Category: News
There was little doubt that Christopher van Huizen was one of Singapore’s best performers at the recent ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup. He stood out with his ability to cross with both feet and his commitment to the cause came to the fore with several full-blooded defensive challenges that saw him put his body on the line.
The 30-year-old, who can play at full-back as well as on the wings, has joined the Lion City Sailors and will showcase his talents at the Bishan Stadium in the season ahead.
Chris enjoyed a good 2022 with Tampines Rovers, making himself a national team regular with his consistent performances, but the opportunity of being embedded in a top-class setup that is looking to make a mark at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) was too much of a lure.
“This is going to be the biggest challenge in my whole career, on top of being in the national team and fighting for a spot in the AFF squad,” said Chris, who represented Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors – between 2017 to 2018.
“It took me quite a while to decide on my next club and the Sailors have always been on my mind since the club started in 2020. There are massive ambitions to go to the next level, so it’s one of my biggest dreams to come true to now call myself a Lion City Sailor.
“I’ve spoken to (Sailors captain) Hariss (Harun) and he basically endorsed whatever I’ve been thinking about coming here. This is undoubtedly the biggest club in Singapore with good facilities and very talented players, so I really can’t wait to don the Sailors jersey and get onto the pitch with my new teammates.”
A self-professed late bloomer, Chris has truly come into his own and established himself in the past year. Now at the peak of his powers and going into his 30s, he is relishing the opportunity to impart his know-how to younger teammates and is determined to play out his best years at the highest level.
“I’m very happy that I’m going through my peak right now and I don’t want to stop here – I want to keep pushing myself and see how far I can go,” said the wide player, who earned nine of his 13 Singapore caps in 2022 and 2023.
“It’s going to be pretty much the same situation that I had at Tampines – there are several young players. I hope I’ll be able to pass down whatever I’ve learned over my professional career to them, because it will give me great happiness to see them fulfilling their potential at this club.”
With familiar faces at the Sailors, including the likes of Hariss, M. Anumanthan and Adam Swandi, players which he has played alongside at the international level, Chris should bed in easily, and he is already looking forward to supplying ammunition for Sailors attackers to score.
“We’ve got a very good crosser of the ball in Max (Maxime Lestienne), so I hope I’ll be able to work really well with him and Diego (Lopes) to provide assists for the team. I will try my best and work on putting in good crosses like players like Kodai (Tanaka) and Shawal (Anuar) to score.
“My goal for this year is simple – to go all out in every game for the club and help the club deliver on all fronts.”
Lionel Tan knew exactly what would be in store for him the moment he put pen to paper to sign for the Lion City Sailors.
Making the leap over from Hougang United, the 25-year-old defender is acutely aware he is now entering an environment steeped with higher expectations – a club that is expected to challenge for all honours in the domestic game.
“I knew by signing for the club, I’m going to get out of my comfort zone. Making this decision required a leap of faith, but I am sure that I’ve made the right call.
“I know the pressure that will be on us to perform well and win trophies, but that’s normal – there’s pressure and expectations in every job. It’s about adapting to the culture of this club and I’m sure I can do so very quickly with the help of my new teammates,” said Lionel.
Having spent four years with Hougang across two separate spells and developing into one of the country’s finest young defenders there, Lionel acknowledged it was not an easy decision to leave the Cheetahs but knew this was a step he ought to take to bring his career to the next level.
“I enjoyed a great affinity with everyone at Hougang including the fans, so I’m very glad to end 2022 on a high note by winning the Singapore Cup with the club.
“But I don’t want to remain stagnant and it’s important at this stage of my football chapter to test my abilities and develop myself further – both as a person and as a player,” said the 1.84m tall Lionel, who has represented Singapore at various age-group levels and captained the nation’s Under-22s on several occasions.
This is a return to Bishan Stadium of sorts for Lionel, who made his professional debut for the Sailors’ predecessor, Home United, in 2016 in a League Cup fixture against Albirex Niigata (S).
