Category: News
Local healthcare practitioner AMP Lab will be the Official Partner of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team for the entirety of the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, renewing a partnership which started in July 2023.
The first of its kind in Singapore to offer physiotherapy, exercise physiology and sports science services all under one roof, AMP Lab brings their wealth of expertise in these fields to empower the reigning WPL champions with advanced training methodologies, performance analysis and injury prevention strategies.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the growing drive for excellence for the women’s game in Singapore, while underlining the commitment of both organisations to provide a sturdy support structure to nurture the Sailors women.
The key highlights of these partnership include:
- A structured Strength and Conditioning program
AMP Lab will design and conduct strength and conditioning (S&C) sessions specially tailored for women footballers. These sessions are focused on optimising physical fitness and agility, ensuring the Sailors are primed for success on the field and peak in performance levels throughout the season.
- Sports Science support
Through key facets of Sports Science that include biomechanical analysis and recovery strategies, the Sailors women will receive holistic player development which addresses both physical and mental aspects of the game.
- Injury prevention and rehabilitation
AMP Lab’s expertise will be leveraged to establish comprehensive injury prevention protocols and rehabilitation programs for players, aimed at reducing risk of injuries and facilitating swift and effective recovery.
- Educational initiatives
The partnership goes beyond the field, with AMP Lab also instrumental in organising workshops and resources to empower the footballers with knowledge on exercise physiology and athlete nutrition.
A strong supporter of women’s sports having partnered with sports groups like volleyball, frisbee and touch rugby in secondary schools and Institutes of Higher Learning in the past decade, it was a no-brainer for AMP Lab to partner with the Sailors.
“At AMP Lab, we are actively challenging societal norms by asserting our firm belief in the inherent capabilities of women to demonstrate physical strength on the pitch and excel in contact sports, analogous to their male counterparts,” said AMP Lab’s Strength and Conditioning coach, Etienne Ding.
“We believe through a calibrated S&C approach and supported by our team of experts, we envision women footballers embracing a dynamic and accelerated style of play. Our overarching objective extends beyond the sporting arena – we seek to establish a comprehensive ecosystem conducive to nurturing female athletes’ growth, concurrently encouraging local businesses to endorse and support women’s sports.
“The discernible alignment between AMP Lab and the Sailors in our collective vision for female athletes is resolute. I am confident that our partnership will yield an exponential positive impact on the team and significantly elevate the landscape of women’s sports,” he added.
The effect of AMP Lab on the Sailors women is already evident a few months into the partnership.
“Most of us in the team, especially the younger ones, grew physically stronger after we started working with AMP Lab last year, and distinctly so. That really helped us in terms of endurance and individual battles out on the pitch. Now we’re much more aware of how to improve our fitness when we work out on our own time,” said Sailors defender Nur Umairah Hamdan.
“The biggest benefit is a structured S&C program which keeps track of our individual progress and ensures we are in peak condition throughout the season.”
Having played integral roles in the all-conquering Lion City Sailors Women’s Team in 2022 and 2023, Ernie Sulastri Sontaril and Nur Izzati Rosni will be leaving the club for a new challenge.
Ernie who was the club skipper over the past two campaigns, led her charges with distinction over and was an assured presence in defence, while Izzati starred with her goalscoring exploits – winning the 2022 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) Golden Boot and scored a total of 22 WPL goals in a Sailors shirt.
“It’s been a huge honour to captain this club and play alongside this lovely bunch of girls. We fought for each other on the pitch and overcame many challenges to become back-to-back WPL champions. It’s a beautiful chapter in my career and I leave here with plenty of good memories and friendships forged,” said Ernie.
“Looking back, it’s been an amazing past two years with the Sailors and I’m proud to have grown so much as a player here. I’d like to thank the club for giving me the platform to improve and I wish the girls all the best in the coming season,” added Izzati.
Midfield playmaker Venetia Lim will also depart as she heads abroad to further her education.
