Category: News
The Lion City Sailors women’s Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against Balestier Khalsa, which was initially scheduled to take place on Saturday (June 11) at Yishun Stadium, will be rescheduled to a later date.
This postponement comes in the wake of several Balestier players testing positive for Covid-19. The rescheduled date for this match will be announced in due time.
The Sailors, who beat Albirex Niigata (S) 4-1 in their opening WPL match last weekend, will now turn their attentions to the game against Hougang United at the Yishun Stadium on June 18.
Back in January this year, Venetia Lim tore a tendon in her foot after being tackled during training – an injury that subsequently kept the Singapore international out of action for close to four months.
While it was an unfortunate setback for the up-and-coming midfielder, Venetia refused to wallow in self-pity. Instead, she worked hard on her rehabilitation, and eventually recovered in time to be included in the Lionesses’ SEA Games squad.
Indeed, Venetia featured in all three of the Lionesses’ matches at the Games in Vietnam, starting two of them and coming on as a substitute during the team’s historic victory over Laos.
Now, the 18-year-old has her sights firmly set on helping the Lion City Sailors achieve their goals in the Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL).
While Venetia was an unused substitute in the Sailors’ 4-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) last weekend, she is hoping that her efforts in training will lead to her playing some part in the team’s next game against Balestier Khalsa at the Yishun Stadium.
“I’m looking forward to making my debut for the Sailors, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel a little nervous as well,” Venetia candidly admitted.
“Personally, I am very thankful towards coach Sheau Shyan for giving me this opportunity to be part of the Sailors. Having been injured for the past few months, I just hope that I will be able to contribute effectively to the team.”
While the Sailors’ margin of victory over Albirex was ultimately comfortable, they were pushed hard by the Jurong-based outfit, and head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan was keen to emphasise after the game that there was still room for improvement.
It is a sentiment that Venetia agrees with, although she firmly believes that the Sailors will get better with more games under their belt.
“I thought the team took some time to settle down, and Albirex put up a strong challenge,” Venetia mused. “But despite the short amount of time we had to gel with each other prior to the first match, I think we did well to settle down and execute the coach’s game plan.
“Now, I can see that the team is more comfortable playing with each other, and we are all determined to continue striving hard to achieve our goals.”
On a personal level, Venetia hopes her experience with the Sailors in the WPL this season will help her develop further – both on and off the pitch.
“I hope to grow and improve both as a football player and as a person,” she said. “All the seven teams in the WPL will be fighting hard for the win in every game, and will be vying for the championship.
“To be able to play these incredible teams, against some of the best players in Singapore, will definitely provide me with more match experience. It will also help me learn other aspects of the game, and give me exposure to diverse playing styles. These teams will put me to test and develop me through their respective means.”
For now, though, Venetia is simply focused on helping the Sailors get all three points against a potentially tricky Balestier side.
“Balestier is a strong team, and will undoubtedly be hungry for the win. Their aggressiveness and strength in the attacking third could pose problems for us, and I’m sure they’ll put up a good fight,” said Venetia.
“But we will approach the game by playing as a team. We have set the bar pretty high during the first game, so we have to build on that. As a team, we need to be confident, keep our composure, and concentrate on playing according to the coach’s game plan. If we do that, I’m confident it’ll increase our chances of winning the game.”
The Lion City Sailors made the perfect start to their debut Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign on Sunday evening (5 June), beating Albirex Niigata (S) 4-1 at the Yishun Stadium.
A brace from Singapore international Nur Izzati Rosni, along with strikes from Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer, were enough for the Sailors to pick up all three points, despite facing stiff resistance from Albirex in the first 45 minutes.
But while Sailors head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan was pleased with the win, she admits that there are still several areas she would like her side to improve on.
“Our chemistry needs to get better, and we need to sort out some of our set-pieces,” elaborated the 44-year-old, who added that the women are gunning for the WPL title this season.
“We also need to work on defending the long ball better, because that’s what we can expect more of in the matches ahead. We have to improve on our defensive transitions as well. So this means that when we lose the ball, we have to get back into our defensive positions quickly.”
