Author: Nicolette Ten
I’m loving it: Adam Swandi
He is smiling more these days, and there is little wonder why.
After dragging himself out from under low hanging dark clouds of injury setbacks in the last couple of years, Adam Swandi has fought his way back into firm contention for a first-team spot at the Lion City Sailors.
And he is loving it.
It may still be early days in the 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, but as the Sailors line up against Adam’s former employers, Young Lions on Wednesday (6 April) at the Jalan Besar Stadium, it seems that the 26-year-old is finally stepping into the light.
He has already made more starts this campaign than in 2020 and 2021 combined – three, to be exact, including the AIA Community Shield, and has also come off the bench on two other occasions.
Adam was a starter for the Singapore national team in the Lions’ memorable 2-1 Causeway Derby win over Malaysia in the Football Association of Singapore Tri-Nations Series in March, and things are looking up, with his fiery renaissance sparked by a positional change.
Mainly deployed as a winger since his professional debut in 2015, Adam has been reinvented as a central midfielder and is enjoying life in the Sailors’ engine room.
“It’s not easy, it’s really different from what I’ve been doing before, so I’m fortunate that I have Shahdan (Sulaiman) alongside me. He continues to give me wonderful guidance from his years of experience,” said Adam.
“It also helps that we have Hariss (Harun) providing stability from the back. I’m really grateful to be getting quite a number of minutes this season, but of course there’s still a lot of room for improvement.”
It has been a long and arduous road back for Adam, whose horrific anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in July 2019 saw him out of action for 15 months. He had to be content with 12 substitute appearances on his comeback in 2020 and found it hard to break into the first team under Sailors’ former Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar last season.
Adam would get his first start in over two years in July 2021 during Kim Do-hoon’s first match in charge of the Sailors, but lasted just 14 minutes – he tore his hamstring and missed the next four matches as a result. These multiple setbacks only served to make Adam dig deeper, and looking internally, he found steel, a firm resolve reinforced by the trust given by a renowned tactician – Head Coach Kim.
“As soon as he came, he made it clear that he saw me as a player who can grow into this central midfield position, in terms of controlling the game and its technical aspects. All I need to do is to learn and do as much as I can in this new role for the team,” said Adam.
“I’ve been working my socks off in training in order so I can more regularly and I’m happy that he recognises the efforts that I’ve put in. I just have to keep doing my best and play well to repay his faith in me.”
The Sailors have had a mixed start to 2022, but the two-week international break looked to have served the team a world of good. Kim’s charges delivered their most convincing display of the year thus far in a 4-0 thrashing of Balestier Khalsa last Friday (1 April).
Now second in the eight-team standings, a solitary point behind league leaders Tanjong Pagar United with 10 points from five matches, the Sailors are looking to keep up the pressure when they take on bottom-placed Young Lions at Jalan Besar.
This is the Sailors’ penultimate SPL fixture – they will face Tanjong Pagar United on 9 April – before flying off to Buriram, Thailand, for their maiden Asian Football Confederation (ACL) Champions League (ACL) campaign, Adam wants his teammates to grab the remaining opportunities to impress and give Kim some food for thought ahead of the matches against Asia’s big boys.
“Coach Kim has made it clear that we’ll need every single player to play our part in what will be a long season. Everyone’s been working really hard to show that they deserve the chance to play, and I’m sure whoever is chosen will do a good job for the team,” he said.
“Young Lions are not a team to be taken lightly, they’ve got quality players like Joel Chew and Shah Shahiran. They may lack that experience, but have drive and boundless energy that makes them competitive in matches. This is a game where our experience will be vital for us.”
The Sailors’ busy April schedule coincides with the annual Ramadan period during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, a time that will test the team’s resolve, but Adam believes the Sailors have what it takes to come through.
“It’s not easy to play in the Ramadan period, but we’ve long learnt how to cope,” said Adam.
“We will manage things and go out there and play our best for the team. We’ve a big enough squad fighting for places, and that will definitely come in handy for us.”
It is the duty of every Singaporean son, and a vital facet of the nation and our nationhood.
Embracing the importance of National Service (NS), both to the country and its citizens, the Lion City Sailors Football Academy have taken a somewhat unusual approach to ensure that the national cause and football dreams continue to burn brightly, side-by-side – its Early Enlistment Bond.