The trio joins Lila Tan, Munirah Mohamad, Nica Siy, Julia Farr, Madelin Lock and the now-retired Noor Kusumawati Rosman, who will not continue with the club in the 2024 WPL season.
The Sailors thank all of them for their stellar service to the club and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
A new year, a new setup, but the same outcome.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team – champions of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the past two seasons – emerged 4-2 winners over second-tier Women’s National League (WNL) champions Royal Arion in the Café Football (CF) Charity Cup 2024 at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Friday (12 January) evening.
Sailors Head Coach Daniel Ong put out a youthful starting eleven which averaged just 19.8 years old and he was not disappointed.
The Sailors women put up a bright showing against an Arion side that have four Thai national players – Orapin Waenngoen, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Pikul Khueanpet (pictured above in a duel with Madison Telmer) and Waraporn Boonsing, all with FIFA Women’s World Cup pedigree – in their ranks.
Sailors’ two new signings Qarissa Putri Ramandhani and Nur Sarah Zu’risqha scored on their debuts, while 20-year-old Raeka Ee (pictured below) provided a good attacking outlet further afield on her senior bow.
All six teenagers promoted from the club’s Girls Academy in 2024 also featured in a game contested in good spirit, with 14-year-old Tyan Foong getting a start and putting up a resilient display at the heart of defence alongside Nur Umairah Hamdan to thwart the Thai attackers.
The other five – Izairida Shakira, Seri Nurinsyirah, Nadia Nuraffendi, Liyana Rickit and Yuvika Suresh – all came on in the second half.
The prize money of SGD$11,000 was donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore to aid support and raise awareness for breast cancer, rounding off a meaningful evening at OTH.
“We are really proud to see our young players do well,” gushed Head Coach, Daniel after his first official match in charge of the women.
“That’s what Yeong Sheau Shyan (now Head of the Sailors Women’s Programme) and the others in the Girls Academy are building. As a club, we want to progressively promote our academy girls to play in the WPL. Yuvika, Liyana, Tyan, Nadia and the rest being here is a testament of what we’re building here.
“We’re also proud as a club to play our part in such a worthy initiative and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation.”
A tightly-contested first half came to life in the 37th minute when Qarissa’s cheeky lob from the edge of the box looped over Arion’s experienced Thai custodian Waraporn to make it 1-0 to the Sailors.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled with Sarah getting past two players with some nifty footwork before unleashing a right-footed rocket that beat Waraporn and sent the crowd at OTH into a frenzy.
“The goal was a very meaningful one for me. I’ve never scored a goal like this in my life,” said the 17-year-old, whose family and friends were in the stands.
“I’m very grateful that they came because they’ve only ever been to a few matches before and I’m very happy they saw me score. I was too focused on shooting and couldn’t hear the crowd! Initially, I wanted to pass to my teammates but they were encouraging me to shoot so I gathered my courage.”
The two debutants getting on the scoresheet illustrated just how quickly the new-look Sailors women have come together.
“Sarah (pictured above) and Qarissa did well to score in their first appearances for us despite having joined only a few weeks ago. That shows how fast they can adapt to our style of play and gel with their teammates,” said Daniel.
Goal-scorer Sarah sang from the same hymn book.
“As a team, we know each other’s playing styles. Even though I just signed with the club, they already know how I want the ball to be played to me after a few training sessions,” she said.
The Sailors picked up where they left off after the break and made it 3-0, with Nur Izzati Rosni calmly converting from the spot after Arion was penalised for a handball in the area.
To Royal Arion’s credit, they fought back with Pikul pulling one back in the 75th minute but the Sailors would put the result beyond doubt 11 minutes later.
Centre-back Sara Hayduchok — who came on to replace Tyan in the 74th minute — rose highest to head home a well-placed Miray Altun corner for the Sailors’ fourth goal of the night.
The opponents did find a consolation just before the end with Orapin clipping the ball over young custodian Shakira, who replaced 2022 and 2023 WPL Golden Glove winner Beatrice Tan in goal for the second half.
