Category: News
It was a blazing hot Tuesday morning – two days before a crunch away clash in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) against Albirex Niigata (S) on 9 March – at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre and every other Sailor had already returned to the dressing room, bar one.
Now sporting a shock of blonde hair, the unmistakable Kodai Tanaka was striking ball after ball into an empty net before finally walking off with just a hint of smile on his face.
The Japanese hotshot has picked up where he left off last season and already has three goals in two appearances for the Sailors in 2023, but Kodai remains unsatisfied. He is gunning for more in the matches ahead – much more. The 23-year-old has set himself a 40-goal target for the year.
“I’m happy to score and help the team, but I know I can do even more for my teammates on the field. We have set big goals for the team so it’s important for me to step up in terms of my performances,” he said.
Kodai enjoyed an outstanding 2022 season with Albirex scoring 33 goals to help the White Swans win the league and topped it off by picking up the SPL Player of the Year gong, but he knows there is no room for sentiment and only has one goal on his mind: to lead the Sailors to a first-ever SPL win over his former employers.
“Honestly this is the fixture I most look forward to playing in. I’ve good memories of my time with Albirex and I’m very thankful to them for giving me my first opportunity in professional football.
“But now I’m a Sailor and I’m fully focused on helping this club win all our matches – including this one and I know our fans really want us to win against Albirex. I believe we can do it and I want to help the team by scoring,” said the Kanagawa native.
It is still early days – just two games – in his Sailors career, but there are several promising signs with Kodai striking up an uncanny understanding with the team’s other foreign attackers, Maxime Lestienne and Diego Lopes, and he is clearly enjoying the experience.
“I know we have good coaching staff and several good players at the Sailors, and that’s why I decided to come here this season – and it’s going well. Everyone’s so happy training and playing together, and that makes it easy to be happy to be part of this team,” he said.
With in-form attackers and valuable weapons off the bench, Sailors Head Coach Risto Vidaković is confident that his charges can take the fight to Albirex – who won their opening two matches of the season, including the Community Shield, by identical 3-0 scorelines.
“They’re probably still the best team in the league, they’re tactically very organised and play a good style of offensive football. We respect that they are last year’s champions and we need maximum concentration when we play against them, but we’re preparing for this game just like any other game.
“Instead of thinking about the result, we’re focusing more on what we’ve been trying to develop on and to give everything on the pitch. The players are beginning to play the style I want from them and we have capable options like Rasaq (forward Abdul Rasaq Akeem) who can come in and provide good value for the team, so we know we have the ability to beat them,” said the Serbian.
“As long as we get our processes right, the result we want will naturally come.”
There was a sense of déjà vu at the Bishan Stadium on Friday night (3 March). For the second time in a week, the venue bore witness to a 3-1 Lion City Sailors win in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
While it was Tanjong Pagar United who suffered defeat to the Sailors last Friday, this time around, it was the returning Brunei DPMM side – playing their first SPL game in three years – who found themselves on the wrong end of that scoreline.
The outcome may have been the same, but it was a much-improved display from the Sailors, a performance that brought a smile to Head Coach Risto Vidaković.
“In the second half, we played much better, and we kept possession very well. We created many opportunities…it was a much better second half than the one we played (against Tanjong Pagar) last week,” he said after the game.
It was a slow start for the Sailors in the first-half, however, as they struggled to come to terms with DPMM’s physical and robust approach to the game.
Maxime Lestienne could have opened the scoring for the home team early on, but his effort from close range crashed off the woodwork.
But the Belgian – who bagged himself three assists against Tanjong Pagar – did not have to wait too long to score his first goal of the season. Just before the half-time break, Diego Lopes broke free down the left, before cutting it back for Maxime to expertly guide the ball into the back of the net to give the Sailors the breakthrough.
DPMM did, however, manage to find an equaliser in the 62nd minute, when a pass from Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad was intercepted and eventually led to the visitors scoring through the lively Hakeme Yazid.
Reflecting on the conceded goal, Risto said: “Mistakes are a part of football, it always happens. It’s just that when a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it’s more visible than when other players do. But it doesn’t matter, I want him to just forget what happened and try to do it better in the next game.”
Far from letting their heads go down, the Sailors seemed to find another gear after the DPMM equaliser and began to assert themselves.
Risto’s men were duly rewarded in the 75th minute when new signing Kodai Tanaka scored his third goal in two games by nodding into an empty net after being found by Diego’s header across the six-yard box.
