Fresh off a fairytale Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Preliminary Stage campaign, the Lion City Sailors Women return to Women’s Premier League (WPL) duty closer, stronger, and more united than ever.

Currently sitting fourth in the WPL table with two games in hand, the Sailors resume their title defence against fifth-placed Hougang United this Sunday (7 September) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

A perfect record of three wins in three in Melaka have transformed the Sailors from underdogs into history-makers. Along the way, the squad forged deeper bonds as they celebrated triumphs together, and bid bittersweet farewells to their Japanese teammates who were instrumental to their AWCL journey.

It is this tight-knit spirit that Dhaniyah Qasimah and Anaya Sehgal believe will fuel the Sailors’ push for a fourth consecutive WPL crown.

“The experience in Melaka was one in a million,” said 21-year-old Dhaniyah, who started all three AWCL matches at the right-back position. 

“Winning any match feels good, but winning at the AWCL was unlike anything else. Every sacrifice we made suddenly felt worth it. We pushed ourselves out of our comfort zones, and it paid off. Now, we’ve grown so much closer as a team. We know we can count on each other to give everything until the final whistle. The goal is clear: finish the league on a high.”

Echoing Dhaniyah’s sentiments, 16-year-old Anaya added, “After qualifying for the AWCL group stage, our team is brimming with momentum and chemistry. 

“It’s a pretty quick turnaround from the AWCL to being back in WPL action, but everyone’s staying focused. We’re hungry to keep the winning streak going and to test ourselves against local teams. We’re going to take it one game at a time.”

The Sailors’ continental adventure meant stepping away from WPL action temporarily, a pause that saw them slip down the standings. But with games in hand, the stage is set for a surge back to the top.

For Dhaniyah, who joined at the start of the season with a mission to help the Sailors reach the AWCL group stages, the focus now is clear: to channel everything she learned abroad into the WPL title chase.

“I learned so much from everyone, especially our five Japanese teammates,” said the 21-year-old.

“What stood out most was staying calm under pressure in high-stakes matches. Keeping intensity high while staying tactically disciplined is something I want to carry into the WPL. That composure will be crucial for us.”

She added: “After the final whistle against Etihad Club, I felt something I’d never felt before. Even though it was only the first match, we knew the result was vital to set the tone. That win gave us belief and momentum. Now, it’s about channelling all of that into the WPL. We’re ready.”

For Anaya, the AWCL was as much about learning as competing. She watched closely from the sidelines, soaking up the standards set by her senior teammates in training and in matches.

“One of the biggest lessons I took was the raised level of intensity, awareness, and composure under pressure,” she reflected. “These are essential in football, and I want to bring them into my own game for the WPL.”

She added with a smile: “Of course we want to win this Sunday and score as many goals as possible, but beyond that, we want to play our style of football.”