Category: Feature
It was just a Centre of Excellence Under-21 (COE U21) League match, far from the big time bright lights of Saitama Stadium 2002 where he leapt into the spotlight with that performance – a 17-save showing to help the Singapore national team to that famous 0-0 draw with Asian giants Japan eight years ago.
But it was wildly important to Izwan Mahbud.
The COE U21 match on 10 August ended with the Lion City Sailors securing a 4-0 win over Balestier Khalsa’s U21s. It was Izwan’s first game in between the sticks in nine months.
He put in an assured display, a clean sheet, while also chalking up an assist with his signature classy distribution to set up Anaqi Ismit for the game’s opening goal. All in all, it was a good night for Izwan.
And it meant everything to the 33-year-old custodian.
He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that was discovered in November 2022, with the recovery process ruling him out for the majority of 2023. Indeed, the Sailors have just one Singapore Premier League (SPL) game left to play before the curtain comes down on the season.
And he had to overcome a psychological barrier as well.
“If I’m completely honest, there was a bit of nervousness. The ground at Hougang Stadium was a bit hard and bumpy, so there were some things playing in my mind, like ‘What if I landed wrongly?’,” said a candid Izwan.
“But after the first few minutes, I slowly got into the rhythm; I put my focus solely on helping the team instead of thinking about anything else. After the first save and the early assist, a relief swept over me and that helped me to calm down and play the game.
“I was so happy to be back on the pitch playing the sport I love. It was like I was a kid just starting to play football, when you just go out there to enjoy, with no pressure,” he added.
“It was awesome.”
And understandably so. It was a long hard road back for Izwan after that injury that followed an innocuous incident.
“During training, I just went for a punch and I landed awkwardly. That was when I felt something in my knee, but I didn’t think much of it – I tried to walk it off and continued training,” he shared.
However, persistent pain thereafter meant he went for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and it confirmed his worst fears: he had suffered the first ACL injury of his career and will be ruled out for at least six months.
Coupled with a debut season with the Sailors that was not exactly smooth sailing, the injury was most definitely the last thing that he wanted.
On the day that the Sailors went up against German giants Borussia Dortmund in a gala friendly at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Izwan went under the knife – with mixed emotions.
“It was devastating when I found out it was an ACL; it felt like the whole world just collapsed on me – definitely one of the worst moments in my career. To be honest, last year wasn’t my year at all, I didn’t play that many games and I didn’t do as well as I could have,” he reflected.
“I saw negative comments online and that’s part and parcel of football. I just have to take it in, convert the negativity into fuel to work harder, because that’s how you become a better football player.
“I was looking forward to a better 2023, but maybe God has other plans for me – maybe he wants me to sit down, be more humble, hit the reset button, and start all over again.”
That is exactly what Izwan did.
He braced himself for the long recovery process – from being on crutches in the first few weeks to focusing on the progressive rehabilitation program set out by the physios.
He stayed positive and worked diligently in the gym to regain the strength in his quadriceps, despite the long and hard road.
“I saw Hariss Harun who suffered two ACL injuries, and there were other friends who saw their careers ended after ACL issues. So, from the start, I was mentally prepared that it was going to be a long journey for me,” he said.
“The hardest part was probably midway through. After much rehab work, you feel like you’re getting there, but you’re still not medically cleared and have to follow various protocols. You want to push and you know you can do certain things already, but at the same time the physios advise you not to risk things.
“I guess the worst bit was seeing your teammates out there enjoying themselves on the pitch, while I was often alone in the gym. You can’t help but wonder: ‘When can I join them?’. I know I belong out there and I want to kick a ball so badly, but I couldn’t. It was so frustrating and I had to learn patience.”
There was finally light at the end of the tunnel as Izwan got cleared for field training in late May – some six months after undergoing knee reconstruction – and he is gradually getting fitter.
The experienced custodian was named on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur and the recent Hougang United game, and he is now feeling fully fit and ready to make up for lost time.
With crucial matches in the Singapore Cup and the club’s second foray into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League coming up, Izwan is working his socks off to pull on the Sailors’ shirt again.
“Whether I play or not is up to the coaches, but I’m giving everything to show them that I’m ready for selection right now, and that I’ll be worthy if given the chance,” said a bullish Izwan. “The club is going all out to do well in the Cup and the Champions League, hopefully I can play a part in that.”
A Singapore international who won the AFF Championship in 2012, with 54 international caps under his belt, Izwan is certain he has a lot more to give.
“I still have a lot to offer. I know my abilities and I want to get back to my old self. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me during the recovery process, especially our fans who continue to send me kind words of encouragement.
“This is like a fresh start in my career and I want to take full advantage of this second chance.
“I would also like to say – ‘Gambatte (fellow ACL victim), Kodai Tanaka’ – you’ve been very strong mentally and I hope we can play on the same pitch soon.”
