Author: Lion City Sailors
It was arguably one of the shock results of the group stages of last year’s Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL), and one that Lion City Sailors fans will remember for a long time.
But while the Sailors’ 3-0 win over South Korean side Daegu FC was a proud and historic day for the club, it also alerted the rest of Asia to the potential threat that the Singapore outfit posed.
According to Sailors attacker Maxime Lestienne, their creditable displays in their maiden ACL voyage last season – which saw them finish the group stage with seven points from six games – will discourage teams from underestimating them this year.
“Last year, we were considered the minnows of the competition, but I think we did a good job and surprised a few teams,” said the former PSV Eindhoven man. “But this year, other teams know more about us, so they’ll be able to better prepare for our game, which will definitely make it more difficult.”
The Sailors have been drawn in Group F for the 2023/24 ACL campaign, alongside Thai outfit Bangkok United – who they will face in their opening match this Wednesday (20 Sept) – Hong Kong Premier League side Kitchee SC, and two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
While Jeonbuk are considered favourites to top the group, Maxime believes that the Sailors have nothing to fear when they eventually face the Korean heavyweights.
“People are all talking about Jeonbuk as the favourites, but I don’t think there are any (favourites) in the group,” Maxime declared. “In football, you cannot be afraid of any team. Nothing is impossible – we have to go out there and play our football, follow our coach’s (Aleksandar Ranković) instructions, show our fighting spirit, and most importantly, believe in our quality.”
One player who will certainly add quality to the team is new signing Rui Pires, who joined the club in July after signing from Portuguese side FC Paços de Ferreira.
While 25-year-old Rui featured for the Sailors in the Tiger Cup encounter against Tottenham Hotspur two months ago, he has yet to make his competitive debut for the club.
Fan expectations of Rui are high, especially as the defensive midfielder boasts a wealth of experience at the top-level of football, with appearances in the Portuguese Primera Liga, French Ligue 2, and the UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifiers.
Rui, however, insists that he will thrive despite being under such scrutiny, as he explained: “I put the most pressure on myself every day, in every training session, in every game.
“This pressure drives me to play well and work hard to improve. I’ve been pushing myself and my teammates in training ever since I joined… I feel ready and motivated to finally make my competitive debut for the Sailors.”
Rui added that he is looking forward to playing against some of the biggest teams in the region.
“Since I joined the club, people have been speaking to me about the ACL and telling me all about the teams in the competition and the impressive stadiums that we’ll be playing in,” Rui revealed.
“We’re all aware that we’ll be going up against very good teams, and we’ll play difficult games in the competition. Every team has a lot of quality players, but so do we. The team holds high ambitions for the ACL, but we’ll approach it one game at a time and give our best effort.”
For Maxime, the goal for the Sailors in the ACL this year is clear: to do one better from last year, and progress from the group stage.
“My personal objective is to qualify for the knockout rounds,” Maxime said. “We have a balanced team with experience and youth, and we’ve learned from our experience last year.
“But ultimately, we have to give our all in every game so that when the group stage comes to an end, we can look back and be proud of what we did and have no regrets.
“In order to achieve our goals, all of us have to pull in the same direction and work hard to contribute to the team, regardless of whether you’re in the starting-11 or coming off from the bench. We’ll have to keep our focus and help each other on the pitch.”
On paper, the Lion City Sailors’ final game of the 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season against Geylang International at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (16 September) appeared to be a dead rubber, at least for the hosts.
After all, the Sailors were already guaranteed to finish second in the league, regardless of the outcome of the match.
But as the famous saying goes, ‘winning is a habit’ – and that is exactly what the Sailors seemed intent on doing, with Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković fielding a strong line-up that included Diego Lopes, Maxime Lestienne, and Hariss Harun.
The game, however, did not quite go according to plan for Ranko’s charges in the first 45 minutes, with the Eagles matching the Sailors for large parts of the half.
Indeed, it was the visiting side that took the lead in the 31st minute when Yushi Yamaya stole in behind the Sailors’ defence to head home from close range.
“I think the obvious reason that we were down one goal is we weren’t at our 100 per cent in the first-half,” Ranko reflected. “The energy that I saw from our last game (a 8-2 victory over Hougang United) was missing, and that is why I made changes for the second half.”
And change Ranko did, as he brought on Lionel Tan and Haiqal Pashia for Maxime and Richairo Živković after the break.
The substitutions injected fresh energy into the Sailors’ play, with Pashia notably shining as a bright spark in the attack.
The 24-year-old came close to scoring the equaliser early in the second half when he flashed a header just wide of the goal.
Pashia went even closer a few minutes later as he beat his marker in the box after being found by Diego, but he could only fire the ball straight at Geylang custodian Hafiz Ahmad.
But the tide had undeniably turned in the Sailors’ favour, and in the 53rd minute, Shawal Anuar rose highest to expertly guide Chris van Huizen’s cross into the net for the equaliser and his 10th goal of the season.
With the wind in their sails, and egged on by the home support, the Sailors pushed forward relentlessly, and were duly rewarded in the 62nd minute with an outrageous long-range strike from Hami Syahin that left Hafiz grasping at air.
“I’ve been trying long shots the whole season, but they always either go out or are saved. So, I’m really pleased that one finally went in,” mused Hami, who was named the Man-of-the-Match.
With the lead in hand, the Sailors seemed poised to go on and exert control on the game.