The bond that was launched in December 2020 will see trainees enlist after completing secondary education, under Singapore’s Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme.
The aim: for young footballers in the Academy’s scholarship programme to fully immerse themselves in the rite of passage for Singaporean males before turning their full attention towards pursuing lofty football dreams.
It is an approach that aspiring professionals Yasir Nizamudin, Marcus Mosses and Uvayn Kumar have embraced, as they enlisted as full-time National Servicemen (NSF) on Monday (28 March).
The trio who were all born in 2005, have taken up the Academy’s Early Enlistment Bond and have moved to enlist immediately after completing secondary school to commit to their duty as Singaporeans for the next two years.
The Academy has put in place personal training programmes aimed at ensuring their enlisted trainees maintain a level of physical conditioning that will ease their eventual return to the elite level of the sport, while staying engaged with the various NS units to monitor the progress of these NSF-athletes.
When they return to football, they are assured two-year professional contracts with the club, and will train for and compete in competitions stipulated by the club, including the Singapore Football League, as they knock on the door of the Sailors’ first team – all this while they continue tertiary studies sponsored by the Sailors.
These trainees may also be sent abroad for training stints and professional trials.
The trio are the second batch of the Academy’s elite trainees to do so under the programme, and they took time out to discuss their big decision before they enlisted on 28 March.
“Actually my mum would have preferred me to go to a junior college (JC) first because she’s worried I would lose interest in studies after NS, but I convinced her that I will continue to pursue academics after my ORD (operationally-ready date),” said Yasir, who graduated from Victoria School with an L1R5 (first language and five relevant subjects) score of 12 in his O-levels, a score that would qualify him for a local JC.
“No matter which pathway I take, I’m certain I’ll eventually still study and get a degree because it’s clear how important qualifications are in our country.
“Coach (and Academy Technical Director) Luka Lalić spoke to my parents and me, and that’s when we realised that if I opt for early enlistment, I will have more time and focus to grab football opportunities that come my way later,” he added.
In a similar vein, Marcus and Uvayn chose early enlistment instead of entering the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) after completing their N-levels as originally planned.
“The main goal of doing this is so that I can fully focus on my football from when I’m 19 years old onwards. My parents were initially reluctant, to be honest, but when I explained how it would help me, they readily gave me their fullest support,” explained Uvayn.
“At age 21 or 22 where people are starting to enlist, we’ve already done our duty to the nation. It frees us to take overseas opportunities with both hands and fully commit to football,” added Marcus.
But taking the road less travelled comes with its own challenges – and fears.
“Coach (and Academy General Manager) Tan Li Yu spoke with us and shared how the previous batch of boys are managing things. There will always be that element of fear going into a new environment, but we’re also excited and keeping an open mind to learn new things while we’re in NS,” said Yasir, a central midfielder.
“There is a common gripe that NS hampers the development of a professional sportsman. But we believe there can be several positive effects too. For example, these two years of NS can help the boys mature, go from boys to men as it were, as well as instil more discipline in them,” said Academy General Manager, Li Yu.
Yasir, Marcus and Uvayn have grown as young footballers at the Academy, and are determined to make sure that all the hard work put into football will continue – even if NS takes prime spot in the next two years.
“Every Singaporean male will have to go through NS, and I don’t think it should be an excuse for our football development to stop. With the support of the club – along with our own discipline and motivation – we can use the time we have outside of our duties to practice and maintain our levels – and maybe even improve,” said Yasir.
“The coaches at the Academy have cultivated the mindset of continuous improvement in us, and I intend to lean on this while I’m doing my duty to Singapore.”
Marcus, a left-footed centre-back, scouted from the ActiveSG academy, agreed. He said: “I’ve been at the Academy for only slightly more than a year (since February 2021), but the support that we’ve received in terms of training, development, and even allowances, has been tremendous.
“We don’t take things for granted. I give it my all every single day in training and put on my best performance because I want to benefit and learn from our coaches who come from the best academies in Europe.
“This is the same approach I believe Yasir, Uvayn and I will take with us when we enlist.”
Said Li Yu: “We have taken this approach, in alignment with the existing National Service system, to give the Academy’s best talents the best possible chance of pursuing a career in football abroad.”
“We are very clear to these players: during these two years of full time NS, they are soldiers first and footballers second. It’s a duty to our nation they must fulfil, before going full steam ahead in football when they are done.”
