Category: News
The Lion City Sailors Women delivered another ruthless attacking performance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as they swept aside BG Tampines Rovers 12-0 at the Yishun Stadium on Friday (13 February) night.
Back at the venue for the first time since April 2024, the Sailors reached double figures for the third time in four matches this season with a statement result that propelled them to the summit of the WPL standings.
A hat-trick for Eri Kitagawa and braces from Amelia Tan, Farah Nurzahirah, Ami Takeuchi, and Ami Kawase, alongside a solitary Nur Izzati Rosni strike, sealed a memorable night, particularly for teenage forward Amelia, who opened her WPL account just three minutes into the contest.
A graduate of the Sailors Girls Academy, Amelia made her first WPL start at 14 years, four months and four days old, becoming one of the league’s youngest-ever starters. Just six days on, she has announced herself with her first two senior goals.
Reacting quickest after BG Tampines failed to clear their lines in a scramble involving Takeuchi and Eri, Amelia kept her composure to slot past former Sailors goalkeeper Nurul Haziqah Haszman.
“It felt awesome,” she beamed. “The senior players always guide me. Whenever I make a mistake, they teach me how to correct it and be better. And when I score, they celebrate with me.”
Head Coach Daniel Ong was delighted to see the club’s youth pathway bearing fruit on the big stage.
“It’s definitely exciting to watch them combine and create chances up front, that’s what the Sailors Girls Academy is all about,” said Daniel. “Seeing players progress through the pathway and now contribute to the senior team shows how much hard work they’ve put in.”
Amelia’s early opening goal set the tone for the rest of the evening, with the Sailors’ attacking fluency evident from the outset. And in the ninth minute, neat interplay between Nur Ain Salleh and Takeuchi ended with the latter teeing up Eri, who rifled a superb effort from just outside the box into the top right corner to make it 2-0.
Seven minutes later, Ain and Takeuchi combined again, with Takeuchi squaring unselfishly for Amelia to tap home her second. Farah then added a fourth a minute later with a composed finish.
Amelia nearly completed a hat-trick in the 18th minute, but her effort drifted wide.
“I would’ve loved the hat-trick, but I’m just happy to contribute,” she said. “Even if I don’t score, I want to help by making runs, creating space and delivering good balls.”
Eri grabbed her second in the 20th minute, shrugging off her marker to convert Ain’s driven cross to make it five. This was followed by Takeuchi opening her account on the night in the 28th minute, before Eri completed her hat-trick eight minutes later.
Ami Kawase then rose to the fore with a clinical double to make it 9-0 to the Sailors at the break, as the teenage Japanese took her tally for the season up to five goals.
“We had a lot of good movement today and that contributed to the scoreline,” reflected Amelia. “If someone drops deep, another makes the run in behind. With two strikers, when Ami dropped, I tried to run beyond to create space.”
Daniel added: “We worked all week on attacking patterns from the middle third into the final phase. Today, they showed what they’ve taken on board. There’s always room to improve, but the first half was very pleasing.”
The Sailors maintained their intensity after the restart, though BG Tampines proved more resilient. Nonetheless, the Sailors found the back of the net again in the 57th minute when Farah drove into the box and teed up super-sub Izzati for a first-time volley.
With seven minutes remaining, Takeuchi added another clinical finish to take her season tally up to 12 goals, before Farah capped the night in the 89th minute, latching onto Eri’s pass and firing home to complete the 12-goal rout.
With emphatic victories fast becoming a hallmark of their campaign, the Sailors carry formidable momentum into sterner tests ahead against Geylang International and defending champions Albirex Jurong.
While pleased with how the team has performed so far this season, Daniel believes they will have to continue working hard on improving their fitness in order to go the distance and lift the WPL title.
“As long as the girls continue to play the way we train and show the right attitude, we’re heading in the right direction,” said Daniel. “Fitness is an area we’ll continue to work on as the season progresses.”
Singapore is a place Kyoga Nakamura now proudly calls home.
So naturally, after a brief stint in Thailand, he was eager to return to familiar surroundings.