But a momentary loss of focus in the 72nd minute saw the Sailors go down to 10 men, as Lionel received his marching orders after being adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Rather than letting their heads drop, the Sailors regrouped and remained competitive, putting on a disciplined defensive display while looking to counter.
15-year-old Nathan Mao then came on and gave the Sailors a different element in attack in the final 10 minutes.
This tactic came close to paying off in the 85th minute when Pashia beat the offside trap, finding himself one-on-one with Hafiz. Unfortunately, his shot narrowly missed the target, striking the post and going out, much to the forward’s frustration.
But Pashia was not to be denied. Five minutes into stoppage time, he was set free down the left by a superb trivela pass from Nathan and, after spotting Hafiz off his line, calmly bent a shot into the back of the net for a well-deserved goal to seal the victory for the Sailors.
That also meant the 24-year-old scored in successive SPL games for the first time since September 2021.
After the game, Ranko commended his players for the tremendous physical effort they displayed, particularly after they were reduced to 10 men.
“Today, we played with a man less for a good 30 minutes, but you couldn’t really tell which team had a man down,” said Ranko. “That shows the effort they put in, and it’s a testament to all the hard work the players have put in to improving their fitness in training.”
Ranko also believes that the win over Geylang to close out the SPL season on a high will give his side a timely boost, as they now turn their attentions to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) and Singapore Cup competitions.
“It’s always good to win, it gives us a boost for the matches that are coming up,” Ranko elaborated. “Apart from the first-half today, we’ve played well over the past few games, and I think we now have a good foundation for what’s coming next.”
Hami added: “We’re looking to carry this momentum into the ACL and Singapore Cup. It’s a whole different ball game in the ACL especially, but we’ll go out there to give our best and try to get as many wins as we can.”
The Sailors will next take on Thai outfit Bangkok United in the ACL at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (20 Sep).
The final match day of the 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season will see the Lion City Sailors host Geylang International at Bishan Stadium on Saturday (16 September), the last match before the Sailors embark on their second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) voyage.
The Sailors are in Group F alongside two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC, and Bangkok United, the Thai side that will line up at the Jalan Besar Stadium on 20 September in the opening group match.
The Geylang SPL fixture is the first time the Sailors will be in competitive action after a month-long September FIFA International window that saw 10 Sailors called up to a Singapore National Team squad that faced Tajikistan and Chinese Taipei at Bishan.
Zulqarnaen Suzliman, who endured a two-year wait before finally donning national colours again during the window, was grateful for the opportunity.
He said: “It’s great to be a part of the squad again after so long. I personally believe I have put in the hard work to get there again. Hopefully my form continues for both club and country.”
This “form” that the 25-year-old spoke of was exemplified in the Sailors’ last encounter against Geylang on 7 May.
While the headlines were all about Maxime Lestienne who fired two free-kicks past goalkeeper Hafiz Ahmad to give the Sailors a 2-1 victory, it was clear that the defensive masterclass put up by Zulqarnaen was equally important in helping the team secure all three points on the night.
Now fresh off back-to-back appearances for the national team in the heartlands of Bishan, Zulqarnaen will return to Bishan Stadium again, this time in the white, blue, and bold of the Sailors.
From his perspective, the key to earning all three points at the familiar ground is simple and clear.
”It’s all about preparation, Geylang is a good side and we have to be focused for the challenge. The three points is what matters most,” said Zulqarnaen.
Indeed, Saturday’s challenge is not one that the Sailors can take lightly.
In previous final-round SPL fixtures, Geylang have suffered big defeats at the hands of Albirex Niigata (S) and Balestier Khalsa, but the Eagles have also managed to record notable victories against the likes of Tampines Rovers and Brunei DPMM.
Nonetheless, Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković is going into the match brimming with confidence.
“I’ve watched Geylang a couple of times, we pretty much know how they play and like every game this season, we’re just going to focus on our team,” he said.
“It’s very important that we win because that will give us a boost going into the Champions League game in the week ahead.”
The Sailors have already secured second spot in the nine-team SPL standings, and while this fixture against Geylang will have no impact on the Sailors’ SPL season, Zulqarnaen and company are determined to go for the kill and finish the league campaign on a winning note this Saturday.
“We’re always here to compete and put in 100%, no matter the circumstances. This mindset stays the same – and that is to go out there and win,” he said, simply.
The winning mindset is a facet of football that Ranko wants deeply ingrained in his team.
“That’s something that we have been working on in the last two months I came here, and of course it’s something that doesn’t come in one day,” said the 45-year-old.
“But it is something we train for: to go out there fighting to win every match.”
Hariss Harun and the rest of the 14 Lion City Sailors who were called up to the various national teams returned to the Sailors Training Centre on Thursday (14 September) and immediately put their heads down, driving their feet towards the club’s second foray into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).
There is less than a week to 20 September, the day the Sailors will host Thai side Bangkok United at the Jalan Besar Stadium in their opening Group F ACL encounter, with two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC to come in the months ahead.
And there is little surprise that at Mattar Road, anticipation hangs heavy in the air.
The Sailors will fly the Singapore flag at the continent’s top-tier club competition again after an encouraging maiden voyage in the 2022 ACL, beating K League 1 side Daegu FC and Chinese Super League outfit Shandong Taishan enroute to securing seven points in a creditable campaign.
This time around, the Sailors look to add European pedigree to the Singapore spirit as they play at Asia’s top table.
