Author: Lion City Sailors
Rudy and Arshad join Geylang on loan
Lion City Sailors duo Rudy Khairullah and Arshad Shamim have joined Geylang International on loan for the remainder of the 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
Rudy goes on his second loan stint after doing so at Balestier Khalsa in 2022.
A dependable custodian with great reflexes, Rudy was part of the Lion City Sailors squad that won the Singapore Premier League title in 2021.
A winger with bags of pace to burn, Arshad joined the Sailors in the club’s inaugural SPL season, and went on to play for the Young Lions for the next two campaigns before returning to the club at the tail-end of 2022 upon the completion of his National Service obligations.
Arshad has scored two goals across 14 appearances for the club across the two stints.
We wish them all the best with the Eagles.
The inaugural Tasek Sailors Charity Football fundraiser that brought together 24 corporations and organisations as well as 14 boys and girls teams on Sunday, 25 June saw a total of S$265,000 raised from all sources.
Funds raised will go towards empowering and uplifting disadvantaged youth across Singapore through a holistic development program put together by the Tasek Sailors, a joint initiative of the Lion City Sailors and Tasek Football Academy.
Sunday’s Charity Football tournament that was hosted at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre saw the enthusiastic participation of corporate supporters and schools that came together in the spirit of friendly competition and community interest.
“It’s wonderful to see such strong support for the Tasek Sailors initiative. It’s part of how we must help everyone discover their strengths, including the talents they never knew they had, and to gain respect for each other’s strengths. Sports brings that out in so many of the young people we have been working with,” said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also Patron of Tasek Jurong.
SM Tharman was one of the three Guests of Honours who graced the event along with Members of Parliament, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Shawn Huang.
The event showcased Singaporeans’ passion for football – and just how effective the sport can be in bringing the community together – and also demonstrated the collective commitment to supporting young individuals who face challenging circumstances.
Deloitte won the Open category tournament beating UB Morgan 2-0 in the final.
Sailors B10 were the champions of the Boys Under-11 category, while Sailors White ended the day as champions of the Girls Under-14 tournament.
A Celebrity Exhibition match, featuring the likes of local footballing legends Fandi Ahmad and Aleksandar Duric as well as local actors Elvin Ng and Ian Fang, was also played out to much fanfare.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and sponsors who contributed to the success of our fundraiser,” said Lion City Sailors Academy General Manager, Tan Li Yu. “There are also several supporters who worked hard behind the scenes to breathe life into the event.
“While we are delighted to witness such an outpouring of support, we know the real work for us starts now, channelling funds raised to where they can effectively help – and we are looking forward to getting properly started.”
The funds raised will be utilised to provide a comprehensive programme of football training and mentorship – through the Tasek Sailors Football Academy, Financial Assistance for female footballers as well as outreach programmes – for young boys and girls, empowering them to develop both as individuals and footballers.
A key facet of the Tasek Sailors initiative that Dr ‘Ain Azman is looking forward to is the support that Tasek Sailors will give to girls’ football.
“We’ve already seen the effect that our programme has had and we’re excited to see how much we can further the development of girls,” said the Tasek Jurong Senior Manager.
“There are several girls under the Tasek umbrella who are looking forward to the programme being set in motion, and we also witnessed in the girls’ tournament today that we are not short on talent either. It will be fantastic to see just what more Singaporean girls can do with more structured support.”
The Tasek Sailors will start with a scaling up of the Tasek Sailors Academy, before getting outreach programmes underway across the island, to deliver professional football coaching and structured mentorship programs to empower more Singaporean youth.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s team recorded a resounding 8-0 victory over Balestier Khalsa at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (25 June) evening to go top of the 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table.
They now lead the 10-team WPL table with 16 points, one ahead of Albirex Niigata (S) who dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Police Sports Association in a concurrent match. Hougang United are close behind in third with 14 points.
This was the largest-ever winning margin for the Sailors Women and it brought a little smile to forward Nur Izzati Rosni, who starred with a clinical hat-trick.
“We have struggled to score goals this season and to fix that, we’ve been working hard on ways to penetrate opponents’ defences and create chances in training – and it paid off today,” said the 24-year-old. “It is a very nice feeling to convert many of our chances into goals.”
Izzati opened the floodgates for the Sailors as early as in the third minute when she headed in a rebound after the ball was parried away by Balestier’s custodian Tan Eng Chiu.
The Sailors doubled their advantage through a Madison Telmer tap-in on 17 minutes, this after being set free on the right wing by a brilliant Lila Tan pass.
Wide forward Miray Altun extended the lead to three in the 45th minute, unleashing a scintillating shot that curled beyond the reach of the outstretched Balestier goalkeeper.
