A title-winning campaign has translated into well-deserved recognition for the Lion City Sailors, with the club strongly represented among the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) list of nominees for the upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) Awards Night 2024/25.
Vice-captain Bailey Wright has been a colossal figure at the heart of the league’s meanest defence, while also chipping in with four goals — contributions that have earned him a deserved nomination for the coveted AIA Player of the Year (POTY) award.
Joining Bailey on the shortlist is Shawal Anuar, whose evergreen brilliance saw him register a career-best 18 goals and 12 assists across 29 league appearances. The duo will be up against Geylang International’s record-breaking forward Tomoyuki Doi for the league’s top individual honour.
The Sailors’ strong showing extends to the dugout, where Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković has been recognised for masterminding the team’s return to the summit of Singapore football.
With 22 wins and just six draws in 32 matches, he is one of three nominees for the POLAR Mineral Water Coach of the Year, alongside Gavin Lee (BG Tampines Rovers) and Noor Ali (Geylang International).
Meanwhile, Shawal is also in the running for the SELECT Goal of the Year, with his stunning lob from the halfway line against BG Tampines — in a thrilling 2-2 draw on 29 September 2024 — among the eight nominees for the award.
Excellence off the pitch is being recognised as well, with the Sailors in contention for the media awards for a second consecutive season.
Kenneth Tan’s feature — Mother, father, supporter – meet the driving force behind Asis’s rise — which spotlights the influential role of Nur Muhammad Asis’s mother in his footballing journey, has been nominated for the Story of the Year award.
Kenneth was the winner of this category in the last edition of the awards in 2023.
The Sailors will also be honoured with two SPL Recognition Awards at this year’s ceremony.
Adam Swandi, who retired at the end of 2024 due to a heart condition, will receive a SPL Special Award in recognition of his contributions to Singapore football over the past decade. The club will also be acknowledged for their historic run in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two, where they made history as the first Singaporean side to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.
Reflecting on the Sailors’ full list of nominations and accolades, the club’s Sporting Director Badri Ghent said, “It’s a proud moment for everyone at Lion City Sailors and we’re humbled to be up for such awards. They reflect not just the performances on the pitch, but the countless hours of hard work behind the scenes — from the players and coaches to the support staff and entire backroom team.
“To bag these honours would be a fitting end to what has been a long and memorable season. We’d also like to thank FAS for recognising our efforts in the ACL Two. As a club, we constantly challenge ourselves to grow and evolve. We’ll continue to build on the momentum from this season and aim to represent Singapore football with pride and dignity on the continental stage in the years ahead.”
The SPL Awards Night 2024/25 will take place this Sunday, 1 June at the Orchard Hotel.
Lion City Sailors’ nominees for SPL Awards Night 2024/25
AIA Player of the Year: Bailey Wright, Shawal Anuar
POLAR Mineral Water Coach of The Year: Aleksandar Ranković
SELECT Goal of the Year: Shawal Anuar (vs BG Tampines Rovers, 29 September 2024)
Story of the Year: Mother, Father, Supporter – meet the driving force behind Asis’s rise by Kenneth Tan
SPL Recognition Awards: Adam Swandi – SPL Special Award, Sporting Excellence in Singapore Football (2015 – 2024)
Lion City Sailors FC – Outstanding Performance as Runners-up of the AFC Champions League Two 2024/25