Nonetheless, it did not overshadow a promising night for a new-look Sailors Women side who are determined to pave the way forward for women’s football in Singapore.
“Obviously there’s some pressure taking over from Coach Sheau Shyan, who led the team to two undefeated WPL seasons. But I’m very focused right now on improving the young players here in our team and hopefully we can help to bring up the standard of the women’s game in Singapore as a result,” said Daniel.
“There are still several things for us to work on, individually and as a team. So we’re going to train very hard to make sure we’re ready going into the 2024 WPL season.”
After a two-year Invincibles run in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to kick off a new era when they take on Women’s National League (WNL) champions Royal Arion this Friday (12 January) evening in the Café Football (CF) Charity Cup.
Daniel Ong – goalkeeper coach for the past two seasons – has now taken over the reins of a new-look side, with six teenagers promoted from the club’s Girls Academy.
One of those is 14-year-old Yuvika Suresh who will travel to Our Tampines Hub (OTH) from school for her first senior game, an opportunity she still struggles to believe has arrived this soon.
“It felt surreal. I was elated when I found out that I would be playing alongside players I have always looked up to. I truly feel honoured to be given a chance to be a part of this team,” gushed the Cedar Girls Secondary Three student.
Yuvika is one of four 14-year-olds promoted to the WPL team, along with Tyan Foong (pictured below), Liyana Rickit and Seri Nurinsyirah, and are set to feature in the upcoming 2024 WPL season.
“I have played with Tyan and Liyana throughout my football journey with the Sailors and also the National Team at U14 and U16 levels. We are familiar with each other’s playing style as well as strengths and weaknesses. They have worked very hard all these years to be where they are. I’m humbled and grateful to be selected alongside them,” shared Yuvika.
Having jumped from seven-a-side games to playing in the Mattar Sailors’ WNL campaign last season, Yuvika has gained experience she will draw on when she plays with the big guns.
“The small-sided tournaments during the pandemic helped me improve individually. Going from playing against girls of the same age group to playing against women of different ages in the WNL, I needed to adapt quickly to the playing style of the team,” said Yuvika.
“Playing in the WNL gave me the opportunity to play without fear despite my age and smaller stature (at 1.54m tall). Apart from the technical skills I picked up, I am grateful for the opportunity to play in different positions in both defence and midfield because it has helped me understand the game better.”
Friday’s charity match may be her first rodeo with the senior girls, but not her first run against Royal Arion. Yuvika was part of the young Mattar Sailors squad which put up an impressive battling display against the talent-stacked Royal Arion in last year’s WNL final, before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat.
The CF Charity Cup clash aims to raise funds for breast cancer patients, with the prize money of SGD$11,000 for the winners of the match to be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore.
Despite the charity-focused nature of the fixture, bragging rights will be on the cards at OTH.
“The spine of the Arion team is made up of the four Thai National Team players with FIFA Women’s World Cup experience. It’ll be difficult to break through when we play down the middle, so we’ll need to focus on stretching their compact block by playing down the flanks,” said the left winger.
“Although I may lack the strength to make powerful crosses and shots, I hope to play the various combination passes for the team to advance forward.
“Should I play, I will try my very best to help my team and make our supporters proud.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team enjoyed a sensational 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign, winning 17 out of 18 games en route to a second straight undefeated title-winning season.
The Sailors’ Girls Academy provided a sturdy platform for the women’s success in 2023, with a total of seven girls making the step up to make their WPL debuts for the club.
And the wheels are already in motion to ensure another successful WPL season, both in terms of silverware and ensuring the next generation of Singapore female footballers continue to rise through the club’s ranks.
Yeong Sheau Shyan, WPL Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023, will play an integral part in this as she now takes on the overarching role of Head of the Sailors Women’s Programme – which encompasses overseeing the pipeline from the club’s Girls Academy through to the WPL team with a large focus on shaping the next generation of female footballers.
To ensure continuity and succession, 2023 goalkeeper coach Daniel Ong will take over as Sailors Women head coach for the upcoming WPL season.
