Author: Lion City Sailors
They were undefeated in all of 2022, en route to the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title and a rare coronation as Invincibles of the women’s game, and the Lion City Sailors Women are once again favourites to win the league in 2023.
An unbeaten run comes with its own pressure – with somewhat different expectations – that can stab at nerves when the heat is on. But Sailors midfielder Paula Druschke is not just taking this added pressure in her stride, she is relishing it.
The 20-year-old believes that this pressure will only serve to elevate their performances this season, especially with everyone in the team pulling together in the same direction.
“Teams that play us will definitely have added motivation, as they will want to end our unbeaten run. Personally, I used to love to play against the big names and championship winning teams, because then you have nothing to lose, and you can just give everything on the pitch,” Paula admitted.
“So yes, the Invincibles tag does put more pressure on us. But I think that’s a good thing. My confidence stems from seeing how well we work together as a team, and we support each other when we have a bad day. We have a diverse squad that works well together, so I don’t see why we should not believe that we can retain the title.”
Paula’s bullish outlook for the 2023 season was given credence by the efficient manner in which the Sailors dismantled new WPL outfit Police SA – a game they won 3-0 – in their opening league fixture last Sunday (19 March).
“I think we could definitely see some of the things we worked on during the offseason in our game, which was really good,” Paula recounted. “At the same time, I believe we adapted our playing pace too much to suit our opponents. I think we can play even faster and better when we stay true to our own playing style.”
Up next for the Sailors is a test against a more familiar foe in Still Aerion on Saturday evening (25 March) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. Last season, Aerion were beaten 4-0 both home and away by the Sailors, as they finished sixth in the seven-team league.
While Aerion also did not get their season off to a great start – losing 3-0 to Hougang United – Paula is not taking anything for granted when the Sailors play them this weekend.
“It is important that we do not underestimate the team, even though they have lost their last match,” said Paula. “They worked very hard during the offseason and have made some changes in their squad as well.
“So, it is important that we play fast and creatively in the attacking half. Playing attacking football is what we want to do all the time.
“Of course, that can make us also vulnerable in the defence, so everyone in the team must work hard to protect our goal as well. Personally, I would hope to see an early goal or two so that we can play with more freedom for the rest of the game.”
In the spirit of International Women’s Day (IWD) that is celebrated annually across the globe on 8 March, we delve into the lives and experiences of our Sailors Women to better understand their struggles, challenges and inspirations as they make their mark in what is a male-dominated Singapore football industry.
In this, the third and final instalment of our IWD special, we turn the spotlight on Lion City Sailors Women’s team goalkeeper Beatrice Tan and Yingying Seah, Business Development Manager of the Lion City Sailors Football School.
She is standing under the Esplanade Bridge with Diego Lopes on one side, Umairah Hamdan on the other, and a wince drawing awkward lines on her face.
The photographer calls for a pose with street attitude, and suddenly the game is on: her elbow rises to rest on neighbour, head tilts groundwards and hand follows, sliding over thigh. When her eyes rise off the floor, the gawky discomfort seems to have melted away and it is a completely different Beatrice Tan who meets the camera lens.
This was a photoshoot to launch the Sailors 2023 jerseys, and the 30-year-old Beatrice is not a runway model. But it is no surprise that the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team goalkeeper can turn it on on demand.
She is also the National Women’s Team custodian, an elite athlete, and a role model for aspiring female footballers, including those she oversees in the Lion City Sailors Girls Football Academy.
“Yeah, I absolutely love it that I’m contributing to the future of the women’s game in Singapore, and not just as a player. And I can’t begin to say how heartwarming it is that the girls actually remember my name and greet me when we run into each other at the training sessions,” said Beatrice, who by day, serves as the Academy’s Special Projects person.
The former Singapore Sports Hub venue manager oversees a range of unique projects at Mattar Road including the Academy scholars’ academic progress and the development of the Academy’s all-girls programme – that she sees as her real calling.
“I definitely feel more affinity for the girls’ football role, largely because the boys’ game tends to grow organically, but there needs to be a push if we want to help the girls – and the girls’ game – grow.”
