Category: News
Two years. 38 matches. One defeat.
After an historic 37-match unbeaten run, the Lion City Sailors Women’s team suffered their first-ever loss in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), falling 2-1 to Geylang International at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (23 June) night.
It was a shock result that blew the WPL title race wide open, with Albirex Niigata (S) moving level on 21 points with the Sailors after their 6-0 thrashing of BG Tampines Rovers earlier in the evening.
Finally back on the pitch after a month-long mid-season break, Daniel Ong’s charges never really got going against the Eagles, whose gutsy and defiant display starkly contrasted with the Sailors’ uncharacteristically flat performance.
Nonetheless, it was the Sailors who fashioned the first real chance of the game in the 13th minute, with Nur Sarah Zu’risqha coming close to opening the scoring. Geylang goalkeeper Nur Alysha Nasrina, however, was able to make the save – one of many she would go on to make in the game – to keep her side level.
Just two minutes later, the Sailors thought they had made the breakthrough when Miray Altun’s corner was tapped home by Raeka Ee, but the goal was eventually chalked off for offside.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Geylang’s Farhanah Ruhaizat and Victoria Sarka were a constant menace to the Sailors’ defence – a portend of what was to come in the second half.
Ultimately, both teams were unable to find a breakthrough in the first half, marking only the second time this season that the Sailors failed to score in the opening 45 minutes.
Daniel believes the Sailors were unable to sufficiently threaten the Geylang goal due to the lack of movement in the final third.
“We struggled to identify gaps and create space for our players to make runs and receive passes,” explained the 35-year-old. “And when we did manage to do so, we failed to capitalise on those opportunities.”
The Sailors were punished for their sluggishness in the second half as Sarka scored twice in quick succession in the 70th and 73rd minute to hand Geylang a 2-0 lead. Incredibly, this was the first time the team have trailed by two goals since making their WPL bow since 2022.
The goals seemed to rouse the Sailors from their stupor, and they managed to claw a goal back in the 87th minute through Madison Telmer.
However, Madison’s goal proved to be too little, too late for the Sailors. Despite a late flurry of attacks in the dying minutes of the game, they were unable to find the crucial equaliser to extend their unbeaten run.
Reflecting on the frenetic end to the game, Madison said, “Things did get really hectic towards the end, and there were times when we needed to calm down and play the ball around a bit more. That’s something we’ll work on for future matches. It’s important to keep a level head in these kinds of situations.
“Nonetheless, we gave it our all to score another goal, so it was unfortunate that we couldn’t convert earlier.”
While the Sailors’ proud unbeaten streak has come to an end, Daniel insists that this setback will serve as a valuable lesson for his team.
“I feel this is a good wake-up call, and it has come at the right time as we prepare for the AFC Women’s Champions League,” Daniel elaborated. “I believe the players and the coaching staff will work harder together as a team and move on from this defeat.
“Nobody wants to lose, and all the players gave their very best until the final minute. No one is to blame, and we’ll all take it together as a team. We take each game one at a time.
“Having said that, all credit to Coach Ratna (Suffian) and his Geylang players. They were very organised and defended well as a team.”
The Sailors will look to recover from this setback as they face Tiong Bahru next on Saturday, 29 June at Choa Chu Kang.
On paper, it was expected to be a closely-fought encounter between last season’s Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) and their closest challengers, the Lion City Sailors.
But after 90-odd minutes at the Bishan Stadium on Sunday (June 23) evening, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the balance of power had decisively shifted in favour of the Sailors.
The final score? An incredible 7-1 to the Sailors.
It was a result that maintained the Sailors’ 100% start to the 2024/25 SPL campaign, and propelled them to the top of the table, two points ahead of BG Tampines Rovers.
There were six different goal scorers on display for Aleksandar Ranković’s side on the night, with perhaps the most noteworthy being new signing Lennart Thy, who scored his first goal for the Sailors.
Bart Ramselaar netted a brace, while reigning SPL Player of the Year Maxime Lestienne, Shawal Anuar, Bailey Wright, and Song Uiyoung were also on target. Albirex’s only goal came via a first-half strike from Shuhei Hoshino.
Ranko acknowledged that his team deserves the praise they have received for their impressive victory, but believes they could have scored even more.
