Author: Lion City Sailors
The Lion City Sailors set tongues wagging last season when they became Singapore’s first-ever privatised football club.
Expectations were high for the Sailors. With renowned coach Aurelio Vidmar at the helm, along with the signings of top stars such as Gabriel Quak, Hassan Sunny, and Shahdan Sulaiman, many believed the team could go on and win the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title in their maiden season.
And while the Sailors were ultimately unable to achieve that goal – they finished third in the league – they still set the SPL alight with their exciting brand of possession-based attacking football.
This year, however, the Sailors will be looking to take the next step.
The high-profile signings of Diego Lopes, Jorge Fellipe and Faris Ramli, along with the additions of some of Singapore’s best young players such as Amirul Adli, Nur Adam Abdullah and Justin Hui, have only served to heighten expectations for Aurelio’s men, who have once again set their sights on bringing home the SPL title.
Ahead of their season-opener against Tampines Rovers this weekend, we outline eight reasons why the Sailors will be THE team to watch this year.
1. Lopes to bring the Samba magic
Where else to start apart from this milestone signing? The arrival of Diego Lopes was the talk of the town during the off-season for good reason. At 26 years of age, Lopes has arrived in the Lion City at his peak, having been a key player for top-flight Portuguese outfit Rio Ave over the past few seasons.
While this may be the playmaker’s first foray into Asia following various stints in Europe and South America, Lopes’ inherent quality means he should have no problem acclimatising to the demands of Singapore football.
Since he first started training with the team three weeks ago, Lopes has already struck up a good understanding with chief striker Stipe Plazibat. The Brazilian maestro will surely add a new dimension to the Sailors’ attacking play, and it will be interesting to see how he links the lines between midfield and attack.
2. Make that a double order of Samba
While Lopes’ signing has dominated the headlines, the arrival of his compatriot Jorge Fellipe is equally crucial to the Sailors. Standing at 1.9m, the 32-year-old centre-back adds height and aggression to the backline – traits the team could have used last season. After all, Aurelio’s men kept just four clean sheets in 14 games, a statistic which they need to improve on in order to win the title.
Recruited specifically because he is a left-footed centre-back, Fellipe provides balance to suit the team’s philosophy of playing out from the back. With his experience playing in top leagues around the globe such as the Brazil Serie A and Portuguese Primeira Liga, Fellipe’s know-how will surely be a huge boost to the entire Sailors’ backline.
3. Developing S’pore best young talents
Amidst the excitement surrounding the signings of Lopes and Fellipe, the arrivals of Nur Adam Abdullah and Amirul Adli may have flown under the radar somewhat.
However, both Nur Adam and Adli are astute signings who will add vibrancy, speed and hunger to the Sailors backline. With the Sailors committed to developing local youth players, the duo will likely play a significant role this coming season.
Nur Adam arrives at the Sailors after a breakthrough campaign with Young Lions where he impressed with his bravery and tenacity at the tender age of 19. The left-back has all the makings of a modern full-back, with his ability to create in the final third – he recorded four assists last season – set to provide a new dimension to the Sailors’ attack.
Meanwhile, Adli has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the SPL. Since making his debut in 2016, Adli has featured regularly in the SPL – a testament to his consistency and reliability. His superb reading of the game and ball-playing abilities means he stands a good chance of pairing up with Fellipe at the heart of the Sailors’ backline.
4. Faris linking up with familiar faces
A household name in Singapore football, Faris Ramli is a proven star who will be expected to come in and make an immediate impact for the Sailors.
Having won the SPL Player of the Year (POTY) gong in 2019, before plying his trade in Malaysia last season, Faris is now back at a familiar place, having enjoyed a stellar season in 2017 with the Sailors’ predecessors, Home United. That season, Faris contributed 21 goals and as many assists for Home across four competitions.
Crucially, Faris is no stranger to the core of the Sailors squad, having previously played with many of them at some point of his career. Players such as Stipe, Adam Swandi, Song Ui-Young and Amiruldin Asraf were all his teammates at Home in 2017. Faris has also played with the likes of Gabriel Quak, Shahdan Sulaiman and Hassan Sunny while turning out for the National Team.
With so many familiar faces in the squad, and with the 28-year-old at the prime of his career, Faris looks set to make waves once again in the SPL this year.
5. Stipe looking to make the most of his first full season
Known to be a fierce competitor who always demands the best of himself, Stipe was naturally disappointed that he was unable to play a part in the Sailors’ 2020 season run-in due to injury.
While the Sailors still managed to do decently without Stipe, the Croatian’s absence was a huge miss in several key matches, including the loss against Albirex Niigata (S) and the draw against Tampines Rovers.
Such was Stipe’s goalscoring prowess that despite missing a significant chunk of the season due to injury, he still managed to clinch the SPL Top Scorer award, and was even nominated for the POTY award.
Now back to full fitness, the 31-year-old is looking to pick up where he left off in his first full season with the Sailors as he seeks to lead the team to glory. With Lopes and Faris added into the attacking mix and providing him service from the midfield, few will bet against Stipe from finishing the season as the league’s top scorer once again.
6. Gabriel and Saifullah out to impress national selectors
As the saying goes: one swallow does not a summer make. That is especially the case in football, where consistency is the deciding factor in determining whether a player is the real deal or just a flash in the pan.
Last season, Gabriel Quak and Saifullah Akbar enjoyed outstanding individual seasons as they clinched the POTY and Young Player of the Year awards respectively. Unsurprisingly, expectations are now higher on them to replicate and hopefully even surpass what they did previously.
Gabriel enjoyed being the fulcrum of the Sailors’ attack in 2020, topping the assists chart with seven and contributing five goals. This season, he may play a slightly different role with Lopes set to be featured in the no. 10 role. Nonetheless, be it playing on the wings or down through the middle, Gabriel has the ability to make a positive impact in attack. With the AFF Suzuki Cup looming at the end of the year, Gabriel will be extra motivated to perform at a consistently high level to cement his place in national coach Tatsuma Yoshida’s starting XI.
The same goes for Saifullah, who, having come of age last season, will seek to add more goals and assists to his repertoire. Lopes’ presence in the team also means he will have the perfect role model to learn from. If Saifullah continues on his upward trajectory this season, then a maiden national call-up will surely not be far away for the young playmaker.
7. Wide array of attacking talents and solid squad depth
With the Sailors set to compete on three fronts this season – the SPL, the Singapore Cup, and the AFC Cup – it is crucial for there to be sufficient depth and quality in the squad if they are to win honours this season.
