Category: News
Fourth time’s the charm for the Lion City Sailors as they finally managed to defeat Singapore Premier League (SPL) title rivals Tampines Rovers after three unsuccessful tries since their inception in 2020.
The 4-1 victory at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday night (15 August) was as convincing as it got, with the Sailors largely dominant at both ends of the pitch even with the absence of the Brazilian duo of Jorge Fellipe (suspension) and Diego Lopes (injury).
The victory puts the Sailors just three points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) with a game in hand – and with better goal difference – the Sailors are determined to carry the momentum from this victory forward in their quest for the league title.
“For sure, the atmosphere and vibe in the team is very good now,” said Gabriel Quak, who opened the scoring on the evening with a classy 34th minute lob. “We’ve to continue working hard to put further pressure on Albirex. The title race is still quite open now and we’re not ruling out Tampines and Hougang United. The good thing is we’re in control of our own destiny now and that’s a positive.”
There also were several positives in the Sailors’ performance on an evening the league were able to welcome up to 500 fans to each match.
Leading 2-0 at the break after quick-fire goals late into the first half (34th minute and 36th min), Kim Do-hoon’s men picked up where they left off in the second period, with another brace in rapid succession (46th and 48th min) to effectively end the game as a contest.
Tampines did pull one back through Boris Kopitović just before the hour mark, but the Sailors would see out the game comfortably, delivering Kim’s first victory since taking charge in late June.
The slick football and dominant display that came from a masterful execution of Kim’s tactical plan gave the most satisfaction to the Sailors.
“The performance showed exactly what we’ve been working on in training for the past few weeks under Coach Kim,” said Faris Ramli, who played a starring role, with three assists for the four Sailors’ goals.
“It was pleasing to see the whole team working well together – that is why we managed to execute whatever we’ve trained to. We worked our socks off to the extent that almost everyone was talking about cramps after the game – that was the level of commitment we put in.”
Echoing his sentiments was Gabriel, who believes the victory is a culmination of the hard work of all in the Sailors’ camp.
“It’s definitely a comprehensive win for us and credit goes to everyone involved with the club,” said the 30-year-old.
“From the head coach to the backroom staff, everyone did their part this past week – that’s why we managed to produce such a convincing performance.”
Gabriel’s opening goal came as a result of some intelligent play by Croatian frontman Stipe Plazibat, who dropped deep into midfield before producing a measured pass that split the Tampines defence wide open. It looked like a well-worked move right off the training ground – except that it was not.
“The lead up to that goal was down to how our game has been evolving,” explained the 2020 SPL Player of the Year. “There were a couple of goals I’ve scored in this manner and it’s down to the understanding that we’ve built over time. I’ve to thank Stipe for that lovely pass to set us on the way to victory.”
Gabriel’s goal set the stage for the Sailors’ win, with Faris then taking centrestage, his execution of defensive duties as well as creativity driving the team to what was an emphatic victory over fellow title challengers.
After two perfectly-weighted passes for Stipe and Saifullah Akbar to score on either side of the break, it was his anticipation and industry that enable him to steal the ball off Kyoga Nakamura before teeing up Stipe for the Croatian’s second of the night and the Sailors’ fourth.
With that, Faris became the second player after Tampines’ Armin Bošnjak to chalk up three assists in a single game this season and it was a feat that did not dawn upon him until the dust had settled.
“I didn’t even think of the assists during the game because the most important thing was to get us the three points,” said the 2019 SPL Player of the Year. “It was only after the game when my teammates were telling me about it when I realised.”
A huge part of this victory must be attributed to Kim, who identified the loopholes and weaknesses of a strong Stags side for the Sailors to take full advantage.
Gabriel said the South Korean’s game plan was “executed to perfection”, while Faris enjoyed the opportunity to play a roving role in a fluid tactical system.
“He wanted me to harass them in the middle and win balls in that area, and as a result, I was not always in the same position,” revealed Faris. “We all had to do that, so everyone needed to be really in sync with each other.
