Category: Feature
Hougang United was his first club when he first arrived in Singapore in 2016, and it was also his first port of call three years later when he returned to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) after an unproductive spell in Thailand.
He is still on very good terms with the club’s management and of his ex-teammates, but ahead of the Lion City Sailors’ clash with the Cheetahs at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night, Stipe Plazibat was adamant that there will be no room for sentiment.
“I’m very grateful for what Hougang has done for me and there’ll always be mutual respect,” said the 31-year-old. “I’m still very good with everyone at Hougang from coach Clement (Teo), general manager Matthew (Tay) and my old teammates,” said Stipe.
He left Hougang for Bishan twice – the most recent instance was in the 2020 mid-season transfer window – and he is now leading the Sailors’ charge for what would be the club’s first-ever league title.
“It’s nice to see your friends, but there’s no discount for anyone. I’m sure they’ll be tough on me on the pitch and I’ll be tough on them as well.”
And there is good reason for the aggressive Hougang approach that Stipe expects.
The Cheetahs are still in with a fighting chance to win the league. They are five points behind second-placed Sailors – and eight behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) – but have played a game more.
The Sailors did not enjoy the best of starts to the 2021 season, collecting just four points from a possible nine, languishing fourth in the eight-team standings after the first three rounds.
The 3-1 loss to Hougang that came during that period in March proved to be the Sailors’ only defeat this term. Since then, they have gone on a club record 12-game unbeaten run – amassing 30 points from a possible 36.
A change of coach and playing system did little to hinder the Sailors’ championship quest, as they picked up successive victories over Tampines Rovers (4-1) and Tanjong Pagar United (2-1) after kick-starting Kim Do-hoon’s reign with 1-1 draws against Albirex and Balestier Khalsa.
Now three points behind leaders Albirex with a game in hand and with a better goal difference, the Sailors know they have fate in their own hands. As long as they win their final six games – including a match against Albirex on 17 Sep – the Sailors will land their hands on the coveted trophy.
“In the beginning we were still trying to find our feet as a new team and we needed some time to adjust to each other, but we slowly progressed and you can see the improvement now,” explained Stipe.
“Under Coach Kim, training sessions are longer, tougher and more physically demanding. The football style is more industrial than before, but we’re gradually adapting to his philosophy and it’s good that we are winning again after two draws,” he added.
“We have six cup finals left and we just have to take each game as it comes to achieve our target.”
After a good debut year with the Sailors – he netted nine goals and chalked up five assists in seven starts – Stipe has carried that form into his first full season with the club with 13 goals and seven assists in 15 starts.
The 2020 SPL Golden Boot winner is now three goals behind Hougang’s frontrunner Tomoyuki Doi and has every chance to finish top scorer again this year, but is not fixated on that target. Instead, it is the team’s ultimate goal that is foremost on Stipe’s mind.
“Honestly the most important thing is that we win the league. If my goals help us to achieve that and also help me to win the Golden Boot, that will be great, but my priority is the league title,” he insisted.
And Stipe is hoping that he will be the third time lucky, this after some wretched luck saw his teams fall short of the title in the past two years, as he missed crucial games at business end of those seasons.
In 2019, Stipe was absent for the final two games for Hougang due to injury as the Cheetahs agonisingly missed out on their first-ever league title. Then last year, a hamstring injury meant he only played a bit part role – just 6 minutes – in the Sailors’ final five games as they eventually finished third behind Albirex and Tampines.
“Hopefully this year I will stay healthy all the way till the end of the season to help my team,” said the hotshot, who has a grand total of 76 SPL goals in 93 appearances. “I have a good feeling this year might be the year that I finally win the league.”
Should the Sailors lift the SPL trophy on the final day of the season on 2 October, it will be double happiness for Stipe – who is set to welcome the birth of his first child, a son, later that month.
Now living alone in his Bishan apartment because his wife Marija had flown back to Split in July to prepare for the delivery, he is hoping to make it back to his native Croatia in time to witness the life-changing moment.
“She was with me in Singapore from July 2019 until last month,” revealed Stipe. “Right now, there’s nothing much I do every day – sometimes I will go cycling with (Sailors Head of Performance) Mario Jovanovic, and maybe go to the supermarket to top up whatever I need at home. If not, it’s only between Bishan and Jalan Besar for training and matches.
“Hopefully the team can achieve our target of winning the title. Then I can happily go home to my wife and son.”
Stipe is also looking further to the future, after seeing teammate Song Uiyoung secure his Singapore citizenship last week.
Stipe – who is now into his fifth season in Singapore across two spells – is also hoping to sink roots in the Lion City.
“I’m so happy for Song – he’s been trying so hard for 10 years, and he’s finally become a Singaporean,” said Stipe.
“I’ve also always said I want to set up my family here, and hopefully if all goes well, I will try to apply to be a Singapore PR (permanent resident) next year.”
A Singaporean Song
He placed his hand at the centre of his chest, then pulled it down to his gut, making a tight fist as he did so.
“It felt really strange, like something deep inside here was changing. I knew that I was nervous before going into the room, but I was still surprised by the strong emotion,” said Song Ui-young.
“My voice was shaky, and my hands too. I still can’t quite describe it, but I felt my identity was changing, like I was becoming a different person.”
The Lion City Sailors midfielder was indeed going through a metamorphosis – reciting the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL) – to become a Singapore citizen.
Recounting the moments on Friday (20 August) as he uttered the words that would confirm his Singaporean status at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Building on Kallang Road, Song still struggled to verbalise his emotions.
“Before I went into the room, the officer said to me: “From now on, you are a Singaporean”. And hearing that somehow made all this real,” he said. “And it was really emotional.”
Song knew precious little of the Lion City when he first arrived as a teenager to join Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors – in 2012, and recalled being terribly uncomfortable here.
But a few short years after picking up English and being able to assimilate with teammates and friends, Singapore very quickly found a place in the heart of the 28-year-old who has spent his entire adult life in Singapore.
“I spoke to the club management at the end of 2015, asking them for advice on how I can apply for citizenship. I knew I wanted to sink my roots here, because whenever I returned to Singapore after visiting my family in South Korea – it felt like I was coming back to the place I was most comfortable,” he said.