Deep into stoppage time, the Sailors ensured they would take all three points, when substitutes Shawal Anuar – making his first appearance in the Sailors’ white and blue – and Abdul Rasaq Akeem combined for the latter to score an emphatic third.
“After the (DPMM) equaliser, the team took things into their hands and seized control of the game, which led to us scoring two goals and securing the deserved win,” said Risto.
“It was difficult to prepare for DPMM because they haven’t played competitively for three years, so we didn’t have much information on them. We expected them to go long most of the time as they have tall players in attack, but I think our boys did well to handle that.”
The Sailors, who moved top of the nine-team SPL table with the win, will next take on champions Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium on Thursday (9 March) night.
After a memorable debut campaign that saw them winning the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), finishing their season as Invincibles, the Lion City Sailors Women will be looking to defend their crown in 2023 against an expanded field of challengers.
Yeong Sheau Shyan’s charges will start off the new WPL season with a clash against Police SA – who have been promoted after winning the second-tier Women’s National League (WNL) last season – on Sunday, 19 March at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Police SA are one of three new outfits joining the WPL this season, alongside Tampines Rovers and Geylang International – bringing the total field of teams from seven to 10 and adding new obstacles in the Sailors’ title assault.
That also means each team will play 18 matches – up from the 12 in 2022 – in a long season that lasts till late November, with various breaks in the league for FIFA International windows, as well as the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.
The Sailors Women will conclude their 2023 WPL campaign against Tiong Bahru FC on Saturday, 25 November at Choa Chu Kang.
Sheau Shyan acknowledged the challenge ahead, but asserted that the Sailors Women Class of 2023 – blending the bulk of the title-winning squad with several youngsters – are equipped to grow into the Sailors’ philosophy of progressive attacking football.
“It’ll be challenging, no doubt, most of the existing clubs have boosted their rosters and the new teams look good too. This is the first time we’re going to have such a long season with many international breaks in the calendar, so it will be an uphill task maintaining the team’s form,” said the 2022 WPL Coach of the Year.
“We want to pick up where we left off and become sharper in attack – our aim is to maintain our style and keep improving.
“We will have academy players stepping up this year as part of our long-term plans to help them develop, but it’s up to these girls to earn those game minutes,” she said.
“We’re doing everything possible to help them and I hope they give me a hard time in making my team selection for every game.”
The Sailors Women’s full fixtures list for the 2023 WPL season can be accessed here.
A victorious start to the 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) campaign has given the Lion City Sailors much encouragement as they look to pick up where they left off in yet another home match at Bishan Stadium this Friday (3 March) night.
The visitors Brunei DPMM are an unknown element, especially given that this will be their first SPL game after a pandemic-enforced three-year hiatus.
Hafiz Nor acknowledged the challenge the Bruneians pose, but asserts that the Sailors’ growing belief under Head Coach Risto Vidaković will give them the edge to push for a second straight win.
“We don’t really know what to expect from them for sure, but I think they still have some good foreign players who can be dangerous. The most important thing for us is to focus on our strengths and stick to Coach’s plans.
“We’ve been progressing really well under Coach Risto, the team is in really high spirits and there is no doubt we’re gunning for another victory to repay our loyal fans,” said the 34-year-old.
Hafiz turns 35 this August and is now playing in his 15th professional season, but – based on his sprightly and industrious display last Friday, at least – he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Restored to his favoured right-wing role after playing at right-back for the majority of the 2022 season, it took him just 11 minutes to open his account for the season as he made a lung-bursting run into the box to finish off Maxime Lestienne’s cross – which in turn set the Sailors on the way to an opening-day victory.
The move was one that came right off the training ground.
“We have played together for some time now so we know what we’re going to do next when we look into each other’s eyes. When he got the ball on the wings, I knew he’s going to put the ball in so I had to make that run and I’m happy to help the team by scoring,” said the Singapore international.
That goal meant he has now netted at least once in the last 11 SPL campaigns and the veteran is determined to remain as an asset to the team – regardless of what position he is deployed in.
“I always say this: age doesn’t matter. It’s great that I’m still in great condition and my body can still take the high-level of professional football. It’s important to take good care of myself so that I can contribute as much as possible to the team.