And that is exactly what the Sailors have. In attack, there is the irrepressible Stipe leading the line up front, while 2019 and 2020 SPL POTY award winners Faris and Gabriel, as well as Adam Swandi and Hafiz Nor, will provide the threat on the flanks.
The supporting cast in the middle includes the likes of Lopes, Shahdan, Saifullah and Song. Let’s not forget up-and-coming talents in the form of Haiqal Pashia and Justin Hui.
In the defensive third, Fellipe, Adli and Nur Adam add depth to a backline that already boasts the likes of Tajeli, Abdil and Naqiuddin Eunos. All this simply means that coach Aurelio will have the luxury of rotating his players to keep them fresh, without adversely affecting the team’s level of performance.
8. Possible continental success
The Sailors’ predecessor Home United achieved success in the AFC Cup in 2018, when they finished as the ASEAN zonal champions. Now, the Lion City Sailors have a chance to not just emulate that, but possibly go even further in the tournament.
With the squad vastly strengthened for the coming season, the Sailors are well-equipped for a deep run in the second-tier Asian club competition. Just as important, in coach Aurelio, the Sailors have a man who has the experience of excelling on this stage. Back in 2008, the former Socceroos captain led Adelaide United to become the first A-League club to reach the AFC Champions League final.
With Aurelio’s expertise and the overall quality in all departments, the Sailors will be amongst the favourites to conquer the ASEAN Zone again. Of course, there will still be the inter-zonal semis and final to navigate before they achieve the dream of reaching the final. But there is every chance that the Sailors will be able to fly the Singapore flag high on the regional stage this time around.
On the first anniversary of its founding, Lion City Sailors announce the appointment of former Silver Generation Office (SGO) Director of Operations and an ex-Navy Officer, Chew Chun-Liang, as the club’s first Chief Executive.
Chew has demonstrated strong leadership and management capabilities during his time with SGO and also in his 23 years as a Naval Officer with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), where he played critical leadership roles in setting up and operationalising new capabilities such as the rolling out of the Merdeka Generation Package outreach and driving the RSN frigate’s capabilities. His experience in leading high performing teams puts him in good stead to enhance the management and operations of the club, building out the systems and structure in line with the Lion City Sailors’ vision of representing excellence on and off the pitch.”
From a macro perspective, the 44-year-old is charged with operationalising the Sailors vision of excellence: A successful professional football club that is home to an elite hub of youth development. This includes putting in place a structured ecosystem combining the operations of the LCS Football Academy and the club proper, as well as implementing a pathway starting from young grassroots footballers through to the elite senior squad.
Chew’s targets also include the engagement of the football fraternity and the wider Singapore public, aimed to spark pride in local football.
“Chun-Liang’s management and leadership capabilities were evident from all that he has accomplished in the various aspects of his work. But more than that, his deep connection to Singapore football and what it means to Singapore and Singaporeans make him an ideal candidate for the Sailors,” said club Chairman Forrest Li.
LCS CEO Chew grew up in a time when the likes of Fandi Ahmad, V Sundramoorthy and David Lee made a fortress of the old National Stadium. Attending every single home game, through relegation to the second tier of Malaysian football in 1992 and the pride of winning the Malaysia Cup in 1994, were key facets of Chew’s youth.
“We want to make a real difference in the football fraternity in Singapore, so understanding where we came from is important in keeping us grounded as we target excellence and professionalism,” added Li.
The new CEO’s top priority: Oversee the proposed LCS integrated training facility that will, when completed, become Singapore’s first fully functional training centre. The facility will feature five pitches (two 11-a-side and three 7-a-side), changing rooms, a gym, and also include facilities for sports science and medicine, video analytics, and study rooms for Academy scholars in the Elite Development Programme.
In addition to facilities that cater to both the professional team and the youth Academy, the proposed facility will include a viewing area for the public, a café, as well as programmes curated for community football.
“We’re focused on becoming an elite development hub and developing the ecosystem here that will embrace the community and also Singapore’s Goal 2034 dream. We want to put Singapore on the world football map, and this facility will play a key role in that, even bringing more vibrancy, and build greater cohesiveness in our community,” added Li.
“We’ve established a good platform in 2020, and we want to continue to break new ground for Singapore football. We’ve only just begun, and we are committed to staying on this path.”
Chew’s deep connection to Singapore’s football history is partly why he is delighted to be part of a project aimed at driving an era of excellence in Singapore football.
“I’m delighted to be a part of a visionary organisation that is already moving to make real and tangible improvements in our football fraternity, moves that can reignite excitement in the Singapore game,” said Chew.
“The club’s vision is one of football excellence, but it is also about bringing back the visceral excitement that we all felt in our bones when the sport was Singapore’s lifeblood. Instead of turning our eyes back to glory days of the past, our hope is that we can all now look to the future with anticipation.
“My job is to help bring the LCS dream to life, and inspire big dreams in young aspiring footballers – and I’m wildly excited.”
The club is in advanced talks with authorities, and works on the proposed training facility is on track to kick off later this year, and projected to complete a year later, in 2022. Chew is determined to see the project through and welcome the drastic changes that its opening will herald.
“I’m excited about the facility that will become the new home of the Sailors, where our young talents hone their craft, and elite seniors work hard to win trophies. It will also be a facility that will have its open doors to football community programmes,” said Chew.
“This facility is aimed at driving not just LCS efforts in youth development and on-field success, but also to help lift the football community in our country. We’re determined to make sure this project not only gets off the ground, but can fly.”
Since Chew’s appointment, the Sailors have made moves to boost the club on and off the field.
Diego Lopes, 26, has been signed for a Singapore Premier League record $2.9 million from Portuguese top-tier side Rio Ave. The Brazilian midfielder is joined at the club by his countryman Jorge Fellipe, a 32-year-old defender who joined from Saudi Arabian side Al-Tai. The transfers are aimed at strengthening the Sailors’ roster as the team embarks on its maiden Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup tournament in 2021.
The Sailors have made moves to improve in new areas, with sports medicine partnerships and the establishment of a sports science department already in the pipeline.
Chew is chomping at the bit. He said: “I was in the Navy for more than two decades in the past, and I’m excited to be a Sailor again. Every sailor in LCS plays an important role in this exciting voyage. With ‘all-hands-on-deck’, I believe my crew is charged-up to sail the club through uncharted waters and succeed.”
The Lion City Sailors have taken the next step towards the vision of being Singapore’s – and ultimately the region’s – premier club, by acquiring top-quality foreign signings in Brazilian duo Diego Lopes and Jorge Fellipe.