“I’m obviously really excited because not a lot of people my age would have the chance to experience something like this, so this opportunity makes me really grateful and motivates me to work even harder,” said Nathan Mao, who became the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) youngest-ever player at 15 years and 5 days old when he came on against Tampines Rovers earlier this year in March.
“I’ve been learning so much by training with the first team day in and day out and the senior players have been patiently guiding me with many tips. Nothing is guaranteed in football and I’m not going to think of how many minutes I’m going to play (in the ACL) – the key for me is to give my 110 percent and set my mentality right to help the team whenever I get the chance to go on the pitch.”
Nathan has a spread of potential “teachers” to learn from.
There is a strong European flavour at the club, with the likes of former Portugal youth captain Rui Pires, ex-Ajax Amsterdam forward Richairo Živković, former Sunderland defender Bailey Wright joining the likes of Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes – both of whom have played in some of Europe’s top leagues and impressed in the Sailors’ blue at last year’s ACL campaign.
Maxime, who has been in blistering form this season with 25 goals and 21 assists in the SPL, is adamant that the Sailors can go further in the ACL than any Singapore club has – or has even believed is possible.
“We had a great experience in 2022 and I believe we can qualify for the last 16 this time,” said the 31-year-old Belgian, who had one goal and two assists the previous ACL campaign.
“I know the squad has changed a lot from last season, but there’s still a lot of experience and quality in the team. I don’t want to say we’re going there to create a surprise, because it shouldn’t be a surprise – we have quality and we know what we can do.”
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković, who was coaching in the Dutch Eredivisie as recently as this May, shares a similar confidence and has been gradually assembling the various parts in piecing together a plan for his Sailors to do the job out on the pitch.
And the signs are positive.
With the Sailors turning in a creditable performance in July’s Tiger Cup encounter against visiting English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at the National Stadium, and ending the SPL season with some high-scoring victories over Balestier Khalsa, Tampines and Hougang United, Ranko is excited at what his charges can produce in the ACL.
“The new boys like Bailey, Rui and Richairo arrived not long ago, but they are already very immersed in the team – interacting and communicating inside and outside the pitch. That’s the most important part of creating a team together and it makes my job so much easier – I can focus on more straightforward things like tactics and conditioning,” said the Serbian.
“We’ve players who have played in big matches internationally so there’s no issue for them to make the step up to play in the ACL. I have every reason to believe that we can be very competitive in this campaign.”
Looking beyond the on-paper expectations, Bailey drew inspiration from representing a club and community that he has embraced – and has started to embrace them.
“When I first heard that the shapes on our training kits, jerseys and ACL campaign designs were inspired by the triangles we see on the buildings around our Training Centre, I thought it was very apt, even heartwarming,” said the 31-year-old.
“We are representing Singapore at the competition, and it’s fantastic that we’re literally wearing the shapes and colours of our community and carrying all that on our chests and shoulders when we go into battle and aim to do them proud at the ACL.”
Like Bailey, an inspired Maxime is also braced for battle in the campaign ahead.
“Our players – even the new and young players – know what the club wants and requires from us, so there’s no excuse,” said the former PSV Eindhoven man.
“We know the ACL is a different level of competition, but we’re all ready to show our spirit to compete and show what a Singapore club can do.”
Tickets for the Sailors’ first AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group F game against Bangkok United is now on sale. Snap the tickets up now via https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/afclcs2023.
The photo made it look like a line had been crossed.
The wild surprise on the face of the shell-shocked victim – matched by an equal level of calm in the aggressor – spoke of a visceral moment in a heated battle that was teetering on the verge of explosion.
Looking back at that photo, taken during the Lion City Sailors’ Tiger Cup encounter against Tottenham Hotspur in July, Manuel Herrera López – the aggressor – just laughed.
“I had a couple of words with him (the victim). I told him: ‘I know you are Harry Kane, but I have to catch you at corners’ and he laughed,” said the Sailors centre-back, affectionately known as Súper.
The 31-year-old was one of the Sailors’ standout performers of that encounter. He did not give an inch to England star Kane, and the other world-class players in the Spurs ranks in a first half that saw the Sailors lead 1-0 until Kane managed to score from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time to equalise.
Súper admitted he was particularly pumped up for that match, although fans would have recognised the competitive, no-holds barred energy the Spaniard brings to the team.
“I had strong motivation because I was playing against such great players. I didn’t know what to expect from that Spurs game, but I felt pretty good about how the team and I played,” he said.
“I’ve always been a big fighter and someone who’s very demanding on the pitch. My main objectives are to help the team keep a clean sheet and win the game.”
Súper fought hard to rise through the ranks of the Real Betis youth academy and was even named on the bench for the Betis first team in a La Liga fixture against Real Madrid in 2012.
Unable to break into the first-team reckoning and keen to prove his abilities, he then played for a few clubs in the lower divisions of Spain before moving to Southeast Asia in 2017 with Philippines side Ceres-Negros.
He joined a strong side that won three straight Philippines Football League (PFL) titles between 2017 to 2019 and performed creditably on the regional stage. Ceres were crowned ASEAN zone champions in the 2017 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup and competed in three AFC Champions League qualifying playoff campaigns between 2018 to 2020.
Súper later played in Cambodia with Nagaworld FC for two years before joining the Sailors in March 2023.
And Súper already feels right at home here in the Lion City, and is yearning to help the club scale new heights.
“I’m happy with how my career went and I’m always very hungry to show myself at every club that I’m at. I’m enjoying myself a lot here and I have a very good relationship with my teammates,” he said.