The Sailors carried on in the same vein in the second half, slamming a plethora of goals past Balestier.
18-year-old Miray turned architect in the 48th minute with a well-crafted pass that found Izzati, who put the ball into the back of the net with consummate ease.
Even after four goals, the Sailors were still not done.
The irrepressible Izzati was determined to claim her hat-trick, and did so in lightning fashion. Clean through on goal, she slotted past the Balestier custodian in the 62nd minute.
Izzati was jubilant after the game and gave credit to her team.
“It is an amazing feeling to score three goals and I’m really happy, but this is a team effort, that’s for sure – from the goalkeeper to defenders and the forwards, everyone,” said Izzati, who is now up to six goals for the season – three behind Albirex’s league-leading scorer Kana Kitahara.
“Scoring goals involves all of us: to win the ball, to make the crafty pass, and then to score. As an attacking player, it is my duty to help the team by putting the ball in the back of the net, but this is a whole team effort.”
In the 70th minute, Madison scored her second on the night, pouncing to block a Balestier defender’s pass before providing an instinctive finish, for the Sailors’ sixth goal of the evening.
Substitute Chloe Koh then came on to great effect, the 16-year-old providing a pair of assists to her older teammates. First for Lila’s 83rd-minute goal, and then to help Julia Farr score what was her first ever Sailors goal in the second minute of injury time.
Chloe was one of six 16-year-olds who took to the pitch against Balestier, alongside Tia Foong, the pair making their debut for the Sailors’ women, while Ardhra Arul Ganeswaran was included in the Sailors WPL starting XI for the first time.
The Sailors Women will take on Geylang International on Saturday, 22 July at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium when the WPL resumes after the international break.
Focused Sailors will soldier on
The Lion City Sailors return to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) after the international break and they will look to pick up where they left off – an eight-match unbeaten run – as they host Hougang United at Bishan Stadium on Sunday (23 June).
Daan van Oudheusden and Pablo Muñiz have been in interim charge of the first team for just a week, but have already seen enough from the Sailors they believe will continue to drive towards the SPL title.
The Sailors are currently three points off frontrunners Albirex Niigata (S) – who have a game in hand – and Tampines Rovers going into the final ten games of the season.
“It is quite hectic right now because it is a time of transition. We need to adapt to the new situation – and I admit it is not easy – but the atmosphere in the team is still positive, and we still have the same fiery desire to win games,” said Daan.
Daan takes charge of the practical aspects of first team coaching, while Pablo focuses more on analysis and preparation.
“I don’t think a lot of things will change, but I think we are well-prepared and confident for the next game against Hougang,” added Daan who asserted that despite the preparations being slightly affected by the international break, the Sailors have been working very hard.
Eight Lion City Sailors players were named in Takayuki Nishigaya’s Singapore National Team’s squad, which faced Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands in the recent FIFA international window.
“The national team players just came back from international duty and we had to give them additional time to recover, but it is going to be fine because we have worked hard in our preparations.”
“At the end of the day, there is a very strong bond among the players, so belief and motivation are always very high – we’re ready to take the three points,” said the Dutchman.
It is precisely this drive that Hafiz Nor believes will put his team in good stead.
“Nothing’s going to deter our focus – we’ve done well in recent matches and we want to continue our good form to stay in the title hunt,” emphasised the Sailors vice-captain.
“We’re giving our fullest support to Daan and Pablo, and we have full confidence in them to lead us while the club is looking for a permanent replacement. As a club, we must rally together and fight for each other.”
Hafiz is acutely aware that sixth-placed Hougang could pose a tough test – having won four out of their last five matches – but believes that the Sailors’ tenacious fortitude would give them the edge to push for a win.
“We are really aware of Hougang and it will be a tricky game. Under coach Marko Kraljević, Hougang has been in decent form,and we need to be careful,” said the 34-year-old, who is the longest-serving Sailor with 72 appearances.
“We don’t expect any easy games in the SPL and we are going to be focused on our task ahead: To get the three points.”
The Lion City Sailors were held to a 1-1 draw with a spirited Albirex Niigata (S) side at Yishun Stadium on Sunday (18 June) in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), but the women are determined to put that result firmly behind them and return to winning ways against Balestier Khalsa at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium this Sunday (25 June).
Ho Hui Xin is confident that the Sailors will bounce back and the midfielder is backing her side to show a fiery energy to beat a Balestier side that is currently seventh in the 10-team WPL table.
The Sailors are currently in second, level on points with league leaders Albirex, who are ahead on superior goal difference.