Midfielder Lopes was signed from top-flight Portuguese outfit Rio Ave for a fee of €1.8 million (S$3 million), and will join the club on a three-year contract. The 26-year-old, who came through the Benfica youth system, has established himself in the Portuguese league as a goalscoring midfielder with superb technical ability and an eye for a killer pass. His creativity and goal threat from the middle of the park will help to raise the Sailors’ game to the next level as the club looks to challenge for honours on all fronts in 2021.
“I am delighted to join the Lion City Sailors’ ambitious project to become one of the top teams in Asia,” Lopes said. “It was not an easy decision for me to leave Rio Ave and the Portuguese league, and I thank the fans for their support throughout the years that I was at the club.
“I felt like the time was right for a new challenge in my career, and this opportunity afforded to me by the Sailors was one I could not turn down, and I look forward to being part of a team that consistently challenges for honours not only in Singapore, but also in Asian competitions.”
Fellipe, who plays primarily as a centre-back, joins the Sailors from Saudi Arabia side Al-Tai on a one-year deal. The 32-year-old is an experienced professional who has played in top leagues across the globe throughout his career, including the Brazil Serie A and the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Calm and assured under pressure, Fellipe will add steel and experience to the Sailors’ backline, while also ensuring that the team is able to continue along coach Aurelio Vidmar’s philosophy of playing out from the back.
Speaking about his decision to join the Sailors, Fellipe said: “Having played in many different leagues, and faced different styles of football in my career, I’m intrigued and excited at the prospect of testing myself in this part of the world – especially at a club that wants to break new ground.
“I look forward to linking up with my new teammates soon. I’ve watched some clips of how the team plays, and I believe that I’ll be able to slot in perfectly with them. From what I understand, the football here is very competitive, but I am confident that I’ll be able to adapt well and help the Sailors achieve their lofty goals this season.”
The decision to acquire the two players was made after an extensive search for the right foreign signings to strengthen the Sailors and elevate their football to the next level, this after a third-place finish in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) last year.
While the Sailors made waves in the SPL by playing an entertaining brand of football – finishing top scorers in the league in the process – the club was ultimately unable to achieve the goal of winning the title.
Head coach Aurelio Vidmar strongly believes that both Lopes and Fellipe will give the Sailors the push the team needs to hit their targets.
“We had very specific characteristics for the sort of players we wanted,” explained Aurelio. “We wanted top-quality players with excellent technical ability, and who were comfortable with playing a possession-based game.
“Both Lopes and Fellipe fit the bill perfectly, and that is why the club has decided to invest in them. It is a clear sign of how serious the club is in getting to the top, and we are glad to welcome both players to the team.”
Fellipe, who arrived in Singapore last week, and is currently serving a 14-day quarantine, should be available in time for the start of the SPL season. Lopes, who has already completed his medical, is still in Portugal while waiting for his Employment Pass to be approved.
Club chairman Forrest Li believes the Sailors’ two new signings will provide a huge boost to not just the Sailors, but the local football community as a whole.
“Having top-quality players like Diego and Jorge play in the SPL will give us the boost that we need, but more than that, they will hopefully give Singapore football a lift,” said Li. “I hope they will help reignite interest in the SPL and give football fans in Singapore more reasons to tune into the local game.
“We are pleased that the two of them have agreed to join the club, and we look forward to seeing them excel on the pitch. For Lion City Sailors this is only just the start. We’ve only just begun our journey to transform the Sailors into a premier club, and reignite Singapore football.”
More often than not, in a successful sports team there is a ‘team behind the team’.
In Below the Deck, we take an in-depth look into the stories of our Sailors’ backroom staff – the Sailors’ often unseen, unsung heroes.
First up in this series is Daniel Lau, the club’s new data analyst.
“I’m one of the lucky ones who can happily tell my family and friends ‘I love my job!’” proclaimed a beaming Daniel Lau.
After all, while Daniel only joined the Lion City Sailors as a data analyst barely 10 months ago, he is already having the time of his life.
His main job scope as a data analyst is talent identification (ID) – this often means scouring through various scouting databases, analysing statistics, and watching match videos to uncover ‘the next good signing’.
“I look through scouting platforms for information on players, collate the relevant statistics from the past few seasons, and use them to compare with hundreds of other players that are recommended to us to see who really stands out,” he explained.
Well-known in the Singapore football fraternity as a fervent fan of Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors, before the club was privatised – the job opportunity was a dream come true for Daniel.
The 27-year-old remembers falling in love with the club in 2002 after catching them in action on television. He was particularly enthralled by deadly striker Egmar Goncalves, who scored 238 goals in all domestic competitions during the 11 years he spent at the club.
Daniel finally watched the club play live for the first time in 2004, when his father brought him to Bishan Stadium for their match against Tampines Rovers.
The match, which finished 2-1 in favour of the home side, only reinforced Daniel’s love for the club, and he continued making frequent appearances at Bishan Stadium thereafter.
“Bishan Stadium was walking distance from my house, so I would regularly travel down to catch the games,” Daniel recalled. “I soon made friends with many other fellow fans at the stadium, and that helped to cement my status as a lifelong supporter of the club.”
As such, Daniel was naturally excited to be given the opportunity to work at the club that he had been supporting since he was nine.
The only problem? Apart from a university module which had elements of grassroots coaching, Daniel had next to zero knowledge in terms of working in the world of football.
That is why Daniel was genuinely surprised when club general manager Badri Ghent approached him in April to offer him this role – nine months after graduating with a Bachelors in Biological Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – and he candidly admitted that he had reservations about accepting the job at first.
“I graduated last year, but only began my job-hunt proper at the start of 2020,” the 27-year-old recalled. “I went to a few interviews related to my course, be it for a lab technician or clinic research coordinator but didn’t get accepted for any. The (COVID-19) pandemic made the job search even tougher.
“At that time, I was just touching base with people at the club, just for meals and to chit-chat – things I normally do. That was when I was told about this temporary opening for three months where they wanted someone who is able to analyse players to help with their future (player) acquisitions.
“I was a bit apprehensive initially because I never did anything related to football through my academic ladder. Everything was all about science. In my course, we study statistics and informatics – that’s probably the only aspect that can be applied to football.”
Despite Daniel’s reservations about his qualifications for the job, his love and passion for the club meant he simply could not say no to this golden opportunity, and he eventually got appointed as a data analyst after going through the relevant interviews.
“Every year since I was in Primary School till today, I’ve always wanted to see this club achieve success,” he shared. “So, when the opportunity came, it was a no-brainer for me to take it up.