A first-ever Singapore Premier League (SPL) hat-trick for Kim Shin-wook, an assist each for Maxime Lestienne and Gabriel Quak on their first starts of the season, and a second clean sheet in three outings.
There were several plus points as the Lion City Sailors romped to a convincing 4-0 victory over Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night (1 April), kick-starting what is lined up to be an important month for the defending SPL champions. The Sailors will play nine matches across two competitions over just 28 days.
Friday’s win was undoubtedly the Sailors’ most complete display of 2022 so far. And while Head Coach Kim Do-hoon derived much satisfaction from the performance, he immediately spotted a key issue to address.
“It was good to see how the players connected with each other and played as a team, but it’s still disappointing that the number of goals didn’t tally with the chances created. A lot of hard work went into creating those chances, so we have to be more clinical – we have to learn to kill off games to make life a lot easier for us,” said the former Ulsan Hyundai man, of the 21 shots that his charges took in the match.
“The most pleasing thing was to see how we were able to keep the ball and move it around – we could break their organisation by making their players go out of positions to press us and create space for us to exploit. That’s something we worked on a lot during training, so it’s good to see it coming off in the game.”
With the loosening of pandemic restrictions and local rapper Akeem Jahat in the house to provide half-time entertainment, the atmosphere was buzzing amongst the Sailors faithful, especially when the team’s lineup was announced before the game.
Nur Adam Abdullah, Gabriel and Maxime were handed their first starts of 2022, while Shin-wook and Pedro Henrique were restored to the starting eleven – with the Brazilian returning from a two-match suspension – as all four Sailors foreign players started a match for the first time this season.
Four players who starred in Singapore’s successful FAS Tri-Nations Series campaign also made the lineup, including Song Ui-young who was deployed in the no. 10 role that saw him shine for the Lions.
The Sailors imposed themselves from the get-go and drew first blood after just seven minutes, with Shin-wook shrewdly freeing himself from Balestier’s Serbian defender Ensar Brunčević before nodding home Shahdan Sulaiman’s outswinging corner.
The early goal gave the champions added impetus as they began to dictate the tempo and become more fluid in possession.
After Hassan Sunny thwarted a couple of Balestier attempts, the Sailors went on to double their advantage on 27 minutes. Maxime’s exquisite left-wing cross took out the entire Tigers defence, with Song proceeding to slot underneath Hairul Syirhan for his first goal of the season.
Kim’s men were relentless and duly made it three on the half-hour mark. Gabriel – who switched flanks with Maxime just moments earlier – strode onto an excellent Hariss Harun ball over the top, before squaring across for Shin-wook to convert from six yards out.
Victory was then wrapped up 10 minutes into the second half, with the 1.98m “Wookie” steering in another header off Diego Lopes’ pinpoint cross – after some great interchange of passes between Maxime and Gabriel – to complete his first Sailors hat-trick.
The Sailors continued to carve out openings, but were unable to add further goals with Maxime going agonisingly close on a few occasions.
The tempo was then disrupted by a flurry of substitutions, but the rejigged Sailors kept their heads in the game as Hariss foiled Kuraba Kondo from going clean through in the dying stages to preserve another valuable clean sheet for the home side.
An accomplished display was a firm indication that things are coming together for the Sailors. The defending champions go top of the table with 10 points from five matches – although Tanjong Pagar United could reclaim the summit if they beat Young Lions on Saturday (2 Apr). But Kim wants his charges to keep their feet on the ground as they play another two SPL games before embarking on their maiden AFC Champions League campaign in mid-April.
“I’ve said a few times before that I was only expecting us to have a full team ready around April, and this performance shows we’re on track. But there is still a lot of room for improvement and I know we can do even better than this,” said the 51-year-old.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all the fans that came down – we’re happy to be able to put up a good show for them – and I hope they continue to give us that extra motivation for our challenges ahead.”
Pedro ready to make amends and raring to go
As he trudged off the Our Tampines Hub pitch after a 34th-minute sending off, Pedro Henrique gave an apologetic wave to the visiting Lion City Sailors fans as he dragged his feet into the dressing room.
Handed a straight red for tugging down Geylang International Croatian forward Šime Žužul, the towering Brazilian centre-back’s absence on the pitch proved crucial as the 10-man Sailors eventually went down 1-0 to the Eagles in the 4 March Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixture.