At the frontlines of that, Beatrice has a comrade in arms in what has become a bit of a personal mission for both women.
“I’m certain that there are many young Singaporean girls who love football, like I did when I was a child, and it’s fantastic to see more and more young girls play – and with parents who are supportive of their efforts too,” said Yingying Seah, the Lion City Sailors Football School’s Business Development Manager.
The Football School is the revenue generating arm of the Sailors Academy.
“The perception that football is only for boys is changing – perhaps slower here in Singapore than it is across the globe – and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to that in my own little way.”
Even before she finished that last sentence, Yingying’s eyes lit up, as a young trainee walked by and waved hello. She knows his name, of course, and chirped a greeting of her own as he trotted off towards the pitch at Mattar Road.
Her high pitched voice immediately dropped an octave as she finished her interrupted thought:“It’s also important that for football lovers like me who can’t play or coach that we have options in the sport too, and that we have someone to look up to,” said Yingying who only had one female colleague – current Sailors Women’s Head Coach, Yeong Sheau Shyan – when she joined the Sailors in 2020.
Yingying is a Psychology and Marketing Double Major graduate from the Singapore Management University, and she is adamant that skills beyond the football pitch are very much in demand at football clubs, and women need not fear embracing the sport.
“It was challenging at the start because it was a male-dominated environment, and I felt it was a bit harder to be taken seriously, and I had to adjust – like step up in conversations – and I think in the end, like in football, performance will speak for itself,” she said, revealing that trainee numbers more than doubled in her three years at the Football School, with the girls’ programme also seeing some 50 girls train and play every weekend.
Female trainee numbers are a source of pride for both Beatrice and Yingying, but it has not exactly been an easy journey working to grow figures.
“It was clear that to see regular participation, we need to understand what issues the girls were facing – and engage their parents in the conversation as well,” said Beatrice. “Some girls feel bad that they can’t keep up with the boys they train with, others are just more comfortable in the social environment that comes with playing in an all-girls team.
“I see our role as helping to remove barriers and make it easier for girls to enjoy and embrace football,” added the 2022 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) Golden Glove winner.
While she only played for six months as a teenager and stopped because she was a self-confessed “terrible player”, Yingying shares the same drive to encourage female participation in the game, with the Football School perhaps best equipped to jump start moves towards all-girls football environments that encourage more to stay in the sport.
“Our Football School is still a business, and if it’s all men making decisions, there is a danger of losing alternative perspectives that can make impactful change. Talking to children is one example where having a softer touch helps, even talking to parents, to understand the needs of families,” said the 29-year-old Yingying.
“Then it’s just about being assertive enough to drive those changes internally, and follow through with making sure we implement what we set out to do.”
It is perhaps this need to manage different needs between a male-dominated office and family-focused training environment that has honed the ability of both women to code-switch at will, but Yingying would not have it any other way.
“My colleagues would never leave me out of anything, even the guy-talk,” she said eyebrows furrowing before her eyes lit up once more, and the same chirpy voice returned, as her thoughts floated to the Academy’s trainees like Nur Ain Salleh and the other Sailors’ women the likes of First Team manager Huong Tran and Operations Manager Carolyn Chia.
“But it has been rewarding and enriching: I love kids, I love football and I love what I’m doing. I hope I never leave football, and maybe even encourage more to join us – the women and girls like Ain, Huong, Beatrice, Carolyn, and me – in the sport.”
The Lion City Sailors Women – Invincibles of 2022 – picked up where they left off last year in their opening fixture of the 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), securing a comfortable 3-0 win over Police SA at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday evening (19 March).
Indeed, it took all of three minutes for the Sailors to get their season off the ground, with midfielder Madison Telmer breaking through the heart of the Police defence to break the deadlock with a crisp right foot shot.
Against Police SA’s deep, defensive block, however, the Sailors struggled to make any meaningful headway in the final third, and were often left frustrated in their quest to double their advantage.
