Author: Lion City Sailors
Singapore Cup champions!
The huge smile on the face of Lion City Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković when the final whistle blew at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (9 December) night said it all.
This was, after all, the perfect way for his team to end what had been a long and gruelling season – with a win, a trophy, and a new entry in the Sailors’ history book as the 2023 Singapore Cup winners.
Up against defending champions Hougang United in the final, Ranko’s men produced a professional and clinical display to secure a 3-1 win to clinch their first-ever Singapore Cup.
And for Ranko, this was the perfect way for the Sailors to bring their domestic season to a close.
“I’m proud of these boys and what they did this year. I know it’s not been easy for them, especially with the change of coach in the middle of the season, and having to play in three competitions,” Ranko said.
“But credit to them, they’ve worked hard and I’m very proud of what they’ve achieved today. This Singapore Cup is the cherry on top of our season, and it’s a great way to finish the year.”
Reflecting on the cup win, Sailors captain Hariss Harun said: “It’s fantastic for us, for the club, and I think we deserve to lift this cup. Throughout the tournament, we’ve showed great consistency…we were always determined to get the right results, and that’s what matters most.”
There was more than one record that was broken on the night, as Nathan Mao became the youngest-ever player, at 15 years and 258 days old, to feature in a Singapore Cup final.
Despite his youth, and the magnitude of the occasion, Ranko chose to keep faith in him as the Serb named an unchanged side from the one that beat Tampines 3-0 in the second-leg of the Cup semis on Wednesday (6 Dec).
And it seemed to pay off, as the Sailors started the brighter against an Hougang side that were content to sit deep and keep things tight at the back.
It took 17 minutes for the Sailors to fashion their first goalscoring opportunity as Maxime Lestienne beat his defender in the box and fired a fierce shot with his weaker right foot that forced Hougang goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam into a smart save.
But the Sailors did not have to wait long for the breakthrough. Four minutes later, they were awarded a penalty after Hougang defender Naoki Kuriyama was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
Despite a lengthy VAR review which took approximately five minutes, Richairo Živković kept his concentration and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
The goal seemed to spur Hougang, and they began pushing forward in search of the equaliser.
While the Sailors no longer enjoyed as much of the possession, they looked threatening whenever they went forward, and in the 41st minute, they got the all-important second goal, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Receiving the ball on the right in the box, Maxime – the newly-crowned AIA Player of the Year – cut inside onto his favoured left foot before firing a shot that took a huge deflection off Kuriyama and ended in the back of the net.
Lionel Tan almost made it three for the Sailors against his former side right before half-time when he jumped highest to meet Chris van Huizen’s cross, but his looping header went just over the bar.
With a comfortable two-goal lead, control was the name of the game for the Sailors after the break, and they executed that perfectly, keeping Hougang comfortably at bay for the majority of the second-half.
Barring a few half-chances, Marko Kraljević’s side did not trouble Izwan Mahbud in the Sailors goal.
All hopes of an Hougang comeback were put to rest in the 80th minute when Maxime threaded a superb through ball for substitute Shawal Anuar, who rounded Zaiful before finishing with aplomb.
That was the 32-year-old’s sixth goal in the Singapore Cup this campaign and incredibly all six were scored off the bench, as he finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer along with Richi.
Hougang did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 91st minute through a Kazuma Takayama header, but it proved to be no more than a consolation as the Sailors held on to secure the victory.
“If you look at the whole match, I think we deserved the win,” Ranko mused. “We started a little bit nervous, which is normal because it’s a huge game. We also used a lot of energy in the semis, and that might have been a factor, but I think throughout the whole game we didn’t give Hougang many chances.
“This win is for everybody at the club, the staff, our owners, and our fans. Everyone has contributed, and they deserve this trophy.”
More importantly, Ranko believes that winning the Singapore Cup will be the launchpad for the Sailors to achieve greater things next season.
He said: “Winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) is our main goal next season. Apart from winning this cup, we finished second in the SPL, and I think we represented Singapore well in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL).
“So, this is a good foundation that we can build on for next season, and we have a good group of players. Everybody will want to prove themselves against us next year, and that’s a challenge we have to deal with.”
Max hell-bent on ending trophy drought
Trudging off the Bishan Stadium pitch on Wednesday (6 December) night, Maxime Lestienne cut a disappointed figure as he was substituted by Adam Swandi with less than 10 minutes to go in the Lion City Sailors’ 3-0 second-leg victory over Tampines Rovers in the 2023 Singapore Cup semi-finals.
The result meant the Sailors romped into the final with a convincing 6-3 aggregate victory, but the Belgian – the reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) Player of the Year (POTY) who raised the bar with league-high tallies of goals and assists – was unhappy with the level of his individual performance.
“The team played a very good game on Wednesday; everyone played with a lot of determination and focus. Defensively we were top, offensively we created a lot of opportunities and could have scored more. But for myself, I think I should have contributed more,” he said.
“I missed five to six chances to score and I’m disappointed with myself. But I believe I’m a big player and maybe the goals will come in the final.”
A hungry and determined Maxime is eager to make his mark in the club’s first-ever Singapore Cup final appearance when they take on holders Hougang United at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (6 December) night.
The former PSV Eindhoven attacker has done much since joining the Sailors in February 2022, lighting up the league with goals and assists, landing a number of Player of the Month trophies in addition to the 2023 POTY award.