It was their first loss in 21 competitive outings.
Having to watch from the sidelines as Kim Do-hoon’s men ground out a 1-0 win over Tampines Rovers and a 1-1 draw against Albirex Niigata (S) while he served out his two-match suspension, Pedro is chomping at the bit to get back to action for the Sailors, acutely aware that he now has a fight on his hands to secure a return to the first eleven.
“After reviewing the video I feel that I should not be sent off, but I have to admit I made a mistake,” reflected the 29-year-old. “No player likes to be sent off and miss games – I’ve played professional football for 11 years and that was my third red card – but that’s now over and I have to focus on the present and future.
“Being on the sidelines has made me more motivated to come back stronger and help the team. I know the team has done well without me, so I know it’s not easy for the coach to put me straight back in.
“The key for myself is just to get ready and do my best possible, to regain my spot. I just need to prepare myself properly and make sure I’m in the best condition to perform when Coach makes the call.”
Pedro has impressed in his first couple of outings for the Sailors in a 2-1 Community Shield win over Albirex and a 3-1 defeat of Hougang in their opening SPL game of 2022. But the dismissal and two-match ban disrupted what has been a promising start to his career in Singapore.
Now settling in well and acclimatising to life in the Lion City with the help of compatriot Diego Lopes and interpreter Nelson, the former Vitoria Guimaraes captain is looking forward to get back into gear as the Sailors host a tricky Balestier Khalsa side at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night (1 April).
While the Sailors are unbeaten against Balestier in the five encounters since their 2020 inception, the Tigers class of 2022 could prove to be tough opponents with their Japanese attacking trio of Ryoya Taniguchi, Kuraba Kondo and Shuhei Hoshino.
“We did play a friendly against them in pre-season, so we know the quality of their players and how dangerous they can be,” said Pedro, who previously plied his trade in the Portuguese and Brazilian top tiers. “While we know their threat, we just have to focus on playing the football that Coach Kim wants us to play and I’m sure that’ll bring us good results.
“Our team has shown a strong will to win every game and the desire to play the attacking football that the fans love to see – that will never change for us.”
The Balestier game kick-starts a busy and important April with two more SPL games in quick succession – against Young Lions next Wednesday (6 April) and Tanjong Pagar United three days later (9 April) – before the Sailors head to Buriram, Thailand, where they will have to navigate six games in a period of 15 days against quality opposition like Urawa Red Diamonds, Daegu FC and Shandong Luneng in their maiden Asian Football Confederation (ACL) campaign.
With Singapore national team representatives like Song Ui-young, Shahdan Sulaiman, Hariss Harun and Hassan Sunny coming off the back of strong performances for the Lions in the recently-concluded FAS Tri-Nations Series 2022, Pedro believes the Sailors are primed to excel on both fronts and build on what has been a mixed start to the season as the team lies third in the table with two wins and a draw from their opening four games.
“I’ve been really impressed by how my teammates performed for the country and it’s my honour to be playing alongside these players. The league is very competitive this season for sure, and everyone wants to beat us because we’re the defending champions, but I know our boys have what it takes to rise to this challenge,” he elaborated.
“We’re always trying to improve as a team and we know for sure we can play better football than what we’ve been producing so far this season. But the primary aim is of course to pick up all nine points in the league, so that we can go to the ACL full of confidence.”
It has been a mixed start to the 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season for the Lion City Sailors as they accumulated seven points from their opening four matches to sit in third in the eight team standings – a point behind leaders Tanjong Pagar United.
Starting their title defence with a 3-1 win over Hougang United, the Sailors suffered a setback in the following outing with a 1-0 loss to Geylang International – their first loss in 21 matches in all competitions. Kim Do-hoon’s men then bounced back with a 1-0 defeat of Tampines Rovers, before battling to a 1-1 draw against four-time champions Albirex Niigata (S).
As the Sailors gear up to face Balestier Khalsa on Friday in their first match after the FIFA international break, we look back on the five major talking points from the team’s first four league outings of 2022.
Hassan’s evergreen excellence in the Sailors’ goal
Hassan Sunny has arguably been the Sailors’ best player this season so far. In the three matches that he has played – missing only the Geylang defeat – the Singapore international has proved that he is still one of the best in the business – if not the best.