“The way we started the match, and the way we finished, there was only one team that deserved the win and that was us,” the Serb said after the match.
“That was something we were looking for. Our attackers have a job to score, but I’m very happy if everybody else can contribute too. But like the rest of the team, we agree that we had the chances to score more today.”
Bailey also admitted to feeling frustrated about conceding the goal they did.
“Albirex are a good side, and I think it goes to show tonight that we can do what we set out to do despite not being at our best,” said the 31-year-old, who returned to the Sailors side from a one-match suspension.
“We could have scored more, and I thought the goal we conceded was offside. For me, that’s frustrating because as a defender, you want the clean sheet. Although we won, the cherry on top would have been a 7-0 win, but 7-1 shows that we still have areas to work on.”
The Sailors dominated proceedings from the start, opening the scoring after just nine minutes through Shawal, who has now found the net in each of his five appearances this season.
Shawal’s goal was reminiscent of the one he scored against Tottenham Hotspur in the Tiger Cup encounter in July last year, with the 33-year-old ghosting in behind the Albirex defence to turn home a pinpoint cross from Maxime.
The Singapore international nearly added to his tally on 16 minutes, but he somehow put his effort wide after being teed up in the box by Bart.
Five minutes later, Albirex equalised through Hoshino, who appeared to be in an offside position when he headed home Arshad Shamim’s cross from the right.
However, that proved to be a minor blip in the Sailors’ quest for victory as Lennart restored the hosts’ advantage shortly after the half-hour mark.
After being slipped through by Bart, Lennart took a touch before finishing clinically into Hassan Sunny’s far corner for his first goal in Sailors colours.
The Sailors picked up right where they left off after the break, with Bailey extending their lead to 3-1 in the 54th minute. The Australian defender pounced on a loose ball after Albirex failed to clear their lines, before unleashing a sweetly-struck left-footed volley into the bottom corner.
And the goals didn’t stop there.
Song, who had replaced the injured Shawal in the first half, expertly guided home Obren Kljajić’s cross on the hour mark. Four minutes later, Bart coolly fired the ball into the bottom corner.
Maxime then produced a moment of magic in the 68th minute, firing an unstoppable left-footed rocket into the top corner which left Hassan grasping at air for the Sailors’ sixth goal.
Bart then completed the scoring seven minutes from time, sweeping home substitute Hafiz Nor’s cutback for his second goal of the night and fourth of the season.
Reflecting on his two-goal performance, Bart, who was named Man of the Match, said, “I’m very happy to have been able to help the team today. We could have scored four or five goals in the first half, but we made it difficult for ourselves at 2-1. In the second half, we played really well, and the win was a reward for us.”
Next up for the Sailors is a crucial match against a resilient Geylang International on Friday (28 June). While the Eagles are unbeaten so far this season, Bart is confident that the Sailors will rise to the challenge and secure all three points against Mohd Noor Ali’s charges.
“I’m looking forward to the game, which will be a tough one, of course. They play good football and score a lot of goals, but they also concede, so we are confident,” the 27-year-old said.
The Choa Chu Kang Stadium could witness a family reunion of sorts this Sunday (23 June), when the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team takes to the pitch for their Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash with Geylang International.
For the first time since their days at Telok Kurau Primary School, sisters Natasha and Nurhidayu Naszri will don the same jersey — the Sailors’ — and could potentially line up side by side in the centre of midfield against the Eagles.
Natasha and Nurhidayu were among the four new signings made by the Sailors during the recent WPL mid-season transfer window. The other additions to the team are forward Priscille Le Helloco and Nur Ain Salleh, who is the first female Sailors Football Academy Scholar.
The Sailors signed 20-year-old Nurhidayu from BG Tampines Rovers, while her younger sister Natasha, who played for the club in 2023, has rejoined Daniel Ong’s squad until the end of the 2024 WPL season. Natasha will then return to Spain to continue her tenure at the ESC LaLiga Academy as part of her Unleash the Roar! (UTR) scholarship.
The prospect of sharing the pitch with her older sister once again is something that Natasha is looking forward to.
“On and off the pitch, we have great chemistry and always support each other. I think this will really help us both perform at our best,” Natasha said. “Since we both play in central midfield, I believe we’ll combine with each other really well.”