With six seasons of Singapore Premier League (SPL) experience under his belt, beginning at Albirex Niigata (S) before a five-year stint with BG Tampines Rovers, the 29-year-old had already established himself as one of the league’s standout performers.
As such, when the opportunity arose to join the Lion City Sailors, Kyoga knew the time was right for the next chapter of his career.
“The environment at the Sailors is one of the best in Asia. The training centre facilities here are better than even some top J.League clubs, so I was really surprised the first time I arrived,” Kyoga reflected.
“From food and recovery to training and the gym, they provide us with everything. I’ve really enjoyed it, but it also comes with responsibility.”
Kyoga marked his arrival in style, helping the Sailors lift the Singapore Cup within his first week at the club. One month on, he is even more convinced that the team can achieve greater success, believing their edge extends well beyond what they show on the pitch.
“There are two things that set the Sailors apart,” he explained. “Firstly, this is a champion club. Everyone is hungry, wanting to win every match and defend the title. Secondly, the facilities are top-notch, from recovery to nutrition and everything in between.”
The Sailors have won all five matches Kyoga has featured in so far, even as he gradually adapts to his new surroundings.
Traditionally deployed as a central midfielder, Kyoga has also been tasked with operating on the right, a challenge he has embraced. His willingness to step outside his comfort zone has already paid dividends, with assists in consecutive matches highlighting his growing influence.
“Usually I play in central midfield, but here I’ve sometimes had to play on the right, so I need time to adapt,” he admitted. “I always try my best for the team and I’m confident I can perform even better in the near future.”
Born in Chiba, Kyoga was once regarded as one of Japan’s brightest prospects. A youth product of JEF United Chiba, he represented Japan at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he played against sides such as Sweden and Tunisia.
That grounding has shaped a player unafraid to express himself, and Sailors fans have already been treated to glimpses of his technical quality and creativity in recent outings.
“I have the confidence to show my abilities during matches. Of course, we want to win every game, but as professional footballers, we also have to show that football is exciting and enjoyable for the fans,” he said.
Kyoga now finds himself in a high-quality dressing room, alongside Singapore internationals he knows well and foreign imports who boast top-level pedigree.
In particular, Kyoga singled out two teammates who have impressed him since he began training and playing alongside them.
“Before I arrived, I already knew about Anderson (Lopes) because he was the top scorer in the J1 League,” said Kyoga. “I’m really impressed by him. He’s not only a great goalscorer, but also a top personality.”
On midfield partner Tsiy Ndenge, he added: “Tsiy is a player who has everything…creativity, dribbling and power. He was a top player in Switzerland and I want to learn from someone like him because my target is always to become a better version of myself every day.”
For Kyoga, who has been named in the SPL Team of the Year on four occasions, humility remains central to his character. Improvement, in his eyes, is a constant pursuit.
That mindset will be vital as the Sailors navigate a period of transition following the departure of former head coach Aleksandar Ranković last week. For Kyoga, however, the focus remains unchanged.
“Ranko was in charge for two and a half years and created a lot of history here,” he said. “But as professionals, even if the head coach and staff change, our attitude stays the same, as we aim to give our maximum every day.”
Next up for the Sailors is a clash with Noh Alam Shah’s Tanjong Pagar United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (15 February).
Having faced the Jaguars 17 times in his career, Kyoga is fully expecting another stern test this weekend.
“Matches against Tanjong Pagar aren’t easy. They can be intense and tough,” he noted. “We should have scored more in the previous match against Young Lions, so I hope we take our chances next time. We want to keep this momentum going until the end of the season.”
A perfect 10 wins from 10 in the SPL would mark another significant step in the Sailors’ bid to defend their crown, and Kyoga is fully focused on sustaining that momentum in the months ahead.
“The Sailors are a champion club and we aim to lift the SPL title,” he said. “I know the expectations are high over here, and that’s what motivates me to deliver more. We want to deliver strong performances and enjoy every match with our fans.”