Nonetheless, Sheau Shyan praised her charges for putting in a display that was “beyond expectations”, especially given the short runway that they had to prepare for the season.
“Our performance was beyond expectations because we were coming into the game cold, while the rest of the teams played their first game last week,” said Sheau Shyan. “Not only that, we’ve only had our national players back with us for two weeks (after the SEA Games). So all in all, this is a very good start for us.”
One of the players who stood out for the Sailors was Izzati, whose goal scoring heroics at the recent SEA Games helped create history for Singapore.
The 23-year-old scored the all-important opening goal for the Sailors just before half-time, before doubling her tally in the 86th minute to put the icing on the cake for her team.
Reflecting on the game, Izzati said: “Albirex were tough opponents who gave us a real challenge, especially in the first-half. But I think we managed to get back stronger, and were more creative in the second half. That’s where we managed to find the penetrative pass in the final third.
“To win 4-1, and on a personal level, to score two goals, is a really nice feeling. It’s a great start to the season, but we are all aware that there is still room for improvement.
“But I feel we have good chemistry in the team, with quality players in every position. That makes it much easier for us to play the game. We will work even harder to get better, so we can play entertaining, beautiful football for our fans, football that is deserving of the great support we’ve been getting.”
It was just barely a month ago when Nur Izzati Rosni entered her name into the history books with a dramatic winner against Laos to secure the Lionesses’ first win at the SEA Games since 1985.
Izzati’s goal, which came in the 95th minute of the match, was also the first that the Lionesses had scored since the 1995 edition of the Games.
The Lionesses’ impassioned and jubilant celebrations that followed showed just how much the goal, and victory, meant to the team.
And the player at the centre of it all, Izzati, intends to create more of such memories – both for the Lionesses, as well as her club side, the Lion City Sailors.
Credit: Sport Singapore/Dyan Tjhia
The Sailors’ women make their Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut on Sunday (5 June) against Albirex Niigata (S) at the Yishun Stadium.
“I’m overjoyed that I was able to score the winner, and that I was able to help Singapore to its first SEA Games victory in nearly 37 years,” said Izzati. “I didn’t know it then, but that goal meant that I’m the fourth player to ever score for the Lionesses at the SEA Games, which is a huge honour for me, and makes me really happy.
“This historic achievement has inspired me to keep working hard, and to make runs into good positions so I can score more goals in future matches, be it for the national team or for the Sailors.”
But Izzati’s SEA Games experience was more than just about that historic night. The 23-year-old also gained valuable exposure against regional opponents, and saw first-hand what it takes to play at the international level.
“I’ve learnt a lot about trust and discipline during our SEA Games campaign,” Izzati explained. “It is important for us to adopt and follow our coach’s game plans closely, no matter what they are. More importantly, we have to make certain that the team never gives up, and that we continue to cover for one another until the final whistle.
“These are just some of the lessons that I will take with me as I prepare myself for the upcoming WPL season with the Sailors.”
With the Sailors winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) last year, Izzati is determined to achieve the same level of success in the WPL this season.
“The club’s goal is to be the best in Singapore by winning trophies, and implementing a certain style of play. So it is a true honour to be able to represent the Sailors in the WPL, and it motivates me to work harder and give it my all to bring success to the women’s team,” said Izzati.
The Sailors’ opposition on Sunday, Albirex, lost their opening game 2-1 to Tanjong Pagar last weekend, but Izzati is certain the Jurong-based outfit will not be easy opponents, and urged her team to remain switched on throughout the 90 minutes.
“Albirex have a few seasoned players who are very good defensively,” said Izzati. “But we are confident that we will be able to hold our own against them. All of us are excited for the game, and we can’t wait to play competitive local football again after such a long time.
“But for now, we are just focused on one game at a time, and we will do our best to get the three points against Albirex.”
Tajeli joins Geylang on loan
Lion City Sailors defender Tajeli Salamat has joined Geylang International on loan for the remainder of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
The versatile 28-year-old who can play anywhere across the backline joined the Sailors in the club’s inaugural SPL season, after a successful 2019 that saw him help the now-defunct Warriors FC to a runners-up finish in the Singapore Cup.