Natasha also revealed that watching Nurhidayu play football when she was younger inspired her to get into the game herself.
She shared, “I was inspired by her (Nurhidayu) as I watched her train with the school team and play with teams outside of school. So, playing with her in the WPL means a lot to me. It’s something I looked forward to while growing up.”
Nurhidayu acknowledged that sharing the pitch with her sister would be a special moment for both of them.
“Natasha first started playing football because she saw me join it as a CCA (co-curricular activity) and decided to follow in my footsteps,” Nurhidayu recalled fondly. “We bickered a lot, but no matter what, we always supported each other.
“We have a very close relationship, and it’s been great having her back. Since we play in similar positions and have different strengths and weaknesses, I look forward to seeing how we perform on the field together as teammates again.”
While excited to make her debut for the Sailors alongside her sister, Nurhidayu admitted that she is still not at her 100% yet, having just returned from a year-long ACL injury in April.
Nonetheless, she is determined to make up for lost time, as she works towards full fitness with the Sailors.
“Having missed a full year of football, I’m pushing myself harder to match the intensity at The Sailors,” she said. “With support from coaches, teammates, and my own determination, I’m confident that through rigorous training and effort, I’ll return to my peak condition with this team.”
Both Natasha and Nurhidayu will be aiming to help the Sailors extend their lead at the top of the WPL and maintain their perfect record this season — having secured seven wins out of seven — as they prepare to face Geylang, who are currently third in the table.
With a year of experience at the ESC LaLiga Academy in Spain under her belt, Natasha is eager to demonstrate what she learnt when she steps onto the pitch on Sunday.
“In Spain, they emphasised making quick decisions whenever I had the ball. By improving my possession skills and increasing my speed of play, I hope to help dictate the team’s tempo,” Natasha said.
“It’s crucial to maintain high intensity in both training and matches. To continue progressing, I need to uphold the same level of intensity I maintained in Spain so I can stay focused and disciplined, especially on Sunday.”
It is still early days, but the Lion City Sailors’ 2024/25 campaign could not have gotten off to a better start.
Having started the season by beating Albirex Niigata (S) to lift the Singapore Premier League (SPL) Community Shield, the Sailors have gone on to win their first three league matches, and are now second in the table on nine points – just one behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more.
While the fortunes of Aleksandar Ranković’s side appear to be on the rise, the opposite seems to be true for defending SPL champions Albirex. The White Swans’ rejigged squad, now comprising a predominantly local roster, has begun the season in uncharacteristically poor form, with just one win and three defeats from their first four games.
Nonetheless, Sailors defender Christopher van Huizen insists his side cannot afford to be complacent when the two teams meet again this Sunday (23 June) at Bishan Stadium.
“I know there are people saying they’re not the Albirex of old, but we shouldn’t see it that way. Look at the game against Young Lions (which the Sailors won 3-1 in May) – they posed a real threat to us as well. If we start taking teams for granted and slack off, that’s when these games will cost us,” emphasised the 31-year-old.
“We want to be a consistent team that keeps winning matches, so the key is to focus on ourselves and keep our mindset firmly on how to play even better as a team.”
The Sailors’ drive for perfection and excellence is also fuelled by past disappointments – in particular, their failure to land the SPL title last season.
And Chris revealed that the team is determined not to let history repeat itself this year.
“It may sound cliché, but we’re going all out in every game because we know how important every point is. Personally, I go into every game with the mindset that I want to make amends for last season. The silly points that we dropped then, and the two or three matches where we weren’t switched on – that proved to be the difference in the title race and it still hurts,” he reflected.
“We worked so hard but in the end, we didn’t achieve our objective of winning the league. So, we’re going to push even harder this year, and we’re not going to let it slip away from us this time.”
Having featured prominently and impressed in every minute of the Sailors’ three SPL matches so far, Chris recognises that he has made a strong start to the season. This marks a significant turnaround from his pre-season, which was marred by an injury that hindered his progress.
“It means a lot to me (to be starting regularly) because it didn’t go that well for me in the initial part of pre-season,” the full-back admitted. “I guess I pushed too hard after coming back from a two-month break and got injured. But the pre-season trip to Thailand helped me get back up to speed, and I feel I’m now playing to the team’s strengths.”