“When I’m not in a certain position, someone else needs to take up the space I left behind, and I need to do the same as well, filling a position when my teammate is not there. Our roles and responsibilities can change during a game, and that’s part of the beauty about what we’re learning under Coach Kim – this tactical flexibility that can bring us to another level.”
On an individual level, the performances of both Faris and Gabriel last night were also a testament to their mental fortitude and ability to rise above challenges.
Gabriel was hauled off before half time in last week’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa, with the Singapore international admitting it was “not a good feeling”.
“When something like that happens, you either crack and crumble or you get going and fight again,” he said. “I didn’t like what happened that day, but it was all good after I had a talk with the Coach.
“I can’t go into details about the conversation. All I can say is I took a slightly different approach for this game and it has helped me.”
Faris is also beginning to blossom again after a difficult first half of the season where he was unable to break into the first team.
“As I said before, this has been the most challenging year for me. But now I feel really good under Coach Kim,” he shared. “Today I’m needed as a second striker and maybe in another game I’ll be needed on the wings. Wherever he wants me to play, I’ll do it for the team.”
And the Sailors are acutely aware that their performance levels must continue to rise if they are to meet the target of winning the league.
“Teams are observing how we play, so it’s definitely going to be harder in the coming games and we cannot expect to win easily,” warned Faris. “But we’re feeling confident under Coach Kim. It’s not always going to be the same formation against every team and if we continue to execute his tactical plans like we did against Tampines, I believe we can achieve our target.”
The Sailors next face Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium on Friday night (20 Aug), and could rise to the SPL summit before Albirex take on Young Lions on Sunday (22 Aug) evening.
Two games, two draws.
An encouraging point against defending Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) was followed by a hard earned draw with Balestier Khalsa, having to dig deep before netting an injury-time leveller through a penalty.
The Lion City Sailors may not have won under Kim Do-hoon yet, but the Sailors believe this is merely a teething issue as they work towards being a multi-dimensional and unpredictable team.
“Coach Kim wants us to be able to play multiple formations during a game. That’s something quite new to us (in Singapore football),” shared forward Faris Ramli. “Previously a change of formation may only come when someone in the team receives a red card.
“I think what he wants to instill in our mindset is that we shouldn’t be too rigid on the pitch and that’s something which the team is in line with. He has a lot of experience (coaching in the K League and winning the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL)) and he’s clearly always pushing to impart that knowledge to us.
“We’re progressively improving as a team and adapting to his style. Everyone’s happy in training, now it’s just a matter of translating everything we learned onto the pitch in terms of results.”
Midfielder Saifullah Akbar shares the sentiment, noting that Kim “has several variations in how he wants the team to play”.
“Basically he wants us to be a multi-faceted team that has the ability to outwit teams at the regional level. For sure it’s been hard and intense training under him, but he has also introduced certain games during training sessions to make things interesting and help ease our minds,” added the 2020 SPL Young Player of the Year. “We have got to know him better since he took over in late June, and I’m sure the wins are coming.”
Next up for the Sailors is a huge fixture, entertaining Tampines Rovers in a battle between last season’s top two local sides on Sunday evening (15 August). Kim’s men – who are six points behind frontrunners Albirex with two games in hand – can put pressure on the league leaders and put more distance between themselves and the Stags.
The Sailors have a score to settle with Tampines, having not been able to get a victory over them in three encounters – two draws and a defeat – since their 2020 inception. The most recent fixture was an enthralling season-opening encounter in March, with the Sailors leading 3-1 before a quick-fire Yasir Hanapi brace ensured the Stags got a share of the spoils.
Saifullah believes the winless run against their title rivals comes as “a source of motivation”, while singling out the midfield battle between both sides as the key area that will decide the game.