It fell to last season’s WPL top scorer Izzati Rosni to find the answers for the Sailors, as the 23-year-old struck twice late in the game to secure all three points for the defending champions.
Sailors Women head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan admitted that, despite the early lead, her side had found it tough going at the start due to the “conservative” Police SA approach.
“I think we started out very well, we did exactly what we wanted to do,” Sheau Shyan said. “But we were not used to the ground, so it was a bit difficult for us to control the game. The pitch was also a bit slippery because of the rain earlier, so it was a bit hard for us to play in the middle, although we eventually got used to it.
“Police SA played conservatively and were more concerned with getting the ball out with long balls. Every time we get to the final third, if we didn’t score, the ball would be kicked all the way back. So, there was a lot of running up and down the pitch, and it required a huge physical effort from both teams.”
However, Izzati believes that the turning point came when the Sailors decided to focus on playing their usual game, rather than worrying about the threat that Police SA posed.
“At times, we followed the opponent’s pace of the game, when we should be setting the pace instead,” Izzati explained. “I think we came back stronger in the second half. We were quick on the counter, and instead of just dribbling and kicking the ball long, we focused on passing and quick movement to keep possession.”
Echoing Izzati’s sentiments, Madison added: “Our opponents are very experienced, so as the match progressed, they could understand how we were trying to play, and knew what to do to make it difficult for us.
“We had to work to mix things up, and it took us a while to get into the game. But towards the end, we got more comfortable with passing the ball around and getting it up front, and we finally got our second and third goals.”
The Sailors, whose unbeaten run in the WPL has now extended to 13 games, stretching all the way back to the start of the 2022 season, will next take on Still Aerion Women’s FC at Choa Chu Kang on Saturday, 25 March.
Maxime double sends Sailors to the summit
The Lion City Sailors will head into the upcoming international break in good cheer, following a 3-0 win over Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (18 March) evening.
The three points earned – their fourth victory in five games – means that the Sailors have now made their best-ever start to a Singapore Premier League (SPL) season. Their previous best points tally after five games was 10, with three wins, a draw and a loss in the 2022 season.
More importantly, however, the result propelled Risto Vidaković’s side to the top of the nine-team SPL standings. They could remain league leaders heading into the international break should Albirex Niigata (S) and Tampines Rovers play out a draw in their game on Sunday (19 March), although a victory for either team would see the Sailors bumped down to second.
Nonetheless, the ruthless manner in which the Sailors dispatched the Tigers was a reminder to the rest of the league of not only the quality they have in their ranks, but of the team’s determination to regain the SPL title.
“The players gave everything today, their 100%, and I think that’s the most important aspect of the match. I can’t fault them for their effort,” said Risto. “ We suffered a bit in the first half, but in the second half we controlled the game a bit more and got the win. The players who were not called up for international duty can now take the time during the upcoming break to rest and recover, and get themselves ready for our next game.”
While the Sailors put in an accomplished performance against Peter de Roo’s men, their opening goal in the 19th minute perhaps owed more to luck than it did to skill, as Maxime Lestienne’s scuffed shot off Christopher van Huizen’s cross bounced off the turf and looped over a wrongfooted Hairul Syirhan in the Balestier goal.
There was, however, nothing fortuitous about the Sailors’ second goal in the 48th minute. Maxime played a beautiful one-two with Diego Lopes down the left, before sending an inch-perfect low cross for Abdul Rasaq – making his first start of the season – to tap home into an unguarded net.
Maxime put the icing on the cake for the home side in stoppage time, confidently dispatching a penalty which substitute Shawal Anuar had earned after being fouled by Balestier’s Emmeric Ong in the box – capping off a virtuoso performance with two goals and an assist.
With the Sailors scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet in back-to-back games – they had beaten Geylang International by the same scoreline in their previous game – goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad believes momentum is on their side.
Man-of-the-Match Zharfan, who played a crucial role in the win over Balestier with a number of key saves, said: “I’m happy with my performance, but more importantly, I’m happy with the team’s performance.
“From the start, we tried to play out from the back and it worked out for us. Winning was the only thing that was on our minds ahead of the international break.
