Author: Lion City Sailors
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.
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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).
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- 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).
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- Conditions
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- By participating in the Competition, you represent, warrant and undertake that:
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- are at least eighteen (18) years old; or
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(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;
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- 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);
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- 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.).
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
After eking out a gritty 1-0 win over Still Aerion in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) the last time out, the Lion City Sailors Women turn their attentions to Tampines Rovers at Choa Chu Kang Stadium this Sunday (27 August).
This is a chance for the Sailors Women to end August on a perfect note, having strung three straight victories in the WPL, including a 10-0 thumping of Tiong Bahru on 5 August.
Yeong Sheau Shyan’s charges are perched atop the 10-team WPL on 31 points, four clear of nearest challengers Albirex Niigata (S), who are due to face Geylang International on 26 August.
With a spate of injuries and absences forcing them to name a matchday squad of only 13 players against Still Aerion, midfielder Ho Hui Xin acknowledged that the result was a precious one.
“While the bench was thin, I felt that we could have managed the game better with the quality of players we had,” admitted the 31-year-old, who has donned the captain’s armband on several occasions this season.
“It was frustrating to come up against an Aerion side who pressed us hard, but I’m thankful we came away with the win as we did not want to drop unnecessary points at this stage of the season.”
Despite the Sailors’ run of form, Hui Xin believes there is still room for improvement as they come up against a Tampines side who are sixth in the WPL and are currently on a five-game winless streak, having last tasted victory in a 6-1 win over Tiong Bahru on 24 June.
While they have lost the services of Giselle Blümke and defender Sara Hayduchok who joined the Sailors in the mid-season transfer window, Tampines still boast plenty of experience in Singapore Women’s National Team players Farhanah Ruhaizat and Stephanie Dominguez.
“I expect them (Tampines) to throw everything at us and we definitely cannot take anything for granted,” said Hui Xin of their opponents whom they beat 1-0 in the reverse fixture on May 21.
“We need to be better in playing the ball forward and have the confidence that things will work out. We just need to continue to play the football that we are used to, hopefully that will translate into results for us.”
With the likes of Josephine Ang and Cara Chang breaking into the WPL squad and already impressing this season, Hui Xin believes these younger players have a part to play in the team’s success.
“While they may still be teenagers, they are technically sound and complement the senior players, allowing us to perform better as a team,” pointed out the Singapore international.
“Jo has got a few goals under her belt, while Cara also scored her first goal recently. I hope they will continue to get better and fire us to victory against Tampines to keep the momentum going.“
The Lion City Sailors’ fixtures for the 2023/24 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Group Stage have been confirmed, with all six matches being midweek affairs, in accordance with the AFC’s revised format.
Aleksandar Ranković’s men will kick off their second foray into the ACL playing host to 2022-23 Thai League 1 runners-up Bangkok United on 20 September – four days after the Sailors’ final Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixture against Geylang International.
The Sailors will then go on the road to face reigning Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC at Hong Kong Stadium two weeks later on 4 October.
A double-header against two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will follow, with an away day at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on 25 October, before the Sailors play hosts to Dan Petrescu’s side a fortnight later, on 8 November.
The Sailors will then visit Thailand to play Bangkok at Thammasat Stadium on 29 November, before wrapping up the group stage with a home game against Kitchee on 13 December.
All three of the Sailors’ home ACL group-stage fixtures will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
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He is a pint-sized livewire who stalked the left flank of Geylang International and Young Lions in the past, fearless in the challenge, even against opponents of a bigger stature, perhaps especially so.
Harith Kanadi is looking to bring that same fire to the Lion City Sailors, while leveraging the upped ante at the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) only privatised club to propel his game to the next level.
The 23-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the club following the completion of his National Service obligations, and he is set to be a handy addition to the Sailors in wide areas.
“It’s every footballer’s dream to be in an established club like this. We have some of the best players in the league, quality coaches, and a great Training Centre – elements that will help me succeed as a player,” said Harith, who is already accustomed to questions about his diminutive stature.
“Yes, I’m small in size and there are many players in the league who are bigger than me. But it’s quite simple: I’m not scared of big players, or big challenges – not at all.
“Joining the Sailors is definitely the biggest challenge of my career and I’m ready to show what I’m made of.”
Inspired by his brother Haziq who used to play in the youth teams of Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors – Harith was keen to carve out his own football journey and achieved his dream of playing professionally when he turned in an impressive performance on his Geylang debut in September 2019, helping the Eagles to a 4-3 win over the now-defunct Warriors FC.
His infectious energy and ability to whip in wicked crosses from the left saw him become a first-team regular for Geylang and subsequently at Young Lions as well. He made 63 SPL appearances across the next four seasons and established himself as one of the country’s finest young left-backs.
Harith is now determined to take his game up a notch – especially with the club’s second foray into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) looming on the horizon.
“I’m definitely going to focus a lot on gym work to bulk myself up so that I’ll be more equipped to face even bigger opponents in the ACL,” he revealed.
“I’m determined to train very hard and improve all aspects of my game – I want to get more assists and also be better at linking up play. I know I have to fight for my spot at the Sailors and it’s on me to show Coach Ranko (Aleksandar Ranković) what I can offer.”
Harith’s ambition is to make his Singapore National Team debut in the near future and knows that he now has the perfect platform to work his way there, but he is aware that there is important work to be done first.