Tajeli was part of the Sailors’ Class of 2021 that won the club’s first SPL title, with Kim Do-hoon’s men edging past Albirex Niigata (S) only on the final day of what was an exciting domestic football season.
His performances across 2021 earned him a call-up to Tatsuma Yoshida’s national squad for the year-ending AFF Suzuki Cup campaign that saw the Lions play their way into Singaporean hearts with a blood-and-guts performance in their semi-final loss to Indonesia.
Tajeli has made 36 appearances across three competitions for the Sailors, contributing two goals in the club’s inaugural season.
The Lion City Sailors might be making their debut in the Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL) this season, but that has not stopped them from aiming high, as they look to emulate the men’s team by winning the league title.
It is not hard to see why the Sailors fancy their chances of becoming champions. Led by head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan, the Sailors boast a talented squad with a good blend of youth and experience that includes a number of Singapore internationals, including the likes of National Team captain Ernie Sulastri, up-and-coming midfielder Nur Izzati, as well as the likes of Dorcas Chu and Canadian Madison Telmer .
“In terms of results, we are gunning for the top,” declared Sheau Shyan. “But we are also more focused on the process. This is our maiden season, and the goal is to really get everyone training hard, understanding the way we want to play, and develop over the next three years.”
And the Sailors do not just want to win the WPL title – they want to do so in style, by playing an attacking and exciting brand of football.
“We want to come out and play good attacking football. After all, our belief is that football must be fun and entertaining,” Sheau Shyan said.
Since the Sailors’ inception in 2020, the club has established for itself a reputation of being an ambitious trailblazer, with the men’s team winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title last year, while also making history in their impressive maiden Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign last month.
Sheau Shyan admits that the success achieved by the club so far has raised expectations, calling for the women’s team to follow suit. She said: “I always have very high personal expectations for each season, but this is the first time I’ve felt any external pressure to perform.”
Sailors captain Ernie echoed the sentiment, as she added: “There is definitely added pressure on the team. There is a certain level that the public expects from us as we are representing the Sailors.
“However, if we stick together as a team, follow our coach’s strategic plans, give our best in every game and trust the process, then I’m confident that everything will fall into place for us.”
While the Sailors are among the favourites to win the WPL title, both Sheau Shyan and Ernie are well aware that it will not be an easy target to achieve.
For one, Covid-19 pandemic – which forced the WPL into a two-year hiatus – meant that the team had limited opportunities to train together, much less play matches.
“We are trying to get the team to gel in a short span of time,” Sheau Shyan explained. “As we were previously restricted by Covid-19 measures, we’re talking about a mere two weeks of full team training together in two years.”
Given the quality of the other six teams in the league, the Sailors can also expect stern competition for the WPL title.
“All the teams in the WPL are under high-calibre coaches whom I respect,” Ernie mused. “Under the guidance of these coaches, I believe all the teams will put on a good fight and perform to the best of their abilities, so every game will be a challenge for us.”
While the WPL season officially kicks off this weekend, the Sailors have to wait till next week before making their debut with a clash against Albirex Niigata (S).
Sheau Shyan hailed the Jurong-based outfit as an “experienced team…that plays direct football”, while Ernie believes that they will prove to be difficult to break down.
“We expect Albirex to play a more defensive, tactical style of football,” said Ernie. “It will not be an easy match, but we trust coach Sheau Shyan’s tactical plan will get us the victory. We just need to execute it well and do our best to make her proud.”
The Lion City Sailors will help fly the Singapore flag at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers in June.
Lions’ captain Hariss Harun will be joined by 11 of his Sailors’ teammates – Hassan Sunny, Amirul Adli, Iqram Rifqi, Nur Adam Abdullah, Shahdan Sulaiman, Adam Swandi, Hafiz Nor, Song Ui-young, Saifullah Akbar, Faris Ramli and Gabriel Quak – in new national team coach Takayuki Nishigaya’s first national squad.
The 27-strong squad will come together on Wednesday (25 May) for centralised training before flying to Abu Dhabi for a friendly with Kuwait. The Lions will then travel to the Kyrgyz Republic on 2 June where they will face the hosts, Tajikistan, and Myanmar in Group F of the qualifiers.