“We’ve a very ambitious setup here with excellent facilities and hungry players. We spend many hours together at the Training Centre – not only field training and going to the gym, but also doing other activities like playing table tennis, and basically joking around with everyone.
“We have a great atmosphere here and we’re all working towards the same goal for the team.”
Excelling against a team like Spurs and ending the season in good form have given Súper and the team much confidence going into the club’s second foray into the ACL that kicks off on 20th September against Thailand’s Bangkok United.
And Súper is relishing the challenge.
“On a personal level, I’m so excited about this competition because I’ve tried for a few years when I was at Ceres but we were often eliminated by strong teams from China or Japan. But finally, this year, I’ll get to compete in the group stage and the team is very motivated to go out there and do a good job,” he said.
“All of us players want to show Coach Ranko (Aleksandar Ranković) that we are worthy of representing the club in the ACL.”
With anticipation hanging thick in the air ahead of the Sailors’ 2023/24 ACL opener against Bangkok, Súper hopes to see the Sailors fans fill up Jalan Besar Stadium.
He added: “I would just like to say to our fans: you have always been there for us through the ups and downs. And I sincerely hope you can do that again to give us that little push that we need in the ACL.
“Just know that we are striving to put up good performances and also get results that you can be proud of.”
The Lion City Sailors’ Elite Under-11 team left an indelible mark on the Gothia Cup earlier this year between 17 to 22 July, finishing in joint third-place in the 7-a-side tournament – in which 50 teams from 21 nations competed in.
The Gothia Cup is an annual international youth football tournament held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, one that has grown into one of the largest and most prestigious youth football tournaments in the world since its inaugural edition in 1975. The tournament typically spans a week and includes not only football matches but also various cultural and social activities, making it a holistic learning experience for participating youth.
The young Sailors clinched five resounding victories en route to the semi-finals, including an 11-1 victory over Swedish side Kungsbacka IF 2. For Head Coach Kevin Tan, it was his charges’ adaptability and resilience that brought a smile to his face.
“The kind of matches and playing styles we encountered wasn’t something we’re used to in Singapore. Witnessing the boys rise to the occasion brought me a real sense of pride, especially the way we were able to adjust to what our opponents were doing out on the pitch,” said a satisfied Kevin.
“The adaptability – and the final results, of course – was great to see,” he added.
Kevin believes the experience has had a transformative impact on his players, perhaps most notably in the collective mental toughness.
“In some matches, the opposing players were much bigger and played with considerable physicality, but our boys rose to the occasion, embracing the challenge. They didn’t back down, and that kind of mental fortitude was fantastic,” said the 29-year-old coach, who drew from the example of the quarter-final encounter that pitted his team against Costa Rican side Futbol Consultants Edson Soto.
The young Sailors kept their heads up, found an equaliser in the closing moments of the game to make it 4-4, and went on to prevail 15-14 in a dramatic penalty shootout to earn the right to play in the semi-finals.
It was in this match that Kevin’s young charges faced their toughest test and were felled. A hard-fought battle against Chilean side Academia Sebastian Roco as they lost on penalties this time after the game ended 3-3 in regulation time.
But even in defeat, there was a bright silver lining.
“Despite playing in a semi-final – possibly the biggest match of their lives – everyone in the team stuck to our principles and philosophies. We kept doing what we have always worked on in training, we didn’t change our game plan just to get a goal even in a desperate situation,” said Kevin, who broke into a smile as he thought of the match that brought on bitter-sweet memories.
“The boys consistently kept faith in one another and our philosophy too, and were resolute in ensuring that their opponents never got an ‘easy’ game,” he added, with pride in his voice.
The Gothia Cup was more than just a football tournament for these young Sailors.
“Staying with my teammates and competing alongside them was really a happy experience for me,” said 11-year-old Sho Tay-Takayama Xiangyu, whose recollections matched the observations of his coach Kevin.
Said Kevin: “The boys watched over each other and made sure to remind each other to do essential tasks, like coordinating meals and navigation when we were out in the city – it was clear that they actively supported one another.
“What really impressed me was how the players themselves actively encouraged one another to strictly follow the lights-out schedule so that the team would be able to get ample rest and perform better in matches.”
While the Gothia Cup provided a platform for the boys to grasp important football – and life – lessons, on-field memories remained top of mind.
“Securing third place was something I didn’t think we could achieve, because I was expecting to have to fight against strong teams with very big players,” said Sho, who will step out with the team again when the PUMA Youth Champions League kicks off in September.
“The entire tournament was thrilling. I enjoyed the excitement of playing in front of larger crowds. And I’m really proud of how, as a team, we fought for each other and managed to play to our style and even achieve results.”
It was just a Centre of Excellence Under-21 (COE U21) League match, far from the big time bright lights of Saitama Stadium 2002 where he leapt into the spotlight with that performance – a 17-save showing to help the Singapore national team to that famous 0-0 draw with Asian giants Japan eight years ago.
But it was wildly important to Izwan Mahbud.
The COE U21 match on 10 August ended with the Lion City Sailors securing a 4-0 win over Balestier Khalsa’s U21s. It was Izwan’s first game in between the sticks in nine months.
He put in an assured display, a clean sheet, while also chalking up an assist with his signature classy distribution to set up Anaqi Ismit for the game’s opening goal. All in all, it was a good night for Izwan.
And it meant everything to the 33-year-old custodian.