The Lion City Sailors Elite Under-15 side were in Porto, Portugal from 27 May to 11 June, when they tested themselves in six matches against top-tier opposition and passed with flying colours, achieving five wins against S.C. Salgueiros, S.C. Braga, F.C. Paços de Ferreira, S.C. Rio Tinto, Rio Ave and a draw against Guimaraes FC.
But beyond the results that came off the back of good performances, the trip offered these young Sailors an invaluable opportunity to experience what is required of professional footballers on a training trip, while also immersing themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Portugal.
The success of the trip came not just from a commitment to the cause when the team set foot in Europe, but perhaps more importantly from the solid preparation work that was put in long before the flight left the Changi Airport runway.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Mustafa Al-Saffar (Musa), the young aspirants readied themselves for this 15-day excursion, engaging in matches against more experienced footballers in Singapore with the objective of improving resilience and fostering a stronger sense of unity within the team.
“Work in Singapore was very important for us – to prepare and also to gel our squad as a group – and so we played against older age-group teams from Tampines Rovers, Geylang International and others too,” said Musa.
Musa asserts that one of the key takeaways from the trip was the young sailors’ immersion into the crucible of training sessions to the intense focus on match preparations – all in the mould of requirements of professional footballers. The team’s time in Porto revolved around matches, allowing them to experience firsthand the dedication required in the top tiers of the sport.
“The way that we treat the players when we go abroad is not to pamper them like we are on holiday. There is work to do in the morning, there’s pre-activation, analysis sessions, and of course there’s the build up to the game,” he said.
“So there’s a whole experience that they go through and of course, all of this is happening in a place 1000 miles away from their homes in Singapore,” said Musa.
“The biggest thing the boys can take away is the opportunity to get a taste of the lifestyle of a professional footballer.”
The decision to pit the team against higher level opposition, beyond what they would typically encounter in Singapore, turned out to be the platform for several learning moments and experiences for the team.
“In Singapore, you always play against more or less the same type of players with the same type of style. However, in Portugal, the opposition was very different, they had immense quality, and even if they are smaller than you, technically they are excellent with the ball.
“Our last game was against Guimaraes FC, they had a few smaller players who looked easy to play against. But, good luck trying to take the ball off one of those guys,” recalled Musa, chuckling.
“The opponents were skillfully excellent and furthermore, there were bigger and stronger players who raised the level of physicality in the games we played in.”
For 15-year-old Rae Peh, the trip sparked an expansion of his horizons, and not just on the football field.
“I faced good opponents that play with high intensity and competitive games that really test our abilities as a team as individuals. I feel such trips help us develop as a player really well as we are challenged both physically and mentally and I was definitely excited to participate when I heard about the trip,” said the central midfielder.
“I think some funny moments that helped us bond were the pranks on the players and coaches and also just overall joking around with teammates,” said Rae. “I think we became more resilient over the course of the trip that provided an opportunity for us to really gel.”
Beyond the football field, the young Sailors delved into the vibrant cultural landscape of Porto. City tours, visits to historical sites, and participation in cultural activities offered them a glimpse into Portugal’s rich heritage.
“Whenever we had some free time during the day we would explore the surrounding area by going on things like tours, city tours, different boat trips and cultural activities. I am glad that the boys got to learn more about the country’s culture through these activities,” said Musa, who recalled an impromptu encounter on the streets of Porto as a highlight of these explorations.
“Once we had a nice walk to the city and there were a few kids playing in the streets, and our boys asked if they could play together. We played with them trying to keep the ball up and we clapped and cheered for each other, and we joked around, trying to say some Portuguese words too,” he reminisced.
Moments like these were seared into the memory of Rae, who is already looking with anticipation to next overseas opportunity.
“I think we did really well as a team and produced some good results: we managed to stay unbeaten and I feel that’s a really positive thing. The opponents were definitely strong and they really challenged us to put up a good fight and I felt like we were able to compete with them,” said Rae.
“I feel as a team we definitely enjoyed such an experience and we are looking forward to more of such trips.”
He recalled seeing shoulders slump and heads drop, but it was understandable, the Lion City Sailors Elite Under-13 squad struggled against their Sparta Rotterdam counterparts and went down to a heavy defeat, leaving them disheartened and introspective.
Sailors’ Academy Head of Foundation Ashraf Ariffin believes that the gut-wrenching big defeat was one of the most important facets of the young Sailors’ training trip to Rotterdam, Holland earlier this year from 27 May to 11 June.
“The standard of the European trainees is above our players and our boys took some time to actually build themselves up to match their standards in a game. But even still, they couldn’t maintain that standard throughout the game,” he said.
“We lost to Sparta, but we stayed resilient, learnt from the match and came back stronger.”
The reflection that followed the loss was the catalyst for the team’s biggest achievement on the trip — an inspiring four-goal victory over the renowned PSV Eindhoven academy that was responsible for producing talents the likes of Memphis Depay, Steven Bergwijn and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo.
“All the matches that we played were above standards in Asia, so for the squad to match up and do well, was above our expectations, and the boys did great to reflect and come back to beat PSV.”
This training stint in Rotterdam was made possible, thanks to the three-year partnership between the Sailors and Feyenoord Rotterdam that was established in February 2022.