“We should have closed the Albirex game with the chances we created, but we didn’t do that, and we were punished. We can’t let that happen again,” said the midfield enforcer.
“Our style of play will be the same against Balestier in the next game and all games in the future, but we need to improve on our finishing – it doesn’t amount to anything if we can’t convert our chances – and I’m confident that moving forward, we will put the ball in the back of the net.”
While she retains a firm belief in the team, Hui Xin has called for the Sailors women to guard against complacency against Balestier.
“They have quite a few experienced players like Defender Siti Nurerwadah and also Mastura Jeilani who has a commanding presence – we need to look out for her. She can take long shots, and usually, Balestier’s play goes through her,” added the Sailors Women vice-captain.
“As a team, they have a strong bond and terrific chemistry, I am sure they will give us an excellent fight. We need to be focused, and we need the three points to maintain our foothold in the league.”
Munirah Mohamad was equally adamant to retain focus for the entire 90 minutes against Balestier.
“We did feel defeated after the draw against Albirex, but we do want to let that affect our morale, and we are determined to improve,” said the defender.
“We cannot let our guard down because Balestier have key players who can change the game. Any complacency can bring us down, so as a team we must keep our head in the game, score goals and get the three points.”
The Lion City Sailors were originally pencilled in to battle in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) playoffs, but the club will now get direct entry to the ACL group stage.
The AFC confirmed the fact today (21 June) in a media release that revealed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK)’s “one (1) direct slot has been redistributed to SGP in accordance with Articles 3.16 and 3.17 of the Entry Manual” for AFC club competitions.
This means that the Sailors go straight into the competition courtesy of being the top local side in the Singapore Premier League in 2022.
The draw for the group stage will take place on Thursday, 24 August and fixtures are scheduled to take place between September to December 2023.
This will be the Sailors’ second appearance in Asia’s top-tier club competition after a debut outing in 2022 that yielded two wins and one draw.
Leading a young and hungry Class of 2023, Sailors’ captain Hariss Harun is looking forward to the opportunity to battle the cream of the continent once again.
“The club’s aim has always been to make it back to the ACL and we’re all happy to be able to compete with Asia’s top clubs once again,” said the 32-year-old, who also played in the ACL for Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim in 2019 and 2020.
“We’re all aware of the size of the challenge ahead, but challenges like these are what you live for in football and as a team, we will relish this chance. Right now, we’re very much focused on trying to regain the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title but we are excited about embarking on our second ACL campaign.”
“What’s your first impression of Mom?” was the first question Nathan Mao shot across the table at his father, Lincoln.
His second question was equally probing, pointed even: “Would you have preferred to have a son who focuses purely on studies and did not play football?”
The father-son pair were playing the Sailors’ Father’s Day game: Jenga Jive-talk – the Sailors’ own twist on the classic Jenga – with each tile corresponding to specific questions crafted to spark both inane and meaningful conversations between players. The game comes with “joker” tiles that allow players to ask questions of their own as well.
And it quickly became clear that this chip – Nathan and his straight-forward cheeky maturity – came off the old block.
Lincoln did not flinch at either question crafted by his son. His first response demonstrated a very clear – and heartwarming – memory of Nathan’s mum, Grace. His answer to the second question came lightning quick, and like every good dad joke, drew from references that the child is well-familiar with – and will inevitably squirm at.
“Definitely not,” was Lincoln’s immediate response to the question: “Would you have preferred to have a son who focuses purely on studies and did not play football?”
The cheeky dad-joke-punchline – a sweet one – came a second later: “You’re my choice in any multiverse.”
Nathan was hit so hard by the line he failed to find his words. “(That’s) too chummy, or rather too cheesy!” he remarked behind a visible squirm you would expect from any 15-year-old.
Nathan made history as the Singapore Premier League’s youngest-ever player at 15 years and 5 years old when he came on in the 4-3 defeat against Tampines Rovers on 31 March, playing with a maturity beyond his lean years, and it was clear the family approach to football had some part to play in this.
Jenga Jive-talk was designed to create banter between father and child, but in the case of Nathan and Lincoln, it drew out the close relationship they share.
“I feel that with all the coaches and video software at the club, Nathan’s getting a lot of feedback already,” said the 44-year-old.
“My role is more like a cheerleader. The conversations we have at home revolve around character, resilience rather than actual performances. Football is a wonderful thing with so many teachable moments that can be translated outside of the pitch.”
It is an approach from his biggest supporter that Nathan appreciates.
“My dad’s been there, he does all the small things that you only notice a few years later, things that you don’t really give a lot of appreciation when it actually happens,” said Nathan.
