Since arriving in Singapore with a stellar reputation after nearly a decade in the Dutch Eredivisie, Bart Ramselaar has steadily settled into his first year with the Lion City Sailors.

The former PSV Eindhoven and FC Utrecht star has registered eight goals and 10 assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this season, firmly establishing himself as a key player in Aleksandar Ranković’s side.

Bart’s growing influence was on full display in the Sailors’ recent 6-0 win over Albirex Niigata (S) in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), where he recorded a hat-trick of assists and a goal. One standout moment saw him cut into the Albirex box and unleash an unstoppable shot into the top corner that left the opposition stunned.

“Going into the match, we knew it would be difficult because Albirex had won four of their last five games and were in good form,” explained Bart. “But we played a really good game and capitalised on most of the chances we created. This result gives us a lot of confidence for the upcoming matches.”

The 27-year-old was one of the Sailors’ marquee signings in the pre-season transfer window, with the Dutchman earmarked as someone who could help the club make a strong impression on the continental stage.

While settling into life more than 10,000km away from the Netherlands was initially challenging, Bart credited the supportive environment at the Sailors for helping him transition seamlessly to life in Singapore.

“I had to get used to playing in the heat, but luckily, the long pre-season made it easier for me to adapt to the weather,” said the Dutchman.

“Off the pitch, my wife and I are loving life in Singapore. The staff, players, and everyone at the club have been so welcoming, and we’re really happy to be here.”

With the Sailors sitting atop the SPL and competing in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two, Bart called on his teammates to work hard to sustain their excellent form on all fronts.

“At top clubs, the second half of the season is always the most important because that’s when you win trophies,” said Bart. “For a top club like the Sailors, that’s our goal. We’re just getting started and will be ready for the challenges ahead.”

One of the Sailors’ toughest challenges of the season awaits in their next ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup match, in which they will face reigning Thai League 1 champions Buriram United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (23 January).

The Thai outfit currently leads their domestic league and sits second place in Group B, two points behind Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC, and three points ahead of the Sailors, who are in fourth.

Despite the prospect of facing one of the strongest teams in the region, Bart remains confident that the Sailors’ quality and team spirit will see them through against the Thai side.

“I know Buriram have a lot of quality players, and it’s going to be a very tough game. However, we always go into every match — especially at home — looking to win,” said Bart.

“We have quality players who are in form, and more importantly, the balance and spirit within the team is fantastic. We all get along really well and celebrate each other’s successes, but now it’s time to show that spirit against a top-class team like Buriram.”

Bart and the Sailors, however, can take confidence from their performances against other Thai sides this season, having beaten Port FC twice in the ACL Two group stages to secure their spot in the competition’s knockout stages.

“Our performances in the Champions League group stages give us a lot of confidence heading into this game,” said the former Netherlands international. “If we can reach our highest level — attacking, defending, and fighting as a team — that energy and team spirit will help us achieve the result we want on Thursday.”

Bart also urged the Sailors faithful to turn up in force at Jalan Besar Stadium, as he emphasised the vital role they play in driving the team forward on big occasions like this.

He said, “We really need their support, just like in the game against Port, where their voices helped us reach the next round. As a player, you always feel the extra motivation when the crowd is behind you, so I’m looking forward to seeing them cheering for us on Thursday.”