The experience saw them take on four challenging matches, securing three wins and lost just once. The Sailors team defeated K.M.S.K. Deinze and Excelsior, lost to Sparta Rotterdam before ending off with the win over PSV.
This trip was somewhat more significant because of a series of significant firsts.
“Previously when we went to Europe, we would play opponents of one age group younger, and this is the first time we competed with opposition from the same age group, this was the key difference,” said Ashraf.
“It was a good experience, and the more we play against this kind of quality opposition, the more the boys will realise that if they want to be truly elite players, this is the level they need to be working towards, nothing lower.”
Caden Nicholas Pereira, a left-back in the travelling squad, looked back fondly on his experience in Rotterdam.
“The trip has helped me improve in making quicker decisions on the pitch. And I think I’ve learned from playing against stronger and more physical players,” he said.
Teammate Izzan Rifqi, who scored nine goals out of the four games, recalled the win over PSV very clearly.
“Before the game, our coaches really motivated us and we felt like we desperately needed to win that match. And when we did win, we were all so excited in the locker room,” said Izzan.
“I will never forget that moment.”
Despite encouraging performances all around, Ashraf remained grounded in his assessment.
“Although we won some games, when we compare the players individually to European youth players of the same age, I think we are still quite far away. Our players learnt that we still need to work much harder because the standards are still quite far compared to their European counterparts,” said Ashraf.
“But if our boys play at this level on a weekly basis, I think it will make a huge difference in their development.”
More than just about football development, the trip offered a platform for a different kind of growth in the young Sailors.
“Learning to adapt to a different environment, managing their time effectively, and making decisions on their own, these young athletes flourished in being independent responsible professionals,” said the 36-year-old Ashraf, who witnessed first-hand the growing maturity in his players.
“They had to be more responsible because they were away from their parents and they learnt to carry themselves, and I must say it was nice to see that the boys were up to the task.”
Francesinha.
That was the solitary word from the Portuguese lexicon that was uttered by Lion City Sailors’ new signing Rui Pires during the entire recording of his First Interview with the club.
This from a man who had on several occasions prior to sitting down in front of cameras at Mattar Road, warned that because his spoken English is not great, a switch to Portuguese may be necessary from time to time, perhaps especially with the more difficult questions.
There was one English word that clearly came easy to Rui, and was peppered across his responses – win.
Rui dropped the word “win” more than a dozen times across the interview – evidently a word that underlines his key objective in signing up as a Sailor.
“No, of course it’s not,” rebutted the 25-year-old when quizzed about whether it is a step down from the top European leagues in France and Portugal where he used to play in. “This is the best team in Singapore and I can see this team trains to win every game.
“In Europe, the teams I played in – a few of them are in the middle of the table. Over here, the expectations are very high and that’s something I like. My mentality is the same – to win and keep doing the things to help us win titles,” added Rui, who was signed with the aim of helping the Sailors become more competitive at Asia’s top table when they commence their second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) campaign this September.
“Of course, I know it’ll be very difficult in the ACL, but I think we have the capability and the players to compete and win games,” he said of his key assignment.
Rui comes with real pedigree, having progressed through the youth system of famed Portuguese side FC Porto and regularly captained their reserve side Porto B as well the Portuguese age-group teams till the Under-20 level.
He skippered the Portugal side – filled with talents like Manchester United-linked goalkeeper Diogo Costa, current United star Diogo Dalot and AC Milan forward Rafael Leão – at the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, with the team finishing as runners-up. Rui’s individual performances earned him a spot in the official Team of the Tournament.
The midfielder also won the French second-tier Ligue 2 with Troyes in 2020/21 and played in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2021 with Portuguese top-flight side FC Paços de Ferreira.
It was the audacious ambition of the Sailors project that piqued his interest and ultimately pulled him to Singapore.
“I know of Singapore because the Formula One race here is very famous, and in fact, my wife and I were thinking of coming this way for a holiday, but now we’re actually living here!” said Rui, chuckling.
“When the club spoke to me and presented this project, I was really impressed, especially with the conditions here with a very established Academy – something like we see in Europe,” said Rui who also trained on plenty of occasions with Porto’s first team alongside the likes of Rúben Neves, Éder Militão and Pepe.
“That’s why I really want to be part of this club and I believe I can still continue to play at a very high level like before.”
Describing himself as a deep-lying defensive midfielder who likes to help teammates “recover the ball faster and play the key passes to make the team go forward”, Rui is a deep thinker on the pitch and an avid reader off it.
“I like to read – a lot. My last book was Rich Dad Poor Dad. (By Robert T Kiyosaki). I also like the book of the Tesla guy, Elon Musk, and Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight.
“I really like to read books about business, finance and investments so that I can have more knowledge,” he revealed.
Rui is now acclimatising well and has already struck up a good chemistry with fellow foreign players in the team like Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes in training.