His overall command of the area has been impeccable, and he has been virtually unbeatable in one-on-one situations – pulling off numerous point-blank saves especially against Tampines and Albirex. Hassan has conceded two goals this season, both top quality blinding strikes from distance.
Turning 38 in April, Hassan is evidently ageing like fine wine and not going away any time soon. Dedication to his craft and leadership are two of his qualities that drive the rest of the team to step up. With him and Izwan Mahbud pushing each other hard on a daily basis, the goalkeeping situation at the Sailors – as well as on the international front – is in safe hands.
The Covid-19 situation has not helped
Head Coach Kim Do-hoon has yet to be able to field a consistent starting eleven, with various members of his squad falling victim to the coronavirus on separate occasions.
Faris Ramli missed the opening win over Hougang, then it was Tajeli Salamat and M Anumanthan’s turn against Tampines, with Kim Shin-wook also stuck in isolation prior to the Albirex fixture.
The Covid-19 situation remains fluid with players possibly testing positive the day after playing a game or even in the week leading up to the next game, requiring the Sailors’ technical team to react fast and adapt to such situations, redeploy their chess pieces or even rejig the game plan.
Iqram Rifqi is the latest one to be struck by the virus which led to him reluctantly withdrawing from the Singapore squad at the Football Association of Singapore Tri-Nations Series against Malaysia and the Philippines.
While this is hardly ideal, it is a situation that will affect every club, and will need to be managed throughout the season. Fortunately the Sailors have both strength and depth in the squad Kim has assembled.
We’re beginning to see the real Diego
Olá, Diego! The Brazilian playmaker is now starting to show what he can do, and why he deserves to be a regular starter for the Sailors.
Arriving with a sizable price tag in 2021, the former Benfica man exploded into life in the SPL with a hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Geylang and a wondrous match-winning volley in a 1-0 defeat of Hougang under Aurelio Vidmar, but subsequently found it hard going.
With a solid pre-season under his belt and honest chats with the Head Coach about expectations for 2022, the 27-year-old Diego has begun this campaign well. He came off the bench to score against Hougang, before being entrusted to start the Tampines and Albirex matches – marking the first time he started and completed the full 90 minutes since May 2021. In those two outings, he provided a real treat for the fans with silky close control and an ability to dictate play from the middle of the park.
The Sailors – and fans – are certainly looking forward to seeing him pick up where he left off when the SPL restarts, and hopefully hitting the right notes in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) campaign.
Resurgence of 2011 Lion City Cup stars
They were breakout stars in the 2011 Lion City Cup at the age of 15, and the pair of Adam Swandi and Iqram Rifqi have enjoyed some good times, but have also struggled through rough injury-riddled periods in their professional careers. Both of them are now starting to reap the rewards of their hard work and persistence.
A horrific anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in July 2019 saw Adam missing more than a year of action and he had to be content with being an impact substitute on several occasions since his comeback. In Kim’s first game in charge in July 2021, the playmaker was given his first start in over two years but lasted just 14 minutes due to another injury setback. The 26-year-old kept working hard behind the scenes, and is now trusted to start regularly in central midfield alongside Shahdan Sulaiman, impressing with his industry and smooth passing ability.
Iqram was also an ACL victim that led to him missing the majority of the Sailors’ inaugural season in 2020 and a hamstring injury meant he made only a handful of appearances on loan at Geylang in 2021. However, he has come back with a vengeance this season – netting in the opening win against Hougang and is the only player along with captain Hariss Harun to start all four league games this year. Iqram’s sparkling form means there will be tough competition for Nur Adam Abdullah to regain the left-back position that he owned last year.
Still perfecting the Sailors’ art
The Sailors will be first to admit that their performances in the first four league matches of 2022 could have been better. The coaching team and players have been hard at work trying to fine-tune the Sailor’s offensive rhythm and fluidity in their football. And slowly but surely, things are coming together for the Sailors.
Against Albirex, the side that pushed the title race to the final match last season, the Sailors showed especially in the opening half-hour that they can dictate the tempo of the play and deprive the opponents of the ball by constantly pressing from the front.
On the numbers front, things are looking healthier as well. Gabriel Quak and Nur Adam Abdullah have worked their way back to full fitness and made quite an impact as second-half substitutes against Albirex, with the former showing the nerve to net an injury-time penalty equaliser. Pedro Henrique will return for the SPL restart after completing a two-match suspension, while Maxime Lestienne is also chomping at the bit and working doubly hard to get his first start in a Sailors shirt.