The 34-year-old, who owns a AFC ‘B’ Coaching License, has been in the Sailors setup since 2022 and is also a part of the Singapore National Women’s Team backroom staff.
In 2024, the Sailors Women will continue in the same vein while sporting a fresh new look with a series of young additions to the squad.
A total of six teenagers ranging from the age of 14 to 17 have been promoted: goalkeeper Izairida Shakira, defenders Tyan Foong and Seri Nurinsyirah and a trio of midfielders in Nadia Nuraffendi, Liyana Rickit and Yuvika Suresh.
20-year-old forward Raeka Ee has also made the step up after a sterling 2023. She starred for the women’s developmental side Mattar Sailors in the second-tier Women’s National League and made her Lionesses debut against Bangladesh just last month, while Dorcas Chu – a member of the Sailors’ 2022 WPL winning squad – rejoins the team after her successful recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Canadian midfielder Madison Telmer also makes a return to the team after leaving in mid-2023 to further her education.
Two other teenagers have also been signed, 15-year-old Qarissa Putri Ramandhani arrives from Tanjong Pagar United while 17-year-old Nur Sarah Zu’risqha joins from Albirex Niigata (S).
Meanwhile, a total of six players – Lila Tan, Munirah Mohamad, Nica Siy and Julia Farr along with the now-retired Noor Kusumawati Rosman and Madelin Lock, who hung up her boots to pursue her dream of playing professional basketball – have departed the club.
The first challenge for the Sailors Women Class of 2024 is the upcoming Café Football (CF) Charity Cup against WNL champions Royal Arion FC on Friday, 12th January in a game to raise funds for the Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation and the newly-installed Daniel is looking forward to the encounter.
“Firstly, it is a huge honour for me to be appointed as head coach of the Sailors Women’s Team. Coach Sheau Shyan has laid down a sturdy foundation, so it’s my job to build on her legacy and I’ll do my part to bring up the young players in this club,” he said.
“We’ve put together a new squad with a good blend of experienced and young players that should excite the fans, so I hope all of them can come down to Our Tampines Hub to get behind the girls. It’s a great opportunity for them to come up against some esteemed players who have played at the FIFA Women’s World Cup before and I believe they will rise to this challenge.
“Most importantly, this is a match for a good cause so we’re happy as a club to support this initiative.”
In what will be a showcase of the women’s game in Singapore, the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team – the Invincibles Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) champions for two years running – will face off against second-tier Women’s National League (WNL) winners Royal Arion Women’s Football Club in the CF (Café Football) Charity Cup.
Hosted at Our Tampines Hub on 12 January 2024, the game will see two of the strongest women’s teams in the country coming together to raise funds for breast cancer patients and underprivileged children.
The CF Charity Cup acts as the curtain-raiser to the inaugural Unity Through Football for SHINE Cup 2024, that features the LMTB Global FC football legends team – consisting of the likes of Abbas Saad, Mirko Grabovac and Indra Sahdan – taking on a SHINE All-Stars side, that has Aleksandar Duric, Lim Tong Hai and Shahril Jantan in their ranks.
The women’s clash will kick off at 6pm on the evening with the legends’ battle following immediately after at 8.30pm.
Pledging to donate SGD$5,000 of ticket sales in Support of SHINE Children and Youth Services, organisers LMTB Global hope to raise awareness and support for underprivileged children and youths (aged from 5-21) in Singapore through this event.
They will also donate the prize money of SGD$11,000 for the winners of the curtain-raiser charity match to the Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation to aid support and raising awareness for breast cancer.
The match pits two of the best representatives of Singapore women’s football against each other. While the Sailors Women retained their WPL title in November in convincing fashion, with 17 wins in 18 matches while scoring a league-high 73 goals and conceded just two all year, Royal Arion will pose an interesting challenge.
Café Football took over their ownership and immediately invested in the squad, adding four Thai national players – namely Orapin Waenngoen, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Pikul Khueanpet and Waraporn Boonsing – who played at two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the team roster.