“Since Day One, the club has helped me a lot and I was warmly welcomed by everyone. The Brazilian guys Diego and Pedro (Henrique) speak in Portuguese as well so it’s much easier for me. I’ve also watched some matches and I’m really impressed by the quality of our team.
“Weather-wise, it’s nice because it’s summertime all year. The only thing is that I have to bring a (foldable) umbrella every day because you never know when it might rain!”
Having chosen no 46, his first jersey number at Porto, Rui is targeting a long stay at the Sailors.
“I really want to stay here for a few years. I believe I can win games here and I really want to help the club get to where we want to be.”
For those who do not know, francesinha is a type of Portuguese sandwich made with layers of toasted bread and assorted hot meats – and it is Rui’s favourite cheat meal. But perhaps the more important aspect of Rui Pires that Sailors’ fans need to know is that he is here to win.
And he can definitely tell you that in English.
He sauntered into the Lion City Sailors Training Centre, bag slung over relaxed shoulders, and a gait that can only be described as a floaty swagger. Richairo Živković was clearly already at ease with his new surroundings – a somewhat breezy approach that could well be a sturdy launchpad for what has already been an eventful career.
The 26-year-old has reached the dizzying heights of the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and Europa League (UEL), but he is convinced that joining the Sailors is the right step for his career.
“When my contract was expiring in Holland, I was thinking of going on a new adventure so I was really happy when the Sailors contacted me,” said Richairo, who scored five goals in the 2022/23 season with Dutch side FC Emmen.
“This is a project with a clear vision all the way from the Academy to the First Team, and that’s one aspect that I really like, and feel that I can get behind – it was easy for me to come to a decision once I found out what the Sailors are about.”
Wearing a languid smile throughout his first video interview with the Sailors, it quickly became clear that Richairo is at ease with his past.
A simple Google search with the keywords “Richairo Živković wonderkid” tells the story of 17-year-old Richairo who was a transfer target for English giants Liverpool and Manchester City, but opted to sign for his dream boyhood club Ajax Amsterdam.
He played in Ajax’s 4-0 group stage win over APOEL in the 2014/15 UCL, coming on as a late substitute and was prolific for the club’s Under-21s, but being unable to become a first-team regular led to him leaving from greener pastures in the summer of 2017.
Since then, the former Dutch youth player had spells in Belgium, China and Serbia, as well as a loan stint at Sheffield United where he made five appearances in the English top tier – including a 26-minute substitute appearance at Old Trafford against Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United.
But Richairo is not one to cry over spilt milk, not any more.
“At the beginning, I felt a lot of pressure because of the expectations people had of me. Everything I did was in the media and everybody had an opinion – sometimes it went well for me, but sometimes it was also against me. I was very young and I probably didn’t appreciate it as much when I was there (at Ajax),” he said.
“I’ve learnt over the years not to care about what people say and to deal with the pressure better. And I don’t have any regrets right now,” said Richairo.
Now acclimatising well in Singapore, Richairo has been getting up to speed by watching his new teammates.
Choosing to don the number 34 jersey in tribute to former Ajax teammate Abdelhak Nouri – who suffered cardiac arrhythmia in 2017 and is still recovering – the 1.87m Richairo is looking to impart his experience and plunder goals in the blue and white of the Sailors.
“Why am I coming here? Simple – to play football, to score goals,” he answered with a sniff of nonchalance. “I want to bring my experience and help my teammates here. I’ve many ambitions here – I think we definitely have what it takes to win the league and we can do well in the AFC Champions League.
“Everything starts with full commitment. For myself, I have to make sure I adapt well to the team and the league to make sure I’m successful here.”
Looking at this rocket of a strike that Richairo scored just a month ago for FC Emmen in the Eredivisie play-offs, the ingredients for success seem to be well in place.
Richairo now begins life under Aleksandar Ranković, a man he faced in the Eredivisie in May this year when Ranko was still FC Utrecht assistant manager, and he, an FC Emmen forward.
“Funny how football works, eh?” said Richairo.
Indeed it will be, if both of them now work in tandem – away from Europe – to deliver success in the Lion City.
He has played the entirety of his professional career in England, amassing over 400 games across the English second-tier Championship, and in the English League One across four clubs. He has played in front of sellout crowds at Sunderland’s iconic Stadium of Light, emerged victorious twice at Wembley, and featured at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
But Bailey Wright had no qualms travelling more than 10,000km away to carve out a new chapter of his career in Singapore with the Lion City Sailors – and not for a “holiday” either.
The Australian centre-back, who has two goals in 29 caps for the Socceroos went a tad off tangent when asked about his targets with the Sailors, already looking beyond Singapore shores to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club – and even international competitions.
“I want to win the league here and help the club do well in the AFC Champions League (ACL), hopefully with many clean sheets along the way. But outside of club football, I still very much have big ambitions to keep playing for Australia,” said Bailey, who last pulled on a Socceroos shirt earlier in March when he played the full 90 minutes in Australia’s 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in an international friendly.