He knows that doing well here will boost his chances of realising his childhood dream of representing the Lions, but the new Sailors no. 5 is first putting the club’s objectives as his top priority.
“What’s most important is that I do my best and be consistent in my performances to help the club be successful. Of course, I will love to start every game, but there’s very healthy competition for places here and that can only be good for the team.
“Hopefully I can make my debut for Singapore in the near future, but my main focus now is to give my 100 percent commitment to the club and let’s see how things go from there.”
A bright prospect who came to the fore and displayed plenty of promise in 2022, Danish Qayyum is determined to fulfil his potential with the Lion City Sailors in the upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
The versatile left-footed player featured 25 times across two competitions for the Young Lions last season, playing in a variety of positions – from full-back to winger and even as an auxiliary striker – en route to ending 2022 with two goals to his name.
Qayyum adds depth to the Sailors’ flanks and is keen to make his mark.
“It’s indeed a very exciting move for me and my family. Ever since the Sailors project began, most young players in Singapore have looked at this as a dream place to be – we’ve the best players, best coaches and best facilities at the club.
“I’m very hungry to improve myself as a person and as a player here. It’s on me to work hard, showcase what I’m capable of, and outdo myself,” said the 20-year-old, who made his professional debut in 2019 with Geylang International.
While acknowledging that this is a huge step up for his career, Qayyum is inspired to follow in the footsteps of others who have realised their potential at the Sailors.
“Nur Adam (Abdullah) is the most prominent example and the role model for all young players in Singapore. It was a brave decision for him to come to this club (in 2021), but he showed it was the right move, and he has grown from strength to strength, even becoming a national player now.
“He has paved the way for us. If he can do it, young players like me shouldn’t be afraid to take this step and try to go to the next level. The key is to have a strong mentality and work hard every day in training,” said the former Home United – the former iteration of the Sailors – Under-16 player, who played alongside the likes of Ilhan Fandi, Marc Ryan Tan and Iman Hakim at national age-group levels.
Qayyum is eyeing a call-up to the senior Singapore national team in the near future and knows that having good performances for the Sailors will go a long way to propelling him onto the international stage.
“Obviously the dream is to play for the Lions one day, but for now I’m focusing on improving myself to be an asset to the Sailors. I want to help us win games, while trying to be a more productive player with goals and assists to my name – that’s the goal.”
An opportunity to relish: Rasaq
After completing his National Service obligations in a year that demonstrated his potential to become a reliable goal-getter, Abdul Rasaq Akeem will take his career to the next level with the Lion City Sailors in 2023.
The stocky 21-year-old particularly sparkled towards the end of last season, scoring five across two competitions – the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and the Singapore Cup – for the Young Lions in addition to being a threat to opposition defences with his tireless energy.
Rasaq adds to the Sailors’ burgeoning options in attack and is determined to rise to the challenge of earning a starting spot in a team that is vying for every domestic honour.
“I know how tough it will be to compete with the very good players at the club, but I love challenges. When this opportunity came, I didn’t have to think twice about it, and now that I’m here, I want to make full use of this opportunity,” he said.
Rasaq has shown potential to succeed from a young age, representing Singapore at various youth levels, was a nominee for the 2018 TNP Dollah Kassim Award, and scored in his first year as a professional in the SPL in 2019.
Serving the nation as a policeman limited his football involvement, but Rasaq returned strongly since his August 2022 operationally-ready date and is excited for the opportunity to exponentially develop his game.
“I’m happy now that I can fully focus on my journey of being a successful professional and I’m certain that this is the right place to improve myself.
“I really enjoy creating chances and scoring goals and I hope I can rack up good numbers in both areas while helping the team to win,” said the versatile attacker who can play anywhere across the front line.
Proud to now call himself a Sailor, Rasaq is out to glean much from being embedded in a professional setup and is already looking forward to a successful 2023 with the club.