The six group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the 2023 Finals.
Singapore are looking to qualify for the Finals for the first time in the country’s history. The Lions’ sole appearance came in 1984 as hosts.
The Sailors go into Lions’ camp in good form, winning all three Singapore Premier League matches – a 4-3 win over Hougang United, 1-0 victory over Geylang International and a 4-0 thumping of Tampines Rovers – since returning from their AFC Champions League (ACL) campaign in Buriram, and will look to bring the same levels of performance to the national team.
The Lions leave for Abu Dhabi on Sunday (29 May).
Sailors in the Lions squad for the Asian Cup Qualifiers:
Hassan Sunny, Hariss Harun, Amirul Adli, Iqram Rifqi, Nur Adam Abdullah, Shahdan Sulaiman, Adam Swandi, Hafiz Nor, Song Ui-young, Saifullah Akbar, Faris Ramli, Gabriel Quak
Four different scorers, a clean sheet against one of the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) in-form sides, equalling a club-record of six consecutive league wins and a nine-point lead established at the top of the table.
On Saturday (21 May) evening, the Lion City Sailors turned in a perfect response to harsh words from Head Coach Kim Do-hoon, beating title rivals Tampines Rovers 4-0 at Our Tampines Hub.
A week after a lacklustre display in a 1-0 win over Geylang International that disappointed Kim, the reigning SPL champions put in a fluid and commanding performance that blew the Stags away – and also reaffirmed their commitment to excellence and a continual development of the Sailors’ style of football.
With the team scheduled for a few weeks’ break due to a bye in the following SPL matchweek and the upcoming FIFA international window, Kim called for his charges to leave it all on the pitch, and they did just that.
“Before the game, I told my boys let’s have a good game and pick up the points so that we can have a good holiday and enjoy time with our families. Full credit to them, they were brilliant today – absolutely fantastic,” said the 2020 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) winner with Ulsan Hyundai.
“I kept telling the team that we need to continue to develop and play better football after coming back from the ACL – and today the boys showed their quality and played exactly how we prepared. What’s more impressive is that we kept a clean sheet and that shows how strong we’re getting with each game.
“There’s nothing else I can ask from them and I’m really proud of them tonight.”
The Sailors tactician made five changes to his starting eleven, handing starts to Hafiz Nor and Nur Adam Abdullah in the full-back positions, while Singapore internationals Shahdan Sulaiman, Faris Ramli and Gabriel Quak also returned.
With kickoff delayed by an hour and 15 minutes due to the Lightning Warning System, the Sailors were itching to get going and took the game to Tampines in the opening stages, their high press causing some early jitters in the Stags’ backline.
The Sailors’ first real chance came in the 25th minute, with Song – deployed in the false nine role that he played to good effect at the ACL – being denied by Syazwan Buhari in a one-on-one opportunity.
The deadlock was broken 14 minutes later. After Faris won the ball back in the final third, Gabriel jinked past a couple of defenders on the right before unleashing a cross-shot that Ryaan Sanizal deflected past his own goalkeeper.
After going close on another two occasions just before half time, the Sailors carried the same intensity into the second half and continued to wreak havoc in the transitions, with Maxime seeing his fierce drive pushed around the post on 50 minutes.
Tampines’ top scorer Boris Kopitović – who scored 11 goals in his previous six outings – struck the outside of the post with his free-kick on the edge of the box soon after and he would live to rue that missed opportunity.
The Sailors went on to double their advantage in the 56th minute with substitute Haiqal Pashia making an instant impact. Introduced into the fray two minutes earlier for Gabriel, the 23-year-old raced down the right flank before whipping in a teasing ball for Maxime to divert in despite Syazwan’s best efforts to keep it out.
Kim’s men were beginning to go full throttle at that stage, with Maxime turning provider with a trademark cross to tee up Song for a firm downwards header from six yards out as the Sailors extended their lead to three 10 minutes later.
That was the Belgian winger’s seventh assist of the season as he continues to cement himself as the league’s top creator.