“We’ve got the AFC Asian Cup next January to look forward to and opportunities for the national team do not come easy, so I want to make sure I’m in my best form to give myself the best chance to be selected for that. First and foremost, though, my focus is playing well for the Sailors and I know the rest will take care of itself.”
Bailey’s ambition is crystal clear, and by his own admission, it was easy to make a decision once the Sailors came calling.
Someone who embraces new and unique challenges, the prospect and excitement of being involved in the wildly ambitious Sailors project – one that is based off the state-of-the-art Training Centre at Mattar Road – is one that proved too enticing to turn down.
“I’ve experienced some great occasions with big successes, but I’m always thinking: “what’s my next challenge?” From the moment I had discussions with people at the club and saw the direction that the club wants to take, I developed a real sense of passion and pride in the big project that’s building here,” said the Melbourne-born 30-year-old.
“I know the Singapore Premier League (SPL) is not the strongest in Asia yet, but this club wants to change things and create a team that everyone can be proud of. It’s a long-term project and I quite like the challenge of being part of something big, something beyond just the first team and creating something exciting from the Academy upwards,” he added.
“I want to play my part in winning games for the club, but also improving football here as a whole.”
Bailey got proper emotional in his farewell interview with Sunderland and understandably so, it was not easy leaving a club where he spent three-and-a-half years – making 107 appearances, most of them as captain, as he helped the team to win their first trophy in 48 years in the 2020/21 Papa John’s Trophy and earning promotion back into the second-tier in 2022.
And he received a heartfelt farewell from club and supporters alike.
He will feature heavily in Season Three of the famous fly-on-the-wall documentary, Sunderland ’Til I Die, which showcases the Black Cats’ memorable 2021/22 promotion-winning campaign – with the release date still yet to be confirmed.
“When you’ve gone through those highs and lows, and created friendships and bonds with people throughout the club, it’s always difficult leaving. My two baby girls (two-year-old Koa and nine-month-old Tia) were born in the Northeast of England, which makes it a special place forever for me – and it was nice to get the send-off that I had from there,” said a pensive Bailey.
“I think we don’t always like change, but change is sometimes the best thing we can have so that you can go through new experiences and have opportunities to start building new connections.”
There is at least one clear reason why Bailey has been a fan favourite at virtually every club he has been at. At Preston North End, Bristol City and Sunderland, he was constantly involved in club charities and work in the community – something which he has won several awards for.
“I think we’ve all been in that situation before when we’re kids and we’re looking up to the first-team players in our local team, it means a lot when they meet you and share their experience with you. If there’s the opportunity to have a large impact on people just from being who you’re, then I think we should do it,” said Bailey, a four-time Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Community Champion in 2015/2016, 2018/2019, 2020/2021 and most recently in 2021/2022.
“I’ve always enjoyed the community side of things, especially answering some crazy but honest questions from the kids, so I’ll definitely get involved again in this at the Sailors.”
While there is a soft side to him, Bailey’s face changes when he crosses the white line: he is a fierce competitor who leads by example with astute leadership qualities and leaves it all on the pitch with his full-blooded style – quite literally.
With blood pouring from a gash on his head, he soldiered on to lead Sunderland to a playoff semi-final win over Sheffield Wednesday in 2022 – a win that proved pivotal in the Black Cats being promoted to the Championship – before receiving 10 stitches for his troubles.
Sunderland utilised that image – now seared into the Wearside psyche – on Instagram for his farewell post.
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“Away from the pitch, I’m pretty chilled and easy-going, but I guess I’ll become a little bit different when I get on it. There’s the competitor in me and that’s what you see on the football pitch. I like winning and having that fire in the belly every day when I train and play – that’s how I am,” said Bailey.
The defender also suffered a concussion seconds into his first appearance at his Rotherham United loan stint in early February when he got struck by a stray elbow.
He said of his heart-on-sleeves approach that is blended with a healthy dollop of what-doesn’t-kill-me-makes-me-stronger: “I’m someone who naturally likes to lead – to be able to influence people around me and try to get the best of others. I like driving and pushing my teams forward.”
Bailey’s commitment to his approach again came to the fore when he spoke of his best memories in football. One might have suspected it was playing at the World Cup or securing promotion with Sunderland, but it was none of those.
“There are great moments in my career, but the moments that kick you on the furthest are the biggest setbacks you have. There was a large spell when I was at Bristol City few years ago when I just couldn’t stay fit. I couldn’t quite figure out what’s going on every time I tried to get fit, but it kind of just forced me to keep getting stronger mentally and physically. Those moments are the ones that push you on and make you more resilient in your character,” he shared.
Bailey already has eyes beyond the game – he completed a Master’s Degree in sports directorship from the University of East London last year – but for now, his focus is fully on settling into Singapore and propelling the Sailors to reclaiming the SPL crown.
With his competitive spirit complementing the team’s early good signs under new Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković, the Australian international firmly believes that the Sailors can reach lofty targets.
“I’ve played in Europe my whole career so there’s an adjustment period for me to get used to the football style and culture here, but everyone’s at the club is going above and beyond to make me feel settled. And now that I’ve met everyone, it already feels like it’s a home away from home,” said Bailey.
