-season training very shortly.
It’s been an unusually long and extended off-season, and I – like all of you – cannot wait for the start of the 2024/25 campaign that will take us to the club’s fifth anniversary.
With that significant milestone on the horizon, we look forward to continuing our journey with you as we strive to become one of Asia’s elite clubs.
Happy birthday, Sailors!
Badri
(All photos supplied by Trebol Sports International)
A member of the 2022 and 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League title-winning sides with the Lion City Sailors, Venetia Lim will bring her undeniable footballing talent to Australia as she recently joined Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC for the 2024 National Premier League Women’s Victoria (NPLW) season.
The NPLW Victoria is one tier below the A-League Women’s and is considered one of the best state leagues for women in Australia.
In what is her first venture overseas, Venetia is looking to further her career in one of Australia’s football hotbeds while juggling academics – she is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Finance & Marketing) at the University of Melbourne.
“Although part of me still feels like giving in to the familiar, I chose to challenge myself further by stepping out of my comfort zone. The prospect of playing in a new environment and a league with higher intensity will fuel my growth significantly and allow me to become a better version of myself both as a footballer and a person,” said the 20-year-old midfielder, who is already well established in the Singapore women’s national team setup.
Having linked up with the NPLW Victoria’s runner-ups for about a month already, Venetia is gradually settling into life in Down Under and is determined to fly the Singapore flag high with astute performances in the coming season.
“My target this season is to be able to fit into the higher-intensity game here and contribute back to the team. The physicality and pace is something I particularly look forward to upscale my own game,” said Venetia, who is known for her excellent work rate and superb technical abilities.
“I have to admit that I harbour ambitions to be the first Singapore woman to play in the A-League Women’s but currently, I am just focused on doing my best for the Eagles this season.”
Local healthcare practitioner AMP Lab will be the Official Partner of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team for the entirety of the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, renewing a partnership which started in July 2023.
The first of its kind in Singapore to offer physiotherapy, exercise physiology and sports science services all under one roof, AMP Lab brings their wealth of expertise in these fields to empower the reigning WPL champions with advanced training methodologies, performance analysis and injury prevention strategies.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the growing drive for excellence for the women’s game in Singapore, while underlining the commitment of both organisations to provide a sturdy support structure to nurture the Sailors women.
The key highlights of these partnership include:
- A structured Strength and Conditioning program
AMP Lab will design and conduct strength and conditioning (S&C) sessions specially tailored for women footballers. These sessions are focused on optimising physical fitness and agility, ensuring the Sailors are primed for success on the field and peak in performance levels throughout the season.
- Sports Science support
Through key facets of Sports Science that include biomechanical analysis and recovery strategies, the Sailors women will receive holistic player development which addresses both physical and mental aspects of the game.
- Injury prevention and rehabilitation
AMP Lab’s expertise will be leveraged to establish comprehensive injury prevention protocols and rehabilitation programs for players, aimed at reducing risk of injuries and facilitating swift and effective recovery.
- Educational initiatives
The partnership goes beyond the field, with AMP Lab also instrumental in organising workshops and resources to empower the footballers with knowledge on exercise physiology and athlete nutrition.
A strong supporter of women’s sports having partnered with sports groups like volleyball, frisbee and touch rugby in secondary schools and Institutes of Higher Learning in the past decade, it was a no-brainer for AMP Lab to partner with the Sailors.
“At AMP Lab, we are actively challenging societal norms by asserting our firm belief in the inherent capabilities of women to demonstrate physical strength on the pitch and excel in contact sports, analogous to their male counterparts,” said AMP Lab’s Strength and Conditioning coach, Etienne Ding.
“We believe through a calibrated S&C approach and supported by our team of experts, we envision women footballers embracing a dynamic and accelerated style of play. Our overarching objective extends beyond the sporting arena – we seek to establish a comprehensive ecosystem conducive to nurturing female athletes’ growth, concurrently encouraging local businesses to endorse and support women’s sports.