For Lion City Sailors Women’s defender Dhaniyah Qasimah, last weekend’s 12-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United meant more than just three points.
Handed the captain’s armband for the first time in the absence of injured skipper Umairah Hamdan and vice-captain Syazwani Ruzi, Dhaniyah led from the front as the Sailors delivered one of their most emphatic performances of the season.
Now, buoyed by that result, the Sailors will turn their attention to Friday’s (13 February) Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against BG Tampines Rovers at Yishun Stadium.
Nonetheless, while the milestone was a proud personal moment, Dhaniyah was quick to shift the focus onto her teammates.
“I’m honoured to captain the team, but more than anything, I’m proud of the girls, particularly the younger ones, for stepping up,” shared the 21-year-old.
Taking on the armband came with added responsibility for the naturally vocal wing-back. With both Umairah and Syazwani unavailable, Dhaniyah had to recalibrate her approach on the pitch.
“Wani and I usually share the role of leading the girls in Mai’s absence. Wani is the quieter one and I’m usually the more vocal one,” she explained.
“With Wani not around last week, the challenge for me was finding the balance between encouraging the girls and making sure we stuck to the game plan. Wearing the armband meant I had to be more mindful of how I reacted on the pitch.”
The dominant display against Tanjong Pagar also underlined the rapid growth of the Sailors’ younger contingent. Teenagers such as Nur Ain Salleh have already made telling contributions with assists and three goals this season, while Ami Kawase — who is also on three goals — and Indra Lewin (pictured below) have slotted seamlessly into the senior set-up after stepping up from the Lion City Sailors Women’s ‘B’ team.
“I’m proud of the younger ones for playing with confidence and contributing strongly to the team,” said Dhaniyah. “They’ve fitted in seamlessly despite having limited time to train with the seniors.
“Even though some of them have only just made their WPL debuts, they show real maturity. It’s rewarding to see how much they’ve grown in just three matches.”
As one of the team’s leaders, Dhaniyah knows that guiding the next generation will be vital in what promises to be a demanding campaign, especially with rivals such as Albirex Jurong, Still Aerion and Geylang International stepping up this season.
“It’s important for me and Wani to support the team, especially the younger ones. We faced setbacks last year, but every match is a learning experience. With tougher opponents ahead, new challenges will arise, and we have to guide the girls, whether through advice, encouragement or staying calm under pressure.”
She also credited Head Coach Daniel Ong for shaping the senior players’ approach to mentorship.
“By observing him, we’ve learned how to mentor in a way that builds confidence rather than pressure. He is hard on us in a positive manner that drives us to be better, because he knows we’re capable of more.”
Turning her focus to Friday’s encounter with BG Tampines, Dhaniyah is eager for the Sailors to carry forward the positives from their last outing.
“We want to build on the momentum from the second half against Tanjong Pagar and bring that into the next match. It’s important that we switch on from the start and not wait until after the break to raise our level,” she said.
BG Tampines, however, will pose a different test, particularly with their threat in transition.
“We have to be ready to deal with transitions if we lose possession. They have quick attackers who can punish us if we’re not alert.”
A week of change off the pitch had little impact on matters on it, as the Lion City Sailors returned to Singapore Premier League (SPL) action with a composed 2-0 victory over the Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (8 February) night.
Following a successful spell of almost three years at the helm, Aleksandar Ranković departed the Sailors on Friday, with Varo Moreno stepping in as interim head coach.
First-half goals from Bailey Wright and Lennart Thy gave Varo the perfect start to his tenure, as the Sailors registered a club-record ninth consecutive SPL win in a single season.
“The most important thing for us was to create scoring chances, and I think we had many in this match,” said Varo, who holds a UEFA A Licence. “After the changes this week, the crucial thing was to win and continue our 100 percent record, and we managed to do that.”
The Sailors started on the front foot and nearly took an early lead in the eighth minute, when Kyoga Nakamura’s corner was headed just over the bar by Toni Datković.
Four minutes later, however, Toni’s centre-back partner Bailey was left unmarked from another quality Kyoga delivery, and the Australian made no mistake in front of goal to give the Sailors the lead.