The rout was completed in the 71st minute, with Pashia taking a superbly-weighted Diego Lopes pass in his stride before slipping it past the onrushing goalkeeper for his first goal of the season, and rounding off a memorable appearance off the bench.
“Pashia’s one of the players who developed the most in this last year, and the speed of his development sometimes scares me,” said Kim.
“I’ve to give credit to him because he has put in a lot of hard work during training. He did exactly what we wanted from him in the second half – going one on one and using his speed down the line. But there’s still a lot more he can bring and I’m excited at what he can offer us.”
With Man of the Match Hariss Harun stoutly marshalling the defence till the final whistle, the Sailors preserved the clean sheet that was a fourth straight league shutout for Hassan Sunny since a six-match streak between July to August 2010 when he was a Tampines player.
The Sailors have now opened up a healthy gap at the top of the eight-team SPL standings, but Kim refused to be drawn into any title-winning talk and instead called for his side to continue in the same vein when they return to SPL action on 19th June against Balestier Khalsa.
“We showed our full potential today, but I wouldn’t say the full potential of today is the full potential of tomorrow. There’s a lot more room for improvement and I want us to keep becoming better,” said a pleased Kim.
“We have to perform not just for ourselves, but also for our fans. Hopefully there’s a lot more good performances for them to enjoy throughout the rest of the season.”
It was an off-colour and insipid display – one that did not reflect the team’s abilities and potential – as the Lion City Sailors laboured to a 1-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Geylang International last Saturday (14 May).
It was a performance that disappointed Kim Do-hoon, who did not mince his words after the game, words that have resonated with the team as they prepare for their next assignment, a tough away game against Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub on Saturday (May 21) evening.
Sailors’ winger Hafiz Nor is acutely aware that he and his teammates will need to show vast improvement to demonstrate their firm professional commitment to Kim – and to defeat the in-form Stags.
“Obviously our performance wasn’t up to standard against Geylang and we’re aware that Coach is quite disappointed with us. We appreciate his honesty in saying we just didn’t do well enough and it’s now up to us to prove – not just to him, but also ourselves – that we’re much better than this,” said the 33-year-old Hafiz.
“We know we have the quality, we just have to go out there and give 110 percent in every game, regardless of the opponent, to show why we deserve to be champions again. If we want to remain up there, we have to put our heads into the game – fully – and show what we’re capable of.”
The Sailors have won their last five SPL matches, but will face a stiff challenge to make it six, against a Tampines side that are unbeaten in their last six since a narrow 1-0 loss to Kim’s men in March. Gavin Lee’s charges are shaping up nicely and will eye the chance to narrow the seven-point gap between both teams in this one.
In what could prove to be a real grind, Hafiz vowed to leave it all on the field to return from the east of the island with a win.
“Tampines are definitely one of the strongest contenders for the title. They play a good brand of football and have strong individual players, so it’s definitely not going to be easy for us,” stressed the speedy wide man.
“What’s most important for us is to set out with the right mentality and show hunger going into this game – if we display those elements, we should be able to get the three points.”
Things have been going well for Hafiz on the personal front as he welcomed his second child in April. And he is hoping to enjoy similar joys on the career front.
Having already played more minutes in the SPL than he did in the 2021 title-winning season, the Singapore international has gleaned much from training with a winger of European pedigree in Maxime Lestienne, and he is looking to add more goals to the one that he has got so far.
“Maxime’s definitely one of the best foreigners I’ve ever played with in my career. He’s so smart in the way he makes his runs and always does the right things in one-on-one situations with defenders,” elaborated Hafiz.
“It’s not just in training, but also in games – I would observe from the bench how he does things and how he assists the others. It’s a good learning experience and he inspires me to do more whenever I’m on the pitch.
“Even though I’m turning 34, I know I can still improve and be a more effective winger for the team – be it providing more assists or scoring more goals. I’m working very hard every day to show that age is just a number – we are all working hard to get back to the levels that we know we can hit.”
As the Lion City Sailors players trudged off the pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (14 May) night, celebrations were muted, perhaps overshadowed by a sense of relief to have escaped with a 1-0 win over a spiky Geylang International to collect a fifth straight Singapore Premier League (SPL) win.