All these bodes well for the Sailors as they gear up for an important April – with SPL fixtures against Balestier, Young Lions and Tanjong Pagar to navigate before travelling to Buriram, Thailand for their maiden ACL campaign.
Sailors duo withdraw from Lions squad
Lion City Sailors duo Iqram Rifqi and M Anumanthan have withdrawn from Nazri Nasir’s Singapore team, leaving nine Sailors in the squad that will line up in the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) Tri-Nations Series that kicks off this evening (23 March).
Iqram, who has enjoyed a good start to the 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, starting all four Sailors’ games at left-back, pulled out of the Lions squad after testing positive for Covid-19.
The 27-year-old Anu withdrew because of a family emergency.
The remaining 24-man Singapore squad will line up against Malaysia on Saturday (26 Mar) and the Philippines three days later, before the Lions return to their clubs.
The Sailors will next line up against Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium on 1 April.
Trailing 1-0 to Singapore Premier League (SPL) title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium on Friday night (18 March), the Lion City Sailors stared defeat in the face – and did not flinch.
Neither did Gabriel Quak.
First, it was his deep cross into the area that led to Kim Shin-wook being tugged down in the area by Albirex defender Tatsuya Sambongi to earn the Sailors a penalty.
Then the 31-year-old took responsibility for the resulting kick, stroking it confidently past Albirex goalkeeper Takahiro Koga with just two minutes left of injury time to rescue a valuable point for the Sailors in a crucial SPL six-pointer.
This was just Gabriel’s second appearance of the season – he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for Iqram Rifqi – as he worked his way back from a shoulder injury sustained in last December’s AFF Suzuki Cup.
“I really like all these high-pressure moments, I had no issues stepping up. I’m just glad the ball hit the back of the net to steal a point for us,” said the Singapore winger, who was last season’s top local scorer with 13 goals.
Sailors toiled hard but found it difficult to break down a resilient Albirex side, with coach Kim Do-hoon glad to see his charges showing the mental fortitude to ensure they at least did not leave Jurong East empty-handed.
“This shows the difference between last year and this. To come back at the end of the match shows the strength and mentality of my boys. I’m not satisfied because we always strive for a victory, but this never-say-die spirit is something that we can definitely build on,” said the 51-year-old.
“As defending champions, we know we need to constantly prove ourselves – it’s not just in matches, but also in training – and I’m grateful that these boys continue to show great attitude in trying to improve.”
With players like Song Ui-young, Saifullah Akbar and Naqiuddin Eunos all unavailable, while main forward Shin-wook was not 100 percent, Kim needed to make a few changes to the lineup that beat Tampines Rovers 1-0 last Sunday.
Amiruldin came in for “Wookie” upfront, while Hafiz Nor and Anaqi Ismit – who was making his senior Sailors debut – were given their first starts of the campaign on the Sailors’ flanks.
As opposed to previous matches, the Sailors had started off the more purposeful of the two sides as they pressed from the front and enjoyed good passages of play. Diego Lopes – starting in successive games for the first time since May 2021 – provided fans a real treat, with his superb close control enabling him to keep the ball under pressure as he dedicated play from the middle of the park.
Hassan Sunny, Hariss Harun, Shahdan Sulaiman and Adam Swandi also turned in performances that drove the Sailors forward even as they trailed Albirex for most of the match.
While the Sailors enjoyed possession and exchanged passes comfortably, clear-cut chances were hard to come by, with Albirex growing into the game towards the closing stages of the first half and looked more dangerous in attack. The hosts duly broke the deadlock just before the break.
As the ball bobbled outside the area after a corner, Daichi Omori seized the opportunity to lash a swerving drive that took a touch off Amirul Adli before swerving past a full-stretch Hassan in the Sailors goal.
At half time, Kim rang the changes with Nur Adam Abdullah coming on to fill in for Tajeli Salamat in an unfamiliar right-back position for his first appearance of the campaign, while Maxime Lestienne replaced Anaqi Ismit on the left.
Haiqal Pashia and Shin-wook were introduced later, before Gabriel Quak joined the fray with 13 minutes to play.
The rejigged Sailors were more threatening in the attacking third, with Adli and Shin-wook both going close before the equaliser eventually came at the death.