And having finally succeeded in making Singapore his home, Song had several to thank for the support on his journey to citizenship. He pointed to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Sailors, and the Yio Chu Kang Grassroots Organisation as key supporters.
“They helped me with strong letters of support, and for that I’m grateful. I’m also humbled by the support I’ve received from my teammates, Singapore football fans, and even the local media,” said Song.
“It felt like I was already being supported – and welcomed – by so many Singaporeans.”
This support that Singaporeans have shown for its own, and loyalty to the nation, was a facet of the country that still inspires Song, who recalled the outpouring of emotion – and unity – as Singapore mourned the death of Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2015.
“Watching people come out onto the streets in the rain, saying thank you, even crying was unbelievable for me – there was so much feeling for the Prime Minister and for the country. I have never seen that before.” he said.
“Now I’m proud to call myself Singaporean, and of course I want to play for the national team, he said, with a broad smile. “I want to do something for my country.”
In the decade he has plied his trade in Singapore football, Song has proven to be an asset across the pitch. First as a lungless defensive midfielder protecting the backline, then flourishing in a more attacking role.
He scored 20 goals in 27 games in 2018 – a prolific return for an attacking midfielder – then followed that up with 11 goals in 25 games the year later. His stats in the Sailors’ inaugural year in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) was no less impressive – nine goals in 11 games, and even while struggling for game time in a 2021 squad that now includes $2.9 million signing Diego Lopes, Song started the year as the club’s top scorer with three goals in the opening three games.
“I know I have to prove myself to the national coach, and show that I deserve a place in the Lions. After all, I was not part of any naturalisation programme,” said Song.
“But I fought to get citizenship because I want to make Singapore my home. I have grown up as a person and a footballer in Singapore – I’ve spent my entire 20s here – and it will be a great honour to contribute to Singapore.”
China-born forward Qiu Li was the last footballer to be naturalised and eligible to play for the Lions in 2010.
Song candidly admitted that there will always be some Korean-ness about him, but there is much of the Singaporean way that has already seeped into his psyche and sunk roots.
“I will always like kimchi, but my usual breakfast is kopi or kopi-o kosong and kaya toast at the kopitiam,” he said.
“When I told my friend that I’m now scared of doing something wrong or breaking the law because I’m Singaporean, he laughed at me,” said Song, who immediately burst out laughing.
He struggled to stifle a few hearty guffaws before finishing his sentence: “He told me that if I’m kiasi, I’m definitely Singaporean.”
A new coach, a new philosophy and a lot of hard work to learn the ropes, but the Lion City Sailors continue to cut through choppy waters, extending their unbeaten run in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) to 11 matches.
Ushering in the Kim Do-hoon era with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with defending champions Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors were next made to dig deep to secure another 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa. The first win under the renowned South Korean coach would finally come in a convincing 4-1 triumph over title rivals Tampines Rovers, a result – and performance – that made the football fraternity stand up and take notice.
Here, we round up the major talking points from the Sailors’ first three games under the former Ulsan Hyundai man.
Kim’s Sailors revolution is starting to take shape
The arrival of AFC Champions League (ACL)-winning coach Kim Do-hoon signalled the Sailors’ real ambitions of becoming one of the best clubs in Asia. There can be no doubts about his credentials, but there were segments in the fraternity who wondered what exactly he would bring to the table.
Three games in, and Singapore has gotten a glimpse of what is in store for the rest of the campaign and beyond.
The 51-year-old has placed a strong emphasis on a solid team structure in view of building a side that is not just defensively sound but also effective going forward. And things started to take shape in his first outing against Albirex. The Sailors appeared more tactically savvy at the back than before, limiting space for their opponents to run in behind and capitalise on.
A demanding trainer who focuses a lot on discipline and fitness, the effects of his approach could already be seen in the Sailors’ following game against Balestier. The team were able to find an extra gear in the latter stages of the game, they out-ran and out-fought the Tigers before finally breaking down the door with a 95th-minute equaliser.
His fluid attacking approach that taps on the tactical awareness and game intelligence of individual players, is perhaps the most interesting. There are big responsibilities placed on players who are expected to take up different positions to capitalise on opportunities and space when presented in the game.
It all came to fruition against Tampines, with the game’s first goal perfectly encapsulating the new Sailors way.
With Stipe Plazibat dropping deep in midfield to hold up the ball, Gabriel Quak instinctively moved into the space the Croatian front man had vacated. The 2020 SPL Player of the Year was presented with an open path to goal and scored with a classy lob.
Kim’s high-pressing game plan was also on show, with the Stags unable to handle the Sailors’ rapid transition from defence to attack. Case in point: the Sailors’ second goal. It was just 10 seconds between Shahdan Sulaiman winning the ball in midfield to Stipe slamming the ball into the back of the net. The final two goals also came in a similar fashion.
With the team now starting to play Kim’s way – and effectively executing his plan on the pitch – fans can look forward to some exciting football in the remainder of the season.
The real Faris Ramli is back
Faris Ramli was unable to break into the Sailors’ first eleven in the first half of the season, he started just once and was introduced as an impact substitute on numerous occasions. It was understandably not a role he expected when he joined the Sailors after a season with Malaysia’s Terengganu FC.
But things are looking up for the 2019 SPL Player of the Year.
He has been largely involved in Kim’s first three games, playing the full 90 minutes in the big games against Albirex and Tampines, and was also the first substitute to be called upon to change the team’s fortunes in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Balestier.
Faris has not hid his frustrations at playing a bit-part role and has acknowledged that he had to stay the “most patient” in all his career, but he kept plugging away and is now seeing the fruits of his labour. The free-spirited 28-year-old played his best game of the season in the handsome win over the Stags, contributing three assists for the four Sailors’ goals.
Faris also put in a solid defensive shift, showing plenty of industry to win possession in crucial areas, even tracking back to perform his defensive duties in the dying moments of the game.
Having a Faris who is firing on all cylinders can only be a good thing for the Sailors who go into the business end of the season looking to come out on top of the league.