What has eluded him thus far is team silverware.
“We haven’t been able to win something important for the last couple of years and that’s something that is often on my mind. Our supporters have been behind us through the ups and downs, so we want to win the Cup to give them something,” he declared.
“Hougang is not an easy opponent, but I’m sure if we play like we did against Tampines and give everything on the pitch, we’ll win this game. Every single one of us must show up and show how much this means to us.”
Captain Hariss Harun sang from the same hymn book as he urged his troops to follow up on the accomplished display against the Stags to create history for the club.
“This is huge for us as we need to win something this year,” admitted the 33-year-old. “This season, we set out to win everything ahead of us – the league (SPL) was a little bit disappointing for us, we pushed as far as we could but weren’t able to win it. For our ACL (Asian Football Confederation Champions League) campaign, it wasn’t too bad but we were ultimately unable to qualify for the Round of 16.
“This is our last chance to cap the year off with something tangible, so we need to bring our A-game, just like how we controlled the tempo against Tampines. If we can do that in the final, then I’m sure we’ll get the job done.”
‘Perfect’ Sailors book place in SG Cup final
The Lion City Sailors are now just one game away from closing out the 2023 season with silverware, after they secured their spot in the Singapore Cup final with a 6-3 aggregate semi-final win over Tampines Rovers.
Both teams had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first-leg of the semis at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (3 Dec) evening, which meant it was all to play for when they met again in the second-leg at Bishan Stadium on Wednesday (6 Dec) night.
But while the first-leg was evenly-matched, the second-leg ended up being a straightforward 3-0 victory for a dominant Sailors side who barely gave Gavin Lee’s side a sniff throughout the 90 minutes.
Indeed, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković hailed his side’s display against Tampines as “perfect”, as he said: “I’m delighted with the performance today. We played a perfect match, from the beginning to the end, and everyone did well.
“We dominated Tampines all over the pitch, and the only thing that I can maybe be critical of is that we should have scored more goals.”
The Sailors set the tone for the rest of the game as early as the second minute, when M. Anumanthan won the ball in midfield with a strong tackle, before laying it off to Diego Lopes. The Brazilian carried the ball forward before setting Richairo Živković free down the right, and the 27-year-old made no mistake with his finish to give the Sailors the lead.
The bright start seemed to destabilise the visitors, and they were fortunate not to go further behind soon after, as both Richi and Nathan Mao missed two good goalscoring opportunities in the first 10 minutes of the game.
In the 14th minute, Richi broke free of the Tampines defence once more after being set up by Anu, but he could only send his effort straight at goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari from a tight angle.
Syazwan was called into action again five minutes later, as he dove low to save Maxime Lestienne’s effort from range that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
As much as the Tampines defence seemed to be at sixes-and-sevens, the Sailors themselves were playing some beautiful football – this was best encapsulated by a superb one-touch passing move between Richi, Maxime, and Diego in the 39th minute that led to the Brazilian firing a shot that deflected just wide of the goal.
Despite their dominance, however, the Sailors were unable to add to their one-goal lead by half-time.
But any fears that Tampines would come out of the break recharged were put to bed within 10 minutes of the second half, as the Sailors continued to find space in behind the Stags, and could have easily added to their tally but for some errant finishing from Maxime and good goalkeeping by Syazwan.
But the Sailors’ all-important second goal finally came in the 59th minute, when Richi cut past his marker on the left before curling the ball into the bottom corner.
That was the 27-year-old’s 14th goal in 17 appearances in all competitions since joining the Sailors in July during the mid-season transfer window.
Seven minutes later, the Sailors all but wrapped up the win with a third goal, as Diego latched onto Maxime’s through pass before lashing the ball past a rooted Syazwan.
Tampines’ dismal night was made worse in the 89th minute when Shah Shahiran received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, after he hauled back Sailors substitute Shawal Anuar from racing through on goal.
At the end of game, the Sailors had racked up 25 shots to Tampines’ five – a statistic that starkly highlighted their dominance on the night.
“After the first-leg of the semi-final, everyone was unhappy because we knew we didn’t play our game,” reflected Man-of-the-Match Richi. “It was very difficult against Tampines (in the first leg), so we spoke with each other, changed some things, and I think today everyone played well.
“We started today with four defenders, compared to the five in the first-leg. Hariss (Harun) played very well in midfield, and we were good in between the lines. We created a lot of chances and capitalised on their mistakes.”
The Sailors will now take on defending champions Hougang United – who beat Brunei DPMM 3-0 on aggregate in the other semis – in the final at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (9 Dec) night.
Looking ahead to that match, Ranko said: “I think playing in a cup final is a great way to finish the season. We haven’t had much time to think about our opponents in the final yet, as we were focused on beating Tampines.
“But now, we’re going to work hard to prepare for Hougang, who, as defending champions, will certainly give us a stern test.”
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough”.
That famous quote attributed to Sir Matt Busby is an often used message to players that anyone can make a mark on the team, as long as they put their heart into everything they do on and off the pitch.
The Lion City Sailors Women Class of 2023 is a living breathing example of that.
The Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) champions, led by Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan, promoted seven academy players to the first team as the side showcased their dominance, going unbeaten throughout the 2023 season.