“He’s so busy with work but he still makes time to go out and spend time with me. He’s definitely a role model for me.”
Like most fathers Lincoln’s hopes for his son extend far beyond the sport.
“My wish for him is to continue to do our best, stay humble, stay thankful and continue to grow as a person and as a player. At the end of the day, it’s about the journey – not the destination.
“I hope he ends up wherever he wants to be – which is to be a successful football player. But even if he doesn’t, it’s important he enjoys the process and is thankful for every step he takes.”
It is evident that Nathan remembers every step of his journey thus far, and it is also evident that alongside the game of saccharine-sweet words, Nathan also packs cheeky barbs in his arsenal.
When Lincoln pulled the question: “What activity am I really bad at, and how did you find out?”, Nathan pounced.
“Football,” he said, flinching just a little, even as it was Dad who squirmed and chuckled uncomfortably this time.
“I knew that when I was six years old, and I was already better than you.”
Lion City Sailors have reached a mutual agreement with Risto Vidaković to go our separate ways.
The Sailors wish him the best in his future endeavours.
The search for a new Head Coach to take the club forward has already started, and announcements will be made when the process is completed.
Daan van Oudheusden and Pablo Muñiz will take interim charge of the first team, starting with the 25 June SPL fixture against Hougang United.
“It has been a pleasure working with Risto. While it is unfortunate that we are moving in different directions, we are grateful for his commitment to the team from the moment he walked into Mattar Road,” said Technical Director, Luka Lalić.
“We wish him well, and hope he enjoys every success in the future.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team missed the opportunity to seize top spot from Albirex Niigata (S) in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), as they were held to a 1-1 draw with the White Swans at Yishun Stadium on Sunday (18 June) evening.
The reigning WPL champions had led for the majority of the game and looked set to claim an important victory to leapfrog Albirex to the summit of the 10-team standings, but were foiled by a late equaliser.
The result means the Sailors remain second behind the White Swans on goal difference, with Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan lamenting the first points her Sailors have dropped this season.
“It was a bit disappointing not to win, especially since we were leading until the last part of the match, and we had so many chances too. I think our young players created many chances, but were unfortunate not to convert them,” she said.
The Sailors put out a strong lineup, with playmaker Venetia Lim starting in the heart of midfield while goalkeeper Noor Kusumawati Rosman got the nod for her first start in 2023.
After dominating early proceedings, the Sailors took a deserved lead in the 18th minute with Nur Izzati Rosni converting a penalty with consummate confidence after Khairunnisa Khairol Anwar was brought down in the area.
Albirex did go close before half time, but Dini Dannisha’s header was repelled by Wati.
The Sailors created several chances after the break but just could not put those away.
Miray Altun found herself in a promising position in the 64th minute but could only shoot into the side netting. Then substitutes – 15-year-old Ardhra Arul Ganeswaran and 16-year-old Josephine Ang – came on to carve out a few good openings, but were unable to net that important second goal.
It seemed like the match was done and dusted, but Albirex’s Tina Afrida Nasmi scored to level the score three minutes into injury time.
Captain Ernie Sulastri Sontaril drew several positives despite the dropped points.
“We should have closed the game with the chances we created today, but we didn’t and, disappointingly, we conceded a goal too. The upside is that we were not complacent today, pushed through till the end and showed a lot of fighting spirit,” she said.
“We played very well today, especially in terms of holding our backline, but luck was not on our side. We now need to rest and recover well, analyse this game, and see what we can improve on,” added the 33-year-old.
Sheau Shyan shared similar sentiments.
“All the clubs are challenging us, and we cannot be complacent if we want to retain the title. We need to focus on our weaknesses and improve on them, especially in terms of scoring more goals,” she said.
“We are in a good position to win the title, so I am hopeful we can maintain the momentum, and furthermore, we have several good young players coming up to the team.”
Watching the young ones come through and get WPL game time is a source of optimism for Ernie, who is also captain of the National Women’s Team.
“Bringing in the young players in the second half is important, both to expose them to higher levels of competition in the WPL and also to bring out their potential. I’m proud of how they’ve performed so far, and I’m confident they will continue to improve,” said Ernie, who is confident that the Sailors will continue to get better as a team.
“We will work on our finishing in the coming weeks for our preparation because we know our opponents will sit back when they face us. We have to be able to find space in our opponent’s half and get better at converting our chances.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s team will look to return to winning ways against Balestier Khalsa this Sunday (25 June) evening at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
In celebration of Father’s Day, we sidestep pleasantries and get properly stuck into the family lives of our Sailors and their relationship with their dads.
We sit our Sailors across from their fathers and pit them against one another in a friendly game of Jenga – with a sneaky Sailors’ twist – to cut through the noise and fuel real conversations.