“Having trained with the boys a few times now, and watched a few of our matches, I have to say we have a great team with some really good technical footballers. With Coach Ranko’s new philosophy and ideas, I think we’re building a great platform and there’s a lot to be excited about.
“I want to bring my experiences validated by my career and try to make an impact in and around my new teammates, but at the same time it’s not just about me. There’s a strong sense of belief within the group that we can win the league and we’re out to win all our (seven) remaining matches to achieve the target set out by the club,” said Bailey, in a rallying call to his new teammates.
“From the way we’ve gone about our business in the last few matches, I don’t see anyone stopping us.”
From the moment Aleksandar Ranković sat down in front of the cameras at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre, it became crystal clear this man is not here to mess about.
He listened intently to the thinking behind the club’s First Interview series, settled into his seat, and delivered firm answers at the first time of asking. Perhaps more importantly, he did not flinch in the face of tough questions.
While this is his first foray into Southeast Asian football – he has spent his entire coaching career in Holland – he is already fully on board with the Sailors project.
Known as Ranko to his colleagues, the 44-year-old is looking to make an impact that goes beyond just the first team.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in this project, and it’s not just the facilities we have here. More importantly it is the people in and around the club who are contributing in different roles and the way that things are organised here,” he said.
“It is really like a European organisation and I think there is a lot here at the Sailors for a lot of clubs in Holland to envy,” said the 44-year-old Serb, who holds a UEFA Pro coaching license.
“I’m really proud to be part of the Lion City Sailors; I think I’m going to enjoy working here because I have the same vision about the game as the people here – that is not just limited to things in the first team, but also in the Academy.”
Having carved out a career in a country where Total Football originated, Ranko – who held coaching positions in Eredivisie first teams including Vitesse Arnhem, Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht – looks set to implement a style of football to excite Sailors’ fans.
“Obviously my origin is Serbian, but I always say that I’m a Dutch coach since I spent most of my career – both as a player and as a coach – in Holland,” said the former ADO Den Haag head coach.
“What fans can expect to see from my team is one that plays very attacking and dominating football; creating a lot of chances while on the other hand, not giving our opponents a lot of space to hurt us.”
Ranko already has a vision of how he wants the Sailors to play, but he is acutely aware of the critical balancing act between the short-term goal of getting results to stay in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race and the long-term objective of growing into a force to be reckoned with in the region.
“To achieve success here, I have to make the players understand exactly how we want to play; it’s not so much the system, but more of the principles of play. The system may change from game to game, but the principles are a constant and that’s something I want us to always display on the pitch,” said the Belgrade native, who worked under experienced Dutch trainer Henk Fraser at three different Eredivisie clubs.
Ranko has big ambitions for his version of the Sailors, and while he is especially enthusiastic about the club’s second foray into the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL), Ranko understands the importance of the immediate goal – to reclaim the SPL title.
“I know how the club did in the ACL last season and we have to build something to do even better this time around. Especially when we’re playing at home, we have to be very hard to play against – even against the top teams in Asia.
“But I’m not looking too far ahead now, the main priority is the SPL. There’s still a gap between us and the top of the table and I’m coming in during the middle of the season, but we’re going to fight for the title till the last day,” he declared.
With a young and hungry squad that has soldiered on despite some teething problems, Ranko is firm in his belief that the club has all the tools to achieve success.
“I’ve watched a few matches of the team and now that I’ve been here for a few days, I can see that we have a very good squad and a real positive energy around the team. There’s no doubt about it – we have to challenge for the league title and play a significant role in the ACL,” he said.
“We want to be the best and the only place to earn the tag of being the best is on the field. We’ve a great setup here to help us, so it’s our job now to push the club towards achieving these objectives.”
“What’s your first impression of Mom?” was the first question Nathan Mao shot across the table at his father, Lincoln.
His second question was equally probing, pointed even: “Would you have preferred to have a son who focuses purely on studies and did not play football?”
The father-son pair were playing the Sailors’ Father’s Day game: Jenga Jive-talk – the Sailors’ own twist on the classic Jenga – with each tile corresponding to specific questions crafted to spark both inane and meaningful conversations between players. The game comes with “joker” tiles that allow players to ask questions of their own as well.
And it quickly became clear that this chip – Nathan and his straight-forward cheeky maturity – came off the old block.
Lincoln did not flinch at either question crafted by his son. His first response demonstrated a very clear – and heartwarming – memory of Nathan’s mum, Grace. His answer to the second question came lightning quick, and like every good dad joke, drew from references that the child is well-familiar with – and will inevitably squirm at.
“Definitely not,” was Lincoln’s immediate response to the question: “Would you have preferred to have a son who focuses purely on studies and did not play football?”
The cheeky dad-joke-punchline – a sweet one – came a second later: “You’re my choice in any multiverse.”
Nathan was hit so hard by the line he failed to find his words. “(That’s) too chummy, or rather too cheesy!” he remarked behind a visible squirm you would expect from any 15-year-old.