The Sailors impressed with their attacking prowess in the 4-3 win over Hougang United on 6 May, and Kim Do-hoon’s men were expected to be brimming with confidence against an Eagles side that have not won in six matches since that surprise 1-0 win over the Sailors in March.
But it was a listless – even placid – performance that saw the Sailors produce just two shots on target all night, one of which was Diego Lopes’s match-winner.
It was a far cry from the swashbuckling Sailors that flew the Singapore flag at April’s Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) group stage campaign.
Kim could not hide his disappointment.
“Was the pressing as fast and aggressive as what we experienced in the ACL? No. Instead of building up play, instead of trying to challenge ourselves, we’re literally running away from what our opponents were doing, and not doing what we were supposed to be doing. Where’s the personality? Where’s the character?” questioned the SPL’s coach of the month for April.
“Today we let ourselves down. This is not acceptable.”
Geylang showed endeavour and hunger which could have gotten them a point, but Kim believes the below-par display was more an issue of the Sailors’ headspace – and called for a long hard look in the mirror.
“I’m not going to talk about our opponents, because this is all internal – it’s about us.
“I’m looking back at myself as well – because it starts from me. How can I make the most of the quality that my boys have, how can I help them bring that quality onto the field?” mulled the mastermind behind Ulsan Hyundai’s 2020 ACL triumph.
“Ever since we got back from the ACL, I kept saying that we need to prove ourselves again and we need to show on the pitch that we’re continuing to develop. But it seems like there was a bit of relaxation or a bit of the feeling that maybe we’re happy where we are now – that’s completely not the atmosphere I want in my dressing room,” said the disappointed 51-year-old.
“As professional football players, you have to do everything to perform well on the pitch but I didn’t see too much of that today. If we can’t do that, I can’t really say we’re professional enough.”
Geylang dished out the Sailors’ only domestic defeat in 2022, and Kim did not underestimate the Eagles on Saturday, naming a strong starting eleven – with only two changes: Hassan Sunny returning in goal and M. Anumanthan coming in for Shahdan Sulaiman in midfield.
The game was less than four minutes old when the Lightning Warning System came on and only resumed under a heavy rain even after three-quarter of an hour’s delay. The Sailors’ first chance came on 19 minutes with Kim Shin-wook nodding over from six yards out after Maxime Lestienne had put it on a plate for the former South Korea captain.
Geylang’s plan was clear – to have Šime Žužul holding up the play before spreading it out wide to their pacy wingers – and that almost worked a treat in the 29th minute. The Croatian front man released Hazzuwan Halim through on goal, but Hassan made himself big to deny the Geylang winger from giving his side the lead.
The defending champions broke the deadlock six minutes later, with Diego making a shrewd run to free himself from the heavy jostling in the penalty area before meeting Maxime’s inswinging corner with a firm header that flew past Geylang debutant keeper Hafiz Ahmad.
The Sailors held the one-goal advantage until half time and started the second half with Diego and Shin-wook going close. After Gabriel Quak was introduced at the break, Shahdan, Faris Ramli and Hafiz Nor subsequently joined the fray but were unable to fashion clear-cut goal-scoring chances.
Captaining the Eagles on his 33rd birthday, Abdil Qaiyyim relished the opportunity to play against the Sailors for the first time since his 2021 mid-season move and put up a dominant display at the back to thwart his former teammates.
Noor Ali’s men made life difficult for the Sailors late on and could have stolen a point, if Takahiro Tezuka’s 30-yard free-kick was not denied by the crossbar.
With a tough clash against in-form Tampines Rovers coming up next Saturday (21 May), the Sailors will need to put in a much better display to maintain their position at the top of the eight-team SPL standings.
“If we continue in this way we can maybe pick up three points every week, but this will be the level where we will remain at,” warned Kim. “I’m sure none of us want this – we can’t be happy with where we’re at now.
“One thing I’ll make sure is that the boys get this message – football is not played by reputation. It’s not about individuality, it’s about the whole team.
“Individual players will need to put in effort and show personality so that we can go to the next level. That was something we lacked in this game and I’m going to make sure we don’t repeat this attitude.”