Royal Arion were dominant in the second-tier and claimed nine wins in as many matches to clinch their first-ever WNL title.
Sailors Women skipper Ernie Sulastri Sontaril wants her team to relish the opportunity to test themselves against the experienced quartet.
“I’ve played against them a few times in my international career with the Lionesses and they are quality players whose levels are a few notches higher. For the younger girls in this team, this is a great chance to test themselves against some of the region’s best players and see how they match up,” said the 35-year-old.
“Also, this event is organised for a good cause to raise funds for breast cancer patients and underprivileged children. So I hope our fans will turn up in full force and get behind this initiative.”
Tickets for the match are already now on sale! Sailors fans are advised to purchase tickets in Section H directly via this link.
The 2023 season was one to remember for the Lion City Sailors as the club picked up its first-ever Singapore Cup trophy, on top of an encouraging second voyage into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) that saw Hariss Harun and his men score victories over two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jalan Besar and away against Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC.
But the ambitious Sailors have already set in motion to ensure a more successful 2024.
The club aims to dominate local football by reclaiming the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title last won in 2021 and further establish itself amongst the continent’s elite in the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL 2) competition.
AIA Player of the Year Maxime Lestienne will play a key role in this.
The Belgium attacker has penned a two-year contract extension that will see him stay in Singapore till 2025, leading a Sailors side bidding to create history in the years ahead.
Hafiz Nor, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Hami Syahin and Adib Azahari have also pledged their futures and will be Sailors until 2025 alongside Magic Max.
The vastly-experienced Hafiz has been with the club since its 2020 inception and is the Sailors’ highest-appearance maker with 91, while Zulqarnaen and Hami enjoyed the 2023 season and are beginning to hit the peak of their careers.
The move to refresh the squad as the Sailors look to the future – and also in anticipation of revised foreign player quotas for the 2024 SPL and beyond – will see six players depart the club.
Diego Lopes, Manuel Herrera López (Súper) and Kodai Tanaka leave the newly-crowned Singapore Cup champions, along with Rusyaidi Salime and Rudy Khairullah following the expiry of their contracts at the end of the year.
The club has also agreed to mutually part ways with Pedro Henrique, with the 30-year-old defender embarking on a new adventure back home in Brazil.
The Sailors are currently in the midst of shortlisting potential signings both locally and from overseas to build on the existing squad.
The Sailors’ gaze remain firmly on becoming one of Asia’s top clubs and are recalibrating to ensure a more successful season in the upcoming one.
It was not to be for the Lion City Sailors in their final match of the 2023 season as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Kitchee SC in their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Group F clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (13 December).
Fresh off clinching the Singapore Cup four days earlier, Aleksandar Ranković’s team could not find a way past their Hong Kong opponents and were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid to set a new record for the maximum number of points a Singaporean team has attained in the ACL group stage.
The Sailors finished in third place with six points, one short of the record they set in their maiden ACL voyage in 2022, while Kitchee finished bottom with four.
Both teams were already out of contention for qualification for the Round of 16, but it was Kitchee who came out of the blocks with more intent and created numerous chances early on.
“We should never be finding reasons why we lost a game, that will take credit away from the opponents. We were nervous at the start and that affected us,” he said.
“We controlled the match at the start of the second half but when that second goal went in, we knew it would be tough.”
After two shots on target from Fernando and Tan Chun Lok in the opening minutes, Kitchee opened the scoring in the 11th minute with Sailors full-back Christopher van Huizen unfortunately putting through his own net while trying to clear a cross.
The Sailors took time to grow into the game, eventually finding their feet in an otherwise uneventful first half.
They started the stronger of both sides after the break, with Shawal Anuar drawing a save from Wang Zhenpeng in the 52th minute after being found by Kodai Tanaka, who made his first start since his successful recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained in March.
The 39-year-old Wang made another crucial stop seven minutes later, tipping over Shawal’s header that was destined for the top corner.