Nathan made history as the Singapore Premier League’s youngest-ever player at 15 years and 5 years old when he came on in the 4-3 defeat against Tampines Rovers on 31 March, playing with a maturity beyond his lean years, and it was clear the family approach to football had some part to play in this.
Jenga Jive-talk was designed to create banter between father and child, but in the case of Nathan and Lincoln, it drew out the close relationship they share.
“I feel that with all the coaches and video software at the club, Nathan’s getting a lot of feedback already,” said the 44-year-old.
“My role is more like a cheerleader. The conversations we have at home revolve around character, resilience rather than actual performances. Football is a wonderful thing with so many teachable moments that can be translated outside of the pitch.”
It is an approach from his biggest supporter that Nathan appreciates.
“My dad’s been there, he does all the small things that you only notice a few years later, things that you don’t really give a lot of appreciation when it actually happens,” said Nathan.
“He’s so busy with work but he still makes time to go out and spend time with me. He’s definitely a role model for me.”
Like most fathers Lincoln’s hopes for his son extend far beyond the sport.
“My wish for him is to continue to do our best, stay humble, stay thankful and continue to grow as a person and as a player. At the end of the day, it’s about the journey – not the destination.
“I hope he ends up wherever he wants to be – which is to be a successful football player. But even if he doesn’t, it’s important he enjoys the process and is thankful for every step he takes.”
It is evident that Nathan remembers every step of his journey thus far, and it is also evident that alongside the game of saccharine-sweet words, Nathan also packs cheeky barbs in his arsenal.
When Lincoln pulled the question: “What activity am I really bad at, and how did you find out?”, Nathan pounced.
“Football,” he said, flinching just a little, even as it was Dad who squirmed and chuckled uncomfortably this time.
“I knew that when I was six years old, and I was already better than you.”
In celebration of Father’s Day, we sidestep pleasantries and get properly stuck into the family lives of our Sailors and their relationship with their dads.
We sit our Sailors across from their fathers and pit them against one another in a friendly game of Jenga – with a sneaky Sailors’ twist – to cut through the noise and fuel real conversations.
From cutting jibes to heartwarming revelations, the responses to the Sailors’ very own Jenga Jive-talk were as varied as they were interesting.
In the first of this two-part series, we put Sailors Women’s Team forward Lila Tan on the spot with her father, businessman, David Tan.
Lila Tan sat across from her dad, David, in the Lion City Sailors Training Centre’s player recreation room and posed a question which momentarily stumped him.
“What is one thing that your daughter or sons will change about you?”
Seconds of silence hung heavy in the air before David responded with a bludgeon.
“I think there’s nothing to change. For them about me: nothing to change,” he said, before adding, “Maybe they want me to have more time with them – this is the only change.”
The father-daughter pair were playing the Sailors’ Father’s Day game: Jenga Jive-talk – the Sailors’ own twist on the classic Jenga – with each tile corresponding to specific questions crafted to spark both inane and meaningful conversations between players.
And the Tans were right up in it.
David went next and picked a question for Lila from the Sailors’ from-left-field category: Would you want your dad to be in your crew during a zombie apocalypse?
“I would not because you would run very slow and we probably would die,” said Lila. “You have a knee injury so you can’t run very fast.”
Her words drew a quick riposte from Dad.
“My pick-up (acceleration) is better than yours,” he spat back. “It’s just the speed (that loses out) only.”
Lila’s face immediately twisted with a wild incredulity that seemed to encapsulate at least half of what Jenga Jive-talk was designed for, and the Tans did not disappoint, fully embracing the other side of the game as well – real conversations.
“He is so stubborn! He’ll never let me or my mum win in an argument – he’ll always try to have the last word,” said Lila, who threw in what seemed like a sharp finishing jab for good measure. “Right?”
David seemed to prove his daughter’s point, but what seemed like a move to grab the last word went a tad further into the realm of real emotions – emotional baselines, if you will.
“To her, it’s stubborn, to some other people it’s wisdom – it’s how you perceive it. We’ve been through certain things in life before, so we want to advise you and not want you to go ‘bang the wall’, he explained.
“Okay, sometimes it’s good to bang the wall and learn things the hard way, but sometimes it’s good to heed advice so that you no need to go through so much hardship or obstacles in life. After all, parents just want our kids to head to a bright destination and fulfil all their potential.”
It appeared that tough love – but real and deep love – was bubbling to the surface. And right behind that raw emotion, came a fragment of David’s philosophy of life.
“Sports actually help my kids in their studies,” he declared, with a smile that went against the grain of Singapore culture.
“A lot of parents have the misconception that if their kids spend too much time on sports, their studies will deteriorate – but it’s the reverse,” explained the 53-year-old who dabbled in various sports, including track and field and football.
And David has ensured that his children embrace that neat little trick of leveraging sporting passion to drive what future academic success he believes will inevitably follow.