It was Bailey’s fourth SPL goal of the campaign, having also found the net against the Young Lions earlier this season in October.
“Every game I play, I’ll do my best for the team. I’m enjoying my football here,” said Bailey, who was duly adjudged Man of the Match. “It’s nice to score, but I value the clean sheet more. It’s a real collective effort to work hard for that.”
“If we keep clean sheets as a defensive unit, we know we’ll always have a chance to score. When I score, it’s just a bonus.”
Indeed, the Sailors’ backline was rarely troubled as they secured their fifth clean sheet in the league this season. And in truth, it was the Sailors who looked capable of running away with the game in the first half.
Anderson Lopes and Tsiy Ndenge both went close to doubling the lead before a moment of route-one football caught the Young Lions defence off guard in the 35th minute.
Ivan Sušak’s long punt forward found Lennart, and the Sailors forward finished with aplomb for his seventh SPL goal of the season to keep pace in the Golden Boot race with BG Tampines Rovers’ Hide Higashikawa, who has the same number of strikes.
There was a brief moment of danger for the Young Lions soon after, when on-loan goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud’s attempted quick throw led to the Sailors regaining possession in a dangerous position, but Kyoga’s eventual effort was cleared off the line.
The Sailors took a two-goal advantage into the break, and judging by the opening 45 minutes, it is business as usual despite the change in Head Coach.
“Honestly, we didn’t have much time to do something different,” admitted Varo, who previously worked as a Málaga youth team coach. “I don’t think we should change a lot because Ranko did quite a good job. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Sailors pushing for more goals. Diogo Costa’s free-kick was met by Lennart’s header in the 53rd minute but flew over the bar, before Lennart turned provider with a cut-back for Diogo, who was unable to test Izwan.
Tsiy then tried his luck in the 69th minute, but his effort drifted wide, before Varo introduced Nur Adam Abdullah, Bart Ramselaar, Hami Syahin and Luka Adžić from the bench as the Sailors comfortably saw out the contest.
After the full time whistle, Bailey, who was Ranko’s first signing at the club back in July 2023, reflected on the Serb’s tenure while also adding that the club is now set to make a fresh start in a new era.
“Everyone knows the news of Ranko leaving. It’s been a change at the club, and we can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for us over the last few years,” said Bailey.
“It’s now a new chapter at the club, and today was the start of that. We got the three points with a good performance, and credit to the Young Lions for working hard and making it competitive.”
Next up, the Sailors will face seventh-placed Tanjong Pagar United at the same venue this coming Sunday (15 February) night.
Pride in clean sheets remains a driving force for Bailey, and it is a challenge he will relish against the Jaguars, with Noh Alam Shah’s side having scored in five consecutive league matches.
“From now until the end of the season, we want to continue being the strongest team in Singapore, make more history, and go on to win the league again,” he added.
The Lion City Sailors Women produced a scintillating attacking display to sweep aside Tanjong Pagar United 12-0 in to continue their perfect start to the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday (7 February).
The emphatic victory saw the Sailors close the goal-difference gap at the summit of the table, after defending champions Albirex Jurong defeated Still Aerion 6-2 earlier in the day.
Both sides now boast maximum points from their opening three matches, with the Sailors trailing Albirex by just four goals after a ruthless showing in front of goal.
“It was definitely a strong result for Albirex, but regardless of the outcome, we have our own targets and we knew what we needed to do to deliver while under pressure,” said Sailors forward Farah Nurzahirah, who netted her second hat-trick of the season.
Farah’s strike partner Ami Takeuchi led the charge with four goals, teenager Nur Ain Salleh grabbed a brace, while Ami Kawase and Nur Izzati Rosni were also on the scoresheet as the Sailors overwhelmed their opponents.
Head Coach Daniel Ong made several notable selections, handing 18-year-old Alysha Nasrina her first start of the season in goal, while Dhaniyah Qasimah wore the captain’s armband for the first time in her Sailors career.