Missing key players? No problem
It is no secret that the Sailors have a quality squad at their disposal, with solid options on the bench ready to be called upon into action when needed. And the strength in depth is paying off.
Kim had to cope with the absence of the midfield trio of Saifullah Akbar, Shahdan and Song Ui-young through suspension against reigning champions Albirex.
Then against another title rival in the form of Tampines, the Sailors have to contend without the Brazilian duo Jorge Fellipe and Diego due to suspension and injury respectively. Many teams would have struggled without their leader at the back and star signing in such a big game, but the Sailors managed to plug those gaps with minimal fuss.
Kim is unbeaten in his first three matches as Sailors coach, and his ability to shape a team that can cope without key players can only breed confidence in the Sailors ranks as they battle for their first-ever SPL title.
Balestier Khalsa may be on an eight-match winless streak, but Lion City Sailors defensive lynchpin Jorge Fellipe is not taking victory for granted when the two sides meet at Toa Payoh Stadium on Sunday night (8 August).
Under the tutelage of Croatian tactician Marko Kraljevic, the Tigers are known to play an aggressive style of football with strong and powerful players who are not afraid to play the physical game. Jorge is one who clearly knows the threat they pose, especially on set-piece situations, and has emphasised the need for aerial domination.
“In these types of games, the little details may define the result,” explained the 32-year-old, who is one of the tallest defenders in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at 1.9 metres tall. “It could be from a free-kick or a loose ball in the box that could win or lose you the game.
“We know how difficult it is to play against Balestier at their home ground. Their pitch there is not so ideal as well, so we may not be able to present the best of our football. But it’s not a reason not to perform and I believe our team has the ability to control the outcome of the game.”
The Balestier game will be another opportunity for the Sailors to showcase the improvement that they have made under Kim Do-hoon since he officially took charge in late June. The Sailors played out an encouraging 1-1 draw against defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) in coach Kim’s first game at the helm on 23 July. The team was much more organised at the back and as a unit – which bodes well for the matches ahead.
It is still very much early days in the Kim Do-hoon era, but the highly successful former Ulsan Hyundai man has wasted little time in making his mark, paying close attention to small details. With the physical work hugely ramped up since he took over, the players are only going to benefit as the Sailors go into the business end of the season.
“Training is very physical and high in intensity under Coach Kim. I particularly like this style and it’s not new to me because I’ve worked with a few other coaches with this style in the past,” said Jorge.
“The load is demanding, but everyone in the team has been adapting well and is eager to learn more from him. I believe this intensity is perfect because it builds us up to perform better in games.”
So far it has been a good first year in Singapore for Jorge, who has been an ever-present since he made his club debut in a 3-1 win over Young Lions in early April. Since then, he has played every minute for the Sailors and the team has never lost a game with him on the pitch.
His centre-back partnership with one of Singapore’s best young defenders Amirul Adli is also a key reason in the club’s ongoing best run of form in a nine-match unbeaten run (since a 3-1 loss to Hougang United in mid-March).
“We have an excellent relationship not only on the pitch, but we’re also friends off it,” shared Jorge. “That really helps as the better we understand each other outside and as a person, it will better reflect in our game.
“Me being the more experienced one and him being the younger one, I always try to pass my knowledge on to him. But he is also a superb defender in his own right. The key is communication so we always talk a lot on the pitch so that our partnership can flourish.”
The Brazilian’s towering presence and leadership has also been effective at the attacking end of the pitch, with Jorge scoring two goals to aid the Sailors’ title challenge.
With Saifullah Akbar and Shahdan Sulaiman coming back from suspension to complement new arrival Hariss Harun in midfield, Jorge is excited at the prospect of playing in front of such a quality engine room against Balestier.
“It’s fantastic to be playing right in front of these fantastic players and I’m looking forward to this new midfield combo. They can certainly add more to our game,” he said.
With Albirex expected to pick up all three points against Tanjong Pagar United on Friday, the gap between the White Swans and second-placed Sailors could grow to seven points – although Kim’s men would still have two games in hand. Thus three points against the Tigers is of paramount importance to their title charge.
“The race for the title is still wide open and no one has won it yet,” said a defiant Jorge. “We have to treat each game from now as a final and don’t let the gap grow. We have to be united, be focused and take every three points on offer.”
So here we go again – the Singapore Premier League (SPL) returns after a two-month hiatus, with the Lion City Sailors looking to pick up where they left off.
Despite the departure of Australian coach Aurelio Vidmar in May, the Sailors have continued their smooth navigation to the higher echelons of the league table and mounting a serious challenge for the SPL title. Before the league was halted, they went on an eight-match unbeaten run and are on a club-record streak of six straight wins.
Currently one point off the summit with 10 matches to go, the Sailors are primed for a huge second half of the season ahead.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash against league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) on Friday night (23 July), here are five reasons for football fans to get excited about the resumption of SPL action.
1. Ahoy Hariss!
The signing of Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun on a three-and-a-half-year deal in May made the Singapore football fraternity stand up and take notice. It signaled the Sailors’ clear intention to dominate the domestic scene and create waves in the region.
Hariss brings with him a wealth of experience, having won six Malaysia Super League (MSL) titles and one Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup (2015) in seven wildly successful years north of the Causeway with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
A combative midfield enforcer who thrives on winning duels then encouraging his team into attack, Hariss brings some much-needed steel to the Sailors’ engine room. He is expected to complement the attacking sensibilities of teammates the likes of Shahdan Sulaiman, Saifullah Akbar and Diego Lopes.
His presence in the middle will help the Sailors’ wide array of attacking talent to cast off their shackles and give them the freedom to push forward in search of more goals. His leadership qualities should also rub off on the younger players, with many of them looking up to Hariss as a model professional.
2. Ushering in a new era under Kim Do-hoon
The signing of AFC Champions League (ACL)-winning tactician Kim Do-hoon on a two-and-a-half-year contract captured the imagination of the wider Singapore public. Kim’s pedigree and his track record of success in his native Korea mean there is little doubt that his signing was a massive coup for the Sailors.