“But I told Badri up front that I cannot promise immediate results in this area due to my lack of experience. What I can promise him, however, is that I want the Sailors to be successful, and I’ll give my all in my role.”
Given that he was venturing into uncharted territory, Daniel understandably struggled with self-doubt at the start.
“I’m given resources to work with, for example, with scouting platforms like Wyscout and Instat where there are a lot of compiled clips of players,” Daniel elaborated. “There are also players who are recommended by certain contacts or agents. So I’m looking at a lot of football matches and numbers.
“Numbers can tell you if certain things are good or bad, but they don’t tell you other subtle nuances that you can only get from watching a game or a footballer play live.
“So, sometimes I would see someone who appears good to me in the clips, but I would hesitate to present these clips to the coaches because I’m not sure if they would agree with my assessment. Looking at clips can tell you a lot, but it’s a different story trying to infer what it means.”
However, with reassurances from Badri and Sailors head coach Aurelio Vidmar, Daniel began to gain confidence and soon grew into the role.
“They explained to me that you can present the same player to 15 people, and everyone will still have different opinions of that player,” he said. “Given the acknowledgement of subjectivity, I grew more confident and accustomed to what I was doing.”
This pushed Daniel to take it upon himself to refine the analysis framework that he was initially given, and he added to his analysis various other elements that he thought were related to a player’s attributes.
“I was initially given players in the form of a list, with just their names and the clubs they play for. From there, I would add my comments, like their pros, cons and my final verdict,” he revealed. “But I’m a very numbers person due to the course I studied, so I couldn’t live with just that.
“So, I added statistics to the entire Excel worksheet that fit my personal view of how a player should be analysed. I added a lot of things related to numbers that may be confusing to a layman, but is something I fully understand and needed to create a formula to rank who is best.
“That way, we can properly do the comparison between these players and our existing players, to see where the potential signing will stand in our current squad.”
The initial groundwork came into good stead as he was tasked to make recommendations for possible signings during the mid-season transfer window to replace striker Andrew Pengelly, who had returned to Australia.
After shortlisting a number of players, Daniel had lengthy discussions with Aurelio to rank their top few candidates. While some suggestions did not work out, the club did manage to land proven goalscorer Stipe Plazibat from Hougang United thanks to valuable input from Daniel.
That transfer has since paid handsome dividends, with the Croatian hotshot finishing top scorer of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) with 14 goals.
Daniel, however, prefers to play down his involvement in the signing of Stipe.
“As I mentioned earlier, I knew whatever I recommended was not going to be 100 per cent rubber stamped by Aurelio,” he said. “We did disagree on a couple of players, but we made sure to be in line with each other for the ranking of the players on the final list.
“There are some player recommendations that didn’t work out…but we’re still striving to look for targets so that we can immediately get to work on signing them once the (Covid-19) restrictions are eased.”
Nonetheless, the successful recruitment of Stipe gave Daniel a confidence boost.
“It felt validating, because it took a consensus to get him (Stipe) on board, and we were confident that he would deliver,” said Daniel. “To see that play out on the pitch really gave me confidence, especially in terms of the direction the club is heading recruitment-wise. It’s just a pity he got injured midway through!”
Daniel’s steadfastness and strong work ethic in his field of work did not go unnoticed, and he was appointed to the role on a permanent basis in July.
He has since decided to take on more responsibilities at the club to develop himself further in this role. This included taking up the relevant accreditations to boost his credentials and qualifications as a data analyst.
For example, he took up online courses with the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA) based in England, and has already attained his Level 1 Talent ID and Level 1 Technical Scouting badges.
He also took it upon himself to complete a Level 1 Opposition Analysis Course in order to assist the team in that aspect.
“For Talent ID, I just watch the content and clear all episodes. For Technical Scouting, there’s an assessment to sit for and you need to get 80 per cent overall to pass,” he shared.
“I had already planned to do these after my first few months in. To me, getting accredited is a requirement even though the club did not make it compulsory. I came in with zero knowledge of football in terms of technicalities, with no coaching certification and with no sports science background.
“I want to be able to make my case for certain players and have the accreditation to back my views. Otherwise, I’ll still be considered a layman and someone who’s looking in from the outside.”
Given that not many SPL clubs employ a specialist data analyst at the moment, Daniel says he does feel the pressure that comes with being a trailblazer of sorts in this aspect.
“What I or the club is doing is something typical of a top or at least middle-tier European leagues, but it’s so uncommon here,” he mused. “If we want Singapore football to go on the path of becoming remotely competitive, this is the bare minimum that we need to achieve.
“We’ve made good progress since April in terms of developing a framework for talent ID, but it’s definitely not the gold standard yet. I relish this challenge to develop it further and I’m confident that we can see the fruits of success in the long run. I feel honoured but also pressured as I want to set the best standard for the club I’m representing now.”
It has thus far been a surreal journey for Daniel, who is now living the dream by working for the club he loves so dearly. And there is nothing in the world he would trade this opportunity for.
“This is the first job in my life that I don’t drag my feet to work. Every morning I wake up looking forward to seeing where my numbers will take me,” Daniel declared. “My previous internship or part-time stints were pleasant, but it still involved a certain amount of feet-dragging.
“Football is something that I watch at every opportunity – it’s a passion. Sometimes, when I feel like I want to scout a certain player, I’ll willingly do it whatever the day and time – be it on the weekends, or when I’m playing games, or just surfing the Internet.
“As of now, I’m exceeding myself and doing things that I didn’t know I could do. The most fulfilling thing is that I’m now directly involved in contributing to the club’s success, and I’m really appreciative that they were willing to take me in despite my lack of experience.”
With a season’s experience under his belt, a focused Daniel has set himself a clear goal of what he wants to achieve at this club.
“The measure of success is to find a player which I rate very highly and is in line with the coaching team’s thinking, and to then see him succeed at the club should we go on to acquire him,” he said.
“I want to play a part in acquiring a player that will make tongues wag – players of the calibre of Frederic Mendy, Valery Hiek and Kenji Arai. The primary goal is to be part of a team that wins the league title. Since I was in Primary School, the title has eluded us and it’s been 17 seasons now. We’ve been known as a team who does well in AFC competitions, but we’ve done nothing domestically that correlates. I want this club to be competitive on all fronts.”
For now, though, he does not want to make overpromises, although he guarantees that he will strive to do his best every single day at work.
“When I was a fan, I always set high standards for the team – be it the players, administration or technical team. I expected nothing but the best. So now that I’m in the team, it’s only fair that I expect the same from myself,” he summed up.