“The discernible alignment between AMP Lab and the Sailors in our collective vision for female athletes is resolute. I am confident that our partnership will yield an exponential positive impact on the team and significantly elevate the landscape of women’s sports,” he added.
The effect of AMP Lab on the Sailors women is already evident a few months into the partnership.
“Most of us in the team, especially the younger ones, grew physically stronger after we started working with AMP Lab last year, and distinctly so. That really helped us in terms of endurance and individual battles out on the pitch. Now we’re much more aware of how to improve our fitness when we work out on our own time,” said Sailors defender Nur Umairah Hamdan.
“The biggest benefit is a structured S&C program which keeps track of our individual progress and ensures we are in peak condition throughout the season.”
Having played integral roles in the all-conquering Lion City Sailors Women’s Team in 2022 and 2023, Ernie Sulastri Sontaril and Nur Izzati Rosni will be leaving the club for a new challenge.
Ernie who was the club skipper over the past two campaigns, led her charges with distinction over and was an assured presence in defence, while Izzati starred with her goalscoring exploits – winning the 2022 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) Golden Boot and scored a total of 22 WPL goals in a Sailors shirt.
“It’s been a huge honour to captain this club and play alongside this lovely bunch of girls. We fought for each other on the pitch and overcame many challenges to become back-to-back WPL champions. It’s a beautiful chapter in my career and I leave here with plenty of good memories and friendships forged,” said Ernie.
“Looking back, it’s been an amazing past two years with the Sailors and I’m proud to have grown so much as a player here. I’d like to thank the club for giving me the platform to improve and I wish the girls all the best in the coming season,” added Izzati.
Midfield playmaker Venetia Lim will also depart as she heads abroad to further her education.
The trio joins Lila Tan, Munirah Mohamad, Nica Siy, Julia Farr, Madelin Lock and the now-retired Noor Kusumawati Rosman, who will not continue with the club in the 2024 WPL season.
The Sailors thank all of them for their stellar service to the club and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
A new year, a new setup, but the same outcome.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team – champions of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the past two seasons – emerged 4-2 winners over second-tier Women’s National League (WNL) champions Royal Arion in the Café Football (CF) Charity Cup 2024 at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Friday (12 January) evening.
Sailors Head Coach Daniel Ong put out a youthful starting eleven which averaged just 19.8 years old and he was not disappointed.
The Sailors women put up a bright showing against an Arion side that have four Thai national players – Orapin Waenngoen, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Pikul Khueanpet (pictured above in a duel with Madison Telmer) and Waraporn Boonsing, all with FIFA Women’s World Cup pedigree – in their ranks.
Sailors’ two new signings Qarissa Putri Ramandhani and Nur Sarah Zu’risqha scored on their debuts, while 20-year-old Raeka Ee (pictured below) provided a good attacking outlet further afield on her senior bow.
All six teenagers promoted from the club’s Girls Academy in 2024 also featured in a game contested in good spirit, with 14-year-old Tyan Foong getting a start and putting up a resilient display at the heart of defence alongside Nur Umairah Hamdan to thwart the Thai attackers.
The other five – Izairida Shakira, Seri Nurinsyirah, Nadia Nuraffendi, Liyana Rickit and Yuvika Suresh – all came on in the second half.
The prize money of SGD$11,000 was donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore to aid support and raise awareness for breast cancer, rounding off a meaningful evening at OTH.
“We are really proud to see our young players do well,” gushed Head Coach, Daniel after his first official match in charge of the women.
“That’s what Yeong Sheau Shyan (now Head of the Sailors Women’s Programme) and the others in the Girls Academy are building. As a club, we want to progressively promote our academy girls to play in the WPL. Yuvika, Liyana, Tyan, Nadia and the rest being here is a testament of what we’re building here.
“We’re also proud as a club to play our part in such a worthy initiative and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation.”
A tightly-contested first half came to life in the 37th minute when Qarissa’s cheeky lob from the edge of the box looped over Arion’s experienced Thai custodian Waraporn to make it 1-0 to the Sailors.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled with Sarah getting past two players with some nifty footwork before unleashing a right-footed rocket that beat Waraporn and sent the crowd at OTH into a frenzy.