There were also first starts of the season for Tyan Foong and Amelia Tan, who made history by becoming the youngest Sailors Girls Academy graduate to start for the senior team at just 14 years, four months and four days old.
And the teenage debutant wasted little time making her presence felt. Inside the opening ten minutes, Irsalina Irwan surged forward before laying the ball off to Amelia, whose neat pass picked out Ain, who rifled her effort in off the underside of the crossbar to open the scoring.
Takeuchi and Farah combined soon after for the second, before the Japanese forward got on the scoresheet herself in the 35th minute. Kawase (pictured below) then unleashed a superb strike from the edge of the box, before Farah’s deft loop over Tanjong Pagar goalkeeper Batrisyia Ilya capped a dominant first-half display and sent the Sailors into the break with a 5-0 lead.
“In the first half, we played a bit cautiously,” said Takeuchi, who used to play for Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies. “As the game went on, we wanted to be more dynamic as a team. Personally, I tried to create more space for myself, and that helped me get more chances to score.”
The Sailors emerged after the interval with their sights firmly set on further closing the gap on goal difference, and it took just eight minutes after the restart for them to net their sixth through Ain, who then turned provider moments later as she delivered an inviting cross for Takeuchi to head home.
A lapse in the Jaguars’ defence then resulted in an own goal to put the Sailors 9-0 up, before Farah curled in her third of the night in the 70th minute to complete her hat-trick.
The final quarter of the game belonged to Takeuchi, as she teed up substitute Izzati to score from the edge of the area, before adding two more clinical finishes to bring her WPL tally for the season to 10 and round off the scoring.
“In order to win the league title this season, we know we have to win every game,” said Takeuchi. “I’ll continue to work hard with that determination.”
With 29 goals scored in three matches and the only defence in the league yet to be breached, the Sailors have made a solid start to the campaign.
They will next be in action on Friday (13 February) against BG Tampines Rovers, who will be seeking a response after a 4-1 defeat to Geylang International in their previous outing.
The Sailors, however, have no intention of easing off as they continue their pursuit of the WPL summit.
“At this point, we’re quite confident as a team,” concluded Farah. “But we have to take things step by step, follow the coach’s plans and stay focused on our overall performance.”
The Lion City Sailors return to Singapore Premier League (SPL) action against Young Lions on Sunday (8 February) night, with one clear objective in mind: to set a new club record of nine straight league wins in a single season.
The buildup to this fixture, however, has been markedly different from recent weeks, with a new man at the helm. Following the departure of Aleksandar Ranković, former assistant coach and head video analyst Varo Moreno has stepped into the role of interim head coach, with the 36-year-old Spaniard — a UEFA A Licence holder — taking charge of the Sailors’ first team.
Speaking on the eve of the Young Lions clash, captain Hariss Harun expressed full confidence in Varo’s ability to guide the team through an important period of their title defence.
“Varo has been around the team for the past couple of years, so everyone is familiar with him and he understands the game very well,” said the Singapore international. “With his expertise in video analysis, he sees things differently and has a strong tactical understanding. On top of that, he’s also a good man manager.
“Overall, it’s been positive, and we’re all giving him our full support. Ultimately, we all share the same objective: to keep the club on the right track.”
At the same time, Hariss was keen to pay tribute to the outgoing Ranko, who departs after a highly successful spell in charge since June 2023. Under the Serb’s stewardship, the Sailors enjoyed sustained domestic dominance, made significant strides on the continental stage, and lifted five major trophies.
“We’ve achieved so much under Coach Ranko,” said Hariss. “He played a huge role in shaping our mentality and our success over the past few seasons, and that legacy will not be forgotten.
“We’ve many fond memories together as a team, and it’s sad to see him go. We wish him nothing but success in the future.
“But football always moves quickly. We have a match coming up soon, so it’s important we look forward, keep our heads clear and stay on the right path.”
A leader who sets high standards both for himself and those around him, Hariss was candid in assessing the Sailors’ 2025/26 campaign to date, while backing the side to finish strongly.