“Wherever Coach wants to play, I will give my 110 percent for him. Versatility is really important: this season we have quite a few players like Chris (van Huizen) and (Danish) Qayyum, so if someone is injured, we can easily have someone step in and deliver the same quality,” said Hafiz.
Now a Sailors elder statesman, Hafiz is relishing the opportunity to impart his knowledge to the younger ones at the club.
“We’re fortunate that we have a bunch of youngsters who are very hungry to improve and succeed at the club. I’m happy to play the role of guiding them on what to do and what not to do,” he said.
In figures like Hafiz, Maxime, Hariss Harun and Diego Lopes, the Sailors have experienced heads who can lead the Sailors through the inevitable highs and lows of a season with Risto clearly happy to be able to call upon them.
“These players give the team a lot as they can take control and calm the team down if things are not going right on the pitch. But the team is never about individuals; it’s about how everyone comes together as one so that we can deliver the same goal,” said the 54-year-old Serb.
“It’s clear from last Friday we still have things to improve on and that’s what we want to do against DPMM. We have to go out with a strong energy and play a dynamic style of football to continue the winning start.”
A new-look Lion City Sailors kicked off their 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season with three points and a bagful of positives, overcoming a sprightly Tanjong Pagar United 3-1 on Friday (24 February) night.
Back in the familiar comforts of Bishan Stadium after a two-year absence, the Sailors scored through Hafiz Nor and new signing Kodai Tanaka – who netted a brace in his debut for the club – all via a hat-trick of assists from Maxime Lestienne’s magical left foot. Sailors’ Head Coach Risto Vidaković topped off the evening by presenting top-tier debuts to two fledgling apprentices from the club’s Academy: 16-year-olds Jonan Tan and Idzham Eszuan Shah.
But this was hardly a walk in the park for Sailors.
The comfortable scoreline belied the amount of hard work and effort the Sailors needed to prevent Tanjong Pagar from getting anything out of the game, with Hasrin Jailani’s side giving the home team as good as they got over the 100-odd minutes of football.
Indeed, while the Sailors were dominant in the first-half, the visitors were arguably the better team after the break, and could have gone on to earn themselves at least a point, but for a combination of heroic defending and wayward finishing.
Risto, however, was not unduly worried about the drop-off in intensity in the Sailors’ second-half. The Serbian explained: “There are many new components in the team, so to put them together is not easy. We need a bit more time to get what we want from the team.
“There are those who are still coming back from injury, or joined us late for pre-season, and they aren’t 100% yet, and we also have many young players. So overall, I’m very happy today because we still managed to get a result, and that’s the most important.”
While the Sailors Class of 2023 started the game with four new signings in Zharfan Rohaizad, Lionel Tan, Christopher van Huizen and Kodai, it was a familiar combination from last year that was responsible for the 11th-minute opening goal.
Diego Lopes and Maxime Lestienne combined well down the left to set the latter free, who sent in a peach of a cross into the box for the onrushing Hafiz to lash home a clinical strike from close range.
Tanjong Pagar had a golden opportunity in the 65th minute to draw level when they were awarded a penalty, but midfielder Mirko Šugić sent the resulting spot-kick wide.
That miss was subsequently punished by Kodai in the 89th minute, with the Sailors springing a devastating counter-attack that ended with the Japanese striker sliding home yet another Maxime cross for his first competitive goal in Sailors colours – making it 2-0 to the home side.
The Jaguars did eventually reduce the deficit in the second minute of added time through Shahrin Saberin’s header, but the Sailors restored their two-goal advantage just two minutes later, with Maxime once again laying the ball on a plate for Kodai to score again and seal an opening victory.
The brace was no less than what Kodai deserved for the solid shift he put in up front. This was underlined by Risto’s post-game revelation: the 23-year-old was one of those who was still far from achieving his optimum levels.
“Kodai was playing at only about 50% of his ability,“ said Risto. “He had just trained for about two weeks with the team after returning from injury, and he will need more time to get to his best. But we didn’t have a lot of options so I let him play today.
“Strikers need goals to get confidence, and fortunately for us, he scored two today, and that’s a great start for him.”
Unsurprisingly, Kodai credited Maxime for his critical role in the win, saying: “Today they were easy goals and I have to thank Maxime for the assists. I only joined training sessions two weeks ago and I am not feeling totally fine yet. Perhaps in a week or so, I will be at 100%.
Perhaps the cherry on top of the season-opening win for the 1,300 fans at Bishan, was witnessing history being made as the Sailors threw on Jonan and Idzham in the second half.