The Singapore Premier League (SPL) may have only just concluded, but Lion City Sailors head coach Aurelio Vidmar has already set his expectations out for the coming season.
And the Australian made no bones about what he expected to see from his charges next year: progress and evolution.
The Sailors were unable to achieve their target of winning the league title this campaign, finishing five points behind champions Albirex Niigata (S) in third.
While Aurelio still graded the Sailors’ season a “big pass”, he made it clear that he expected more from the team next year.
“We have to see improvement for next season, and we have to progress and evolve,” Aurelio declared. “That’s what we’ll be doing, trying to strengthen the team across the board.
“We set this year as the time for us to get an understanding of what we’re doing, and I think we’ve got a good foundation. All of the clubs had the hiccup with the Covid-19 situation that put everyone on the backfoot.
“But I think we came out of that period well, and so I would rate our season overall a big pass.”
Aurelio revealed that of the most pleasing aspects of the Sailors’ season was their ability to find the back of the net – they finished as the highest scoring team in the league with 44 goals, and only failed to score in just one match.
He said: “It’s great to see us scoring that many goals. What’s more, I think we scored more than a dozen goals in the final 10 minutes games, so that showed we have a very good level of fitness which allowed us to keep pushing to the last minute.
“But the highlight for me would be to see the progress we’ve made as a team, from when I joined the club last December to the end of the season. That, as a whole, was very pleasing.”
The Sailors were the big winners at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) awards night, with Gabriel Quak being named the SPL Player of the Year, Saifullah Akbar winning the Young Player of the Year, and Stipe Plazibat bagging the Top Scorer award.
In addition, a total of five Sailors – Gabriel, Stipe, Song Ui-Young, Kaishu Yamazaki and Tajeli Salamat – were named in the SPL Team of the Year.
Aurelio, however, was keen to emphasise on the importance of the collective. He explained: “I don’t like to talk about individual players, but I think it’s clear there are many players throughout the season who have done very well, and some of those guys have rightly won awards. But there are many others who have impressed as well, but just don’t get the accolades.”
By virtue of finishing third in the SPL, the Sailors will be granted entry into next season’s AFC Cup.
And Aurelio has set his sights on winning the regional competition, along with becoming SPL champions and lifting the Singapore Cup.
“As always with the SPL and the AFC Cup, we’re looking to win it,” Aurelio said. “Every competition we enter, we want to be one of the teams that think they can win it. It’s no different for the AFC Cup, although we’ll have to wait and see where we are in terms of the pots and where we are in terms of who we’re playing, and how that whole format is going to pan out because at this stage we’re not really sure.
“But it will be a huge challenge for everyone as it’s going to be a long, tough season with the Singapore Cup, SPL and the AFC Cup.
“But we’re determined to win every competition, so I told the players before they went on their break that they should enjoy the rest with their families and friends, because next year we’ll be working even harder to achieve our goals.”
It was a thrilling debut season for the Lion City Sailors. Aurelio Vidmar’s men plundered 44 goals in 14 matches and played attractive attacking football en route to a third-placed finish in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) – securing AFC Cup qualification in the process.
It is now time to look back on the defining moments of the Sailors’ campaign and reflect on what has been a gruelling season for the team, while also looking ahead to the following year.
Low point
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first – there is no doubt what the lowest point of the Sailors’ season was. After starting the campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Tanjong Pagar United, the Sailors faced a difficult task in their very next match, facing title rivals Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub (OTH). The Sailors acquitted themselves well and were arguably the better side in the first half-hour, albeit without being able to put their chances away. The team, however, failed to replicate their intensity and sharpness in the second half. The Stags duly capitalised, and eventually ran out 4-0 winners.
The margin of the defeat, along with the winless start to the season, saw the Sailors come in for much criticism on social media, and pressure began mounting on Aurelio and the Sailors despite it still being early days. But that is the territory that comes along with being Singapore’s first-ever privatised football club – the expectations are higher, and any shortfall is deemed unacceptable.
High point
The seven-month enforced hiatus to the season due to Covid-19 gave the Sailors an opportunity to better adjust to Aurelio’s philosophy, and allowed them to iron out the kinks from the first two games. And the team subsequently returned stronger for the league’s restart in mid-October. Indeed, the Sailors would put together a run of three successive wins over 10 days in November – scoring a staggering 16 goals in just over 270 minutes – to reduce the gap between them and the top of the table to just three points, with five games to go.
What was pleasing, however, was that Aurelio’s men played some scintillating football in those three matches – blitzing Balestier Khalsa and Tanjong Pagar United 7-1 and 6-1 respectively, before coming through a difficult away game against Hougang United to win 3-1. The team’s progress was clearly evident, and many began to view the Sailors as serious contenders for the title.
Performance of the season
Without a doubt, the 7-1 thrashing of Balestier. Many expected this fixture to be a tough one for the Sailors – after all, they were coming into the game off a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Hougang, while the Tigers were flying high after recording victories in their first two games after the restart.
But the Sailors tore up the script and showed just what they were made of in this match. Known for being slow starters prior to this game, the Sailors showed urgency and intent from the get-go as they went 5-0 up in the span of 34 minutes through some superb team play that came right off the training ground.
Stipe Plazibat ran the show for the Sailors scoring a fantastic hat-trick, while also laying on two clever assists for Song Ui-Young and Saifullah Akbar. The Tigers simply did not know what hit them as the Aurelio and his charges took the largest half-time lead since the league was rebranded as the SPL in 2018.
The Sailors did not rest on their laurels, with Tajeli Salamat and Adam Swandi adding further goals in the second half to add gloss to the scoreline. It was a performance and result that went a long way in convincing many that the Sailors are indeed the real deal.
Most improved player
A number of players have improved under the tutelage of coach Aurelio, but the standout has got to be experienced right-back Aqhari Abdullah. Though he was not selected for the Sailors’ first two outings in March, the 29-year-old worked hard to reclaim his spot in the starting eleven after the league restart, and has since proven himself to be a modern full-back.
Previously known simply for his defensive attributes, Aqhari has this season developed an attacking edge to his game, with the full-back constantly pushing up to support the attack and whipping in dangerous crosses for his forwards. His determination and willingness to re-invent his play at this stage of his career is something that will surely inspire younger players.