“This time last year, we were preparing for back-to-back continental matches and doing a lot of travelling,” explained the skipper. “This season has panned out differently, so our sole focus now is on the league.
“We have to keep our heads, our minds and our focus to steer things in the right direction. It may sound strange to say that when we have a perfect record in the league, but expectations at this club are high. Defending the league title is the bare minimum for us.”
Hariss also acknowledged the unwavering backing of the Sailors faithful and pledged that the team will give everything in the 13 remaining league matches between now and May.
“It’s never easy for supporters when change happens, and there can be uncertainty,” he said. “But our fans have been incredible from Day One. Through the highs and lows, they’ve always stood by us.
“I hope they continue supporting us. We’ll come out of this stronger together. There’s still so much to play for, and we want to finish the season united as one team.”
Lion City Sailors have parted ways with Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković with immediate effect.
The Club would like to place on record our sincere appreciation to Ranko for leading us in a highly successful chapter of our history, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Under Ranko’s stewardship in over 100 matches, the Sailors lifted five major trophies, including one Community Shield, three consecutive Singapore Cups, and the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) title – a season in which he was also named the SPL Coach of the Year.
On the continental stage, Ranko also played a pivotal role in elevating the club’s standing, guiding the Sailors to a historic breakthrough in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two last season as the first Singaporean club to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.
Assistant Coach Varo Moreno will take interim charge of the Sailors’ first team, starting with this Sunday’s (8 February) SPL fixture against Young Lions.
The search for a new Head Coach has begun, and the Club will make an announcement in due course.
There is a renewed edge about the Lion City Sailors Women this season.
Having seen their three-year Women’s Premier League (WPL) reign come to an end last year, the Sailors have regrouped, refocused, and set their sights firmly on reclaiming their place at the top.
Early signs of that intent came last weekend, as the Sailors ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Still Aerion – a team they failed to beat in the previous campaign.
In a tightly contested affair which saw the Sailors remain compact and disciplined throughout, the winning goal came courtesy of an own goal by Angelyn Pang, who deflected Syazwani Ruzi’s cross into the back of her own net in the 80th minute.
For Sailors forward Farah Nurzahirah, now in her first full season at the club after joining in August last year, the result underlined the team’s resilience early in the campaign.
“As a team, we know Aerion are a very tough opponent, but we never gave up until the final whistle,” said the 22-year-old. “We kept pushing and fighting for the three points, and that was really important for us.”
That gritty win followed an emphatic 16-0 demolition of Balestier Khalsa in the season opener, as Daniel Ong’s side laid down an early marker in the title race.
It was the Sailors’ second-biggest winning margin in club history, with Farah netting a hat-trick to open her account for the season.
“For me, it’s really the team environment that pushes me to work even harder in games and training,” she explained. “Everyone is very competitive, but at the same time very encouraging, and that helps me stay positive every day.”
After scoring 17 goals and conceding none in their opening two matches, the Sailors currently sit second in the WPL standings, level on points with defending champions Albirex Jurong, but behind on goal difference at this early stage.
Having finished third last season, the Sailors are eager not only to wrest back the league title, but also to return to the continental stage at the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) in 2027.
“We are all very eager and committed to winning back the title this year,” said Farah. “Everyone has been putting in extra effort and working really hard in training to be better this season.”
One of those who played a pivotal role in the Sailors’ historic AWCL run last year was Japanese midfielder Ami Takeuchi, who scored four goals in the preliminary stage to help the club secure their first-ever group stage berth.
Ami, along with compatriot Eri Kitagawa (pictured below), has since returned to add further quality and experience to the Sailors in the WPL this season.
“Both of them are elite players,” said Farah. “It’s easy to link up with them because they know their own abilities and react very quickly. I’m still learning their playing styles, but it’s becoming easier for me to coordinate with them on the pitch.”
At the other end of the spectrum, the club continues to place strong emphasis on youth development, with promising teenagers progressing from the Sailors’ B team under the guidance of Women’s National League Coach of the Year Izz Haziq.