However it was Kitchee who doubled their lead in the 74th minute, with Fernando gliding into the box to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
There was also time for Sailors old boy Kim Shin-wook to come on for Kitchee, with the striker returning to the pitch he scored several goals on and subsequently getting a standing ovation from the home fans.
The 35-year-old scored 24 goals in 35 appearances for the Sailors in 2022, before leaving to join Kitchee earlier this year.
After a grueling season, Ranko expressed the need for a reset as the team heads into the off-season.
“We’ve played so many games especially in the last month, we’ll go on vacation first then see the group of players I have and prepare for next season,” he said.
Sailors eyeing ACL legacy
The Lion City Sailors may be out of the running to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) 2023/24 knockout stages, but Wednesday’s clash against Kitchee SC at the Jalan Besar Stadium still holds much meaning.
Aleksandar Ranković’s team have their eyes set on writing their names into the Singapore football history books – by setting a new record for the maximum number of points a Singaporean team has attained in the ACL group stage.
The Sailors are third in Group F with six points, and a win in what is their last competitive game of the season will ensure they break their own record of seven from last year’s campaign.
Although Kitchee are also not in contention to make the next round, sitting bottom of Group F with one point, the match is still set to be a tightly contested affair.
“We deserved a better result against Bangkok, but we’re totally prepared and motivated for this match. We want to finish strong, especially after the Singapore Cup final, and we want maximum points from tomorrow’s match,” said Ranko, adamant that his charges are not still swooning over the weekend’s Cup Final victory, and instead are determined to bounce back from the loss against Group F leaders Bangkok United on 29 November.
“With the format change in the ACL (the Sailors will be in the ACL2 next season), this will be our last chance in this competition and we want to leave our own legacy.”
Defender Lionel Tan added that national pride also serves as encouragement for the team.
“We’re out there to get every possible point and do our best not just for the club, but for the whole of Singapore. We’re very motivated to do our best and thank the fans for their overwhelming support during the Cup final,” the 26-year-old said.
Although the Sailors picked up a 2-1 win in October at the Hong Kong Stadium, they are not taking anything for granted, and instead are wary of the threats Kitchee pose.
The away side are enjoying a strong start to their domestic season, sitting second in the Hong Kong Premier League after eight matches and qualifying for the Hong Kong Senior Shield final.
Interim coach Kim Dong-jin was adamant that they have only one goal on their minds on Wednesday – win.
“We didn’t win the last five games (in this competition), so I want a win tomorrow although we lost against them previously. The Sailors are in good form having won the Cup with a good atmosphere and have strong foreign attacking players, so we need to be good defensively,” said the former South Korean international.
They will be missing key players though, with Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo César, compatriots Mikael and Juninho, as well as Turkmenistan winger Ruslan Mingazov ruled out through suspensions and injuries, while new acquisition Sherzod Temirov is not in the matchday squad.
However, Kitchee have an in-form man in Austrian Jakob Jantscher, who has scored in his last four ACL appearances, including against the Sailors.
They are also boosted by Sailors old boy Kim Shin-wook’s return from injury, with coach Kim hinting at a possible start for the 35-year-old striker.
“I brought him here because we need him and he has experience playing in this country and on this pitch. I know he scored 21 league goals here (in 2022), so I’m sure he can score tomorrow,” he said.
The Sailors are well familiar with Shin-wook’s quality – he racked up a total of 24 goals in 35 appearances in a Lion City Sailors shirt in 2022, including a stunning acrobatic volley on his Sailors debut in a 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) in last year’s AIA Community Shield, inspiring the Sailors to its first Community Shield win in its history.
“We have to be aware of what he can do, he’s strong and big, he has a lot of experience and is a quality player. Many of our players have played with him and they are aware of that,” Ranko said.
“Our motivation tomorrow is still to make sure we set the record number of ACL points, and represent Singapore football well.”
Singapore Cup champions!
The huge smile on the face of Lion City Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković when the final whistle blew at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (9 December) night said it all.