With the Sailors playing well and winning matches, Chris acknowledges that the resilience and spirit within the team is as strong as it has ever been – qualities that he believes will help them go all the way in the title race this year.
“Of course, it took a bit of time for the newer boys like Toni (Datković) and Bart (Ramselaar) to adapt to us and how the dressing room is like,” said Chris. “But it didn’t take that long – I felt they really grew with us and we’re all now having fun together.
“We’re like one big family, and I’m sure these good vibes will help us throughout the season. We’re going to fight for one another and make sure we achieve success together.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team have strengthened their squad by adding four new signings during the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) mid-season transfer window.
Priscille Le Helloco, Nurhidayu Naszri, Natasha Naszri, and Nur Ain Salleh have joined the reigning WPL champions, who are aiming not only for a third consecutive league title but also to make an impression at the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Women Champions League (AWCL) Qualifiers.
Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes the four new additions will provide healthy competition within the team and help them cope with the demands of playing in two competitions.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve the team and evolve our style of play. The inclusion of these players will foster strong and healthy competition as we head into a crucial period of the season,” 35-year-old Daniel said.
“I’ve either worked with some of them or watched them up close before, so I know the qualities they will bring to the team. They’re all technically-gifted players who have a good understanding of the game. Equally important, they’re players who have great personalities and are eager to improve themselves.
“With these four additions, we now have cover for every role, and most of our players know how to operate in at least two positions. I know I can count on every player, and they can be relied upon to step in at any moment.”
Both Priscille and Nurhidayu have joined the Sailors from BG Tampines Rovers, where they spent the past one and half seasons.
Equally adept on the wings and as a striker, 17-year-old Priscille enjoyed an outstanding debut WPL campaign as she led BG Tampines in both assists and goals (nine) in 2023. Priscille, who was born in France, has lived in Singapore for the past eight years, and previously played in the JSSL League.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Nurhidayu – who can play both at left-back and in central midfield – is looking to revive her promising footballing career after spending a year out of the game due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Prior to the injury, she had established himself as a regular member of the Singapore Women’s National Team, and even featured in the Lionesses’ 2022 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign.
Joining Nurhidayu at the club is her younger sister, Natasha, who has rejoined the Sailors Women until the end of the 2024 WPL season. Thereafter, the 17-year-old will return to Madrid, Spain, to complete the final two years of her three-year stint at the ESC LaLiga Academy as part of her Unleash the Roar! (UTR) scholarship.
Having made her WPL debut for the Sailors Women back in 2023, Natasha will add creativity, power, and strength to the midfield alongside the likes of Ho Hui Xin and Dorcas Chu.
Ain, the first female Scholar of the Sailors Football Academy, will complete the new quartet, although her inclusion is subject to a technical assessment by the Football Association of Singapore. The 14-year-old has been promoted to the senior squad following several impressive displays for the club’s Under-13 Elite Boys’ team – a move that was endorsed by her coach, Ashraf Ariffin.
A right winger with superb technical ability, steely determination, and grit, Ain is a promising prospect poised for a breakthrough.
And she cannot wait to make her WPL bow.
“I’m really excited to be given this opportunity to represent the Sailors Women’s Team. It’s a goal I’ve been working towards for the last couple of years. I’ve to thank Coach Achap (Ashraf) for all his guidance and encouragement in helping me make this step up,” said the teenager.
“I’m going to work very hard to show my qualities and prove that I can play at this level. Being on the same team with such talented and experienced players is something that I’m really looking forward to, and I just want to make the best of this chance by learning everything I can from them.”
Meanwhile, three players will be de-registered from the squad for the remainder of the season. They are German midfielder Laura Gänser, and defenders Nadia Nuraffendi and Fatin Aqillah, who are still recovering from their ACL injuries.
The Lion City Sailors will find out who their opponents in the revamped Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two will be on Friday, 16 August, when the official draw ceremony for its Group Stage takes place at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The AFC confirmed yesterday (19 June) that Aleksandar Ranković’s charges will gain direct entry into the brand new second-tier men’s club competition in Asia.
Having qualified for the competition by finishing last season as the top local side in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), the Sailors are among the 32 clubs that will be divided evenly into eight groups to contest a round-robin, home-and-away format between September 17 to December 5.