Three of them – Ardhra Arul Ganeswaran, Chloe Koh and Seri Ayu Natasha Naszri, all 16 – have shone, receiving scholarships from the national project Unleash The Roar! (UTR) and moved on to overseas opportunities, while the rest – Josephine Ang, 17, Cara Chang, 15, Tia Foong, 16 and Madelin Lock, 16 – have contributed significantly to the team, especially towards the tail end of the campaign.
Additionally, Josephine and Cara recently made their debuts for the national team, donning red for the first time in an international friendly against Bangladesh on 1 December.
Sheau Shyan revealed that promoting academy players has always been part of her plan to refresh the squad each year, but what she did not see coming was the number of such players featuring this season.
“When we started the women’s team, what’s already in our plans was that in years to come, when the academy players graduate, they’ll form the core of our WPL team,” said the league’s Coach of the Year.
“There’s also a general trend in women’s football that players are getting younger and eligible to play in the WPL. But I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly, largely due to our circumstances this year, including our injuries and foreign players leaving.”
And these seven were not there to make up numbers, they made real and significant contributions to the team cause.
“I’m very surprised. Initially I thought of letting them come in and develop themselves, but instead they showed me that they’ve been ready all along,” said Sheau Shyan.
One of the seven, Ardhra, is now finding her feet at the IMG Academy in the United States, and she still recalls the moment she made her WPL debut in a 1-0 win against rivals Tampines Rovers on 21 May.
“When I got called up to train with the WPL squad at the end of last year, I did not see it coming at all because I thought we were done for the year,” the lively winger said, during a phone call from Florida.
“It felt amazing because I was one of the first few from the academy, alongside Natasha, to make my debut for the team and to do it against not just any normal team, but Tampines, was a great experience overall.”
Her time in the WPL squad played a role in helping her obtain the UTR scholarship, she said.
“It’s given me the opportunity to play at a higher level and more regularly. To train with such high quality players, most of whom have also represented the national team, gave me a lot more exposure and experience,” Ardhra noted.
“I think I’ve grown tremendously as a player this season. At the start, I was terrified whenever I got the ball, I just didn’t feel comfortable with it but towards the end of my time at the Sailors, I could feel myself wanting the ball more and making more of an impact.”
Another player who has improved leaps and bounds since joining the WPL side is Josephine, who made her debut in a 3-0 victory over Still Aerion.
She admitted that the step up to the league was a daunting one, and to make matters worse, she was substituted 45 minutes into the match.
“I felt I had a lot of responsibility to carry, everything was on my shoulders and I was nervous. Even though coach Sheau Shyan told me I played well that day, I kept thinking I played badly,” the forward recalled.
She also opened up on the challenges she faced mentally as she attempted to acclimatise to different surroundings. Everything worked out for her eventually as she finished joint-third highest goal-scorer in the team with seven.
“At first, I struggled to keep up with the intensity and pace of play, and I kept overthinking and I had a negative mindset. But once I felt more settled, I became more positive and just wanted to play football. Everything seemed fun again,” said Josephine.
“This experience has definitely helped me grow as a player because now, I know what I want to do on the field and my role in the team. I want to set a very high standard for myself and keep improving every day.”
Just like Josephine, having a strong mentality was a key factor behind Madelin’s successful season.
The dynamic midfielder was struck by an injury in a match on 5 August that kept her out for the rest of the month. She eventually returned on 15 October and finished the season on a strong note, starting all of the remaining matches.
“I was training quite consistently with the team before that injury and coach Sheau Shyan told me it was my time to step up then. I had to sit out all four matches that month and I was disappointed about that,” she said.
Despite the setback, Madelin’s love for the sport is evident. Although the multi-talented athlete has to juggle not only her studies but also basketball training – she was part of the National Under-16 setup – football still has a special place in her heart.
“It’s quite a big commitment to be part of the WPL team, especially as we train four times a week. It’s hard for me to go to both football and basketball training sessions as it causes a lot of strain on my body,” she shared.
“It was very hard for me to commit to training with the Sailors, but it’s just about how much I wanted to do it. If I didn’t like this team, I wouldn’t sacrifice so much of my time for it.
“But this team has given me so much, I’ve grown so much and it’s always a pleasure to train and play with them. So I’ll always make sure I have time for training by setting aside time to do my school work.”
Besides pulling the strings from the middle of the park, Madelin has also added goals to her game in recent weeks. She finished the season on seven goals, including a hat-trick in the final game, this despite only scoring her first on 22 October.
“For some of the matches earlier this season, I played a more defensive role and didn’t want to take risks going forward. But once I started gaining goal-scoring momentum, it felt great to keep banging them in,” said Madelin.
Cara is another who has inspired on the goal-scoring front. The youngest debutant in the team this season has netted five times, while mesmerising fans – and opponents – with her tricky footwork.
She revealed that things were not exactly rosy in the early days of her WPL experience.
“At the start, I’d be worried for every training session because I wasn’t the best and couldn’t really keep up,” said the 15-year-old.
“I also thought that this would just be a new opportunity for me, but to score five goals, I feel like whatever I did was an accomplishment.”
Being the youngest in the team, nervousness would be a factor for Cara, but she chooses to look at it positively instead.
“On one hand, people may ask ‘who let this kid in?’ if I don’t perform well, but at the same time I look at it as the chance to learn and to take every opportunity as it comes,” she noted.
“Hopefully in a few years time, I get to try playing different positions and continue being at a high level.”