From cutting jibes to heartwarming revelations, the responses to the Sailors’ very own Jenga Jive-talk were as varied as they were interesting.
In the first of this two-part series, we put Sailors Women’s Team forward Lila Tan on the spot with her father, businessman, David Tan.
Lila Tan sat across from her dad, David, in the Lion City Sailors Training Centre’s player recreation room and posed a question which momentarily stumped him.
“What is one thing that your daughter or sons will change about you?”
Seconds of silence hung heavy in the air before David responded with a bludgeon.
“I think there’s nothing to change. For them about me: nothing to change,” he said, before adding, “Maybe they want me to have more time with them – this is the only change.”
The father-daughter pair were playing the Sailors’ Father’s Day game: Jenga Jive-talk – the Sailors’ own twist on the classic Jenga – with each tile corresponding to specific questions crafted to spark both inane and meaningful conversations between players.
And the Tans were right up in it.
David went next and picked a question for Lila from the Sailors’ from-left-field category: Would you want your dad to be in your crew during a zombie apocalypse?
“I would not because you would run very slow and we probably would die,” said Lila. “You have a knee injury so you can’t run very fast.”
Her words drew a quick riposte from Dad.
“My pick-up (acceleration) is better than yours,” he spat back. “It’s just the speed (that loses out) only.”
Lila’s face immediately twisted with a wild incredulity that seemed to encapsulate at least half of what Jenga Jive-talk was designed for, and the Tans did not disappoint, fully embracing the other side of the game as well – real conversations.
“He is so stubborn! He’ll never let me or my mum win in an argument – he’ll always try to have the last word,” said Lila, who threw in what seemed like a sharp finishing jab for good measure. “Right?”
David seemed to prove his daughter’s point, but what seemed like a move to grab the last word went a tad further into the realm of real emotions – emotional baselines, if you will.
“To her, it’s stubborn, to some other people it’s wisdom – it’s how you perceive it. We’ve been through certain things in life before, so we want to advise you and not want you to go ‘bang the wall’, he explained.
“Okay, sometimes it’s good to bang the wall and learn things the hard way, but sometimes it’s good to heed advice so that you no need to go through so much hardship or obstacles in life. After all, parents just want our kids to head to a bright destination and fulfil all their potential.”
It appeared that tough love – but real and deep love – was bubbling to the surface. And right behind that raw emotion, came a fragment of David’s philosophy of life.
“Sports actually help my kids in their studies,” he declared, with a smile that went against the grain of Singapore culture.
“A lot of parents have the misconception that if their kids spend too much time on sports, their studies will deteriorate – but it’s the reverse,” explained the 53-year-old who dabbled in various sports, including track and field and football.
And David has ensured that his children embrace that neat little trick of leveraging sporting passion to drive what future academic success he believes will inevitably follow.
Lila and her three younger brothers have all committed to football. She is now starting to establish herself in the Singapore Women’s National Team, while 18-year-old Louka is with Hougang United’s Under-21s, 15-year-old Lukyan is with the Sailors Under-15 side, while youngest sibling, 8-year-old Lael trains with the ActiveSG Football Academy.
“When you use more time to do sports, you have less time for studies,” admitted David. “And that’s when effective time management comes in. So, when they study, they’re focused so their results could actually be better that way.”
And David goes even further.
Apart from joining his children in casual kickabouts, David also takes the time to go through videos that illustrate good examples of passages of play, coaching philosophy of top-class managers, all to help develop a better understanding of the game in his children.
As Jenga Jive-talk went on there was a soft touch to David’s approach that came to the fore, surprising even Lila.
“In three words, describe my ability in the kitchen,” asked Lila.
David paused. Lila squirmed.
And just as Lila was going to surrender to a snarky remark about her cooking, David exclaimed: “Not so bad!
“If it’s something that you want to do, you’ll do it well – even food. I’ve tasted your cooking and it was good – she cooks pasta and omelette quite well, I have to say,” said David, to more squirming from Lila, who came back with a soft touch of her own.
“I appreciate the effort he puts in (sending) us to training and back. Despite it being late at night around 10.30pm and after a long day of work, he’ll be there, nonetheless, for us – I’ve never really told you this, but I really do appreciate it.”
Having just turned 20, Lila is still trying to figure out her direction in life – she is currently fussing over which university to go for and whether to pursue football long-term, and she has David firmly in her corner.
“I want her to be happy – and to do what she has passion for,” he said, with Lila nodding quietly to herself.
“If she’s doing what she truly likes, she will be happy and that’s really the biggest factor.”