Kim’s Ulsan Hyundai was well known for an attractive brand of attacking football complemented by defensive nous – and it is no surprise that he is looking to build up the Sailors in a similar mould. A strict trainer who places strong emphasis on discipline and fitness, Kim has wasted little time in laying down his philosophy.
Kim has been in charge for less than a month, but he has already recognised the way forward – he has emphasised the building of a solid foundation, grounded in team structure.
He is taking English lessons to improve communication with the Sailors, but that has not stopped him from moving to establish an interpersonal relationship with his players. Kim has made it a point to pull each player aside to discuss his expectations of them.
Kim’s rejection of lucrative offers from the Chinese Super League (CSL) and Japan’s J-League to join the Sailors is a testament to his commitment to the cause and his confidence in driving the club towards the lofty target of becoming one of the best clubs in Asia.
3. A healthy competition for places
You know how it works – a new gaffer tends to breathe new life into a squad. Everything starts afresh and the players will be keen to prove their abilities and make a positive impression on the new man in charge.
Players who have been first-team regulars like Shahdan, Gabriel Quak and Amirul Adli will have to show why they have been so highly-regarded and why they deserve to retain their spots in the starting eleven.
It also provides a fresh slate for players like Faris Ramli, Hafiz Nor and Aqhari Abdullah who have not played as regularly as they would have liked. They would certainly be out to show what they bring to the team and why they ought to be featured more than before.
There is healthy competition for places with every member of the squad already giving their utmost best in training sessions and matches and this can only be a good thing for the Sailors’ drive for trophies.
4. The treatment room is less crowded
The long break proved to be a blessing in disguise for the injured members of the Sailors squad, allowing them more time to recover. It is surely a pleasant sight for Kim to see the club’s treatment room now clearing up, with the likes of Nur Adam Abdullah, Justin Hui and Amiruldin Asraf now back to full fitness.
2018 Dollah Kassim Award winner Nur Adam was a real revelation at left-back with his crunching tackles and menacing crosses, before he sustained an unfortunate knee ligament injury in training that saw him miss five matches. Justin was out of action for the same amount of time due to a groin problem after showing promise in his first few Sailors appearances.
Amiruldin has yet to play a competitive match since October 2019 due to recurring medial collateral ligament (MCL) problem. Having first sustained the injury later that year, he sustained further damage to his knee in a training match in September 2020 and had to undergo microfracture surgery to repair the damage on his cartilage. Amiruldin finally returned to training a couple of months ago and has been in good form in recent friendly matches.
The availability of the trio boosts coach Kim’s options going into the business end of the season – especially upfront where Amiruldin could bring a different dimension to the Sailors’ attack.
5. A wide-open title race
There are just six points separating league leaders Albirex and fourth-placed Tampines Rovers, in what is a wide open race for the SPL title this season.
And the competition is set to get red hot as we enter the business end of the season. There are 10 games left to be played – still some way to go to the finish line – and a whole lot to play for.
With Tampines turning their attentions back to the league after their AFC Champions League adventure, Hougang United on a three-game winning streak since losing to the Sailors in April, and Albirex still the only unbeaten team in the eight-team standings, we can expect tight contests in the matches ahead – starting with Friday’s match against Albirex!
Fitness was a youth-fuelled obsession that was put through the forge of serious injury. But a chance encounter turned the wheels in a different direction, then in the blink of an eye, Fathul Nur Hakim became a world champion working with Singapore footballers looking to put the country on the map of Asian football.
That is the synopsis of Hakim’s sporting journey. And the 32-year-old still struggles to believe his own story.
“To beat the best of the best was something that I never expected, and that was a beautiful memory that will stay with me for a lifetime,” he said, of his feat: beating over 1000 participants in the 2019 Dr.stretch World Stretching Competition held in Tokyo.
A brand that originated from Japan, Dr.stretch focuses on a “core balance stretch” approach with trainers helping their clients through different techniques to get to deep muscles that they cannot reach by themselves.
Several of those 1000 Hakim beat were master trainers and grand trainers with some 10 years of experience. Hakim only had some two years under his belt at that time, going to the global tourney without any expectations, to “gain experience”.
That world championship triumph still feels surreal to him today.
“The winner in the previous year was a Japanese grand trainer who has been in the industry for a long time, while I was just a junior trainer in my second year,” said Hakim, putting things in perspective.
“To help people achieve things and go past limits that they never thought they can achieve is something very special,” he shared. “At that time, that was what motivated me at Dr.stretch every day.”
Today, Hakim is a Lion City Sailor, helping the likes of Singapore’s first multi-million dollar footballer, Diego Lopes and 2020 Singapore Premier League Player of the Year, Gabriel Quak reach further than they ever have before.
As a Sailors’ sports therapist, Hakim’s main task is to help the players recover from their injuries as quickly as possible by utilising his expertise in stretching techniques. He works hand-in-hand with the club’s sports trainer Fazly Hasan and sports scientist Danial Feriza, who focus on other aspects of recovery like massage and cupping.
Hakim is a relatively new addition to the team, having joined before the start of the 2021 season and his journey to the Sailors is unorthodox to say the least.
A fitness junkie from a young age, he initially worked as a gym instructor and personal trainer for a period of six years. Being a football lover as well, he still plays the game at the recreational level and that was how he suffered a horrific injury that changed his life in 2015.
At the receiving end of a crude challenge by an opposing player, Hakim tore two ligaments – his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) – in his left knee. To repair the damage, he required metal screws to be inserted into his knee, with weekly physiotherapy sessions at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for approximately six months a key facet of his recovery programme.
Having regular conversations with his regular physio, Hakim started to appreciate what the job entails and was inspired to work in this field. He started reading up about physiotherapy, and the opportunity for a career change came with a chance encounter in early 2018.
As he was recovering from a hernia injury that he sustained while working out in the gym, Hakim happened to come across a packed Dr.stretch outlet at the NEX shopping mall in Serangoon.
Watching trainers help clients in stretching was something that truly intrigued him, and Hakim did not think twice before sending his resume to apply for a physiotherapy assistant role in the company. He was accepted after a successful round of interviews, beginning a new journey with a 16-day course in Osaka. That course equipped him well, allowing him to build up a solid clientele base.