The contrast between playing in the academy and the WPL is stark, as all players agreed that the senior team is on a completely different level.
Madelin pointed to the physicality of players in the WPL as one of the biggest changes.
“The players here are much more physical than any I’ve ever faced. They are much stronger, and in the beginning, there were times where I did not go for challenges as I was scared I would be bumped off the ball,” she said.
Ardhra added: “At the academy level, no one really expects anything from you. In the WPL there’s more at stake, you’re expected to win every match especially at the Sailors, so I’d say composure is the biggest difference.”
Although the players have faced their own challenges since being promoted, one thing that stayed constant was the support they received from Sheau Shyan and their teammates.
“My teammates give me a lot of assurance and encourage me. They tell me to be open-minded and even just their words give me a boost,” said Josephine.
Added Cara: “We have a really great team atmosphere and I could feel comfortable with the team. The players were very welcoming from the start and always guided me.”
Sheau Shyan shared that the impact made by the seven players in any way cannot be underestimated as they have punched above their weights and showed what they were capable of.
“These players are technically stronger than some of our existing players, because they’ve started playing the sport from a much younger age,” she said.
“Their technical abilities and skills help us to play a more possession-based style of football, and also score more goals.
“And I’m certain they will only get better from here.”
Banking on Bishan and a battling approach
Conceding a late equaliser at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (3 December) was undoubtedly a disappointment for the Lion City Sailors as a helter-skelter first leg of the 2023 Singapore Cup semi-final ended 3-3.
But a draw is hardly the worst result to bring back to Bishan Stadium as the Sailors play hosts to Tampines Rovers for the second leg on Wednesday (6 December) night.
In 13 home games across the Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup competitions in 2023, the Sailors have won 11 and lost just one.
Midfield playmaker Adam Swandi firmly believes that the Bishan fortress will help his Sailors put a gritty Stags side to the sword.
“We’re always confident enough going out for every match but playing at Bishan gives us a sense of home and that something extra – and teams know we’re not easily defeated in this stadium. So, we have to use that to our advantage,” said the 27-year-old.
“We have an incredible set of fans in The Crew and they’re always behind us. With them behind us and pushing us from the stands, we’ll definitely go out with everything we’ve got and get the win for them.”
Full-back Harith Kanadi has only been with the Sailors for four months since joining in August but has already embraced the Sailors’ philosophy of demanding excellence and success.
“The fact that we’re all disappointed with the draw shows the hunger and desire in this team. Everyone here has set high goals for themselves and the team. So it’s no secret that all of us want to go to the final and win a trophy for this club and for our fans.”
To do so, the Sailors will need to be on top of their game against a quality Tampines side and require big performances from all – including Adam and Harith.
In his first start since September 16, Adam put up a purposeful shift in the fierce midfield battle against the Stags’ Kyoga Nakamura and Shah Shahiran, and he is prepared to do it all again to ensure the Sailors progress into the final.
“Everyone in the league knows Tampines is a good passing team which likes to play the ball around and capitalise down the middle. I thought I did okay to help the team defend and stop some attacks, but I definitely want to do better in the second leg,” said the Singapore international.
“As a team, we gave them a bit too much space to create chances in the first half although we did much better and rectified that issue in the second half. We have to be 100 percent focused and make sure they don’t find as much joy in attack.”
Harith acquitted himself well against Faris Ramli in his first-ever Sailors start, and he is hungry for more in the second leg on Wednesday.
“It was definitely a sweet moment for me because I’ve waited patiently for this opportunity for some time and it came in a huge game – a Cup semi-final. Honestly I was struggling a bit for match fitness, but playing with the likes of Bailey (Wright), Hariss (Harun) and Diego (Lopes) helped me to boost my confidence. They were very encouraging and helped me a lot throughout the game,” said the 23-year-old, whose last start came in late July when he was still with Young Lions.
“Of course there are areas in which I could have done better, but I’m satisfied with the runout that I had and the feedback I’ve got from the coaches has also been great. Now my job is to get fully prepared for this second leg and help the team get into the final on Saturday.
Twice, the Lion City Sailors took the lead against Tampines Rovers in the first-leg of their 2023 Singapore Cup semi-final on Sunday (3 Dec) evening.
Twice, however, the Sailors found themselves pegged back by a resilient Stags side, as both teams played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).
It was a result that Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković was far from pleased with, although he admitted his players were not at their physical best, owing to fatigue from having played a gruelling midweek Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) tie away against Bangkok United.
“It was not a good result. I expected more, especially after we took the lead twice,” reflected the Serb. “We had to control the game and try to go for another goal. We were not as aggressive, but maybe it’s due to fatigue.
“The positive from this game is how some of the guys performed, like Shawal Anuar and our captain (Hariss Harun). They played really well, so that’s the example I think all the players should follow.”
Indeed, it was Tampines who flew out of the blocks and opened the scoring after just three minutes through Joel Chew, who rifled the ball into the back of the net from just inside the box after the Sailors failed to clear their lines from a short corner routine.
But the home side’s lead lasted all of three minutes, as Shah Shahiran was robbed in his own penalty box by Sailors midfielder M. Anumanthan, who then calmly slotted the ball past Tampines goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari to level the score.
Ranko’s charges then took the lead in the 13th minute when centre-back Bailey Wright, making his first start for the Sailors after returning from injury, jumped highest at the back post to head home from Maxime Lestienne’s corner.