“We definitely want to beat them this time round,” said the 22-year-old. “It’s important for us to take control of the midfield where they have players like Zehrudin Mehmedović and Kyoga Nakamura. We have fantastic midfielders as well in Hariss (Harun), Shahdan (Sulaiman) and Song (Ui-young) – there are many options for us, and I believe we can win this battle if we follow coach Kim’s instructions.”
Faris noted the difficulty playing against a Tampines side under the tutelage of Gavin Lee since 2019 and now armed with the experience of playing against top Asian sides in their maiden ACL campaign in June and July.
“They’ve been under the same coach and are already accustomed to their style of play, while we had a change of coach recently. That’s the key difference,” acknowledged the 28-year-old.
“We need to get our act together against them and show what we’re capable of. We don’t want to lose any more points after dropping four (against Albirex and Balestier) in the last two matches.”
On the personal front, there are reasons enough for Faris and Saifullah to step up and prove their worth as the league heads into the business end of the season.
Coming home to link up with the Sailors this year after a season north of the Causeway with Terengganu FC, Faris had to stick it out in a difficult first half of 2021 where he did not manage to break into the first eleven. Now he’s beginning to find some headway under Kim and is ready to make up for lost time.
“In my career, this is definitely the season where I had to stay the most patient as a player,” said the 2019 SPL Player of the Year, who has one goal and an assist to his name this campaign. “For me as a player, the priority is the team and the most important thing is that we’re playing to our strengths.
“At the start of the season, I was often on the bench. I just adopted a different mindset, being patient and supporting the team in whatever way was needed.
“I guess patience is really a virtue and now it’s starting to show. Coach Kim’s a coach who really likes to see how I play and I’m happy that he has me in his plans. Honestly I feel I have a lot more to give to the Sailors and now’s the time for me to show why I’m here. I just have to grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Enthusiastically grabbing opportunities that present themselves is a similar approach that Saifullah has adopted.
Playing alongside top players the likes of former Benfica midfielder Diego Lopes, Harris and Shahdan is an opportunity Saifullah is making the most of on a daily basis.
“It’s been so nice playing and learning from Diego. Sometimes there isn’t even the need to communicate on the pitch because you just know where he will be to receive the pass or to pass to you,” said the young playmaker who made his Singapore national team debut in a 4-0 defeat to Palestine in June.
“It’s my honour to train with players like him, Hariss and Shahdan where I can pick up something from them every day. I’m happy now that I’ve beaten my scoring record from last season (two goals), but I can’t be satisfied,” said Saifullah who has already exceeded his personal tally last season with three goals and an assist thus far.
“I know I need to continue to score and assist more to be regarded as a top player – and more importantly, I need to do my part to help the team get results and hit our target of winning the league.”
This Sunday (15 August), the Jalan Besar Stadium is the venue for a tasty tie that could well play a big part in deciding the destination of the Singapore Premier League title – and 500 fans will be able to get a close-up view of the action as it unfolds.
The Lion City Sailors sit second in the eight-team SPL standings just three points adrift of league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) but having played one game less. And victory over fellow title challengers Tampines Rovers – who sit in fourth spot seven points behind the Sailors with two games in hand over Albirex – on Sunday will see Kim Do-hoon’s men stay well in the hunt.
Earlier today the Football Association of Singapore announced that up to a maximum of 500 fans – up from 100 previously – will be allowed entry to SPL matches starting on Friday (13 Aug). This follows guidelines announced by Sport Singapore (SportSG) on 7 August, in line with the government directive regarding the calibrated easing of safe management measures.
The number of permitted spectators will be further raised to 1,000 with effect from 19 August. This boost in fan numbers comes in time for another crunch fixture for the Sailors, who will host another title-challenger, Hougang United. The Cheetahs currently sit third in the table, just two points behind the Sailors.
In order to gain entry, fans will have to produce proof of having received the full two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine in the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL); the latter includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca. Individuals who have been vaccinated will only be admitted if the date of the match falls at least 14 days after their second dose.
Fans who produce proof of a negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result, will also be allowed entry. The ART must be valid until the end of the event and must be taken at a Ministry of Health-certified ART practitioner; self-test kit results will not be valid for use of entry.
Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will be exempted from having to produce a negative ART result, but will need to present a Pre-Event Test Exemption Notice from any clinic offering ART or PCR testing services.
Fans will have to abide by entry requirements and safe management measures as directed by the FAS.
Ticketing and entry process details
Ticket Sales
1530hrs – 1600hrs: Exclusive time slot for 2020 and 2021 Lion City Sailors season pass* holders
1600 hrs – 1730 hrs: General Sale and Season Pass
*Season pass holders will need to show their season pass to exchange for a matchday ticket, with no purchase required. First 100 season pass holders who redeem tickets will receive an exclusive Lion City Sailors face mask.
Ticket Categories
Season Pass 2020 & 2021 – Complimentary
Adult – $15
Concession – $5 (16 and under with valid student pass & senior citizens above the age of 60)
*Concession tickets are applicable to the following:
– Students aged 16 and below with a valid Student Concession Card,
– Senior Citizens aged 60 and above with a valid Senior Citizen Concession Card.
Concession Cards and a recent Photo ID will be requested upon entry for verification purposes.
How to Enter
1530hrs-1730hrs
- Go to the Jalan Besar Stadium’s South Entrance to verify vaccination status and collect wrist tag
- Proceed to South Entrance ticket booth to redeem or purchase ticket (Each individual can only redeem/purchase 1 ticket)
1630hrs-1730hrs
- Check in via TraceTogether at north entrance
- Verify vaccination status and ticket
- Conduct bag checks if necessary
- Enjoy the match!
Make no mistake about it, the 1-1 draw against Balestier Khalsa at the Toa Payoh Stadium on Sunday night (8 August) was a disappointing result for the Lion City Sailors.
Trailing league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) by four points before kickoff – but with two games in hand – the Sailors could have reduced the gap to just one point. This after watching the White Swans’ surprising first defeat of the season on Friday, falling 2-1 to Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium.
In the end, Kim Do-hoon’s men had to be content with whittling down the deficit to three points, after a frustrating game in which the Sailors struggled to break down a dogged Tigers unit.
The Sailors went 1-0 down on the hour mark through a Šime Žužul’s strike that came against the run of play, but rallied, displaying a gritty determination to get back into the game.
Creating chance after chance, the Sailors reaped their reward five minutes into injury time when Jorge Fellipe’s goal-bound header was denied by a blatant Ensar Brunčević handball. Stipe Plazibat duly buried the resulting penalty to earn his side a share of the spoils.
It was not the result that the Sailors wanted, but one that they can still take heart from – they are very much still within touching distance of the summit.
“It wasn’t easy for us. The pitch was bumpy and we couldn’t really play our way of football,” explained Stipe, whose goal was his 11th of the season. “We were definitely the better team and had a few shots, but we just couldn’t find that final pass. Balestier didn’t really create one apart from that goal.
“We upped the tempo (after conceding) to be more direct and aggressive then we got the goal to draw level. After everything that has happened in this game, we can be satisfied with this one point although we’re still disappointed not to win.”
Right back Naqiuddin Eunos echoed similar sentiments – acknowledging that the Sailors were “not able to work our attacking moves into the box” through their typical passing style of play until adopting a more direct route towards the end.
“In the first half we were decent – we were playing our usual football without getting the results that we normally do,” explained the 24-year-old, who got his first start under Kim. “For the final 40 minutes (including the 10 minutes of injury time) after we went down, everyone pushed up – from the full-backs to the central midfielders.
“We had a lot more chances from there and perhaps we should have just played in this manner from the start. Going more direct is not what we usually do, but sometimes you just have to do it to get a result from a difficult game like this.”
The Route One approach was exactly how Balestier got the opening goal against the Sailors, with Shuhei Hoshino’s knock-on from Zaiful Nizam’s long free-kick causing all sorts of trouble before Croatian hotshot Žužul pounced to tap into an empty net.