Things moved quickly, with Hakim being promoted to assistant manager within 12 months, and he was then chosen to represent the Paya Lebar Singpost Centre’s branch in a local Dr.stretch competition. Despite having some doubts, the faith shown by his bosses meant he felt obliged to put up a good performance for them.
Participants were marked based on the ‘power, transition and the effectiveness of the stretching’, as they were given one minute each to stretch the various blind-folded judges on their muscle groups like hamstring, quads or glutes – with the specific areas only made known on competition day itself.
Hakim bested six other participants from various branches to earn the right to represent Singapore at Dr.Stretch’s annual World Stretching Competition held in Tokyo in October 2019.
He then beat over 1000 participants to become world champion.
It was a defining moment for the ambitious Hakim, who recognised that he could develop further in the world of physiology. He continued to upgrade himself through courses and got his first experience of working in a football club in 2020 when he was attached to Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) from Dr.stretch for a full season.
Later that year, his childhood friend Hafiz Nor acquired his help in terms of recovery and visited him for a one-off session. The Sailors winger “felt a lot of difference in terms of the previous soreness and body aches” and to show gratitude, Hafiz posted a photo of himself and Hakim at Dr.stretch on social media.
The photo caught the attention of the Sailors management, and Hakim was won over by the club’s vision to evolve into one of the best clubs in Asia.
For Hakim this was living the dream – the marriage of his two big loves, football and physiology – to work full time as a physio in an ambitious professional football club.
The club’s footballers still needed some convincing as stretching is widely viewed as a “very basic exercise that can be done at home”. In contrast, massage and cupping are usually the local industry norms in terms of players’ recovery.
“Do you know established J-League clubs like FC Tokyo and Yokohama FC have physios who only do stretching for the players?” pointed out Hakim. “I can understand why players here may neglect this area and only prefer massage, but it’s my duty to step in and educate them of the benefits of stretching.
“What’s the point of the best technology and methods in recovery if you don’t even do the basics of stretching? Your muscle fibres are like rubber bands – if you keep pressing on them, it will cause inflammation and they will still feel sore.
“In order to reduce that, you have to stretch and that’s where I can help them with my technique, to achieve the range of motion that they can’t normally achieve themselves. In that way, the blood circulation can flow properly and they will eventually feel lighter. The results are of course not immediate, but the players will feel the difference in the long run.”
It was that wholeheartedness and unwavering dedication to his work that helped him convince the Sailors’ players to get in line with his philosophy. Right now, established players like Gabriel, Diego, Jorge Fellipe and new arrival Hariss Harun are undergoing regular sessions with him from three to four times a week.
Hakim finds the most satisfaction from “making a difference in someone’s life” as he highlighted how Gabriel’s “flexibility and mobility have improved a lot” since the start of the season.
“During my first session with Gabriel, he shared with me that there are certain areas in which he often suffers from pain and are not easily cured,” said the therapist. “I began to help him stretch, physically lifting up his leg to a certain degree and in a certain motion.
“After that, he felt lighter and told me this is exactly what he’s looking for in terms of recovery. Even when he was away with the national team, he was doing the exercises which I encouraged him to do,” said Hakim.
“It makes me feel really good when a player appreciates what you do for him.”
While he has now achieved his dream of working in professional football, Hakim is not one to rest on his laurels. Relishing the opportunity to learn from experienced heads the likes of Sailors Head of Sports Science, Mario Jovanovic, Head Physiotherapist Nurhafizah Sujad and Fazly Hasan on a daily basis, he is also consistently doing more research to learn more about treating cumbersome injuries.
Ultimately he aims to be a more well-rounded sports therapist in order to add more value to the club, and he is targeting certification in osteopathy next.
Hakim believes he could not be at a better place, with the Sailors’ “family-like atmosphere where everyone respects each other and works as a team to achieve a common goal”.
“I can see myself staying at the club for a very long time,” he said.
Moving forward, Hakim yearns for the club to continue its emphasis on stretching and go beyond what they are practising now. He believes his measure of success is to help the club get to a level “no other SPL club has achieved before” in terms of recovery and performance.
“I hope we can set the benchmark in what we do,” he reiterated. “It’s not just doing stretching sessions with me, but every player can also partner with each other to do their stretches or warm-up together. That’s the vision and target that I have for them.
“This club has serious ambitions to become a big club in the region and I’m happy to be part of this big project that can do Singapore football proud.”
Having been involved in the National Team as their Head Physiotherapist for close to 10 years now, and with her family deeply entrenched in local football, Nurhafizah Abu Sujad thought she had just about seen it all when it came to the beautiful game in Singapore.
That was until the Lion City Sailors came along.
The privatisation of the Sailors in 2020 – making them the first, and to-date only, club in Singapore to do so – was a move heralded by many as the dawn of a new era for local football.
But Nurhafizah – or Fizah, as she prefers to be known – was initially cynical about the Sailors.
“As someone who is a part of the local football fraternity for a long time, I had my doubts about this venture,” admitted Fizah, who comes from a renowned footballing family which includes her father, former Singapore international Abu Sujad, elder brother Nadzi, who played for Balestier Khalsa, younger brother and current Lion, Hafiz, as well as her iconic cousin, Fandi Ahmad.
“After all, we had previously seen other clubs embark on ambitious endeavours that didn’t quite work out, so I was definitely a little sceptical about the Sailors project as well.”
Revealing that she had turned down job offers from private hospitals to join the Sailors as she searched for a new challenge in the next chapter of her career, Fizah pointed to the Sailors’ firm commitment to an ambitious vision that was the key factor in her decision.
Little by little, Fizah’s doubts about the Sailors began to dissipate, as she witnessed the club taking significant steps to improve the way they operated – both on and off the pitch.
Supported by chairman and owner Forrest Li, the club has moved to strengthen the squad by signing key players such Hariss Harun, Diego Lopes and Stipe Plazibat. Equally significant, however, was the investment put into ensuring that the Sailors would be well-supported by a team of qualified and professional backroom staff.