(Photo: AFC)
The knockout stages will be played in the first half of 2025, with a one-off final slated for 17 May next year.
During their inaugural ACL campaign two years ago, the Sailors made history as the first local team to defeat a K-League 1 side with a stunning 3-0 victory over Daegu FC. They went on to accumulate seven points in the group stages, the highest ever for a Singaporean team in the ACL.
In 2023, they recorded a couple of notable results as they defeated Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC 2-1, before claiming a significant victory over two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a 2-0 win at Jalan Besar Stadium.
This will be the third consecutive season that the Sailors will represent Singapore in AFC club competitions, and captain Hariss Harun is looking forward to flying the nation’s flag high again at the regional level.
“It’s a huge honour for the club to consistently compete in Asia’s top club competitions – it’s something we don’t take for granted, and we’re always going out there with the mentality to showcase what Singapore football can achieve,” said the 33-year-old, who holds the record for the most ACL appearances by a Singaporean player with 18 under his belt.
“We may be competing in the ACL Two this year, but the prestige of the competition remains high, and the team’s determination to continually raise our standards is stronger than ever. Currently, our focus is on our SPL title charge, but we’ll also work hard to prepare for our debut campaign in the ACL Two.”
They huffed and puffed, and after 86 gruelling minutes, finally brought the resilient Brunei DPMM house down.
In doing so, the Lion City Sailors maintained their 100% record in the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL), making them the only team in the league to remain perfect this season.
Goals from Shawal Anuar and Maxime Lestienne in the 87th and 95th minute respectively helped the Sailors secure all three points against DPMM, who suffered their first defeat of their campaign.
The Sailors’ 2-0 victory at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday (18 June) night also marked a new club record of eight consecutive SPL wins – an impressive streak that dates back to July 2023.
This is also the first time that the Sailors have won their first three games of the season since its inception in 2020.
Despite the win, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković admitted there were aspects of the game, particularly in the attacking third, where he felt his side could have performed better. Nevertheless, he credited their never-say-die spirit for eventually securing the breakthrough.
“We didn’t capitalise on a few good chances in the first half. In the second half, DPMM made it very tough – they were really compact and didn’t allow us much space,” the Serb explained.
“I felt we could have done better and moved the ball faster. But credit to the boys, they gave everything, and I have to say it was a well-deserved win for us in the end.”
The match also saw new signing Lennart Thy make his Sailors debut – the former Dutch Eredivisie forward proved to be a lively presence up top, linking play well and coming close to scoring on several occasions.
While Lennart— who was substituted in the 69th minute for M. Anumanthan — did not score, his overall performance was encouraging enough for Ranko to feel optimistic about what he can bring to the team in the months ahead.
“The plan was always to substitute him off in the second half as he’s still settling in and quite fatigued,” Ranko revealed. “We’re being very cautious with how we handle him. He’s proven he can score goals at the highest level, and I’m sure we’ll see a different Lennart in the coming weeks.”
The Sailors started the match brightly and quickly asserted their dominance in the first 45 minutes, creating numerous promising goalscoring opportunities.
However, their efforts were thwarted by a combination of wasteful finishing and outstanding goalkeeping from DPMM’s Macedonian goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski, with the 35-year-old producing at least four crucial saves to deny Lennart, Maxime, and Bart Ramselaar in a half where the Sailors outshot DPMM 16 to 5.
DPMM gained a stronger foothold after the break and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute through Julio Cruz. However, the Mexican forward’s speculative drive from 35 yards out was denied by the woodwork.
That was the cue for Ranko to rejig his frontline, as Song Uiyoung came on to support Shawal, who moved from the flanks to go up top.
The change helped Ranko’s charges keep the pressure on DPMM, and they would finally reap the rewards of their endeavour in the 87th minute through the ever-reliable Shawal.
When the DPMM defence failed to clear Toni Datković’s inswinging cross, Shawal – who had taken the captain’s armband after Hariss Harun was substituted – controlled the ball with a deft touch before executing an acrobatic volley to score and give his side the lead.
The goal means the 33-year-old has now scored in each of his four appearances this campaign, including the season-opening SPL Community Shield.