“Every football player aspires to represent their nation one day and I’m no different. To be working alongside quality players like Hariss Harun, Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes will surely help me improve as a player and help me in my target to play for the Lions, but I’m focusing on the club right now,” emphasised the former Singapore Under-22 international.
“What’s most important now is to deliver good performances for the team when called upon and help us go one step further in the upcoming ACL.”
10 Lion City Sailors players have been named in Takayuki Nishigaya’s 28-strong Singapore National Team’s squad which will take on Tajikistan and Chinese Taipei in the September FIFA international window.
Lions captain Hariss Harun along with seven others – Lionel Tan, M. Anumanthan, Hafiz Nor, Hami Syahin, Adam Swandi, Shawal Anuar, as well as custodian Zharfan Rohaizad – kept their places in the squad after being called up for June’s friendlies against Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile there are also deserved recalls for defenders Christopher van Huizen and Zulqarnaen Suzliman after recent strong displays for the Sailors.
Chris was one of Singapore’s best performers in the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup, but failed to get the nod for the March and June international windows while losing his first-team spot after an enterprising start to his Sailors career.
But the 30-year-old buckled down and produced an accomplished performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Tiger Cup to impress Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković. He has since started the last three Singapore Premier League matches, with sparkling displays and scored his first goal in Sailors colours in the 8-2 drubbing of Hougang United.
Now back into the national fold, Chris wants to add to his tally of 13 caps and cement his spot in the setup.
“It was disappointing not to get called up in June because every call-up counts. Playing for the country is something that means the world to me and I want to keep this as a consistent thing in my career,” said the full-back.
“I was feeling really down back then, but that didn’t stop me from working hard and pushing even harder in training. I was so pleased when Coach Ranko gave me the chance to start against Spurs and I didn’t look back from there. Being in the starting 11 for the last few games is obviously a great feeling and I’m just so stoked to get back into the national team.
“My focus now is to do well for the Lions and also for the club in the upcoming AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League.”
After missing much of the 2022 campaign through injury, Zulqarnaen has enjoyed a strong 2023 season, making a total of 17 appearances, earning him his first call-up since being named in the pandemic-delayed edition of the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup that was played in 2021.
“I’m so happy and proud to be back and putting on national colours. I’m getting more confident with more playing time, although I came off the bench quite a few times. There’s a saying that I truly believe in – ‘keep going no matter how short the minutes you get, because every second counts’,” said the 25-year-old, whose last and 21st cap came in the Lions’ 4-2 defeat to Indonesia in December 2021.
“Given our squad depth at the Sailors, you have to fight for your spot and I’ve been trying my best to do so. I hope to play as many minutes as I can in these two upcoming international friendlies and I’m going to do what I do best – making runs down my flank and putting in crucial tackles to help the team.”
The Lions will take on Tajikistan on Friday, 8 Sep before entertaining Chinese Taipei four days later on Tuesday, 12 Sep.
Both matches will be played at Bishan Stadium.
The Lion City Sailors will face opposition from South Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong in their second foray into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).
This was revealed earlier this afternoon (24 August) following the Group Stage draw for the 2023/24 season of Asia’s flagship club competition which took place in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
The Sailors, who qualified courtesy of finishing as the top-ranked local side in the 2022 Singapore Premier League season, are placed in Group F (East Zone) along with two-time ACL champions and 2022 K League runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, 2022-23 Thai League 1 runners-up Bangkok United, and 2022-23 Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC.
The 21st edition of the ACL marks the first time that the competition will be played in an Autumn-Spring calendar, between September 2023 to May 2024 and reverts to the popular home-and-away format for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
It continues in the expanded field of 40 teams first introduced in 2021, with the East and West regions featuring five groups of four teams. The five group winners and the best three runner-ups from each region will advance into the Round of 16.
Group-stage matches will be played between 19 September to 13 December – and will for the first time in the history of the competition, utilise the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
Matches from the Round of 16 till the semi-finals take place next February to April, with the two-legged final scheduled for 11 and 18 May 2024.
Placed in a challenging group, the Sailors will look to build on an encouraging maiden voyage in the ACL last season – where they acquitted themselves well with some assured performances and achieved the best-ever points tally – seven – by a Singapore club in the competition’s group stage.
They can also count on a squad brimming with European pedigree. Aleksandar Ranković’s side brought in the likes of former Portugal youth captain Rui Pires, ex-Ajax Amsterdam forward Richairo Živković and current Socceroos defender Bailey Wright in mid-season, bolstering a side that already boasts former PSV Eindhoven winger Maxime Lestienne and a host of experienced Singapore internationals.
Sailors vice-captain Hafiz Nor is excited at the prospect of going up against the continent’s elite once again and is confident the team has what it takes to mix it up with the very best.
“Our performances in the ACL last season have given us the confidence and platform to build on. While we have quite a different team this season, I’ve every confidence in us to do well again and even do better than the previous time,” said the 35-year-old, who is one of the most experienced players in the ranks alongside Hariss Harun.
“We’ve a good blend of hungry young players eager to prove themselves and experienced seniors who have played at the highest level. The team has been progressing and peaking well to finish the SPL season very strongly.
“Everyone’s just working so hard to prepare for our second ACL campaign and the target is obvious: to qualify for the Round of 16 for the first time.”