Admitting that the defence “switched off” for that moment, Naqiuddin knew the team ought to have done better.
“We all know what Balestier’s strength is – they have tall players and are very good at set-pieces. We prepared throughout the week for this, but yet this happened,” said the former Singapore Under-22 player. “I think we lost focus for that second… that’s something that we have to learn from. We cannot afford to let in such easy goals.”
There were further reverberations in the process of conceding that goal, with Sailors captain Hassan Sunny suffering an unfortunate collision with the towering Jorge that left him needing lengthy medical attention. An oxygen mask was put on Hassan who was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in what was a worrying scene for all watching. The 37-year-old custodian was then rushed to the hospital with a suspected neck injury.
Both Naqiuddin and Stipe concurred that it was “not nice” to see a teammate lying down on the pitch, almost motionless. “I didn’t even think of the goal conceded, I was just hoping he will be okay,” added Stipe.
Rudy Khairullah deputised for Hassan in the last half-hour against the Tigers and the reliable 27-year-old may well find himself starting in next Sunday’s (15 August) fixture against title rivals Tampines at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Turning their attentions to the crunch tie between last season’s top two local sides – Tampines finished 2020 second in the eight-team SPL, with the Sailors two points behind in third – Naqiuddin and Stipe know exactly what is at stake.
“We’ve one week to prepare for this game and we’re definitely up for this battle. We need to get all three points and nothing less,” declared Naqiuddin.
“We’ve to treat our last eight remaining games as cup finals and not slip up anymore,” added Stipe. “We need to start from the very beginning and take control of each game.”
Tampines fixture rescheduled to 21 Sept
A packed Lion City Sailors’ August fixture list has been lightened, after the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced a rescheduling of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) match against fellow title challengers Tampines Rovers that was originally to be played on 4 August.
The away fixture at Our Tampines Hub will now take place on Tuesday, 21 September at the same venue.
In its announcement, the FAS said the postponement was to provide Tampines adequate time to prepare after serving a quarantine after the team returned from their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) group stage exploits in Uzbekistan between 25 June and 10 July.
Instead of facing Tampines twice in the next month, the Sailors will now battle the Stags on Sunday, 15 Aug before the rescheduled match some five weeks later on 21 Sept.
The Sailors played out an enthralling 3-3 draw with Tampines in the club’s season opening fixture in March.
The Sailors’ August schedule will now see four SPL fixtures instead of five, starting with next Sunday, 8 Aug, against Balestier Khalsa at the Toa Payoh Stadium, with Tanjong Pagar United (20 Aug) and Hougang United (27 Aug) following after the Tampines fixture.
It has been four years since Hariss Harun played in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) – then known as the S.League – but on Friday evening (23 July) at the Jurong East Stadium, the 30-year-old marked his return, helping Lion City Sailors to a 1-1 draw against defending champions Albirex Niigata (S).
But while Hariss was proud to make his Sailors debut – he officially linked up with the team in June – he admitted that his performance against Albirex left much to be desired.
“It was great to make my debut for the Sailors at last, after waiting for so long. Playing in Singapore again was good but I have to adjust to playing in artificial pitches again week in week out as in Malaysia, games were played mostly on grass pitches,” said Hariss, who had spent nearly eight years across the causeway with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
“My performance against Albirex was definitely not my best, and I wasn’t happy with it. That said, I am determined to improve to try and help the team more.”
The Sailors struggled to contain Albirex in the first-half, and went a goal down on the stroke of half-time through a Ryoya Taniguchi penalty.
But the introduction of playmaker Diego Lopes at the break saw the Sailors gain a foothold in the game. And in the 72nd minute, the Brazilian played a key pass in the final third to set fellow substitute Hafiz Nor free on the left flank. Hafiz then squared the ball for Stipe Plazibat to equalise from close range.
Hariss pointed to Diego’s introduction as the turning point in the game, explaining: “In the first half, we tried to rattle them (Albirex), but they adjusted after a while and we struggled a bit.