“We are going to face Tampines next, so having these three points gives us momentum, and we’re all looking forward to that big game.”
The Sailors’ highly-anticipated clash with fellow title challengers Tampines will take place on Friday, 31 March at Our Tampines Hub.
The Lion City Sailors found the perfect balm to soothe the wounds of last week’s painful defeat to Albirex Niigata (S), securing a 3-0 win over Geylang International at Bishan Stadium on Wednesday (15 March) night.
With several key players, including Kodai Tanaka, and Nur Adam Abdullah and M Anumanthan, out of action due to injuries and suspension, the Sailors had to field a line-up that looked markedly different from the one that first walked out onto the pitch in their opening game of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season last month.
New signing Manuel Herrera López – nicknamed Súper – was handed his club debut at the heart of defence barely a day after his transfer to the Sailors was confirmed. Adam Swandi was also handed his first start of the season, while Diego Lopes was deployed in the relatively unfamiliar role of a False 9 up top.
With three goals scored, three points in the bag, and a first clean sheet of the season – and this with a much-changed first XI – one would have expected Sailors head coach Risto Vidaković to be purring after the game.
Instead, the Serbian emphasised that there were still several aspects of the Sailors’ game that needed to be worked on.
“It was obviously a very important win for us, but we played a little nervous at times today,” Risto said. ”There were too many ups and downs, we did not have enough control of the game, and I think we need to improve a lot for sure.”
Making his first start of 2023, it was Adam who made the first real impact of the game, as he earned the Sailors a penalty in the 17th minute after being tripped in the box by Geylang goalkeeper Ridhwan Fikri.
Diego, however, failed to convert the resulting penalty, with Ridhwan redeeming himself by saving the spot-kick.
But it did not take long for Diego to make amends – just five minutes later, the Brazilian charged forward from midfield before laying the ball off for Hafiz Nor to side-foot it past Ridhwan and into the back of the net.
Diego then turned from provider to goalscorer on the stroke of half-time, as he calmly tapped home Christopher van Huizen’s cross from close range for his first goal of the season.
The Sailors made certain of the three points in the 70th minute, when substitute Abdul Rasaq Akeem benefited from Maxime Lestienne’s pass to fire a fierce shot into the bottom left corner just two minutes after coming on to replace Adam.
Risto’s calls for improvement were echoed by Man-of-the-Match Diego, who said: “We are happy with the win, but maybe not happy with the performance.
“We are disappointed with some things because we know we could have done better. We could have kept possession better, we could have made better passes, and we could have created more chances. But overall, I’m just happy that we got the three points.”
The Sailors were further boosted by the return of Zulqarnaen Suzliman and Haiqal Pashia – both of whom made their first appearances for the Sailors this season, albeit from the bench – but it was the performance of Súper that caught Risto’s eye.
“It is Súper’s first game, and he played the whole 90 minutes only because we don’t have a replacement for central defenders,” said Risto. “Anu is suspended, and so Súper came at the right moment.
“He had a very good game, even though he’s not at his best level yet because he didn’t have a pre-season, and he’s just started training with us. I expected less from him, but he played really well.”
With the win, the Sailors moved up to third in the table, just one point behind current league leaders Tampines Rovers. They will next take on Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium this Saturday (18 March) evening.
There was a sense of déjà vu at the Bishan Stadium on Friday night (3 March). For the second time in a week, the venue bore witness to a 3-1 Lion City Sailors win in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
While it was Tanjong Pagar United who suffered defeat to the Sailors last Friday, this time around, it was the returning Brunei DPMM side – playing their first SPL game in three years – who found themselves on the wrong end of that scoreline.
The outcome may have been the same, but it was a much-improved display from the Sailors, a performance that brought a smile to Head Coach Risto Vidaković.
“In the second half, we played much better, and we kept possession very well. We created many opportunities…it was a much better second half than the one we played (against Tanjong Pagar) last week,” he said after the game.
It was a slow start for the Sailors in the first-half, however, as they struggled to come to terms with DPMM’s physical and robust approach to the game.