Gabriel, who scored an 88th-minute stunner at the same end in a 3-2 defeat back in October 2020, held his nerve to convert the spot-kick to give the boisterous Sailors fans something to cheer about.
The euphoria continued in the stands and even spilled outside the stadium, long after the final whistle had sounded.
The point meant the Sailors now have seven points from four matches, level with Albirex and Tanjong Pagar atop the eight-team SPL standings, before the latter host Geylang International on Saturday evening.
While it has not been the most ideal of starts to the season, the Sailors are taking several positives going into next week’s international break.
“Football’s a game that can change in a split second. Credit goes to every player that played a part in getting this result in the last minute and we’ll continue to work harder for better results for our fans,” said Kim, who was confident that his charges will build on this performance.
Gabriel sang from the same song book.
“Having lost to us in the Community Shield, they wanted a victory badly so conceding a late equaliser to us must have felt like a defeat to them,” he said.
“There’s nothing much to be worried about right now, I rather we start slow and end the season high, and I’m sure we can build on this draw.”
The Lion City Sailors are well-represented in Nazri Nasir’s Singapore squad that will take on Malaysia and the Philippines at the FAS Tri-Nations Series 2022, a three-team ‘A’ international friendly tournament hosted in Singapore from 23-29 March.
Hariss Harun is poised to lead the Republic’s Lions under interim Singapore coach Nazri, and the Singapore captain is joined by 10 Sailors teammates including Iqram Rifqi – who has enjoyed a good start to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season – in the 26-man squad.
The left-sided fullback has started all four Sailors’ games in 2022 – including the AIA Community Shield – and already has one goal to his name. Iqram scored with a rasping shot in the Sailor’s 3-1 win over Hougang United in the club’s SPL opening fixture.
“It’s always an honour to be called up to represent Singapore, and I’m delighted that the work that I’ve put into every training session and every match for the Sailors is paying off,” said the 26-year-old who was part of the Lions squad that inspired the nation at last year’s AFF Suzuki Cup.
“I know there are things in my game that I can improve on, and I’m glad that I’m being tested and pushed on a daily basis by coaches and my teammates at the club. I think my game is improving, and I hope I’ll be able to pull on the Singapore jersey and do a job for my country.”
The Sailors will line up against Albirex Niigata (S) on Friday (18 Mar) in the club’s final SPL fixture before the international break, with the Lions playing Malaysia on 26 Mar before facing the Philippines three days later.
Harimau Malaya and the Azkals will square off on 23 Mar.
All three matches will be played at the Singapore Sports Hub’s National Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8pm.
As Singapore eases Covid-19 restrictions, more spectators will be able to catch the Lions ‘live’. Up to 15,000 fans will be allowed for both Lions games – up from 10,000 at the Suzuki Cup – with a 5,000 limit set for the Malaysia-Philippines fixture.
Sailors in the Lions squad: Hassan Sunny, Izwan Mahbud, Amirul Adli, Hariss Harun, Iqram Rifqi, M Anumanthan, Shahdan Sulaiman, Hami Syahin, Adam Swandi, Hafiz Nor, Song Ui-young
Standing in the centre circle at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Kim Do-hoon stood still, hands on hips and eyes fixed on the players in front of him. With a shrill burst of the whistle, he barked instructions and stepped in to demonstrate to his Lion City Sailors exactly what he wanted.
The South Korean was leaving no stones unturned as the Sailors prepared for what is poised to be a titanic battle on Friday night (18 March) – a final challenge in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) before the international break next week.
The Sailors will face Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium in a battle between last season’s top two sides. In 2021, both teams were neck and neck in a tight title race, going into the final day level on points before Kim’s men held their nerve to be crowned SPL champions for the first time.
Rivalries were renewed in the 2022 season curtain-raiser, with the Sailors coming from behind to triumph 2-1 in the AIA Community Shield in February. Some four weeks after that encounter, both sides will meet again – this time with three points at stake.
Kazuaki Yoshinaga’s White Swans have been in imperious form since losing 2-0 to Tanjong Pagar United on opening day, plundering 11 goals without reply as they thrashed Balestier Khalsa 6-0 and Young Lions 5-0 respectively to come into this clash level on six points with the Sailors after three matches.
Both sides have their eyes set on the summit which is currently occupied by Tanjong Pagar (seven points), and Kim is under no illusions on the magnitude of this game.