This was, after all, the perfect way for his team to end what had been a long and gruelling season – with a win, a trophy, and a new entry in the Sailors’ history book as the 2023 Singapore Cup winners.
Up against defending champions Hougang United in the final, Ranko’s men produced a professional and clinical display to secure a 3-1 win to clinch their first-ever Singapore Cup.
And for Ranko, this was the perfect way for the Sailors to bring their domestic season to a close.
“I’m proud of these boys and what they did this year. I know it’s not been easy for them, especially with the change of coach in the middle of the season, and having to play in three competitions,” Ranko said.
“But credit to them, they’ve worked hard and I’m very proud of what they’ve achieved today. This Singapore Cup is the cherry on top of our season, and it’s a great way to finish the year.”
Reflecting on the cup win, Sailors captain Hariss Harun said: “It’s fantastic for us, for the club, and I think we deserve to lift this cup. Throughout the tournament, we’ve showed great consistency…we were always determined to get the right results, and that’s what matters most.”
There was more than one record that was broken on the night, as Nathan Mao became the youngest-ever player, at 15 years and 258 days old, to feature in a Singapore Cup final.
Despite his youth, and the magnitude of the occasion, Ranko chose to keep faith in him as the Serb named an unchanged side from the one that beat Tampines 3-0 in the second-leg of the Cup semis on Wednesday (6 Dec).
And it seemed to pay off, as the Sailors started the brighter against an Hougang side that were content to sit deep and keep things tight at the back.
It took 17 minutes for the Sailors to fashion their first goalscoring opportunity as Maxime Lestienne beat his defender in the box and fired a fierce shot with his weaker right foot that forced Hougang goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam into a smart save.
But the Sailors did not have to wait long for the breakthrough. Four minutes later, they were awarded a penalty after Hougang defender Naoki Kuriyama was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
Despite a lengthy VAR review which took approximately five minutes, Richairo Živković kept his concentration and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
The goal seemed to spur Hougang, and they began pushing forward in search of the equaliser.
While the Sailors no longer enjoyed as much of the possession, they looked threatening whenever they went forward, and in the 41st minute, they got the all-important second goal, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Receiving the ball on the right in the box, Maxime – the newly-crowned AIA Player of the Year – cut inside onto his favoured left foot before firing a shot that took a huge deflection off Kuriyama and ended in the back of the net.
Lionel Tan almost made it three for the Sailors against his former side right before half-time when he jumped highest to meet Chris van Huizen’s cross, but his looping header went just over the bar.
With a comfortable two-goal lead, control was the name of the game for the Sailors after the break, and they executed that perfectly, keeping Hougang comfortably at bay for the majority of the second-half.
Barring a few half-chances, Marko Kraljević’s side did not trouble Izwan Mahbud in the Sailors goal.
All hopes of an Hougang comeback were put to rest in the 80th minute when Maxime threaded a superb through ball for substitute Shawal Anuar, who rounded Zaiful before finishing with aplomb.
That was the 32-year-old’s sixth goal in the Singapore Cup this campaign and incredibly all six were scored off the bench, as he finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer along with Richi.
Hougang did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 91st minute through a Kazuma Takayama header, but it proved to be no more than a consolation as the Sailors held on to secure the victory.
“If you look at the whole match, I think we deserved the win,” Ranko mused. “We started a little bit nervous, which is normal because it’s a huge game. We also used a lot of energy in the semis, and that might have been a factor, but I think throughout the whole game we didn’t give Hougang many chances.
“This win is for everybody at the club, the staff, our owners, and our fans. Everyone has contributed, and they deserve this trophy.”
More importantly, Ranko believes that winning the Singapore Cup will be the launchpad for the Sailors to achieve greater things next season.
He said: “Winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) is our main goal next season. Apart from winning this cup, we finished second in the SPL, and I think we represented Singapore well in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL).
“So, this is a good foundation that we can build on for next season, and we have a good group of players. Everybody will want to prove themselves against us next year, and that’s a challenge we have to deal with.”