Given the immense respect that Fizah had garnered as a physiotherapist over the past decade, and her drive for developmental work and building top-level sports science and sports medicine departments, it was clear that Fizah’s vision was very much aligned with the Sailors’.
“I was convinced by how strongly Forrest believes in the Sailors, and how determined he is to achieve his goals for the club – I realised this is the real deal,” revealed Fizah.
“What impressed particularly was the fact that the club is taking active steps to ensure that their sports medicine and sports science department is at a high level, something I’m obviously interested in.”
As the Sailors’ Head Physiotherapist, Fizah will primarily be in charge of injury prevention and management. She will also work closely with the Sailor’s Head of Sports Science Mario Jovanovic in building a robust sports medicine structure across the Sailor’s first team all the way through to the academy.
Fizah will continue to serve the National Team as their Head Physiotherapist during FIFA International Windows. It is a commitment to the national cause that the Sailors – who are regularly well represented in Tatsuma Yoshida’s Lions – are proud of.
Fizah said her decision to embark on this career path was well-received by her family, although she joked that her brother, Hafiz, who plays for Singapore Premier League (SPL) rivals Hougang United, was far less enthralled than the rest.
“We’re going to be on opposing sides of the dugout!” Fizah laughed. “We’ve had a bit of banter already about me joining the Sailors, but I know he supports me completely and is happy that I have this new role.”
Fizah, who officially started in her new role on July 1, concedes she was a little “overwhelmed” by the large scale of the Sailors set-up when she reported for her first day of work.
“Including the coaches, we had over 20 support staff at training, which is the largest set-up that I’ve ever worked in, so I was quite overwhelmed at the start” said Fizah. “But having familiar faces around, like the National Team players as well as assistant coach Noh Rahman, helped greatly in my adaptation to the club.
“Due to the number of staff, every one of us can fully concentrate on our own roles, which means we can be more precise and detailed in what we do, making us more efficient.”
This also allows Fizah to pay more attention to her secondary role of building the club’s sports science and sports medicine department.
“In the next two to three years, I hope to be able to build up the quality of the club’s sports medicine department. My goal is to have a robust team of physios and sports trainers that will be able to provide the very best services to the senior team, all the way through to the academy,” Fizah declared.
In the short-term, though, Fizah is simply focused on helping the Sailors’ senior players minimise the risk of injury whenever they step onto the pitch.
This is especially so given that the Sailors’ new head coach, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) winner Kim Do-hoon, has made clear his vision of implementing a “dynamic style of attacking football”.
Fizah is fully aware that this usually involves players doing a lot of hard-running on the pitch, which can lead to a greater risk of muscular injury.
To counter that, Fizah will be emphasising on player recovery, which she says is crucial to keeping players fresh after such intense physical exertion.
“The key is good recovery…the recovery trajectory is incredibly important in preventing injuries, especially after an intense workout,” Fizah explained. “Of course, good nutrition and fitness levels are also crucial, so we will keep a close eye on aspects like players’ body fat percentage to make sure they are in optimum shape.”
When asked which player she thought was a role model in keeping themselves in the best of shape, Fizah replied without skipping a beat: “Our National Team captain – and Sailor – Hariss Harun.”
She added: “The way Hariss looks after himself off the pitch, in terms of his fitness, his recovery routines and what he eats is perfect. He’s the role model that other local footballers should look to emulate.”
Having now seen up close what the Sailors have done – and will continue to do – in their quest to become one of the top teams in the region, Fizah is confident that the club will succeed sooner rather than later.
“The goal of the club is to be one of the best in Asia. Given the support that has been provided by Forrest, I don’t see why we can’t achieve it,” Fizah said.
“I think we can definitely go far if everyone here pulls in the same direction and is hungry for success. Personally, I’m very excited to be part of this journey. It’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m up for it, and I will do my very best to help the club achieve its goals.”
After leading South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) success last December, Kim Do-hoon had plans for a year’s sojourn to rest his mind and recharge his batteries.
Coming off a wildly successful four-year spell with the K League 1 side that saw him lead the club to their first-ever Korean FA Cup win and back-to-back runner-up finishes in the league, there was naturally no shortage of suitors for the 50-year-old who was set on taking some time out of the game.
He received lucrative offers from the Chinese Super League (CSL) and Japan’s J-League, but ultimately it was a meeting with Lion City Sailors chairman Forrest Li that convinced Kim to change his mind.
He had never managed outside of his home country, but Kim was won over by Li’s vision and commitment to revolutionise Singapore football and equip the Sailors to challenge the best in Asia. It was Li’s ambitious Sailors project that intrigued Kim, a new challenge that ultimately saw him cut short his planned sabbatical.
“I could tell from my conversation with Forrest that he’s a football man – he really understands the game and is heavily invested in the club. He not only wants the club to become the best team in the country, but also has the vision for us to be a proud representative for Singapore on the regional stage,” said Kim through a translator.
“Because of that, we always try to get the best players, coaches and backroom staff. And it’s this kind of environment that I really like, and I feel that Forrest’s vision is really in line with mine – a firm commitment to excellence and serious ambition to achieve targets.
“That’s why I really wanted to be a part of the Sailors.”
Talks between the club and Kim progressed swiftly with terms agreed on a two-and-a-half year contract that would last till the end of the 2023 season, as the South Korean was officially confirmed as the Sailors’ new head coach in mid-May.
Kim had been in Singapore a couple of times prior to this appointment, including once as an AFC coaching instructor in 2013. In his short stays here he was left impressed by the security and cosmopolitan culture of the country.
While Singapore may not be an established Asian powerhouse like Korea or Japan, ambitious plans have been laid out to improve the standard of the game here and to eventually take it to the world stage– through the nation’s much talked-about Unleash The Roar! project.
This is where Kim sees himself fitting in perfectly, as part of a larger plan to improve football. Since he started his coaching career with the South Korean Under-20s in 2014, Kim has thrived on bringing through promising young players and improving the style and results of teams he managed.