“We have confidence – after beating them in the Community Shield – but this will be a whole new challenge. They’ll want to avenge that defeat, and especially since they’re playing at home, I’m sure they will give something more for their fans,” said the 51-year-old.
“We just have to stay humble, and focused on our task: on the pitch, the players have to be prepared to run that extra step for each other. We’ll have to put on an improved performance to get the result that will put smiles on our fans’ faces.”
The Sailors fell to identical 3-2 defeats in 2020, before holding the White Swans on all three occasions in 2021.
Indeed, an improved performance – a more cohesive display specifically in areas of defensive organisation and offensive rhythm – will be required if the Sailors are to get what will be a first-ever league victory over Albirex.
“It’s understandable that our fans are quite disappointed with our first four matches (Shield and three league games). There are reasons why we’ve not been able to produce our best football yet, but we’re not providing excuses,” said Kim, who first took charge in July 2021.
“With a few new players, it definitely takes time for the squad to come together, and we’re still a work in progress. (Kim) Shin-wook has been training very hard since he’s here and he has the capability to contribute more than just goals for the team. We’re working on the offensive rhythm and the attacking combinations definitely need to be more precise, but that will come with more understanding and more matches.
“I always emphasise team defensive solidarity – because it’s not just about individuals. The last game (1-0 win over Tampines Rovers) proved that if we don’t concede, we can nick a goal at the other end and win the match. Without conceding, we need not be pressured by the scoreline and take extra effort to get back into the game.”
While the 2022 season is still in its infancy, it is setting up to be an intriguing one with the likes of Tanjong Pagar and Geylang International showing they have what it takes to be amongst the top few local sides.
Kim wants his Sailors to embrace the challenge from other teams and go above what they produced in the previous campaign.
“We know coming into this season that opponents will be more aggressive to challenge us even more. But that’s something that will help my boys to stay more focused in training and matches,” he said.
“We have to take up this challenge to constantly improve ourselves and lift this team to the next level. We have to go out in every game with the right mindset and play with our philosophy.
“One thing’s for sure: the attitude and spirit in the team have been superb. Everyone is putting their head down to do what we need to do, and that’s what gives me the confidence that we can get better after a slow start.”
Jalan Besar to welcome up to 3,000 fans
The Lion City Sailors will line up against Albirex Niigata on Friday evening (18 March) in a tough Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixture away at the Jurong East Stadium. The Sailors expect to be tested in front of an away crowd that will be backing the White Swans to the hilt.
But the SPL’s defending champions could well have the full force of Sailors fans – The Crew – backing their title defence the next time the Sailors line up at their Jalan Besar Stadium home on 1 April, after the FIFA international window.
Jalan Besar will be able to open its doors to 3,000 fans on matchday, three times the current numbers.
This comes after the FAS announcement that spectator limits at SPL stadiums will be raised to 50 percent of each stadium’s capacity starting tomorrow (18 Mar), in line with the government directive of simplification of safe management measures that went into effect earlier this week.
“Our fans have been brilliant for us so far this season, and I’m excited to see the impact from the stands when we are able to welcome more of our fans into Jalan Besar,” said Sailors’ Chief Executive, Chew Chun-Liang.
Backed by a raucous crowd, the Sailors have a 100 percent record at Jalan Besar in 2022, beating Hougang United 3-1 (4 Mar), before edging out Tampines Rovers 1-0 last Sunday (13 Mar). This after beating Albirex for the first time in the club’s two-year history when the Sailors triumphed 2-1 to win the league’s curtain raiser, the AIA Community Shield.
“We’ve seen healthy demand for tickets for the two home games that we’ve hosted so far, and this easing of measures will be helpful in deepening our engagement with local football fans,” said Chun-Liang.
“We’ve already implemented online ticketing in partnership with SISTIC, and I’m confident that we will be able to provide fans with a smooth matchday experience, and entertain them both on and off the pitch.”
While safe distancing will no longer be mandatory in stadiums, mask-wearing will continue to be mandatory at all times and spectators are required to be fully vaccinated in order to gain entry.
Chun-Liang is already looking forward to 1 April, when the Sailors host Balestier Khalsa.
He said: “It’ll be fantastic to see a bigger crowd in the stadium, and just how much more the team will be boosted by our fans.”