Given the pulsating, back-and-forth nature of the game, it did not take long for another twist in the tale to occur – this time, it was former Sailors man Faris Ramli who bundled the ball into the net after a scramble in the box following a corner.
Faris’ joy, however, was short-lived, as the referee ruled out the goal following a VAR check which showed that Tampines striker Boris Kopitović had handled the ball in the build-up.
But Faris did eventually get his goal just 12 minutes later. A long shot from Joel was palmed away by Sailors custodian Izwan Mahbud, and Faris reacted quickest to get to the rebound before curling the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Now with momentum on their side, Tampines almost took the lead in first-half stoppage time via a clinical counter-attack that ended with Saifullah Akbar firing Faris’ cut-back just wide of Izwan’s goal.
Saifullah came close again barely three minutes later, as his shot from the edge of the box took a series of deflections that almost creeped into the bottom corner, but Izwan managed to react in the nick of time to palm it away onto the post, before Bailey recovered to clear it out for a corner.
With Tampines in the ascendancy at the end of the half, Ranko rang the changes at the break to try and regain control of the game, as both Harith Kanadi and Lionel Tan came off for Shawal Anuar and Chris van Huizen.
And the changes paid dividends just three minutes into the second half, with Shawal deftly taking down Maxime’s lobbed through pass and coolly taking the ball past Syazwan, before tapping it into an empty net.
That was the third straight Singapore Cup game in which the Singapore international had scored after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Though Tampines boasted much of the possession thereafter, Shawal’s pace and direct style continued to be a thorn in their side. And the 32-year-old very nearly doubled his goal tally in the 62nd minute, as he latched onto an Adam Swandi through pass and rounded Syazwan, but before he could pull the trigger, Tampines defender Shuya Yamashita slid in to poke the ball away for a corner.
The Sailors, however, noticeably faded as the half wore on, and this ultimately proved costly in the 82nd minute as Boris ghosted into the box to divert Faris’ low cross into the net.
Tampines continued to put pressure on the Sailors backline in search of a winner, and they came close to finding it in the second minute of stoppage time, but Boris’ free-kick from just outside the box was well saved by Izwan.
The game eventually ended 3-3, leaving things finely-poised ahead of the second leg of the semi-final at the Bishan Stadium on Wednesday (6 Dec) night.
Appreciating the significance of that match – the Singapore Cup is the last opportunity for the Sailors to win silverware this season – Ranko declared that his side would do all they can to come out top in the second leg.
He said: “We’re going to rest, recover, and we’ll start again tomorrow. Our objective is clear – we want to go through to the final, that’s the main goal, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure that happens.”
Bailey’s back and buzzing
A 1-0 away defeat to Bangkok United the last time out in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) was not a pleasant one for everyone associated to the Lion City Sailors, but for Bailey Wright – it represents a fresh opportunity to hit the reset button and put himself in the reckoning for selection for what is still an exciting end to the season.
Marking his return from injury by coming on as a late substitute, the Socceroos centre-back played out the final 11 minutes of the match (including injury time) and looked sprightly.
There will be four matches between now and 13 December, possibly including the club’s first-ever Singapore Cup final appearance on the cards.
Bailey missed a large chunk of the ACL 2023/24 campaign due to a spate of injuries, but he is now raring to go to make up for lost time – starting from the first leg of the Singapore Cup semi-final tie away against Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (3 December).
“When you come into any club, the way to establish yourself is on the football pitch and taking on the responsibility to produce great performances for the team. Injuries stopped me from doing that and there’s this sense of guilt that I couldn’t deliver more for the fans,” said the 31-year-old, who has scored two goals in six Sailors appearances so far.
“I must thank everybody who has helped me get back to fitness. I’m now feeling really good and hopefully the injuries are now behind me. I’m looking forward to helping the team as much as I can in this final stretch and play every minute possible if I can.”
After seeing their hopes of qualification for the ACL’s Round of 16 extinguished on Wednesday (29 November) night, the Sailors now turn their attention to a tough two-legged tie against Tampines – the second-highest ranked local side behind the Sailors in the 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
Bailey urged his teammates to batten down the hatches for what is the Sailors’ last chance for silverware in 2023.
“It’s disappointing that we couldn’t progress further in the ACL but we have to keep our heads up. There are still important games ahead of us, a lot of pride at stake, a lot more that can be achieved and a trophy to play for, so that’s massive motivation for me and the team,” said the Australian, who played in the last encounter with the Stags at OTH in August with the Sailors coming away with a handsome 5-2 victory in the SPL.
“Tampines are a good footballing side and they are in the semi-finals for a reason, but we’re growing as a team and we’re high in confidence right now. First and foremost, we have to work hard and fight for the badge so that we can get into the final.”
Defender Christopher van Huizen sang from the same hymn book and has vowed to do everything to ensure the Sailors will play the final on the 9th.
“I couldn’t really sleep after the Bangkok game. I felt we really stuck to our game plan and did everything we could, but sometimes football is decided by such fine margins. Whatever it is, it’s in the past and we have to recover quickly for the Singapore Cup,” said the 31-year-old.
“I joined the club this season to win trophies and that target has not changed. If everyone stays physically and mentally concentrated, and continues to give 100 percent, we can win the Cup. From now on, every game is a final and we don’t want to let any other team get their hands on the cup so we have to shine.”