He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that was discovered in November 2022, with the recovery process ruling him out for the majority of 2023. Indeed, the Sailors have just one Singapore Premier League (SPL) game left to play before the curtain comes down on the season.
And he had to overcome a psychological barrier as well.
“If I’m completely honest, there was a bit of nervousness. The ground at Hougang Stadium was a bit hard and bumpy, so there were some things playing in my mind, like ‘What if I landed wrongly?’,” said a candid Izwan.
“But after the first few minutes, I slowly got into the rhythm; I put my focus solely on helping the team instead of thinking about anything else. After the first save and the early assist, a relief swept over me and that helped me to calm down and play the game.
“I was so happy to be back on the pitch playing the sport I love. It was like I was a kid just starting to play football, when you just go out there to enjoy, with no pressure,” he added.
“It was awesome.”
And understandably so. It was a long hard road back for Izwan after that injury that followed an innocuous incident.
“During training, I just went for a punch and I landed awkwardly. That was when I felt something in my knee, but I didn’t think much of it – I tried to walk it off and continued training,” he shared.
However, persistent pain thereafter meant he went for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and it confirmed his worst fears: he had suffered the first ACL injury of his career and will be ruled out for at least six months.
Coupled with a debut season with the Sailors that was not exactly smooth sailing, the injury was most definitely the last thing that he wanted.
On the day that the Sailors went up against German giants Borussia Dortmund in a gala friendly at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Izwan went under the knife – with mixed emotions.
“It was devastating when I found out it was an ACL; it felt like the whole world just collapsed on me – definitely one of the worst moments in my career. To be honest, last year wasn’t my year at all, I didn’t play that many games and I didn’t do as well as I could have,” he reflected.
“I saw negative comments online and that’s part and parcel of football. I just have to take it in, convert the negativity into fuel to work harder, because that’s how you become a better football player.
“I was looking forward to a better 2023, but maybe God has other plans for me – maybe he wants me to sit down, be more humble, hit the reset button, and start all over again.”
That is exactly what Izwan did.
He braced himself for the long recovery process – from being on crutches in the first few weeks to focusing on the progressive rehabilitation program set out by the physios.
He stayed positive and worked diligently in the gym to regain the strength in his quadriceps, despite the long and hard road.
“I saw Hariss Harun who suffered two ACL injuries, and there were other friends who saw their careers ended after ACL issues. So, from the start, I was mentally prepared that it was going to be a long journey for me,” he said.
“The hardest part was probably midway through. After much rehab work, you feel like you’re getting there, but you’re still not medically cleared and have to follow various protocols. You want to push and you know you can do certain things already, but at the same time the physios advise you not to risk things.
“I guess the worst bit was seeing your teammates out there enjoying themselves on the pitch, while I was often alone in the gym. You can’t help but wonder: ‘When can I join them?’. I know I belong out there and I want to kick a ball so badly, but I couldn’t. It was so frustrating and I had to learn patience.”
There was finally light at the end of the tunnel as Izwan got cleared for field training in late May – some six months after undergoing knee reconstruction – and he is gradually getting fitter.
The experienced custodian was named on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur and the recent Hougang United game, and he is now feeling fully fit and ready to make up for lost time.
With crucial matches in the Singapore Cup and the club’s second foray into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League coming up, Izwan is working his socks off to pull on the Sailors’ shirt again.
“Whether I play or not is up to the coaches, but I’m giving everything to show them that I’m ready for selection right now, and that I’ll be worthy if given the chance,” said a bullish Izwan. “The club is going all out to do well in the Cup and the Champions League, hopefully I can play a part in that.”
A Singapore international who won the AFF Championship in 2012, with 54 international caps under his belt, Izwan is certain he has a lot more to give.
“I still have a lot to offer. I know my abilities and I want to get back to my old self. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me during the recovery process, especially our fans who continue to send me kind words of encouragement.
“This is like a fresh start in my career and I want to take full advantage of this second chance.
“I would also like to say – ‘Gambatte (fellow ACL victim), Kodai Tanaka’ – you’ve been very strong mentally and I hope we can play on the same pitch soon.”
- Introduction
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- These terms and conditions, and any other documents and policies incorporated by reference, (“Terms”) shall apply to the #allhandsondeck – Season 24/25 Overseas Travel for Fans Cheering Crew competition (the “Competition”) organised by Lion City Sailors Private Limited (“Lion City Sailors”), and shall form a contract between you and Lion City Sailors.
- Your participation in the Competition constitutes your agreement to be bound by these Terms The offering of the Competition to you is conditional on your acceptance of these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not participate in the Competition.
- Lion City Sailors’ other policies (including, but not limited to, the Terms of Service available here) (“Policies”) also apply to your participation in the Competition – to the extent of any inconsistency between the Policies and these Terms, the Policies shall prevail.
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- Competition Period
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- The competition shall run from 2 September 2024 to 23 March 2025 (“Competition Period”).
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- Competition Mechanics
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- To participate in the Competition, you must be a member of the Lion City Sailors official membership program – The Deck.
- To participate in the Competition, you must submit the application form via the designated link, with all compulsory fields completed and ensure that all information provided is accurate (“Application Form”).
- To participate in the Competition, you must use your personal Instagram or Facebook account to post on your own Instagram or Facebook page, and must ensure that each entry is (i) public, (ii) tags @lioncitysailors.fc, and (iii) contains the hashtags #allhandsondeck and #TheDeckTalentCall during the Competition Period. Entries of Facebook/Instagram posts to the Competition are limited to one per participant / person.