“I’m very close to Nur Adam (Abdullah) and Bill (Mamadou) and they both have only good things to share about the club and how being here has helped them grow as players.
“To have a top-class training facility and be surrounded by so many good players is something that I’ve always dreamed of. There are so many great players here I can learn from, it’s about picking up their good habits on how they train on the pitch and also how they take care of themselves off it,” said Rasaq.
“The only way for me is up. I just can’t wait to get out there and enjoy the season with my new teammates.”
A familiar foe will lace up for the Lion City Sailors in 2023.
After a stunning 2022 campaign in which he terrorised opposition defences en route to winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title with Albirex Niigata (S) and claiming the Player of the Year award, Kodai Tanaka will now be part of the Sailors set-up which is looking to reclaim the SPL trophy next season.
While he enjoyed his duels against the Sailors, the lethal forward is delighted to pull on the club’s white and blue shirt and spearhead its bid to achieve success at both domestic and regional level going forwards.
“The Sailors were one of the teams in the SPL that I didn’t want to lose against. I was always very enthusiastic in Albirex vs Sailors games because those were big title-deciding matches in front of many supporters,” said Kodai, who spoke through a translator.
“This club is trying to create something great in Singapore football so I’m very happy to be here and I am so looking forward to showing my talent with the team. Hopefully I can make the fans here happy with my performances and goals.”
Photo courtesy of Albirex Niigata (S)
He made a big splash in his first professional season in 2022, finishing as the league’s second-highest scorer with 33 goals to go with his 10 assists in 28 appearances, but the ambitious Kodai is setting his sights even higher with the Sailors.
“I want to be a league champion again and I also want to win the Golden Boot because I didn’t win that last season. On top of that, I want to go one step further and do well in the ACL (Asian Football Confederation Champions League) – I trust my abilities to perform at an even higher level,” declared the Japanese national, who turned 23 last Friday (23 December).
“At the same time, I know I’m not a complete player yet and one of the things I’m working on this coming season is to increase the pattern and variety of goals that I can score.”
With the quality ammunition that the Sailors have proven they can deliver for frontmen, Kodai has no doubt that he is in exactly the right place to propel his career to greater heights.
“Having played against them so many times last season, I know what the players here can do. There’s no need to say how good Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes are, and there are also good signings in players like Shawal Anuar. All these are great players,” said Kodai, who was also the top scorer in the Singapore Cup with six goals.
“I’m a player who really values combination plays so I’m really excited to be linking up with them in 2023. They’ll help maximise my footballing ability and I’ll do the same to help them perform on the pitch.”
Kodai understandably attracted interest and offers from local and overseas clubs, but there was only one choice and he admitted there was no hesitation when the Sailors came calling.
“The Sailors have a long-term vision of becoming a top club in Asian football and are laying down good foundations for success by investing in youth development, so it is a project that I very much want to be part of,” he asserted.
Kodai’s steely determination to succeed stemmed mainly from his hardships and ‘painful experiences’ while he was trying to make his mark back home.
“My playing style was not well-received in Japan and I suffered a lot there. I was not able to make a great impression and that almost led me to quitting football,” said the attacker, who came through the ranks of Yokohama F. Marinos’s youth team, and played at high school and university levels before coming to Singapore with Albirex.
“I came here because I want to achieve my goal of becoming a professional footballer and I’m very hungry to show that I have what it takes to succeed in the game.”
Photo courtesy of Albirex Niigata (S)
Kodai already looks very much at home in Singapore despite just one year on the island, but he is under no illusions that it will be a bigger challenge for him next season.
“First things first, I will need to learn English! I cannot speak much yet, but the club is helping me arrange for English lessons and I’m so excited to learn the language.” he professed. “I want to be fluent in English because I really enjoy talking to Singaporeans and I want to build a stronger bond with my new teammates.
“It’s important to have chemistry and friendship both on and off the pitch – that’ll help us achieve success on the pitch and I cannot wait to get started with this new chapter in my career.”