When he was at Incheon United, he led the club to a historic runners-up finish in the 2015 FA Cup – still their best-ever achievement in the tournament – where they only lost out to the more fancied FC Seoul, falling to two late goals.
At Ulsan, where the club’s only honour in the 11 years prior to his arrival in 2017 was the 2012 ACL triumph, he masterminded two trophies in four years and went closer to challenging Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for the league title. The Tigers only narrowly missed out in 2019 due to an inferior goal difference.
“I know there are big aspirations to improve the footballing scene here and to close the gap with other countries,” he said. “Hopefully with my experience, I can be part of the change in Singapore – maybe to improve professionalism and football quality as a whole.”
Having completed a 14-day quarantine after arriving in Singapore from his native Gyeongnam, Kim has wasted little time in getting down to work as he oversaw his first training session with the Sailors on Tuesday (29 June) evening.
Under his tutelage, Ulsan evolved into a team that not only played an eye-catching brand of attacking football, but was also known for their strong defence. Kim has laid out the same philosophy for his new charges.
While still in the midst of getting to know the players better, he has already observed enough from their matches this season to know that they have the potential to meet his high demands.
A prolific striker who represented the South Korean national team on more than 70 occasions, including at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Kim certainly knows a good player when he sees one.
“Obviously there is the stigma of the SPL not being comparable to the big leagues in Asia, but I can see for myself, we’re not as low as everyone thinks,” he emphasised. “I like what I’m seeing from these players and I’m here to help them reach their potential. I’m sure we can achieve things together once everyone is accustomed to what I want from them.
“Essentially I want the team to play a dynamic style of attacking football so that the fans that come to watch us can enjoy the game. I want to focus on the team cohesion – we must be a hardworking team that fights for the ball all the time, we have to control the game as a whole while being compact at the back.”
Kim believes the Sailors have the capacity for success, and is here to help to “accelerate the process” of the Sailors being competitive in the region.
“There is still a lot of room for improvement. But if we work together as a team and put in the effort, we can become a force in Asia in due time,” he proclaimed. “There are no shortcuts to success, but I’m here to help us achieve our goals in a faster manner.”
The short-term target: to lead the Sailors to their first-ever Singapore Premier League (SPL) title since their 2020 inception.
Kim will be looking to help the Sailors continue their excellent form before the international break, achieving a club-record six-game winning streak that has seen them go to 26 points, just one off the summit.
His first official game in charge of the Sailors will be a bumper top-of-the-table clash against league leaders and reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) on 23 July.
And Kim cannot wait to get started.
“Obviously the target is to win the league title this season. That will help us qualify for the ACL next year and challenge ourselves,” he said.
“We have to focus on this objective now before having bigger dreams and goals for next season and beyond.”
Despite the departure of Aurelio Vidmar, the Lion City Sailors continued their superb form in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) under the tutelage of interim head coach Robin Chitrakar, registering three wins in as many outings in May.
The Sailors started out with a hard fought 2-1 win over Geylang International. They then came from behind to beat Tanjong Pagar United 3-1, before closing out the month with a 1-0 victory over the Young Lions.
Here, we round up the major talking points from the Sailors’ three successful outings…
The ability to grind out wins
With the sheer amount of quality at their disposal, there are naturally huge expectations placed upon the Sailors. However, to expect them to show up and steamroll their opponents in every game is simply unrealistic.
To nullify the Sailors’ attacking flair, Geylang, Tanjong Pagar and Young Lions all opted to adopt a defensive approach – sit back, stay compact, and hit on the counter.
Facing such a low-block can be frustrating. But the Sailors remained calm and patient as they searched for a way to break down their opponents.
And ultimately, the talent within the Sailors’ ranks proved decisive.
Against Geylang, the Sailors found themselves being denied time and again by solid defending and an exceptionally good performance by debutant keeper Sanders Saurajen, but eventually came good via Saifullah Akbar’s wonderfully-struck shot from outside the area.
The Jaguars adopted a similar soak-and-strike approach to great effect, and even managed to grab a shock lead against the Sailors. Instead of pressing the panic button, however, Robin’s charges simply upped the tempo of their game.
It took eight minutes for the Sailors to find the equaliser through Jorge Fellipe’s header, and another four more minutes before Gabriel Quak gave his team the lead with a long-range strike. Diego Lopes wrapped up the victory for the Sailors 10 minutes from time with a header from five yards out.
And while the Sailors were also unable to find their rhythm against a gritty Young Lions side, they did create enough chances to win the game by a bigger margin, but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and some excellent goalkeeping.
In the end, it took a sublime free-kick from Shahdan to decide the game and secure all three points for the Sailors – yet another example of how talent can prove decisive in tight games.
The ability to break down stubborn teams and secure crucial points is a quality that will serve the Sailors well in what is proving to be yet another tight race for the title in the SPL.
Shahdan serving up a reminder of his influence
Given the wide array of attacking stars that the Sailors boast, there is perhaps a tendency for fans to overlook the contributions of those who deployed in the more defensive roles.
Shahdan, who usually plays at the base of the Sailors midfield, is one such player.
An accomplished trequartista, Shahdan not only provides creativity for the Sailors from deep, but is also often the player tasked with dictating the tempo of the game. It helps as well that the 33-year-old has a well-honed knack for picking out the right pass at the right moment.
Take Saifullah’s goal against Geylang for example. When the ball fell to Shahdan some 30 yards from goal, he could have easily attempted a shot, and no one would have faulted him. Instead, after assessing his options, he laid the ball off for Saifullah who was in a better position to take aim.
Saifullah duly obliged, and scored what proved to be the winning goal against the Eagles.
But the most obvious strength of Shahdan lies in his well-renowned set-piece deliveries. Apart from the aforementioned free-kick goal against the Young Lions, Shahdan also provided an assist for Jorge with a pinpoint corner kick in the Sailors’ win over Tanjong Pagar.
In all, Shahdan recorded one goal and two assists in the month of May – an especially timely reminder of his value to the team with national teammate Hariss Harun set to join Sailors in June.
Familiarity leads to greater understanding
After a mixed start to the season, the Sailors have steadied the ship and are enjoying their best run of form with six straight wins – it is the longest run of wins the Sailors have recorded since their official inception last year.