Remi Ogawa, who was named 2025 WNL Young Player of the Year, along with fellow youngster Ami Kawase (pictured below), have recently been integrated into the first-team setup and are already making their presence felt.
“They are both very talented and bring a really positive vibe to the team,” said Farah, who herself was named the WPL Young Player of the Year two seasons ago with Geylang International. “They are hardworking, eager to learn, and very easy to play with, both on and off the pitch.”
That squad depth could prove crucial with the 2026 WPL season running until June, in what promises to be another fiercely contested campaign.
Next up, the Sailors face Tanjong Pagar United on Saturday (7 February). The Jaguars are still searching for their first points of the season after back-to-back defeats, although Nur Syakirah Jumain did score their first goal of the campaign against Geylang.
Under the stewardship of Samawira Basri, Tanjong Pagar remain the only side to field an all-domestic squad this season, but they will have their work cut out against a Sailors side keen to extend their strong run of form.
“Our objective is always to win, but we also want to play well,” said Farah, who previously scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Tanjong Pagar last September. “We’ll take it one step at a time, stick to the coach’s plans, and focus on our own performance.”
With 43 WPL goals across the last three seasons, Farah will be hoping this is finally the year she lifts the league trophy for the first time.
“With so many quality players in the squad, nothing is guaranteed,” she admitted. “I have to show the coach that I can fit into his plans and play the way he wants. That means being consistent, working hard, and always being ready to put in extra work for the team.”
The Lion City Sailors concluded their ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to PKR Svay Rieng at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (5 February).
In a contest where fine margins proved decisive, the Sailors created a number of promising openings, but were ultimately undone by a second-half brace from Patrick Robson, as the Cambodian champions secured a memorable win in Singapore.
Speaking after the match, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković felt his side were unfortunate not to take at least a point from the game, while praising the effort shown by his players throughout.
“It was a game that could have gone either way,” said Ranko. “We didn’t convert our chances, and they scored from their opportunities. We knew from the start that this tournament would be a tough challenge, but the players gave everything against a good side.”
Svay Rieng made a bright start, with Ivan Sušak called into action early to keep out Kwame Poku’s header in the sixth minute. The Sailors responded swiftly, as Shawal Anuar forced a sharp save from Dara Vireak with a powerful close-range effort four minutes later.
With the match settling into an even rhythm, Anderson Lopes went closest in the 32nd minute, twisting smartly inside the box before forcing a fine save. The forward remained a constant threat, and just before the interval saw another fierce effort from a tight angle pushed away at the near post by Dara Vireak.
The Sailors carried that positive momentum into the second half, and barely a minute after the restart, Anderson teed up Lennart Thy, who dragged his effort wide, before the Brazilian failed to capitalise on Diogo Costa’s inviting cross moments later.
Those missed chances proved costly for the Sailors, as Svay Rieng broke the deadlock in the 51st minute against the run of play. A cross from the right to the back post found an unmarked Robson, who made no mistake from close range.
Thirteen minutes later, Robson struck again, driving past two defenders down the left before firing a fierce shot that took a deflection on its way into the net.
To the Sailors’ credit, they refused to let their heads drop after the setback and continued to push for a way back into the game.
And that attacking intent produced a couple of promising openings, with Lionel Tan’s header from a corner drifting just over in the 75th minute, before Hami Syahin’s long-range effort four minutes later narrowly cleared the crossbar. Despite the late pressure, however, the hosts were ultimately unable to find a breakthrough.
The result meant the Sailors finished their second Shopee Cup campaign with four points, an identical record to last season’s tally.
Vice-captain Bailey Wright was candid in his assessment of the defeat after the final whistle. “The entire team worked hard against a good side, but we simply weren’t at our best,” he said.
“Conceding two goals was disappointing, and we apologise for the result and performance. The standards we’ve set in previous seasons are high, so now it’s about regrouping and giving our best in the remaining games.”