When the opportunity to join the Lion City Sailors came knocking on his door, Zharfan Rohaizad did not feel the need to think twice as he jumped at it with both hands.
A new signing from Tanjong Pagar United, the 25-year-old will be part of the Sailors’ goalkeeping department that will vie for honours in the 2023 campaign.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to come to this club, the biggest club in Singapore for me. When I first got the call, it was a no-brainer that I agreed to be part of the Sailors family.
“There was never a doubt in my mind that and I’m ready to embark on this new adventure,” said the commanding 1.80-metre tall custodian.
“I feel lucky to be here, training and playing alongside top players like Diego Lopes and Maxime Lestienne as well as my national team teammates, such as captain Hariss Harun and M. Anumanthan.”
Zharfan enjoyed a breakout 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season with Tanjong Pagar United, showing why he is one of the country’s up-and-coming custodians by making the highest number of saves (122) across the league.
In comparison, Young Lions’ Ridhwan Fikri came in second with 25 saves fewer.
Looking to continue in the same vein, Zharfan vowed to push himself even more in the year ahead and has hinted that the best is yet to come for him.
“After two seasons with Tanjong Pagar, I’m expecting more from myself and even higher targets to meet with the Sailors,” he admitted.
“There will also be added pressure that comes along with it, but I have always told myself that I need to be ready for whatever comes my way. Playing against the Sailors in the past was never easy but now that I’m here, I want to continue to be better and I’m thrilled to experience what’s to come.”
The chance to pit himself against top-level opposition in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) was another tantalising reason for Zharfan to come on board.
“With the Sailors playing in the ACL, this is the perfect platform for me to prove my credentials on the continental stage where tougher battles await,” noted Zharfan. “It’s a great way for me to showcase my abilities and motivate me to be closer to where I want to be in the future. It’s nice to know that my hard work has not gone unnoticed and that there are people out there who have been impressed.”
A steady presence between the sticks, Zharfan is looking forward to the stiff competition in his quest to become the Sailors’ numero uno.
“Goalkeepers are always eyeing the number 1 spot in the team. There should be healthy competition too, as it should be in the goalkeeping department.
“It’s going to be a challenge with the competition, but I will do what it takes to be a regular starter in the first eleven,” he declared.
“To be able to train at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre is also going to be an eye-opener for me, something that I’ve never experienced in my career so far.”
Zharfan has also vowed to give his all to delight the club’s 12th man.
“Shot-stopping is my strength and I hope to impress them through my performances for the club. There’s never a day I’ll stop working and you can expect me to give my 100% and even more,” he said.
“I’m happy to be part of the set-up here and I look forward to seeing the support from Sailors’ fans in the season ahead.”
Chew Chun-Liang will step down after some two years as Chief Executive Officer of the Lion City Sailors, and will leave the club at the end of 2022.
“Chun-Liang has served the Sailors with distinction and a sincere spirit, with the club hitting several milestones under his stewardship – and I must thank him for his service and for the genuine warmth he brought to the Sailors,” said club Chairman Forrest Li.
“We have developed a great working relationship over the past two years, and I’m certain that I speak for all Sailors when I say that I’m sad to see him go. We respect Chun-Liang’s decision to leave the club, and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavours.”
Chun-Liang signs off after a period of accelerated growth at a club that was founded only in 2020 as Singapore’s first privatised professional football club.
The Sailors blazed a trail in the sport here: from setting up the country’s first integrated football training facility at Mattar Road to putting in place a structured youth development pathway alongside the implementing of fan and community engagement protocols and an ever-improving Women’s programme.
Hariss Harun is sad to have to say goodbye to Chun-Liang when the latter officially leaves the club, but the Sailors skipper is grateful for fond memories on the Sailors’ voyage thus far.
“It was his openness and warmth that struck me the first time I spoke with Chun-Liang, and that never changed whether the team was on a high or going through a bad patch,” said the 32-year-old.