Maxime Lestienne could have opened the scoring for the home team early on, but his effort from close range crashed off the woodwork.
But the Belgian – who bagged himself three assists against Tanjong Pagar – did not have to wait too long to score his first goal of the season. Just before the half-time break, Diego Lopes broke free down the left, before cutting it back for Maxime to expertly guide the ball into the back of the net to give the Sailors the breakthrough.
DPMM did, however, manage to find an equaliser in the 62nd minute, when a pass from Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad was intercepted and eventually led to the visitors scoring through the lively Hakeme Yazid.
Reflecting on the conceded goal, Risto said: “Mistakes are a part of football, it always happens. It’s just that when a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it’s more visible than when other players do. But it doesn’t matter, I want him to just forget what happened and try to do it better in the next game.”
Far from letting their heads go down, the Sailors seemed to find another gear after the DPMM equaliser and began to assert themselves.
Risto’s men were duly rewarded in the 75th minute when new signing Kodai Tanaka scored his third goal in two games by nodding into an empty net after being found by Diego’s header across the six-yard box.
Deep into stoppage time, the Sailors ensured they would take all three points, when substitutes Shawal Anuar – making his first appearance in the Sailors’ white and blue – and Abdul Rasaq Akeem combined for the latter to score an emphatic third.
“After the (DPMM) equaliser, the team took things into their hands and seized control of the game, which led to us scoring two goals and securing the deserved win,” said Risto.
“It was difficult to prepare for DPMM because they haven’t played competitively for three years, so we didn’t have much information on them. We expected them to go long most of the time as they have tall players in attack, but I think our boys did well to handle that.”
The Sailors, who moved top of the nine-team SPL table with the win, will next take on champions Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium on Thursday (9 March) night.
Ladies and gentlemen of The Crew,
We’re absolutely delighted that you’ve put your name down to come on board for the Sailors’ 2023 adventure, and we can’t wait for you to get involved in the exciting activities we’ve got in the pipeline!
You would have received your Membership Number in your inbox and an email with the link to apply for the Season Pass – applications will close on Tues, 14 Feb at 6pm, or when passes are no longer available.
Only members of The Crew can apply for the Season Pass, so if you haven’t already done so – click here to join The Crew!
Membership to The Crew opens doors to everything you’ll need for a front row seat to back your Sailors in the 2023 Season.
From discounted Home match tickets to attractive deals at partner establishments, vouchers for the Lion City Sailors Football Club Official Store on Shopee and exclusive invites to unique experiences that will bring you closer to the players and club that you love.
Come onboard The Crew for just $48 (incl GST) and make bold new memories on your journey with the Sailors!
Memberships come with these exciting benefits:
- A Crew Pack comprising a Membership Card to The Crew, Scarf, Stickers and a Sailors Lanyard
- 20% off all HOME match tickets (subject to availability on a first-come-first-served basis)
- 5 x Shopee vouchers for use on the Official Lion City Sailors Shopee store
- Eligibility to apply to purchase a 2023 Season Pass (subject to availability on a first-come-first-served basis)
He made his mark with 24 goals in 35 appearances in a Lion City Sailors shirt in 2022, and now Kim Shin-wook is off to write the next chapter of his football career.
Shin-wook reached a mutual agreement to part ways with the Sailors, and will depart the club with good memories of the club and of Singapore football.
With more than 100 goals in K League 1 and two Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League titles – with Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors – the 1.98m Shin-wook was the fourth-highest scorer in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) last season with 21 goals – including four hat-tricks.
“Wookie” memorably struck a stunning acrobatic volley on his Sailors debut in a 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) in the 2022 AIA Community Shield, inspiring the Sailors to its first Community Shield win in its history.
Having played for some of Asia’s biggest teams, the 34-year-old was grateful for the opportunity to play for the ambitious Sailors and will look back with fond memories, especially of the strong backing he received from the Sailors’ fervent fans.