- Successful applications will be chosen by the Lion City Sailors marketing department and will be judged on creativity (in its sole discretion).
- At least seven (7) applications winners will be selected for each away match, from amongst the pool of applicants who have indicated their availability for such match in their Application Form. Each Prize (“Prize”) is a trip for one person to one of the designated destinations in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) #ShopeeCup and AFC Champions League #ACLTwo campaigns. The Prize shall include a return flight to one of the designated destinations, two night’s accommodation in the designated destinations, local transfers, basic travel insurance and one match ticket to the ACC Shopee Cup or ACL Two Fixture (details of airlines and hotels to be determined by Lion City Sailors at its discretion and communicated to the winners separately).
- Each Prize winner will be contacted through social media direct messaging by Lion City Sailors. In the event that Lion City Sailors is unable to contact or receive a response from a winner after three (3) attempts, a replacement Prize winner will be chosen.
- Acceptance of a Prize by a winner shall constitute agreement for the winner to take part in such related promotional activities as Lion City Sailors may require.
- The Prize winner must meet travel, health and other conditions under Singapore and the designated destinations laws and regulations, including presenting proof of vaccinations and a valid passport. The Prize winner will also be responsible for all other costs in connection with travelling to the ACC or ACL Fixture, including, but not limited to, the costs of any COVID-19 tests and any COVID-19 related eventualities and personal travel expenditures (e.g dining / drinking, forms of transport beyond those mentioned above, additional travel insurance, etc).
- Unless otherwise determined by Lion City Sailors, each participant shall only be entitled to win one Prize during the Competition Period, and Prize winners shall be removed from the pool of potential winners for any future away matches.
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- Conditions
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- By participating in the Competition, you represent, warrant and undertake that:
- you are are ordinarily resident in Singapore and:
- are at least eighteen (18) years old; or
- if you are under eighteen (18) years old, you:
(A) have obtained consent from your parent or guardian to participate in the Competition (“Parent/Guardian”)
(B) will ensure that your Parent/Guardian submits a separate Participation Form;
(C) if selected as a Prize winner, you must be accompanied by your Parent/Guardian at all times during the trip; - you and your immediate family members are not employed by Lion City Sailors or its associated promotional partners, companies or suppliers; and
- you will comply with all applicable laws when participating in the Competition.
- By participating in the Competition, you represent, warrant and undertake that:
- By participating in the Competition, you acknowledge and agree that:
- the Competition is deemed void to the extent prohibited by applicable laws;
- entries to the Competition are deemed void if Lion City Sailors determine (in its sole discretion) that such entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft;
- the decisions of Lion City Sailors are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the Competition (including, but not limited to, selection of the winner of the Prize);
- the Prize is non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash or any other prizes;
- you grant Lion City Sailors a non‐exclusive, royalty‐free, transferable, sub-licensable, irrevocable, perpetual worldwide licence and right to use (including commercial use), distribute, reproduce, display and otherwise make available any content that you provide in connection with the Competition (including, but not limited to, your entry as well as your name, likeness and/or voice) (“Provided Materials”), warrant that you have all rights necessary to grant such licence over the Provided Materials, and that Lion City Sailors may use your Provided Materials in any publicity or advertising relating to the Competition or future competitions held by Lion City Sailors without compensation or approval (subject to applicable law);
- the Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates, and you agree to completely release Facebook, Inc and its affiliates from any and all liability in connection with the Competition;
- you may be required to provide and/or sign additional documents and forms prior to (and as a condition for) your receipt of the Prize, and elements of the Prize (including flights, hotels and other transport legs will be subject to the terms and conditions of third party service providers); and
- you agree to use, and assist with the transport of, game-day fan equipment such as drums, drum sticks and flags (further details will be conveyed to prize winners separately).
- Changes to / cancellation of Competition
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- Lion City Sailors reserves the right to (in its sole discretion): (a) amend or vary any of these Terms (or any other rule of the Competition), or suspend or cancel the Competition at any time, including, but not limited to, where for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned, due to any causes beyond the control of Lion City Sailors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Competition (including, but not limited to, any changes to the dates, time or location of the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) #ShopeeCup and AFC Asian Champions League #ACLTwo); and (b) suspend or disqualify your participation in the Competition at any time, including, but not limited to, (i) where you breach any of the provisions of these Terms or the Policies, (ii) where your participation in the Competition is deemed by Lion City Sailors to be inappropriate, unsuitable or detrimental to Lion City Sailors, or (iii) where Lion City Sailors determines at its sole discretion that you have engaged in any fraudulent or suspicious activities, including if your social media account is not used for genuine social networking purposes (e.g. bot/fake accounts, accounts used to disseminate false/misleading information, etc.).
- For the avoidance of doubt, cancellation, termination or suspension by Lion City Sailors of the Competition shall not entitle any party to any claim or compensation against Lion City Sailors for any and all losses or damage suffered or incurred as a direct or indirect result of the act of cancellation, termination or suspension of the Competition.
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- Data Protection
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- By participating in the Competition, you are deemed to have consented to: (i) the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data (including, but not limited to your name, image, voice and/or likeness, if applicable) by Lion City Sailors for editorial, advertising, competitional, marketing and/or other purposes without any payment and/or compensation except where prohibited by law; and (ii) receiving competitional, marketing and other publicity information from Lion City Sailors from time to time.