At just 16 years and 10 days old, defender Idzham became the third-youngest debutant in Singapore league history – behind the Young Lions duo of Khairin Nadim and Raoul Suhaimi.
Jonan is just a tad older, at 16 years, 7 months and 28 days. And the pair are the youngest to ever pull on the Sailors’ white and blue in the SPL.
While the Sailors are not averse to giving opportunities to talented teenagers – Glenn Ong (17 years, 8 months and 29 days) and Aniq Raushan (17 years, 5 months and 18 days) made their SPL debuts in 2021 – both Idzham and Jonan are the first Scholars from the Sailors’ Elite Development Programme launched in 2020 to come through the system.
“These young players trained very well during the pre-season with the first team, so I thought they deserved to get some minutes and feel important,” said Risto, explaining his decision to hand these two academy players their SPL debuts.
“It’s good for them to feel how it’s like playing at the top level, as it will help them grow as players.”
He stood, eyes transfixed on the flurry of activity in front of him. It was Thursday, 23 February and the Lion City Sailors were just 24 hours away from their 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season opener against Tanjong Pagar United at the Bishan Stadium.
Head Coach Risto Vidaković watched as his charges went through the paces at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre, but his almost stoic stillness was starkly contrasted with the palpable excitement at Mattar Road.
With the team gradually adapting to his philosophy of possession-based attacking football and showing promising signs in friendly matches since he took charge in early January, the 54-year-old Serbian is optimistic that his Sailors will put up a good show to set the tone for the season ahead.
“The team is growing each time we come together and there’s a lot of positivity amongst the boys – it’s like a family and everyone is enjoying their time with one another. We’re aware the true test comes when the season gets underway, but I’ve seen enough from them that I know they’re going to fight for everything on the pitch to get our first three points of the year,” he said, with conviction.
With Tanjong Pagar retaining the bulk of a squad that punched above their weight to finish sixth last season, Risto acknowledged this could be a tricky opening match, but backed his players to show grit and gumption to come through.
“I think everyone here knows that, especially those who were at the club for the past few seasons – every team is going to play very hard against us and give more than 100 percent because they’re motivated to beat us. I believe our players are experienced enough to know what to do and how to cope with this,” said Risto.
He is acutely aware of the importance of getting his reign off to a good start, but he has his eyes fixed on the long game for the big prize: the league title.
“The first game is always important – not just because of the three points, but also it gives you confidence for future games and the season. But the league is a long-term journey – you cannot win the league after a few games for sure.
“We need to turn it on throughout the year and keep at what we’ve been building on – to play an attractive style of football. And we have to carefully manage individual players’ condition so that we’re well prepared for all three rounds,” said the former Ceres-Negros tactician.
In Hariss Harun, Risto has an ideal leader with the ability to take command of a dressing room which is now brimming with young talent, and the experience to pull through difficult periods that every team will inevitably encounter.
The skipper is at the heart of the Risto revolution and is keen to lead the Sailors Class of 2023 into a new era for the club.
“Obviously this pre-season is starkly different from the past few, because of the new players and a new coach. Amongst the new players, there are several with plenty of potential and I’m excited to see how they improve and help the club in the next few years. This is a great opportunity for them to write a new story with this club.
“Along with players like Hafiz (Nor), Maxime (Lestienne) and Diego (Lopes), there are experienced heads in the dressing room to help me manage these boys and I’m truly excited to be in a position to help them grow here,” said the 32-year-old.
Despite the changes, Hariss acknowledged the fact Sailors are still expected to be amongst the frontrunners for the title and are relishing the opportunity to ‘right the wrongs’ of last season.
“It is at the lowest when you learn the most. The way we ended last season was poor and the fans deserve to see a better showing from the team for this year – they deserved so much more for the support that they have given us.
“It will be a tougher fight for the title this season, but it is a challenge that keeps us on our toes and will spur us on. Together our team will continue to strive and show the way forward in Singapore football on and off the pitch because that is what we stand for,” said the Singapore national team captain.
For now, Hariss just cannot wait to get onto the Bishan pitch to usher in the new season.
“We’re delighted to be back at our rightful home in Bishan. We just cannot wait to play some entertaining football and get the three points for our fans on Friday night,” he said.