This is largely because the Sailors have been able to field a settled starting XI. Jorge and Amirul Adli have formed a sturdy centre-back partnership, while Saifullah and Shahdan have worked well in tandem supporting each other in the middle of the park.
In the attacking third, Gabriel Quak and Diego Lopes appear to enjoy playing alongside each other. Both of them have also developed a good understanding with chief striker Stipe Plazibat.
And should the Sailors need an injection of inspiration, they have plenty of game-changing options on the bench, including the likes of Faris Ramli, Adam Swandi and Song Ui-Young – experienced players who can seamlessly slot into the team whenever needed.
Coach Robin has also managed to ensure that the key values and playing principles from Coach Aurelio’s tenure remain in place, which means the players are all fully aware of what is expected of them. The impending arrival of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League winner Kim Do-hoon as the Sailors new head coach in June will only serve to provide a boost to the entire squad.
These factors set the Sailors up nicely for their next assignment – the AFC Cup Group H matches, which are scheduled from June 29 to July 5. The Sailors are due to face Vietnamese outfit Saigon FC, Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura, as well as Malaysian side Kedah Darul Aman at the Singapore National Stadium.
With one game set to be played every three days, the Sailors’ winning mentality and mental fortitude will have to come to the fore to secure qualification from the group stage.
But if the Sailors’ recent performances are anything to go by, there is every chance of them progressing to the next stage.
Till then, ahoy Sailors!
Since making his professional debut in 2009 back home in Brazil with Juventude, Jorge Fellipe has played for 16 teams in an illustrious career that has seen him travel to Portugal and Saudi Arabia for the beautiful game, before moving to Singapore this year.
Only once – with Brazilian lower-tier side Nova Iguacu from 2013 to 2016 – did Jorge stay at a club for more than two years.
Now into his 17th club – the Lion City Sailors, however – the towering Brazilian centre-back is determined to ‘settle down’ for the long term in Singapore, where he hopes to help usher in an era of success for his latest team.
“Previously, I was always thinking about how to get more international exposure to broaden my horizon as a player – that’s why I moved out of my country to play elsewhere,” the 32-year-old explained.
“Being a bit older and wiser now, and having achieved both personal and financial growth as a player, I think it’s time to get more stability in my life for the sake for my family. I intend to stay as long as I can with the Sailors in this wonderful country, and help the team become Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions.”
Indeed, Fellipe’s ambition to play the game at a higher level saw him move out of his native Brazil in 2018 to join Portuguese first-division side C.D. Aves – just months after winning the domestic third-division (Serie C) title with Centro Sportivo Alagoano (CSA).
He enjoyed a good one-and-a-half seasons with Aves, and even helped the club beat heavyweights Sporting Lisbon to clinch the Portuguese Cup in 2018, before finishing runners-up in the subsequent Super Cup.
In the 2018-2019 season with Aves, Jorge enjoyed a sustained run in the first-team – he started 19 matches in total – and even played against a certain Bruno Fernandes.
Reflecting on the experience of playing against renowned teams like Porto and Benfica, Jorge said: “The Portuguese league is one of the most well-known leagues in Europe with many players who I used to watch only on TV, so my experience there was really important for my growth as a person and a player.
“I remember marking Bruno, Jonas – a famous Benfica player who many idolise – and many others. Playing against these high-level guys makes you learn very fast as a player.”
He also highlighted the increase in training intensity as the biggest difference between the Portuguese league and the others that he has played in.
“In Portugal, they train like they play in matches. Training is very intense because every player wants to get into the starting eleven,” he revealed. “I got injured a few times even during training over there.”
After further playing stints in Saudi Arabia and Portugal, Jorge decided to take a leap of faith and move all the way to Singapore to join the Sailors in January this year.
“I was mesmerised by the club’s ambitions and what we want to achieve, as well how Singapore is as a country.I just couldn’t wait to come here,” claimed Jorge.
Having sat out the first three matches, Jorge made his Sailors debut in a 3-1 win over Young Lions last month. He has since got into his groove, and started the subsequent four games.
His commanding performances at the back helped the Sailors hit a rich vein of form, with the team notching four wins and one draw in the five games that Jorge has played so far.
Crucially for Jorge, he is enjoying his football with the Sailors.
“I’m very proud to wear this jersey and to carry out the work that we’re doing,” Jorge declared. “The good results so far reflect all the hard work we do in training, and good tactical planning by the coaches.
“I’m adapting well here and it’s all down to the nice people at this club. Everyone has made me feel very welcome here and they have done a lot to make sure I’m okay off the field. The camaraderie within our group is really something special.”
Of course, it helps to have a compatriot in the same team, with Jorge forging a close friendship with Diego Lopes some 17,000km away from their country. Coincidentally, the pair first met in Portugal a few years ago – as opposing players.
Now they are good friends who often go to restaurants together on their days off. Jorge revealed that even their families are getting along well with one another.
“Our wives are also talking to each other now! They often chat and exchange ideas,” Jorge said, chuckling. “We’re just counting down to the day when our respective families can be here, so that we can all meet and have a good time with our loved ones.”
But while waiting for his wife and three kids to join him in Singapore, Jorge’s main focus is on getting even fitter to produce better displays on the pitch.
“Right now, my match fitness is still not back to the level where I used to be at. So, I’m going to train and work harder to get back to my 100%.”
After a two-week break, the Sailors’ title charge resumes this Sunday with a clash against Geylang International at the Jalan Besar Stadium. A win over the Eagles could see them potentially closing the three-point gap between them and leaders Albirex Niigata (S).
The Sailors won by a handsome 8-0 scoreline when both sides last met in April, but Jorge insists that result will have no bearing on the coming match.
“Past results are just a statistic to me and it means nothing,” he said. “We cannot think it’s going to be easy just because we won big the last time. Every game has its difficulties, and surely Geylang will come and try to beat us.
“We just have to work hard and focus on getting the victory. Our ultimate goal is to become champions, and we must keep our concentration throughout the season to achieve that.”