- Please also refer to Lion City Sailors’ Privacy Policy (available here). By participating in the Competition, you consent to Lion City Sailors’ collection, use, disclosure and/or processing of your personal data as described in the Privacy Policy.
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- Disclaimers
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- To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Competition (and any systems used to provide the Competition) is provided “as is” and without any warranties, claims or representations made by Lion City Sailors of any kind either express, implied or statutory with respect to the Competition, including without limitation warranties of quality, performance, non-infringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, nor are there any warranties created by course of dealing, course of performance or trade usage. Without limiting the foregoing, Lion City Sailors do not warrant that the Competition (and any systems used to provide the Competition) will be available, accessible, uninterrupted, timely, secure, accurate, complete or error-free, that defects, if any, will be corrected, or that they are free of harmful code. You acknowledge that the entire risk arising out of your participation in the Competition (and use of any systems used to provide the Competition) remains with you to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
- Lion City Sailors does not assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any Losses resulting from (i) any errors in communication associated with the Competition, (ii) any problems with the Prize; and (iii) any use of the Prize.
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- Indemnity; Liability
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- To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Lion City Sailors and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, subcontractors and agents from and against any and all Losses, whether foreseeable or not, directly resulting from any third party claims, investigations, legal or administrative action, litigation or arbitrations or demands to the extent arising out of or relating to: (a) any actual breach of any of your representations, warranties, covenants, or obligations under these Terms; and (b) any breach of any third party’s rights.
- To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, under no circumstances shall Lion City Sailors be liable to you for any losses, liabilities, damages, fines, judgments, settlements, costs, expenses, and fees (including reasonable and justified attorney’s fees), including, but not limited to: (a) indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive or special damages whatsoever; or (b) loss of profits, loss of business, loss of opportunity or loss of goodwill, whether foreseeable or not, arising out of or related to this terms of service, regardless of the forum and regardless of whether based on breach of contract, tort (including, without limitation, negligence), misrepresentation, under statute or otherwise (“Losses”). Your only right with respect to any problems or dissatisfaction with the Competition is to discontinue participation in the Competition. If, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Lion City Sailors is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable for any Losses, Lion City Sailors’ total liability to you or any third party is limited to SGD 100 (one hundred Singapore dollars).
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- Other
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- Lion City Sailors may revise and update these Terms at any time in its sole discretion by posting an updated version. It is your responsibility to check regularly to determine if any changes have been made (and the effect of such changes). All such changes to these Terms are effective immediately when posted and apply to your participation in the Competition thereafter. Your continued participation in the Competition following the posting of such revised Terms constitutes your acceptance and agreement to the changes which are binding on you.
- These Terms and any non-contractual rights or obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Singapore.
- You shall do all things necessary, including executing all documents necessary, to give effect to the intention of the parties under these Terms.
- Failure by Lion City Sailors to enforce any of their rights at any stage under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
- Any dispute, controversy, difference or claim arising under or relating to these Terms shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in Singapore in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre for the time being in force, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Clause. The seat of the arbitration shall be Singapore. This arbitration agreement shall be governed by Singapore law. The Tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators and the language of the arbitration shall be English.
- A person who is not a party to these Terms shall have no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act (Cap 53B) to enforce these Terms.
The Lion City Sailors Elite Under-15 side were in Porto, Portugal from 27 May to 11 June, when they tested themselves in six matches against top-tier opposition and passed with flying colours, achieving five wins against S.C. Salgueiros, S.C. Braga, F.C. Paços de Ferreira, S.C. Rio Tinto, Rio Ave and a draw against Guimaraes FC.
But beyond the results that came off the back of good performances, the trip offered these young Sailors an invaluable opportunity to experience what is required of professional footballers on a training trip, while also immersing themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Portugal.
The success of the trip came not just from a commitment to the cause when the team set foot in Europe, but perhaps more importantly from the solid preparation work that was put in long before the flight left the Changi Airport runway.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Mustafa Al-Saffar (Musa), the young aspirants readied themselves for this 15-day excursion, engaging in matches against more experienced footballers in Singapore with the objective of improving resilience and fostering a stronger sense of unity within the team.
“Work in Singapore was very important for us – to prepare and also to gel our squad as a group – and so we played against older age-group teams from Tampines Rovers, Geylang International and others too,” said Musa.
Musa asserts that one of the key takeaways from the trip was the young sailors’ immersion into the crucible of training sessions to the intense focus on match preparations – all in the mould of requirements of professional footballers. The team’s time in Porto revolved around matches, allowing them to experience firsthand the dedication required in the top tiers of the sport.
“The way that we treat the players when we go abroad is not to pamper them like we are on holiday. There is work to do in the morning, there’s pre-activation, analysis sessions, and of course there’s the build up to the game,” he said.
“So there’s a whole experience that they go through and of course, all of this is happening in a place 1000 miles away from their homes in Singapore,” said Musa.
“The biggest thing the boys can take away is the opportunity to get a taste of the lifestyle of a professional footballer.”
The decision to pit the team against higher level opposition, beyond what they would typically encounter in Singapore, turned out to be the platform for several learning moments and experiences for the team.
“In Singapore, you always play against more or less the same type of players with the same type of style. However, in Portugal, the opposition was very different, they had immense quality, and even if they are smaller than you, technically they are excellent with the ball.
“Our last game was against Guimaraes FC, they had a few smaller players who looked easy to play against. But, good luck trying to take the ball off one of those guys,” recalled Musa, chuckling.