Best goals
Song Ui-Young vs Tanjong Pagar United (13 Nov)
It was a goal that encapsulated the seemingly telepathic understanding between the Sailors’ attackers this season. Receiving the ball from Stipe, Song instantly laid the ball back into the Croatian striker’s path, and made a darting run into the area in expectation of a through pass. Stipe duly obliged and returned the ball to him with precision, and Song coolly finished off the move past Tanjong Pagar keeper Kenji Rusydi to put the Sailors three goals up in their eventual 6-1 win.
Gabriel Quak vs Geylang International (25 Nov)
The newly-crowned SPL Player of the Year, Gabriel, has been unplayable at times this campaign. And the 29-year-old stole the show in the Sailors’ 3-0 win over Geylang at OTH with a brilliant individual effort late in the game. It looked like Gabriel still had plenty of work to do when Hafiz Nor played the ball into his path just outside the six-yard box, but the Singapore international took out Yuki Ichiakawa with a cheeky backheel turn, proceeded to leave Adam Hakeem on his backside with another silky touch, before firing past Hairul Syirhan with a toe-poke. A classy goal from a classy player.
Saifullah Akbar vs Balestier Khalsa (5 Dec)
Keeping the ball with purpose before upping the tempo at the right time and attacking the opponent with lightning speed – that has been the Sailors’ way in 2020.
Saifullah’s goal against Balestier in the final game of the season perfectly illustrated this philosophy. When Tajeli headed the ball away in defence, his teammates quickly moved into open spaces to receive the ball. Hafiz Nor picked up the loose ball and played it back to Faizal Roslan, who passed it forward to Izzdin Shafiq. The Sailors captain then laid it on to Shahril Ishak, who instinctively played a through ball down the right for Hafiz. The nippy winger sprinted to the by-line before whipping in a pinpoint cross for Saifullah to thump home a stunning first-time volley past a rooted Zaiful Nizam in the Balestier goal.
Coach overview
With years of experience coaching abroad, and having famously led Adelaide United to the AFC Champions League final in 2008, there were massive expectations heaped on Aurelio Vidmar when he joined the Sailors. As with any new coach, it took some time for Aurelio to implement his ideas and get players to align themselves with his philosophy – and the team did struggle in the beginning.
However, the 53-year-old’s possession-based philosophy soon began to rub off on the players, and they became more and more efficient in playing the Aurelio way. He not only helped to bring young talents like Naqiuddin Eunos, Arshad Shamim and Saifullah to another level, but also managed to re-invent the experienced stars in the squad such as the aforementioned Aqhari and Gabriel – who impressed in a false nine role. The fact that the team averaged more than three goals a game this season is a testament to his coaching methods.
A number of players have also praised the personal touch of Aurelio, who makes it a point to give advice to every individual in the squad, while also listening and taking on board what they have to share. The Sailors are in good hands with him at the helm.
Ones to watch out for next season
Saifullah Akbar
It was a promising first season for one of the most talented young playmakers in the country. Often deployed in a midfield three along with Shahdan Sulaiman and Song, Saifullah is beginning to develop into a modern attacking midfielder who can both create and score goals.
With two goals and one assist this year, the onus is on the 21-year-old to raise his game to yet another level. We hope to see him influence the game and drive the team on even more next year, while also recording more goal involvements!
Stipe Plazibat
We do not need to say much about the impact Stipe has made on this team since his arrival in the mid-season transfer window. Apart from his goalscoring exploits, his intelligent and unselfish all-round play was a key component in making the Sailors’ attack tick.
It was a pity that a hamstring problem meant the 31-year-old barely played a part in the final few matches of the season. With the striker determined to work past his injury issues for next season, and with proper rest and recuperation, fans will be waiting with bated breath to see how a fully-fit Stipe can influence the team in his first full season with the Sailors.
Sailors’ 2020 team and individual stats (selected)
Top scorers – Stipe Plazibat – 9, Song Ui-Young – 9, Gabriel Quak – 5
Top assisters – Gabriel Quak – 7, Shahdan Sulaiman – 6, Stipe Plazibat – 5.
Total goals – 44 (highest in league, 12 more than nearest challengers Albirex)
Total shots – 208 (third-highest behind Albirex’s 237 and Tampines’s 214)
Total shots on target – 86 (second-highest behind Tampines’ 100)
Goals conceded – 18 (third-lowest behind Tampines’ 11 and Albirex’s 14)
Goal difference – +26 (highest, eight more than nearest challengers Albirex)
Total fouls – 169 (lowest, eight less than nearest challengers Geylang)
Yellow cards – 24 (second-lowest, five more than Albirex’s 19)
Red cards – 0 (one of only two teams along with Albirex with no explusions)
No. of goalscorers – 12 (joint-highest with Albirex)
- Stipe Plazibat – 9
- Song Ui-young – 9
- Gabriel Quak – 5
- Adam Swandi – 4
- Shahril Ishak – 3
- Shahdan Sulaiman – 2
- Saifullah Akbar – 2
- Arshad Shamim – 2
- Kaishu Yamazaki – 2
- Tajeli Salamat – 2
- Hafiz Nor – 1
- Andrew Pengelly – 1
If you were to take a look at Gabriel Quak’s highlight reel this year, you would see an array of tricks and flicks, long-range goals, clever assists, and even a cheeky individual effort that he counts among his personal highlights this season.
Not for nothing was Gabriel selected as the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) Player of the Year – the 29-year-old has had an outstanding campaign for the Lion City Sailors, racking up five goals and seven assists in a truncated 14-game season.
The Singapore international, however, believes it was not the eye-catching things he did on the pitch which led to him winning the Player of the Year award.
Rather, it was the consistency he showed throughout the season that gave him the edge over the other two contenders for the Player of the Year award – teammate Stipe Plazibat and Albirex Niigata (S) striker Tomoyuki Doi.
“When I was in my early-20s, I would play well in one or two games, then not do so well in the next two matches,” Gabriel explained. “I already knew what I could offer, and there were brilliant moments, yes, but there also moments where I went cold.
“But over time, and especially this year, I’ve added consistency into my game. And I think that’s what the fans, the coach, and my teammates want to see, because they would like someone who’s reliable and can be called upon to deliver.
“I’ve shown in every game this season that I’m able to consistently contribute goals and assists or play a key part in the build-up. That’s the most pleasing thing for me this year.”
Gabriel, who joined the Sailors earlier this year after leaving Warriors FC at the end of last season, highlighted the desire to make the most of his footballing career as a driving force behind his consistency.
“A footballer’s career is not long, and each year only brings you closer to the finish line,” Gabriel mused. “In the last few years especially, I’ve been more focused on getting my game to a higher level. And this year, with me joining a new club and being happy where I am, I am better able to perform on the pitch.”