“He would sometimes send encouraging messages to us players that would go along with a warm handshake when we would see each other in person – these little things make a difference. We really appreciate all that he’s done for the team, and wish him the best wherever he goes.”
While Chun-Liang admitted that the last two years have gone by in the blink of an eye, the achievements and relationships fostered were well worth the effort.
“I’d like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Sailors’ fans and partners for their trust throughout my tenure as Chief Executive of the club; I’m humbled and honoured by their unwavering support, that is something that I will always carry with me,” said Chun-Liang.
“I leave as a fan of the Sailors, and I take with me great memories, a sense of pride that I’ve contributed to the growth of the club – and I’m ready to take on new challenges.”
Gritty Rusyaidi ready for Sailors adventure
Coming up against the Lion City Sailors in the past, Rusyaidi Salime would often be in awe of and be mesmerised by his opponents’ eye-catching style of attacking football.
That will change in 2023 as he joins the Sailors from fellow Singapore Premier League (SPL) outfit Tanjong Pagar United.
“I’m very excited, it’s a huge honour to be here. It’s a big club, the first to be privatised in Singapore with superb training facilities – something every footballer needs to help them grow,” said the 24-year-old.
“I’ve spoken to my batchmates in the NFA (National Football Academy) and former teammates in Young Lions like Hami (Syahin), (Haiqal) Pashia, Mamat (Zulqarnaen Suzliman) and they only have good things to say about the club.
“There are also quality players – both locally and internationally – in our ranks and I can’t wait to actually start training with my new teammates and win trophies with them.”
Having started out as a right-back, Rusyaidi has settled into the heart of midfield in recent years and will provide the Sailors engine room with extra bite.
Of the firm belief that his move to the Sailors will help take his game to the next level, the former Singapore Under-23 international is confident training and playing with the best will boost his chances of a senior national team call-up.
“As a footballer, playing at the highest level is something we want and being part of this team will help get me there,” said Rusyaidi, who made his professional debut in 2016.
“I believe I have the right mentality to get into the national team and it’s something I hope to achieve. I will be as open-minded as possible and I can only get better playing alongside seasoned players like Hariss (Harun), Diego (Lopes) and Maxime (Lestienne).
“It’s also a huge opportunity for me to play in the ACL (Asian Football Confederation Champions League) for the first time in my career and I am eager to show what I’m capable of.”
Rusyaidi added that he is relishing the opportunity to share the same dressing room with a player of Maxime’s stature – the Belgian winger was the top assist-maker in the 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season with 23 in an outstanding first year with the club.
“I am looking forward to playing with Max, a technically gifted and speedy player. He’s also played at the top level with PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League so it’s going to be an eye-opener for me,” he added.
Known for his robustness and being one who does not shirk from a challenge, the tenacious Rusyaidi cannot wait to get stuck in with the Sailors.
“I won’t back out of any challenges and you can expect me to be a tough yet fair player on the pitch. I will try my best to win every challenge as I possibly can and to stop my team from conceding goals,” he said.
“I’m someone who always gives my 100% for the team. I will work hard for the club, the fans and my teammates – let’s win something together in the season ahead.”
After scoring a career-high 11 Singapore Premier League (SPL) goals and inspiring Hougang United to their first-ever trophy in the form of the Singapore Cup in 2022, a new challenge awaits Shawal Anuar in the year ahead.
The Singapore international is now officially onboard with the Lion City Sailors and is expected to do what he does best: fashion goal-scoring chances for his teammates – and also put the ball into the back of the net.
Expressing his delight at signing for the Sailors, Shawal is champing at the bit and hopes to play an influential part in the club’s bid to return to the top of Singapore football.
“It’s a huge move in my career and I’m excited to begin my journey with the Sailors. It’s every footballer’s dream to represent a club of such stature,” said the speedy forward who is now two goals away from hitting 50 SPL goals.