Backed by an ever-supportive Crew who brought the proper Sailors ruckus from local stadiums to arenas miles away in Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand over the past couple of months, the Sailors know they to repay the fans for their fervent and unwavering support across 2023.
“I’ve been amazed by the support and I didn’t expect that many people to come. Even in the second half when I was playing far away from the away end, I could hear their cheers and chants. I was feeling so down after the match, but they were all there cheering and encouraging us when we walked up to our bus,” said Chris of the match against Bangkok United.
“We’re really blessed that we have such tremendous fans, who are there for us win, lose or draw, and we definitely owe them something.”
Bailey agreed, saying, “That’s what you play football for, to feel the love from your supporters and we certainly felt their affection. You can see how much the team means to them and we want to show how massively appreciative we are of them as well – and that means delivering the Cup for them.”
He sat there in silence, ice-pack pressed onto his head, eyes lost in the ripple of a blank gaze that bounced back upon itself.
Kodai Tanaka had already ripped off his armour and rinsed off the sweat of battle, but there in the bowels of Pathum Thani’s Thammasat Stadium, wounds were still raw. That dull throbbing in his head – a result of a coming together of two opponents in the heat of competition – was not the source of the 23-year-old’s pain, at least not the cause of the sting at the core of his being.
The Lion City Sailors fell to a 1-0 away loss to Bangkok United on Wednesday (29 November) in Group F of the 2023/24 Asian Football Federation Champions League (ACL) campaign. It was a defeat that snuffed out their dreams of becoming the first Singapore side to qualify for the last 16 of Asia’s top tier club competition.
The difference between the teams was measured in small margins, and defeat was bitter – and stinging.
The long dark road
But just six months ago, Kodai would have given anything to look defeat in the eye – and take that dastardly devil’s best punch square in the mouth.
At the time, Kodai was trudging along the long road to recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that threatened to deny the 2022 Singapore Premier League Player of the Year any chance of competing on Singapore football pitches in the year he reigned as their best player.
“When I was injured, I really felt like my mind was a complete blank – I couldn’t think about anything.
And of course, I cried a lot – night after night,” said Kodai. “There were many times when I felt like breaking down, and many times when I wanted to quit.”
“I have now achieved my goal of playing in the Champions League, and I have so many people to thank for helping me get here, like the trainers around me, and of course my family and friends.”
Light – and tears – at the end of the tunnel
Kodai made his ACL debut in the Sailors’ famous 2-0 win over two-time ACL winners, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the Jalan Besar Stadium, and he remembers every second of the experience, even the thoughts running through his head as he stood on the sidelines waiting to come on for Maxime Lestienne.
“It’s true, I was crying at the time. I felt like I was finally able to stand here, after all that I had to go through to work my way back from the injury,” he said.
“I could picture all kinds of people’s faces, and when I remembered them, it was very emotional.”
Tears would flow again – more freely so – after the final whistle.
Said a wistful Kodai: “I was trying not to cry, and I knew that if I shook Niels’ hand, I would definitely cry. So I wanted to just briefly shake his hand and quickly move along, but he caught me.”
Physiologist Niels van Sundert was an ever-present on Kodai’s recovery journey, and the Japanese forward was effusive with his praise for the Dutchman – and not only for his professionalism on the rehabilitation front.
“He was always there for me when I was good and bad, even when things were difficult and I was feeling down, he would very firmly tell me that I had to do this,” said Kodai. “Sometimes we even fought, and he would be angry with me.
“But he was always there for me, helping me in any way he could, sometimes that meant just being with me.”
And all those memories came flooding back when Kodai embraced Niels at the touchlines of Jalan Besar.
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“It wasn’t exactly what he said to me at the time. There were times in the past when he comforted me by hugging me when I was going through a really hard time, and I had flashbacks of that – I naturally started to cry,” recalled Kodai, his voice quivering.
“I’m really grateful for all that he’s done for me.”
The path ahead
The thought of lining up alongside his teammates to face Asia’s best in the ACL fuelled Kodai’s drive to get off the treatment table and back onto the pitch.
The Sailors still have one match to play in Group F, against Kitchee SC at Jalan Besar on 13 December despite already out of contention to qualify for the Round of 16.
And while Kodai is still raring to go, looking for his first ACL goal, he has already derived so much from his long hard road to recovery.
“When I returned to the pitch, I heard many fans and supporters calling my name “Kodai”, and I felt really happy,” he said, again recalling that Jeonbuk Jalan Besar night as a beaming smile flashed across his face.
“It felt fantastic to be back on the pitch as a professional footballer, and it made me want to work even harder in my career.
“I feel that I need to work harder to show my gratitude to the people who have helped me on my journey to recovery, and by showing that kind of attitude, I can give courage to people who have suffered the same injury or have been out of action for a long time.”
For now, Kodai has turned his focus to finishing the season strongly.
“I believe in my teammates, and of course the head coach and staff as well, and I know how hard everyone works, and I know how hard everyone works for the team, and that’s why we’ve won as a team,” said Kodai.
“I have unshakable confidence in the team, and that we will have a strong finish to 2023.”
Sailors’ ACL dream comes to a cruel end
One crucial save. One vital goal. All within the span of three decisive minutes.
And just like that, the Lion City Sailors’ 2023/24 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign came to a crashing halt.