Gabriel also credited Sailors head coach Aurelio Vidmar for giving him the freedom to express himself on the pitch.
“As an attacker, if I’m playing in a team that wants to park the bus, I won’t be able to showcase my true ability,” said Gabriel. “So, I think the Sailors’ possession-based, attacking style of play suits me perfectly, while coach Aurelio gives me the trust and the freedom to express myself in the attacking third – and that has reaped dividends.”
Having been deployed either on the wings, in the centre of the park, or as a false-9 by Aurelio this season, the versatile Gabriel is relishing the responsibility of being among the team’s most important players.
Nonetheless, the ex-Navy FC star acknowledges that he can only do so much as just one of 11 players out on the pitch.
That is why he is encouraged to see the quality and strength in depth of this Sailors squad, which had five players in the SPL’s Team of the Year. In addition, Stipe also took home the Top Scorer award, while midfielder Saifullah Akbar was named the Young Player of the Year.
“It’s good that my teammates bagged their awards because it will only do wonders for their confidence,” Gabriel said. “And when you get that good vibe, it can rub off on the whole team.
“When you know that your striker is the top scorer, and behind him, you have the Young Player of the Year, you go into every game full of confidence. So, it’s definitely exciting to be in this team, and I think we can do something good together next season.”
And what exactly is the “something good” that Gabriel thinks the team can achieve?
“We have to win a trophy next season,” Gabriel declared emphatically. “Although we gave a good account of ourselves this year, we fell short. I think it’s not acceptable. We really need to go for it, there’s no room for failure next season.
“If it’s a full season, with both the Singapore Cup and the AFC Cup, it’ll be a tough one. But with the depth that we have, we can achieve something great. It’s a crucial year for us, and everyone needs to step up.
“And I think we can.”
He may have been one of the most consistent players in the Lion City Sailors this season, but Saifullah Akbar was still surprised to learn that he had won the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) Young Player of the Year award.
After all, the ambitious 21-year-old still believes that if he had played better this year, especially in the matches that the Sailors failed to win, his team could have secured the SPL title.
“I actually think I had a decent season, not a fantastic one,” admitted Saifullah. “I was able to perform consistently in general, but I still look back at some matches and think that I could have played better, which might have helped us get the three points.
“To be very honest, I didn’t set my sights on winning the Young Player of the Year award this season. And so, I got excited when I knew I was nominated because it’s such a prestigious award. To then know that I’ve actually won it is an unbelievably amazing feeling.”
It is exactly this sort of winning mindset that has helped Saifullah earn the trust of head coach Aurelio Vidmar, with the Singapore Under-22 international starting 11 of the 14 league games this season.
But, how did Saifullah make such huge strides in his development as a player this season?
By taking care of “the little things”, says the ex-Tampines Rovers player.
He elaborates further: “As coach Aurelio always tells us, ‘the little things matter’. This means things like ensuring that you eat well, sleep well, take recovery sessions seriously, and to not skip a day of doing all these things because there is no shortcut to success.
“I feel that all these little things that I’ve been working hard to maintain have paid off, and probably played a big part in my performances this season.
“I also have to thank the coaches and the club for giving me this opportunity to perform, as I needed this consistency of performances to really kick start my footballing career.”
Among the areas where Saifullah has improved significantly is in the attacking third, with his intelligent runs into the box often causing havoc among opposition defences.
This has helped him record two goals – including a sumptuous volley against Balestier Khalsa in the Sailors’ final fixture – and one assist, and Saifullah counts those contributions among his personal highlights this year.
“Last season, I scored two penalties for the Young Lions and scored one deflected goal, but none of them were from open play,” said Saifullah. “So, to score twice from open play this season has got to be the highlight, especially as the goals came about because of my late runs into the box, which I’ve added to my gameplay.
“But I think I’ve also improved in terms of running box to box to help out both the defence and attack, and I feel like I’m developing into an all-round midfielder now.
“Obviously, I still have lots to improve. But now, with my Young Player of the Year award win, the bar is set at a high level. The only way for me to go from here is to push myself to an even higher level.”
When asked what his goal was for next season, however, Saifullah immediately put the team first, declaring: “It has got to be us winning the league. That’s the goal that we’ve got to achieve for sure.
“As for one of my personal goals, it’s to hopefully make my debut in regional competition for the Sailors and play in the AFC Cup.”
To score 14 goals in a truncated Singapore Premier League (SPL) season where only 14 rounds of games were played is an incredible feat. Lion City Sailors striker Stipe Plazibat did exactly that this year.
And so, it is no surprise that the Croatian hotshot comfortably won the SPL Top Scorer award this campaign, finishing three goals ahead of Albirex Niigata (S) forward Tomoyuki Doi in second. Fellow Sailor Song Ui-Young and Tampines Rovers’ Boris Kopitovic ended joint-third in the scoring charts with nine goals apiece.
While Stipe’s reputation as a prolific forward is well-known, this is the first year that he has finished the season as the league’s top scorer. And the 31-year-old attributes his superb goalscoring form this season to being deployed as an out-and-out striker, while also acknowledging that he owed much of his goals to the assists from his Sailors teammates.
“I think it was important that I played the whole year in the number 9 role,” explained Stipe, who last year was deployed either on the right wing or in the middle of the pitch at his former club Hougang United.
“I showed in the 2017 season already that when I play in the (forward) position, I can score a lot of goals, and I proved it again this year. However, I have to also give credit to my teammates. They make it easier to score by creating very good chances for me, so kudos to them as well.
“On an individual level, I thought my season was superb and I’m satisfied with it. Winning the top scorer award was very nice, because I was always there as the top two or three (scorers) in previous seasons, but this is the first time I’ve finished as the top scorer, and it feels really good.”
Stipe could have had more goals to this name this season, but for a hamstring injury that restricted him to just a five-minute cameo in the Sailors’ last five fixtures, including the crucial clashes against eventual league champions Albirex and second-placed Tampines.
The Sailors, who finished third in the league this season, will be challenging for honours on multiple fronts next year – the SPL, Singapore Cup, and AFC Cup. And a fired-up Stipe is determined to do all he can to keep himself fit so as to lead the team to glory in all three competitions.
“I couldn’t play the last few matches because of a hamstring issue, so I’ll need to work more on muscle injury prevention going into next season,” Stipe declared.
“Naturally, I am the kind of person who always wants more and to do better, so I am expecting improved performances from myself next year. Hopefully with that, I can lead the team to win trophies!”
The disappointment etched on the faces of the Lion City Sailors players at the final whistle on Wednesday night was palpable.