“I see this as an opportunity for me to further showcase my abilities and I aim to continue my momentum with my goals and assists. We have a very good squad assembled here and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead of us in the upcoming season.”
To be embedded in an ambitious setup and train at Lion City Sailors Training Centre which opened in July this year is something Shawal is already looking forward to.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have this facility where we can train day in, day out alongside the likes of Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes who are quality players,” he noted.
“I’ve had the chance to look at the facilities here and this is totally different from what I’ve experienced before. I can’t wait to have our training sessions when pre-season gets underway.”
Shawal is also relishing the opportunity to represent the Sailors in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) and wants to help propel the club back into the group stages for a second time.
“I would say that I’m hitting the peak of my career and I definitely want the team to give a good account of ourselves in the ACL.
“Playing in the ACL will give me the chance to come up against quality opposition and push myself even more,” added Shawal, who featured in the second-tier AFC Cup with Hougang in 2020 and 2022.
Shawal also believes the transition into the team would be seamless, especially with a number of his Sailors teammates part of the current Singapore national team set-up.
The 31-year-old came off the bench to net a brace in Singapore’s 3-1 win over the Maldives in their final AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup tune-up match last Saturday.
“We’ve been playing together in the national team for a while now and the chemistry is there so I’m sure there won’t be many issues settling in,” said Shawal, who earned his first cap for the Lions in 2016.
“One player that I’m really excited to be linking up with again is Hafiz Nor, who’s a leader to me. I’ve known him since the start of my professional career (with Geylang International) in 2014 and being a winger himself before, he would impart tips to me on how I can be a better wide player.”
Shawal also had some words for the Sailors faithful.
“I hope you guys will give me a warm welcome and I will try to entertain you on the pitch to the best of my abilities,” he said.
“I’ll strive to be ready for every game, be it in the SPL or on the continental stage and give everything that I can for the club and the fans.”
Risto Vidaković has been appointed Head Coach of the Lion City Sailors as the club looks for a refresh ahead of the 2023 domestic football season.
The 53-year-old who holds a UEFA Pro coaching licence, steps into the role that was filled on an interim basis by Luka Lalić, Technical Director of the Lion City Sailors Football Academy, since August 2022, and will officially link up with the team in January for pre-season preparations.
Vidaković is no stranger to Southeast Asian football, having worked in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, where he memorably won three straight Philippines Football League (PFL) titles between 2017 to 2019 with Ceres-Negros, also leading the Philippine side to become ASEAN zone champions in the 2017 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.
The Serbian was also a league winner in the Maldives with Maziya in a memorable unbeaten 2020-2021 campaign.
“Risto is a serial winner in the region, and has proven that he can work European know-how into the football culture in Southeast Asia – and this in varying challenging circumstances as well. I’m confident he is the right man to take the club forward,” said Sailors’ Chairman, Forrest Li.
“His philosophy of football matches what we envision for ourselves, and perhaps more importantly, he is a dedicated football thinker and a father figure to players, especially the young ones, and I’m excited to have him at the helm of our team.”
Photo courtesy of Melaka United
Before signing up with the Sailors, Vidaković plied his trade across the Causeway with Melaka United, a club he left through mutual consent in April 2022.
“The people at the Sailors are very professional – the club is taking things very seriously with the construction of the new Training Centre and everyone here is working on the same goal of building something very powerful in the region. I know the club is targeting continuous improvement and optimisation,” said Vidaković.
“For me, I see this as a huge and exciting challenge to come in to make something special at the club.”
And Vidaković is already looking forward to laying the foundations for the Sailors’ new way of football on the first day of pre-season training at Mattar Road.
“I like to play offensive football and it’s obvious in all the clubs I’ve worked in before that we’ve played that way. It’s important that the fans enjoy what they’re seeing from the team.
“While I have my philosophy, it’s also key that my players feel comfortable and happy with their positions on the pitch and their roles within the team so I have to adapt as well,” he said.