Reflecting on his match-winning strike, Shawal said, “My goal was a result of the team’s hard work to get this win. We’re happy with this result, but it’s back to the training ground tomorrow – we want to improve further as a team, play good football and continue to deliver victories for our fans to savour.”
But the Sailors were not done just yet. In the fifth minute of injury time, Shawal turned provider as he teed up Maxime, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a stupendous drive from the edge of the box beyond a hapless Naumovski.
As a result of the win, the Sailors have moved up to second in the table, a point behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more. The Sailors will next take on defending SPL champions Albirex Niigata (S) at Bishan Stadium on Sunday (23 June) evening.
Local healthcare practitioner Bone Setting SG has come onboard as the Official Partner of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team for the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
This partnership represents a shared commitment between both organisations to enhance the well-being and performance of women’s football players in Singapore, as the women’s game continues to experience exponential growth in the country.
Specialising in bone setting manipulation to help reset bones, muscles, and joints, Bone Setting SG brings forth their expertise to empower the reigning WPL champions with key injury prevention and recovery solutions.
An integral part of orthopaedic medicine
Through this partnership, Bone Setting SG will provide bone setting services for the Sailors Women for all matches (both pre-match and half-time therapy) throughout the 2024 season. In addition, they will offer oil massage therapy for individual players at their Marsiling or Centropod outlets upon request.
Bone Setting SG will also conduct educational workshops for the Sailors Women, sharing knowledge on rehabilitation techniques and overall musculoskeletal wellness to benefit the team.
Founded in 2021, Bone Setting SG applies the principles of traditional Chinese Tit Tar for their treatment. These treatments consist of three segments: massage, stretching, and a full body adjustment.
Utilising specialised manipulation techniques to correct misalignments and remove obstruction in the joints, bone setting therapy facilitates the body’s natural healing processes and enhances the body’s mobility.
This helps ease or prevent issues such as chronic pain, frozen shoulders, migraines, lower back pain, and arthritis.
Clear vision to empower women’s football
While they have partnered Singapore Football League Division One side Singapore Khalsa Association over the past couple of years, this is Bone Setting SG’s first foray into women’s football.
“Women’s football has progressed swiftly over the past few years, and we’d like to play our part to help lift the game here to another level. Our objectives are very much aligned with the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team, and what we aim to achieve is to improve the holistic health of female athletes, both on and off the pitch,” said founder Zul Nor Farahin, a former national Under-23 and professional footballer.
“The recovery options for female sportsmen are still inadequate, and we are committed to bridging this gap by educating them on the importance of proper body care. Proper treatment and care are essential so that they can prolong their career as athletes.”
The Sailors Women have already benefited from Bone Setting’s treatment this season.
“Sometimes, our muscles get tensed up and stiff before a match. So the pre-game muscle release helps us get a better adjustment of our bodies, and gets us warmed up quicker. It certainly puts us in a better condition, and helps enhance our performances on the pitch,” said Sailors vice-captain Ho Hui Xin.
Teenage teammate Nur Sarah Zu’risqha echoed Hui Xin’s sentiments, and added, “We do have a busy schedule filled with training sessions and matches, so it really helps when our recovery is properly taken care of. Sometimes, I have aches in my body that makes me really uncomfortable, but after the treatment, I feel more relaxed, which helps me in my daily life.”
Bone Setting SG is hopeful that this partnership will mark the start of a long and rewarding journey in empowering women’s football.
“Ultimately, what we want is for female football players to understand their bodies better, and to elevate their performances on the field,” said Bone Setting SG co-founder, Nadya Lim Shanna. “I’m sure the Sailors women players have ambitious goals, and we want to help them in any way we can to achieve their targets.”
Exactly a month after their last Singapore Premier League (SPL) game – a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Young Lions – the Lion City Sailors will return to league action once again, when they take on Brunei DPMM in a rescheduled game on Tuesday (18 June) night.
With the return to training of several key Sailors such as Hariss Harun and Christopher van Huizen from the recent international break, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges have ramped up their preparations for the DPMM game over the past few days.
Sailors midfielder Adam Swandi revealed that the whole team is eagerly anticipating the restart of the league, and urged his teammates to build on their winning start to the season.