“The opponents were skillfully excellent and furthermore, there were bigger and stronger players who raised the level of physicality in the games we played in.”
For 15-year-old Rae Peh, the trip sparked an expansion of his horizons, and not just on the football field.
“I faced good opponents that play with high intensity and competitive games that really test our abilities as a team as individuals. I feel such trips help us develop as a player really well as we are challenged both physically and mentally and I was definitely excited to participate when I heard about the trip,” said the central midfielder.
“I think some funny moments that helped us bond were the pranks on the players and coaches and also just overall joking around with teammates,” said Rae. “I think we became more resilient over the course of the trip that provided an opportunity for us to really gel.”
Beyond the football field, the young Sailors delved into the vibrant cultural landscape of Porto. City tours, visits to historical sites, and participation in cultural activities offered them a glimpse into Portugal’s rich heritage.
“Whenever we had some free time during the day we would explore the surrounding area by going on things like tours, city tours, different boat trips and cultural activities. I am glad that the boys got to learn more about the country’s culture through these activities,” said Musa, who recalled an impromptu encounter on the streets of Porto as a highlight of these explorations.
“Once we had a nice walk to the city and there were a few kids playing in the streets, and our boys asked if they could play together. We played with them trying to keep the ball up and we clapped and cheered for each other, and we joked around, trying to say some Portuguese words too,” he reminisced.
Moments like these were seared into the memory of Rae, who is already looking with anticipation to next overseas opportunity.
“I think we did really well as a team and produced some good results: we managed to stay unbeaten and I feel that’s a really positive thing. The opponents were definitely strong and they really challenged us to put up a good fight and I felt like we were able to compete with them,” said Rae.
“I feel as a team we definitely enjoyed such an experience and we are looking forward to more of such trips.”
The Lion City Sailors Women go into the month-long international break with a resounding 6-1 victory over Tampines Rovers in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Sunday (27 August).
Boosted by the return of Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan and skipper Ernie Sulastri Sontaril, the Sailors turned in a dominating performance at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, with five players – including teenagers Josephine Ang and Cara Chang – getting their names on the score sheet.
Young guns from the Sailors’ pipeline are turning in consistent performances in a team defending their WPL title, and Sheau Shyan believes this augurs well for the future, especially because of how the team has come together to help these young ones grow.
“Our senior players have been very helpful, they are really leading the team and bringing in the younger girls. This has been one big factor that has helped the younger ones – who are already good technical players – settle down really quickly,” said Sheau Shyan, speaking after the win that cements the Sailors’ position atop the 10-team WPL standings.
With 34 points from 12 matches, the Sailors remain four points ahead of second-placed Albirex Niigata (S) and eight in front of third-placed Hougang United.
“The young ones are now building the confidence to attack and I’m very impressed with the way they play and how they give their 100% every game throughout the 90 minutes,” added Ernie.
It was one of the young guns who set the Sailors on their way on the evening. Driving down the left flank, Cara pummelled the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 in the first minute of the match.
After seeing one chance after another go to waste in the next half an hour, it came all at once for the Sailors.
Josephine extended the lead in the 38th minute, her right-wing cross-shot dipping into the top corner of the Stags’ goal.
14-year-old Cara then put the Sailors 3-0 up with her second goal of the night two minutes later, with a cool finish after Izzati Rosni’s shot was parried into her path.
Several fouls were given by both sides in a feistier second half.
Izzati’s free kick in the 50th minute may have hit the crossbar, but she made no mistake a minute later by netting a penalty won by Cara who was a constant threat to the Tampines defence – and she did it in style with dispatching it with nonchalant no-look effort two minutes later.
As the game passed the hour mark, Lila Tan got in on the action, capitalising on a mistake by the Tampines defence with an easy finish to make it 5-0.
Tampines pulled a goal back through Farhanah Ruhaizat in the 82nd minute. The Stags attacker became the first player to score against Sailors goalkeeper Beatrice Tan this season with her scuffed finish off a long punt catching the Sailors defence off-guard.
Any hope of a dramatic comeback was quashed by Sailors skipper Ernie in the 90th minute. The 35-year-old’s freekick from just outside the Tampines box curled right into the top corner and her first goal of the season made her the 16th different goalscorer in the Sailors’ squad this season.
“It’s very rare for me to want to take a free kick but I have been practicing from that area with my one-on-one coach so I felt more confident,” said Ernie. “I thought, ‘let me try and take this’. I think the training was worth it.”
The win also marks the final game for Natasha Naszri, who is set to leave for Spain under an Unleash The Roar! football scholarship. The youngster came on to replace Ho Hui Xin with 20 minutes to go.
“I’m really sad to leave the club I’ve been with for five years but to go overseas is a good opportunity for me to grow. I’ve learned a lot about attitude and discipline here at the Sailors, and those are things I will take with me to Spain,” said Natasha.
“I will miss my friends and coaches and also the fans for being there and supporting me throughout the years.”
While sad to see her go, Ernie was delighted that Natasha can join the growing list of young Singaporean female footballers venturing abroad.
Said Ernie: “Natasha’s at this young age, and it’s a good chance for her to learn as much as she can in Spain. They’ve got top teams and have just won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and I believe she can grow as a player in Spain and become a top player for Singapore.”
The Sailors will next see WPL action on Sunday 15 October, when they line up against fifth-placed Tanjong Pagar United.