Lila and her three younger brothers have all committed to football. She is now starting to establish herself in the Singapore Women’s National Team, while 18-year-old Louka is with Hougang United’s Under-21s, 15-year-old Lukyan is with the Sailors Under-15 side, while youngest sibling, 8-year-old Lael trains with the ActiveSG Football Academy.
“When you use more time to do sports, you have less time for studies,” admitted David. “And that’s when effective time management comes in. So, when they study, they’re focused so their results could actually be better that way.”
And David goes even further.
Apart from joining his children in casual kickabouts, David also takes the time to go through videos that illustrate good examples of passages of play, coaching philosophy of top-class managers, all to help develop a better understanding of the game in his children.
As Jenga Jive-talk went on there was a soft touch to David’s approach that came to the fore, surprising even Lila.
“In three words, describe my ability in the kitchen,” asked Lila.
David paused. Lila squirmed.
And just as Lila was going to surrender to a snarky remark about her cooking, David exclaimed: “Not so bad!
“If it’s something that you want to do, you’ll do it well – even food. I’ve tasted your cooking and it was good – she cooks pasta and omelette quite well, I have to say,” said David, to more squirming from Lila, who came back with a soft touch of her own.
“I appreciate the effort he puts in (sending) us to training and back. Despite it being late at night around 10.30pm and after a long day of work, he’ll be there, nonetheless, for us – I’ve never really told you this, but I really do appreciate it.”
Having just turned 20, Lila is still trying to figure out her direction in life – she is currently fussing over which university to go for and whether to pursue football long-term, and she has David firmly in her corner.
“I want her to be happy – and to do what she has passion for,” he said, with Lila nodding quietly to herself.
“If she’s doing what she truly likes, she will be happy and that’s really the biggest factor.”
They stroked the ball around patiently, moving the ball smoothly from back to front before a sliver of an opportunity peeked through the crowd with the ball slipping through the same gap, nestling in the back of the net.
The score read: Lion City Sailors 1-0 FC Porto.
This was the Sailors Academy’s Under-12 Elite team, up against Portugal’s finest, and storming into the lead in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Porto International Youth Cup – as Asia’s sole representative.
They eventually lost the game 5-2, but their fearless execution of the Sailors’ Academy philosophy of passing football won the admiration of those watching – something they did throughout the tournament that took place from 6th to 8th April 2023.
The Sailors’ Academy boys were Asia’s only representative in the 12-team competition, and flew the flag proudly, giving a good account of themselves against academies more steeped in history, bringing immense pride to Sailors’ Academy Head of Foundation Ashraf Ariffin.
“We knew we’re going to face strong teams that are better than us, but did we prepare for it specifically? No, not really. We continued to prepare in the same way as we did for our weekend matches in the domestic PUMA Youth Champions League (YCL),” he said.
“Our coaches are trying to instill belief in our teams and the boys truly stuck to our principles of play, and they applied our game principles at levels beyond their usual, especially that opening goal against Porto.
“We did eventually lose – one of those goals were conceded due to us trying to build from the back – but I didn’t want to alter our football just because we were playing against a very strong team. And I must say I’m really proud of the boys.”
Played in a seven-a-side format with 20-minute halves, the Porto International Youth Cup saw the Sailors’ Elite U12 team consisting of players born in 2011 line up against the likes of Benfica, Braga and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the group stages.
The aim of participating in the competition was for the players to test themselves against the cream of the crop in Europe – a rare opportunity for aspiring Sailors trainees.
With the top four from the two six-team groups qualifying for the quarter-finals, the Sailors did enough to finish fourth to set up a last-eight clash with hosts Porto where they eventually bowed out.
It was a creditable performance, especially considering a number of players had to cope with fasting during a tournament that took place during the month of Ramadan.
“They had to wake up around 4.30am for Sahur every morning and most of them fasted at least half, if not three-quarters of each day, until they could not take it. I salute them for their determination, and they didn’t let that affect their performances.
“Some of them really stepped up and showed they could play at levels that they haven’t hit before. They gave a really good account of themselves and that was clear to me watching the team scoring in most games and even if we did lose,” he said.
While it was an encouraging overall display, Ashraf is under no illusions of the improvement needed for his trainees to make the step up and go neck and neck with their European counterparts.
“In Singapore, we are usually the aggressors, playing with more intensity and at a higher tempo. But when we went to Porto, the tables were turned.
“In terms of 1v1 duels and the level of aggression, we definitely need to improve. Being exposed to this level of football only serves to make our boys realise how much they need to work to get to where they aspire to be,” he said.
“Back here, they’re doing pretty well playing against players one year older than them in the YCL but they now realise they’re still quite far away from their peers in Europe.”
The Sailors’ U12s Elite side has continued to do well since returning to Singapore, recently crowned champions of the U12 category in the second YCL season, and are already looking forward to more such overseas experiences.
And these are written into the Sailors’ Academy structure.
Its Elite Under-13 and Under-15 teams are on their way to two-week training trips to Feyenoord Rotterdam and Porto respectively between 27 May to 11 June, while the U11 boys will travel to Sweden in July for the Gothia Cup.