The Sailors will have little time to dwell on the setback, as they return to Singapore Premier League action on Sunday (8 February) against the Young Lions, before hosting Tanjong Pagar United the following week, with both fixtures set to take place at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
“We still have our league campaign to focus on,” added Bailey. “We’ll pick ourselves back up and channel all our attention into that.”
The Lion City Sailors will wrap up their second ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign on Thursday (5 February) night, as they host Cambodian champions PKR Svay Rieng in their final Group B clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
A tricky Svay Rieng outfit
Svay Rieng have given a strong account of themselves in the competition so far. A 3-0 victory over Myanmar champions Shan United and a 2-2 draw with Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have been the highlights of a group campaign that also saw them beaten 2-1 by Vietnamese side Nam Định FC.
The four-time Cambodian Premier League (CPL) champions currently sit third in Group B, six points behind JDT, who have played a game more. While qualification for the semi-finals remains a tall order, Svay Rieng are still mathematically in the hunt.
To keep those hopes alive, they will need to overcome the Sailors and hope results elsewhere fall their way on Thursday, before also picking up three points in their rescheduled Matchday Four fixture against Bangkok United.
“It’s difficult and not completely in our hands, but qualification is still possible, so we’re going to give everything to try to progress to the next round,” said Svay Rieng head coach Matthew McConkey at the pre-match press conference.
“The key for us is to build on last season, and I think we’ve been very competitive in every game in this competition so far. These matches have been decided by moments. We could have done better in taking our chances and not conceding at key times, and that’s what we hope to improve on tomorrow.
“The Sailors have a lot of quality, especially with foreigners who have played in big leagues before. They are well structured defensively and very good in transition. They’re also a big, physical side, so we can’t afford to concede too many set-pieces. We need to be aggressive and find ways to create space.”
The 32-year-old Northern Irishman has done a sterling job so far since taking the helm in June 2025, recording 18 wins, two draws, and just four defeats in 24 matches across all competitions.
Under his stewardship, Svay Rieng have also reached the knockout stages of another international competition, and will face domestic rivals Phnom Penh Crown in the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge League in March.
On the domestic front, McConkey’s side are locked in a tight title race, and they currently hold a two-point lead over Phnom Penh at the top of the CPL table.
Svay Rieng boast a number of established Cambodian internationals in their ranks, including Japan-born midfielder Yudai Ogawa, who acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2023. They also possess significant attacking threat, with former Ghana Under-23 starlet Peprah Kwame and Brazilian duo Patrick Robson and Cristian Roque all finding the net in the Shopee Cup.
The duo have been central to Svay Rieng’s domestic success too, combining for 33 out of the club’s 56 league goals so far this season, with Kwame leading the CPL scoring charts on 18.
“We’ve done well so far in the Shopee Cup and almost beat JDT. For this game, our focus is on maintaining better concentration so that we can get a win and keep our hopes of reaching the next round alive,” said captain Soeuy Visal, who has more than 80 Cambodian caps to his name.
Sailors looking to finish on a high
Nonetheless, with home advantage on their side, the Sailors are determined to end their continental campaign on a positive note and give the home crowd something to cheer about.
Victory would put them in a strong position to finish third in Group B with seven points, which will represent an improvement on last season’s inaugural tournament, where they placed fifth with four points.
“It’s important for us to win this final group game and finish the campaign on a positive note,” said Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković. “This campaign hasn’t been easy for us for various reasons, but we want to put on a good showing for the supporters who turn up tomorrow.
“My focus is on selecting the best team possible and ensuring we give the best representation of our club.”
While the Sailors can no longer qualify for the next stage, the competition has provided valuable international exposure for the squad, which they are keen to build on in future seasons.
“The Shopee Cup is important for young Singaporean players like me to prove ourselves on this stage,” said defender Akram Azman, who has started the club’s last four matches, including last week’s loss to Nam Định. “It’s never easy to step up from the domestic league to the continental stage, where matches are more competitive and physical.
“But the local players relish this opportunity, and for us, the most important thing is to represent Singapore football well tomorrow night and get a positive result.”