The Crew had dedicated a song – sung to the tune of all-time classic Que Sera Sera – to him, and there was a special moment in last August’s 9-4 win over Hougang United when Shin-wook obliged the fans with his trademark celebration on the sidelines after being subbed off following one of his four 2022 hat-tricks.
“I’m grateful to all of you for your fantastic support in the stadiums, and to my teammates, and staff at the club for all their help during my time with the Sailors.
“It has been an honour to play for all of you this past year as a Sailor. I feel it is the right time for me to explore new opportunities to continue challenging myself,” he elaborated.
The former South Korean international was keen to reiterate that the Sailors will have one more supporter as it embarks on the 2023 season.
“I have enjoyed my time as a Sailor and I wish the team nothing but the best in the season ahead,” said Shin-wook.
“I will be continuing to support Sailors as always.”
Hariss Harun lauded the positive effect Shin-wook had on the Sailors across the 2022 season.
“He was a consummate professional, a good presence in the dressing room, and a fighter out on the pitch,” said the Sailors and Singapore captain.
“We wish him the best in the next chapter of his career, and we’ll be following him closely too.”
Gamsahamnida and all the best, Wookie!
Thank you for the memorable voyage, Sailors
With the 2022 campaign now done and dusted, the Lion City Sailors are set to bid farewell to six first-team players.
Amongst those departing, five of them have been with the Sailors since its inception in 2020 and served the club with distinction: Hassan Sunny, Shahdan Sulaiman, Gabriel Quak, Naqiuddin Eunos and Iqram Rifqi.
Faris Ramli will also leave the Sailors.
Gabriel departs after scoring 29 goals across three seasons for the Sailors, as well as a SPL Player of the Year (POTY) accolade in 2020.
His 11 goals this term also saw him finish the season as the Sailors’ second-highest local top-scorer in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) – two behind South Korea-born Song Ui-young.
A calm presence between the sticks, Singapore national team centurion Hassan meanwhile kept a total of seven clean sheets from 20 SPL appearances in 2022.
With his eye for a pass, Shahdan was a joy to watch as he kept things tidy and dictated the tempo in midfield whenever he played.
Naqiuddin was one that showcased his potential and developed into a fine full-back in his time with the Sailors.
Gabriel expressed his gratitude to the club for giving him the “perfect platform” to enjoy his football.
“It’s been three beautiful years and this club will always hold a special place in my heart. I would like to thank everyone from the fans to the teammates whom I’m close with,” said the 31-year-old, who was on the scoresheet in the Sailors’ friendly loss to Borussia Dortmund (BVB) last week.
“I know they are sad to see me go, but I just want to say: Don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened.
“Special thanks goes out to our club Chairman Forrest Li as well, who has been a pleasure to work with.”
Gabriel was also pleased to achieve the targets he set for himself with the Sailors.
“When I left for Thailand in 2018, I told a few close friends of mine that I have a three-year plan to be officially the best player in Singapore,” he shared.
“I’m glad I did it (win the POTY award) in two years and I can’t ask for more. I believe I’ve given everything to the club and I am confident things are just going to get better from here for me for the years to come.”
Singapore national team winger Faris parts ways with the Sailors after a two-year stint, memorably winning the SPL in his first year with the club in 2021 and he only has good things to say about his Sailors chapter.
“I have great memories here and I’m happy we managed to win the SPL title and got the chance to represent the club in the ACL (Asian Football Confederation Champions League),” he said. “I’m in my thirties now and I believe this is the right step for me as I look forward to a new challenge.
“Everyone here at the club feels like family to me, including the fans who have been with us through thick and thin and it was a great way to sign off with a goal against BVB,” he added.
“The support I received from the management to the backroom staff has been immense during my time here as well and I would like to say a big thank you.”
Meanwhile Iqram rounds off the list of departures after a memorable 2022 in which he started each of the Sailors’ six games in the ACL.
A product of Home United’s – the previous iteration of the Sailors – Prime League team, the versatile left-sided player featured once in the club’s inaugural season in 2020 before spending the following year on loan at Geylang International.
We thank the outgoing players for their service to the Sailors, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