Hariss Harun and the Lion City Sailors may be sporting a fresh new look alongside a rejuvenated squad with an influx of young players. But make no mistake, the Sailors Class of 2023 are poised to charge into the new season with the same old desire to succeed – perhaps even more boldly so.
With an sharp injection of the fearless vigour of youth, and driven by the Singapore Premier League trophy-shaped hole left last year, the Sailors will draw on inspiration provided by their 2022 experience.
“We remember the feeling very clearly, and there’s little doubt in our heads that we are capable of so much more. It’s been a fantastic pre-season with the spirit that the new players bring to the dressing room, and we’ve been able to blend this buzzy vibe with the lessons we carry with us from last season,” said the Sailors’ skipper.
“I’m personally feeling very positive about what we can achieve for our fans this year.”
The Sailors are about more than just the 11 on the pitch, more than just the 12th man, and indeed, representative of the community the club lives and works in – and its aspirations – that was the spirit with which the club was conceived.
“Walking across the Esplanade Bridge and taking in the experience of being surrounded by these buildings that represent the scale of what Singapore has achieved in such a short time was truly inspiring – especially when you think about the similarities to what the Sailors are aspiring to,” said Sailors’ Women’s defender, Umairah Hamdan.
“When we step out onto the pitch this year, we will be wearing more than just the club crest on our shirts, we will carry the shapes that represent our fans, our community, and the extended Sailors’ family.
“If it wasn’t clear before, it’s now very obvious – and I imagine that all of us will knowingly carry that inspiration with us every time we pull on the shirt,” she added.
While the Sailors women will drive to match a 2022 they finished as Invincibles in a memorable debut Deloitte Women’s Premier League campaign, their male counterparts are gunning to reclaim the SPL title and a return to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Group Stages for a second shot at battling against the best on the continent.
And Christopher van Huizen is optimistic of what the future holds.
“We’ve worked our socks off in pre-season, and we’re ready,” said the 30-year-old, who joined the Sailors from Tampines Rovers in the off-season.
“We’ve taken lessons on board, we’re inspired and we’re ready to turn 2023 White, Blue and Bold.”
New season, new threads.
The Lion City Sailors will be decked in a bold blue kit designed by PUMA when they go on the road this season.
With intricate trapeziums, triangles and chevrons set against a vivid blue sky, the design elements on the front of the 2023 Lion City Sailors Away Jersey represent the shapes of us – of our team, our fans, our community – that shape the future of our club.
“This was a new experience for me, modelling a jersey – and that in the middle of town as well, but it was really quite funny when we started being uncomfortable, before settling into a groove,” said Abdul Rasaq Akeem, who modelled the kit alongside fellow new recruit Christopher van Huizen as well as WPL counterparts the likes of Beatrice Tan and Umairah Hamdan.
“The final product was slick, with our club kit and colours against the Singapore skyline: our shapes set against the shapes of our country – that was very cool.”
The shoot took place in downtown Singapore, around the Esplanade Bridge and Helix Bridge with the Sailors soaking in the feeling of being surrounded by the shapes – our distinct skyline – that are deeply intertwined with the success of our country.
The 2023 Lion City Sailors Away Jersey will go on sale soon!
Stay tuned to our social media platforms for more information.
Ladies and gentlemen of The Crew,
We’re absolutely delighted that you’ve put your name down to come on board for the Sailors’ 2023 adventure, and we can’t wait for you to get involved in the exciting activities we’ve got in the pipeline!
You would have received your Membership Number in your inbox and an email with the link to apply for the Season Pass – applications will close on Tues, 14 Feb at 6pm, or when passes are no longer available.
Only members of The Crew can apply for the Season Pass, so if you haven’t already done so – click here to join The Crew!
Membership to The Crew opens doors to everything you’ll need for a front row seat to back your Sailors in the 2023 Season.
From discounted Home match tickets to attractive deals at partner establishments, vouchers for the Lion City Sailors Football Club Official Store on Shopee and exclusive invites to unique experiences that will bring you closer to the players and club that you love.
Come onboard The Crew for just $48 (incl GST) and make bold new memories on your journey with the Sailors!
Memberships come with these exciting benefits:
- A Crew Pack comprising a Membership Card to The Crew, Scarf, Stickers and a Sailors Lanyard
- 20% off all HOME match tickets (subject to availability on a first-come-first-served basis)
- 5 x Shopee vouchers for use on the Official Lion City Sailors Shopee store
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