“The goal was a very meaningful one for me. I’ve never scored a goal like this in my life,” said the 17-year-old, whose family and friends were in the stands.
“I’m very grateful that they came because they’ve only ever been to a few matches before and I’m very happy they saw me score. I was too focused on shooting and couldn’t hear the crowd! Initially, I wanted to pass to my teammates but they were encouraging me to shoot so I gathered my courage.”
The two debutants getting on the scoresheet illustrated just how quickly the new-look Sailors women have come together.
“Sarah (pictured above) and Qarissa did well to score in their first appearances for us despite having joined only a few weeks ago. That shows how fast they can adapt to our style of play and gel with their teammates,” said Daniel.
Goal-scorer Sarah sang from the same hymn book.
“As a team, we know each other’s playing styles. Even though I just signed with the club, they already know how I want the ball to be played to me after a few training sessions,” she said.
The Sailors picked up where they left off after the break and made it 3-0, with Nur Izzati Rosni calmly converting from the spot after Arion was penalised for a handball in the area.
To Royal Arion’s credit, they fought back with Pikul pulling one back in the 75th minute but the Sailors would put the result beyond doubt 11 minutes later.
Centre-back Sara Hayduchok — who came on to replace Tyan in the 74th minute — rose highest to head home a well-placed Miray Altun corner for the Sailors’ fourth goal of the night.
The opponents did find a consolation just before the end with Orapin clipping the ball over young custodian Shakira, who replaced 2022 and 2023 WPL Golden Glove winner Beatrice Tan in goal for the second half.
Nonetheless, it did not overshadow a promising night for a new-look Sailors Women side who are determined to pave the way forward for women’s football in Singapore.
“Obviously there’s some pressure taking over from Coach Sheau Shyan, who led the team to two undefeated WPL seasons. But I’m very focused right now on improving the young players here in our team and hopefully we can help to bring up the standard of the women’s game in Singapore as a result,” said Daniel.
“There are still several things for us to work on, individually and as a team. So we’re going to train very hard to make sure we’re ready going into the 2024 WPL season.”
After a two-year Invincibles run in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to kick off a new era when they take on Women’s National League (WNL) champions Royal Arion this Friday (12 January) evening in the Café Football (CF) Charity Cup.
Daniel Ong – goalkeeper coach for the past two seasons – has now taken over the reins of a new-look side, with six teenagers promoted from the club’s Girls Academy.
One of those is 14-year-old Yuvika Suresh who will travel to Our Tampines Hub (OTH) from school for her first senior game, an opportunity she still struggles to believe has arrived this soon.
“It felt surreal. I was elated when I found out that I would be playing alongside players I have always looked up to. I truly feel honoured to be given a chance to be a part of this team,” gushed the Cedar Girls Secondary Three student.
Yuvika is one of four 14-year-olds promoted to the WPL team, along with Tyan Foong (pictured below), Liyana Rickit and Seri Nurinsyirah, and are set to feature in the upcoming 2024 WPL season.
“I have played with Tyan and Liyana throughout my football journey with the Sailors and also the National Team at U14 and U16 levels. We are familiar with each other’s playing style as well as strengths and weaknesses. They have worked very hard all these years to be where they are. I’m humbled and grateful to be selected alongside them,” shared Yuvika.
Having jumped from seven-a-side games to playing in the Mattar Sailors’ WNL campaign last season, Yuvika has gained experience she will draw on when she plays with the big guns.
“The small-sided tournaments during the pandemic helped me improve individually. Going from playing against girls of the same age group to playing against women of different ages in the WNL, I needed to adapt quickly to the playing style of the team,” said Yuvika.
“Playing in the WNL gave me the opportunity to play without fear despite my age and smaller stature (at 1.54m tall). Apart from the technical skills I picked up, I am grateful for the opportunity to play in different positions in both defence and midfield because it has helped me understand the game better.”