The 1-1 draw with Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) meant they missed out on qualifying for next season’s AFC Champions League.
On the surface, it would have been easy to brand the Sailors’ debut season a washout. After all, they had fallen short of their initial target of winning the SPL title this year, and would also not finish the season as the best local team in the league.
But a closer look at their overall campaign illustrates that there are plenty of reasons why this year can still be considered a success for the Sailors, and why fans should be excited about what the team can deliver next season.
Rising stars raise their game to the next level
It has been a good year for the Sailors’ Under-23 youngsters, with a number of them given significant playing time and becoming better players. Just look at Naqiuddin Eunos, who made the left-back position his own this season despite originally being a winger. The 23-year-old has started every game this season, and has improved tremendously while going toe-to-toe with top SPL attackers such as Jordan Webb, Shawal Anuar and Hazzuwan Halim without looking out of place.
Further up the field, Saifullah Akbar has been a revelation in the middle of the pitch. Often deployed as part of a midfield three, the technically gifted 21-year-old’s mature performances alongside his senior teammates Shahdan Sulaiman and Song Ui-Young has seen him earn the trust of head coach Aurelio Vidmar. He has gradually developed into a modern playmaker who is capable of not just playing the passes, but also getting on the end of moves to finish them off.
In attack, electric winger Arshad Shamim has added end product to his blistering style of play with key goal involvements in the 4-0 win over Young Lions and the 1-1 draw with Tampines. Hardworking and industrious, the 20-year-old has certainly shown that he has the potential to be a national team player in future.
With the advantage of working day in day out with top quality players, the Lion City Sailors provide an ideal environment for these starlets to develop and thrive. Expect more of such young talents to burst onto the scene under the tutelage of coach Aurelio in the coming seasons.
Re-inventing experienced players and bringing the best out of them
It is not just the young players who are shining – the more experienced stars at the club have evolved and upped their game to another level as well. While there may be a tendency for experienced players to simply rely on skill sets and attributes they have honed over the years, coach Aurelio has challenged his senior stars to get out of their comfort zone and re-invent themselves to suit his tactical system.
And they have responded magnificently.
Known as a combative no-nonsense defender over the years, Aqhari Abdullah has morphed into a modern full-back this season with the ability to bomb forward and put in dangerous crosses into the area.
And how can we not mention the transformation of Gabriel Quak, who has contributed five goals and seven assists so far? Yes, the 29-year-old midfielder – who has been deployed on the wings for most of his career – did start playing centrally while at his previous club Warriors FC back in 2019. But this season, Gabriel has managed to be even more influential in central areas for the Sailors.
Often moving infield to link up effectively with the other attackers, he would also cause havoc in opposition defences with his intelligent off-the-ball running through the middle of the park. And, with chief forward Stipe Plazibat unable to play the last few games of the season due to injury, Aurelio has deployed Gabriel as a False 9 up top to devastating effect – just look at the impact he made in the 3-0 win over Geylang International in the dying stages of the game.
Attractive possession-based football
Even though results this season may not have always gone their way, the Sailors have persisted with playing an attractive brand of football throughout, and that has won over admirers. Ever since the league restarted in mid-October, coach Aurelio’s philosophy of a possession-based style of play has been evident in all the matches, with some of the football they put on display worthy of being included in a highlights reel.
The football has been free-flowing at times, with the Sailors midfielders and attackers exchanging passes at an almost telepathic level and showing great interchange of play in the final third. The best example was Song’s goal in the Sailors’ 6-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United where he played a couple of one-twos with Stipe, before lashing the ball into the back of the net to cap off a superb team goal.
Courtesy of the hard work put on the training ground, every player now knows their role on the counter – this understanding was evident in the opening goal of the Sailors’ 3-0 away win over Geylang, with the move starting all the way at the back with Hassan Sunny and ending with Song’s emphatic finish.
The Sailors have also picked up the second-highest number of points – 23 – among the eight teams since the restart, which shows the fruits of playing a style of football that is pleasing on the eye. The Sailors’ approach to the game is one which can help Singapore football on a whole – not just in terms of attracting fans to the stadiums (once restrictions are lifted), but also one that helps improve the players and puts them in good stead to face quality international opponents.
Fearsome attacking prowess
If there is one thing you can be certain of when you watch a Sailors’ game, it is that there will be goals. Aurelio’s men have scored in every single game this season, bar the 4-0 loss to Tampines earlier in March.
No team has recorded more than the Sailors’ tally of 38 goals since the restart, with the team averaging more than three goals per game. No less than 12 different Sailors have also found the back of the net this season – even centre-backs Kaishu Yamazaki and Tajeli Salamat have a couple of goals each! This just goes to show that the team does not solely rely on Stipe for goals.
It has also long been lamented that there is a dearth of local strikers who can hit the back of the net on a regular basis. Based on how the Sailors’ local attacking contingent performed this year, those worries may soon be put to rest. After all, Gabriel is the top local scorer with five goals despite not playing as an out-and-out forward. Adam Swandi has four goals to his name – all of which came from the bench – while the evergreen Shahril Ishak has scored twice despite his limited game time. It goes to show that with hard work and proper guidance, these local players can flourish in the goalscoring department.
Fighting spirit and impressive fitness levels
As cliché as it sounds, the hallmark of a great team is how they react when the chips are down. And it was evident throughout the season that this group of players have tremendous team spirit, as they kept fighting for one another throughout the full 90 minutes of each game. Whenever the team trailed, there was no sulking or finger-pointing. The team simply rallied together to muster a response.
Another trend over the course of the season is that the Sailors tend to finish matches as the stronger side, just like how they did against Tampines at the Bishan Stadium. The statistics back this point up – among the eight teams in the league, Aurelio’s men have scored the greatest number of goals (10) in the final 10 minutes. Their nearest challengers in this aspect, Albirex, have only managed to record six goals.
Being able to finish the game strongly can be attributed to the impressive fitness levels of the team. It is a real feat, given that the Sailors had to play more matches since the restart as compared to other teams – with a gruelling schedule of 11 games played over 36 days prior to the final game against Balestier. Credit also has to be given to the medical and fitness department for their tireless work in getting the players to recover and keep them in optimal condition.
The players’ superior fitness levels and tremendous work ethic will only serve the team well, especially at the continental level where they will face bigger and fitter opponents. Hopefully, that will come in the form of the AFC Champions League in the near future. For now, though, the Sailors have to be content with the second-tier AFC Cup – which could prove to be a perfect tune-up for the team’s future ambitions.