Following Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ 2-1 win over Kitchee FC earlier in the day (29 November), both Bangkok United and the Sailors knew exactly what they needed to achieve when they faced each other in front of the 2,093-strong crowd at the Thammasat Stadium.
For the former, a draw would be enough to book them a place in the next round, while a win would ensure they top Group F. The Sailors, on the other hand, had to avoid defeat to keep their hopes in the competition alive.
Nonetheless, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković insisted he was proud of his players for the effort they put in on the night.
“It’s a difficult result of course, but I see the way my team played and I’m very proud of them,” said Ranko. “They give their all, and at the end of the game some of them were so tired they couldn’t walk anymore.
“I think our game plan worked perfectly. We made it very difficult for the home team, we didn’t allow them any clear-cut chances, and it hurts that they scored from a free-kick.”
Though the Thai outfit needed only a point to advance from the group stage, it was clear from the first whistle that they were intent on getting all three points, as they pinned the Sailors in their own half in the early stages of the game.
The hosts earned five corners in the first 15 minutes alone, although they failed to capitalise on any of them.
This was in large part due to the Sailors’ disciplined defensive shape, with the likes of Pedro Henrique, Hariss Harun, and Lionel Tan – in for the suspended Manuel Herrera López (Súper) – superbly keeping Totchtawan Sripan’s side at bay.
The first real chance of the game came in the 21st minute, when a superb counter-attack by Bangkok United led to Willen Mota firing a snapshot that was well blocked by Lionel. The loose ball eventually fell to Amadou Soukouna, who tried his luck from range, but this time, it was Rui Pires who came to the rescue as he bravely put his body on the line to deflect the ball out for a corner.
Barring a few other half-chances, that was about as good as it got for the hosts in a cagey first-half that would have left the raucous travelling fans – all 80-odd of them – happier than their Thai counterparts.
However, Bangkok came out in the second half determined to change that, and within two minutes, came close to opening the scoring when Pokkaw A-Nan sent a shot from outside the box just wide of goal.
In the 57th minute, the Sailors created their first significant goal-scoring opportunity through a cleverly executed quick free-kick routine that caught the Bangkok defence off guard and resulted in Maxime Lestienne curling his shot just wide of the post.
Three minutes later, the Bangkok Angels thought they finally had the lead when Thossawat Limwanasathian ghosted in behind the Sailors defence to send a looping header over Zharfan Rohaizad and into the back of the net.
However, the home team’s celebrations were cut short when a VAR review showed that the midfielder was marginally offside, and the goal was rightfully chalked off.
As the clock ticked down, Bangkok began to commit more men forward to try and get the opening goal, and they very nearly succeeded in the 79th minute through Rungrath Poomchantuek, whose shot from just inside the box was cleared off the line by Pedro.
Then came the three-minute period of the game that ultimately decided the fate of both teams.
The first incident of note occurred in the 83rd minute, when a superb ball from Rui set Shawal Anuar through and bearing down on the Bangkok goal, but goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai spread himself to save the close-range shot and prevent the Sailors from going in front.
Shawal did not know it then, but that save would go on to prove extremely costly for the Sailors.
Just three minutes later, Bangkok were awarded a free-kick just outside the box. Rungrath stepped up confidently, and curled the ball over the Sailors wall and past a rooted Zharfan to give the Thai side the lead.
It was a lead that Bangkok never relinquished, and despite playing eight minutes of additional time, the Sailors simply could not find the crucial equaliser that would have saved their campaign.
The defeat leaves the Sailors – who take on Kitchee in their final ACL group game on 13 December – third in the table on six points, three behind Jeonbuk, and a further four behind Bangkok United.
With Jeonbuk boasting a superior head-to-head record, it means that the Sailors will not be able to overtake the Korean side, and as such, can no longer progress to the next stage of the competition.
“We had our chances…and the one that Shawal had was crucial,” said Ranko. “But I cannot fault him (for not scoring) because he tried his best.”
The Sailors will now turn their attention to Tampines Rovers, who they face this Sunday (3 Dec) evening at Our Tampines Hub in the first-leg of the 2023 Singapore Cup semi-finals.
And Sailors captain Hariss Harun urged his teammates to put this defeat behind them and work towards ending the season on the high by winning the Singapore Cup.
“Losing tonight is a bit harsh on the team as everyone worked hard, but we now have to look forward to the next game,” Hariss declared.
“I think overall the team has done relatively well this season. We are still in the Singapore Cup, so we hope to finish the season on a high in the next two weeks.”
With two matches left to go in the group stages of the 2023/24 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign, the Lion City Sailors remain well in the hunt to qualify for the last 16 of Asia’s premier club competition.
Bangkok United lead Group F with 10 points, while the Sailors are on six points, level with K League giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC are in fourth spot.
The five group winners and three best runners-up from each region progress to the next stage.
The Sailors’ next task in the ACL will not come any easier, lining up against high-flying Bangkok United away at the Thammasat Stadium tonight (29 November).
The Bangkok Angels are unbeaten in 15 matches across four competitions this season, currently leading the way in Thai League 1 with seven wins and two draws.
The Sailors know they will have to mix it up with the best to prove their credentials in this competition, and Hariss Harun and his Sailors have already shown they can, even managing wins against some of the best on the continent.
Buoyant Sailors
Earlier in November they stunned the region by defeating two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk 2-0 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, courtesy of a Richairo Živković’s brace.