Friday’s charity match may be her first rodeo with the senior girls, but not her first run against Royal Arion. Yuvika was part of the young Mattar Sailors squad which put up an impressive battling display against the talent-stacked Royal Arion in last year’s WNL final, before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat.
The CF Charity Cup clash aims to raise funds for breast cancer patients, with the prize money of SGD$11,000 for the winners of the match to be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore.
Despite the charity-focused nature of the fixture, bragging rights will be on the cards at OTH.
“The spine of the Arion team is made up of the four Thai National Team players with FIFA Women’s World Cup experience. It’ll be difficult to break through when we play down the middle, so we’ll need to focus on stretching their compact block by playing down the flanks,” said the left winger.
“Although I may lack the strength to make powerful crosses and shots, I hope to play the various combination passes for the team to advance forward.
“Should I play, I will try my very best to help my team and make our supporters proud.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team enjoyed a sensational 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign, winning 17 out of 18 games en route to a second straight undefeated title-winning season.
The Sailors’ Girls Academy provided a sturdy platform for the women’s success in 2023, with a total of seven girls making the step up to make their WPL debuts for the club.
And the wheels are already in motion to ensure another successful WPL season, both in terms of silverware and ensuring the next generation of Singapore female footballers continue to rise through the club’s ranks.
Yeong Sheau Shyan, WPL Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023, will play an integral part in this as she now takes on the overarching role of Head of the Sailors Women’s Programme – which encompasses overseeing the pipeline from the club’s Girls Academy through to the WPL team with a large focus on shaping the next generation of female footballers.
To ensure continuity and succession, 2023 goalkeeper coach Daniel Ong will take over as Sailors Women head coach for the upcoming WPL season.
The 34-year-old, who owns a AFC ‘B’ Coaching License, has been in the Sailors setup since 2022 and is also a part of the Singapore National Women’s Team backroom staff.
In 2024, the Sailors Women will continue in the same vein while sporting a fresh new look with a series of young additions to the squad.
A total of six teenagers ranging from the age of 14 to 17 have been promoted: goalkeeper Izairida Shakira, defenders Tyan Foong and Seri Nurinsyirah and a trio of midfielders in Nadia Nuraffendi, Liyana Rickit and Yuvika Suresh.
20-year-old forward Raeka Ee has also made the step up after a sterling 2023. She starred for the women’s developmental side Mattar Sailors in the second-tier Women’s National League and made her Lionesses debut against Bangladesh just last month, while Dorcas Chu – a member of the Sailors’ 2022 WPL winning squad – rejoins the team after her successful recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Canadian midfielder Madison Telmer also makes a return to the team after leaving in mid-2023 to further her education.
Two other teenagers have also been signed, 15-year-old Qarissa Putri Ramandhani arrives from Tanjong Pagar United while 17-year-old Nur Sarah Zu’risqha joins from Albirex Niigata (S).
Meanwhile, a total of six players – Lila Tan, Munirah Mohamad, Nica Siy and Julia Farr along with the now-retired Noor Kusumawati Rosman and Madelin Lock, who hung up her boots to pursue her dream of playing professional basketball – have departed the club.
The first challenge for the Sailors Women Class of 2024 is the upcoming Café Football (CF) Charity Cup against WNL champions Royal Arion FC on Friday, 12th January in a game to raise funds for the Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation and the newly-installed Daniel is looking forward to the encounter.
“Firstly, it is a huge honour for me to be appointed as head coach of the Sailors Women’s Team. Coach Sheau Shyan has laid down a sturdy foundation, so it’s my job to build on her legacy and I’ll do my part to bring up the young players in this club,” he said.
“We’ve put together a new squad with a good blend of experienced and young players that should excite the fans, so I hope all of them can come down to Our Tampines Hub to get behind the girls. It’s a great opportunity for them to come up against some esteemed players who have played at the FIFA Women’s World Cup before and I believe they will rise to this challenge.
“Most importantly, this is a match for a good cause so we’re happy as a club to support this initiative.”