“Everyone in the team has been training very hard, even during the international break. Now, with the (Singapore) national team boys back, we’ve intensified our preparations, and all of us are raring to get back on the pitch to show what we can do,” said the 28-year-old.
Unfortunately for Adam, he was not among the six Sailors who were called up to the Lions for the recent international break.
While admitting it was slightly ‘disheartening’ not to receive a call-up, he is determined to channel that frustration into motivation, as he looks to drive the Sailors forward in their pursuit of the title.
“Playing for the national team is the highest honour for a footballer, so I’m definitely disappointed on that front,” Adam said. “But I’m going to work hard to show my abilities whenever I’m on the pitch, and the aim is really to put up good performances to help the team get the results we need.”
While the Sailors have delivered a series of strong performances this season, they will likely be tested by a reinvigorated DPMM side featuring a new foreign attacking trio — Miguel Oliveira, Julio Cruz, and Gabriel Gama — along with homegrown sensation Hakeme Yazid.
Nonetheless, Sailors Head Coach Ranko has backed his players to rise up to the challenge.
“We’ve watched and analysed DPMM’s first two matches (2-1 and 4-1 victories over Young Lions and Albirex Niigata (S) respectively). They’ve improved a lot from last season, and the foreigners they brought in are real quality. It’s going to be challenging, but I’m confident that our boys have the ability to get the victory.”
There might be a new face in the Sailors’ line-up for their match against DPMM, as forward Lennart Thy could potentially make his debut.
With fans eager to see what Lennart will bring to the team, Adam has reassured them that the German is a quality addition and believes he will make a positive difference this season.
“Lennart has been training with the team for two weeks now, and he’s been a great addition on and off the pitch,” said Adam. “Everyone can agree that he’s a goalscoring machine – he can score with his left foot, right foot and with his head. I’m sure with every small chance he gets, he can convert and help us win matches.
“We’re all excited to work with a player of his calibre. All of us have been helping him as much as possible to integrate into the team and I’m sure he’ll be someone that can light up the league – and hopefully that starts against DPMM.
“We all recognise how important this game against DPMM is. They are also on a good run of form and will likely contest for the title, so we’ll need to put up a dominant performance to get all three points.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to compete in the inaugural season of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL), which will get underway in August.
The AFC confirmed earlier today (14 June) that the Sailors are among the 22 clubs – one from each country – that will participate in the first-ever flagship club competition for women’s football in Asia.
Clubs from the top eight AFC Member Associations (MAs), based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of 15 March 2024, will qualify directly for the Group Stage. This stage features three groups of four teams each, and will be contested in a centralised league format from October 6 to 12.
The remaining 14 clubs, including the Sailors, will compete in the Preliminary Stage, which consists of four groups: two groups of four teams, and two groups of three teams. This stage will be played in a centralised league format between August 25 and 31 in either Malaysia, Thailand, Jordan, or Saudi Arabia. The winners of each group will then advance to the Group Stage.
The knockout stages will be played next year, with the final slated for May 24, 2025.
The competition represents a huge opportunity for the Sailors Women, who have dominated the domestic Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), winning the last two league titles without suffering a single defeat.
An off-season shakeup to inject youth into the squad has further reinvigorated the side. The reigning WPL champions have won all seven of their games so far, and currently lead the nine-team WPL by three points.
While acknowledging that the AWCL will present a significant challenge for his team, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes his players have the ability to rise to the occasion and showcase Singaporean women’s football in the best possible light.
“It’s a real honour for the club to represent Singapore in the first-ever AWCL,” said the 35-year-old. “We’re excited by the opportunity to test ourselves against high-calibre opposition and see how we match up against our counterparts from Asia.
“More importantly, we want the players to have this huge goal to aspire to as they continually elevate themselves. I’m confident they’ll be able to give a good account of themselves in this competition.”
Sailors Women captain Umairah Hamdan echoed these sentiments, adding, “Seeing our Men’s professional team represent the nation in the ACL for the past two seasons truly inspired us and fuelled our determination to strive for a similar goal.
“It’ll be challenging for sure, but these matches will bring out the best in us. We have many young players here, and our participation in this tournament will help us improve both individually and as a team.”
The official draw ceremonies for both the 2024/25 AWCL Preliminary Stage and Group Stage will be conducted on Thursday, 18 July at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