The win reignited the Sailors’ ambitious bid to become the first Singapore club to qualify for the ACL Round of 16 and that possibility puts a spring in Zharfan Rohaizad’s step.
“The target is always to create history for not just the club, but also Singapore football,” said the goalkeeper.
“We’ve given ourselves a great chance with that victory over Jeonbuk, and we need to keep fighting. We’re treating this Bangkok United game like a final: it’s a do-or-die match for us. All the boys are raring to go and we’re here to give them a good fight.”
Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković is equally bullish about his side’s chances despite an enforced change at the heart of the Sailors’ defence: Manuel Herrera López (Súper) is ruled out through suspension.
“We know what kind of opponent we’re coming up against – Bangkok is not currently top of Group F by chance and that says a lot. We have a lot of respect for them.
“But we’ve also shown throughout this campaign that we’ve been competitive – except for the 3-0 away loss against Jeonbuk – and we have a good group of players, we’ll have somebody to come in to do the job of Súper.
“We’ve prepared very well as a team and I’m confident of our chances.”
A clean sheet against Jeonbuk meant Zharfan became only the third Singaporean goalkeeper to record a shutout in the ACL – after Shahril Jantan (SAFFC, 2010) and Hassan Sunny (Sailors Class of 2022) – and he is hungry for more, although it will be a hard task against an on-song Bangkok United.
Totchtawan Sripan’s side have failed to score in only one match this season, and those 14 scoring matches included a brilliant 3-2 scalp of Jeonbuk in early October.
Bangkok’s goal threat is spread across the entire team. Former Vasco da Gama forward Willen Mota and Swedish-born Palestinian winger Mahmoud Eid are the obvious dangermen, but Thai winger Rungrath Poomchantuek is also a tricky customer who already has two ACL goals this season.
Centre-back and captain Everton Gonçalves is also a danger in front of goal. He has scored four in all competitions – most off set-piece situations – with one goal coming in the 2-1 win over the Sailors on Matchday One.
“That wasn’t nice, to lose on the opening matchday in front of our home fans – so revenge is definitely on our minds,” said Zharfan.
“The clean sheet against Jeonbuk was one of my biggest achievements in football, no doubt. But my focus is on the bigger picture to help us get the three points, especially in these crucial games.
“We’ve been training very well in every aspect of the game and Coach Ranko has been drilling us hard to cope with their goal-scoring threats. I know that each and everyone of us is ready to go out there to give our best.”
Slight stutter in Bangkok’s stride
Bangkok has had an impressive season thus far, but have found the going tough in their last couple of matches, dropping points in two 1-1 draws – at home against Kitchee SC in the ACL and Nakhon Pathom United in the Thai League 1 – both times after taking the lead.
Perhaps compounding matters for the Thai side, influential midfielder Thitiphan Puangchan who netted a scorching winner at Jalan Besar, is ruled out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a serious knee injury against Kitchee in late October.
The importance that Bangkok has vested in this clash is perhaps clearly illustrated in the decision of Head Coach Totchtawan resting key duo Nitipong Selanon and Suphan Thongsong in last Friday’s (24 Nov) Thai League 1 clash against Nakhon Pathom.
Nonetheless, the former Thai international is determined to get the win over the Sailors that will ensure they top Group F and secure their first-ever appearance in the ACL Round of 16.
“We rested the national team players and had some injured players coming back, but we’re all ready to get the win to guarantee our place in the knockout stages. We dropped points in our last two matches, yes, but that’s normal in football. It’s not affecting our team’s confidence and the path that we want to take,” said Totchtawan.
“Lion City Sailors have momentum on their side and are high in confidence, so we’re not taking them for granted. We’ve analysed their strengths and weaknesses, so we’re ready to take the three points.”
Right-back Nitipong Selanon, a Thai international who played against several Sailors in Thailand’s 3-1 win over Singapore at Kallang just a week ago along with Thongsong, is well aware of the threat the Sailors pose.
“With the national team, we’ve actually analysed the Lion City Sailors as an opponent so I know they have very good players – two that I can name are the Singapore captain Hariss Harun and no. 7 Shawal Anuar. But I know there are many other good players in this team.”
Frenetic end to 2023
Having secured their passage into the Singapore Cup semi-finals following the 1-1 draw with Hougang over the weekend, the Sailors are set for a frenetic end to the season.
Ranko’s charges will have to contend with five matches in a space of 15 days between 29 Nov and 13 Dec, with possibly a first-ever Singapore Cup Final appearance on the cards.
The Serb wants his charges to be motivated by the prospect of glory, instead of worrying about fatigue.
“It’s an exciting time for everyone associated with the club and we’ll have to plan carefully on the players’ physical load. But for the players, I think they would rather play a game every three days instead of only having training sessions. I’m sure they’re all up for this.”
With the Sailors’ Bangkok Special Operations Team already settled in Pathum Thani and a number of other members of the Crew also flying up, the Sailors will be backed by a decent away end in Thammasat Stadium tomorrow and Zharfan is ready to repay the fans’ strong show of support.
“For the fans who’ve come here, we couldn’t be more grateful for your support and it means a lot to us,” said the Singapore international.
“Your presence will give us the fire and desire to do something on the pitch tomorrow, and we promise to put on a good show and make your time here worthwhile.”