“But we were more positive in the second half, and tried to play the ball more on the ground rather than going direct. After all, with Diego coming on, it’s only normal for us to play into his feet more often because that’s what he is good at, and he certainly gave us more quality in attack.
“Overall, considering how the match went, a draw was probably a fair result.”
The Sailors, however, would have likely come away from the Jurong East Stadium empty-handed, if not for the heroics of captain Hassan Sunny in goal.
The 37-year-old shot-stopper pulled off a string of stunning saves to keep the Sailors in the game, and Hariss credits Hassan for inspiring the team with his man-of-the-match display.
“Hassan was amazing, he kept us in the game. It would have been a different story without his saves, some of which were jaw dropping,” gushed Hariss. “He is our captain, and seeing him pull off those saves gave us confidence…there is no doubt he was the best player on the pitch (on Friday night).”
The draw leaves the Sailors second in the table, just one point behind current league leaders Albirex. With the Japanese side still needing to play the Sailors at the Jalan Besar Stadium in September, Hariss is confident that his new team will be able to end the season as SPL champions.
“We went into this game wanting to seize the initiative and win. It didn’t happen, but to remain close and within a point of Albirex is important,” he said.
“Our target remains winning the SPL title, but there’s still much work to be done. Every match matters, and every point counts. We have to focus on one game at a time.
“The good thing is, the team is getting better under Coach Kim (Do-hoon), so we must continue to improve to take our game up another level or two, and hopefully, we will finish top at the end of the season.”
The Lion City Sailors have scored 77 goals in 25 games since the launch of the club in 2020, and are already widely recognised as an irrepressible attacking force.
This well-oiled attacking machinery is something that new Sailors Head Coach Kim Do-hoon will rely on, but it is the defensive structure of the team that has been the main focus for the Korean since he took the reins in late June.
The Sailors have registered just four clean sheets in 14 outings last season and another four in 11 matches this term, and improving this figure seems to be Kim’s first step in turning the Sailors into a side that plays to his football philosophy.
His Ulsan Hyundai side that won the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) in 2020 was as well known for their strong defence as their eye-catching brand of attacking football.
And it is an approach that has been popular with the Sailors.
“In his opening address to us, he acknowledged the fact that we do concede quite a bit, although we’re a decent attacking side which scored a good number of goals,” said Gabriel Quak.
“So there’s not much things to be tweaked and changed on the attacking part. What he is trying to implement now is tactical shape and trying to get us into a defensively-solid unit.”
Sailors defender Amirul Adli echoed similar sentiments.
“Coach Kim has implemented a system to make us more disciplined and organised both on and off the pitch,” he said. “He’s focusing on building the foundation of the team – that’s his main priority now.”
It has been less than a month since Kim took over, but his influence has already been keenly felt. As someone who believes in playing a brand of high-octane attacking football, the South Korean is proving to be a demanding coach who always challenges his players to go beyond their limits.
Gabriel noted that intensity of training sessions has been “higher than usual”, while Adli revealed that Kim has set a pull-up challenge for the team with each player having to hit more than 10 repetitions daily.
“I think what he’s trying to do is to push us outside our comfort zone and get us used to the high level of intensity that he wants,” said Adli.
“By setting challenges, he wants us to be mentally stronger so that it will feel normal to us when we face tough situations next – instead of feeling afraid.
“It’s true that Coach Kim is pretty straight and firm with us, but at the same time there is this positive atmosphere around the team with everyone wanting to show what they can do.”
Having played three friendlies against Albirex Niigata (S), Tanjong Pagar United and Geylang International, the Sailors are slowly getting to grips with Kim’s demands and philosophy.
The 50-year-old has a fine track record of developing players in Korea, and he has already shown the personal touch of his man-management method by speaking to the players individually to bring more out of them.
“We already had a couple of one-on-one conversations. He’s clearly done his homework on the team before coming here, so he knows what we all can offer. He’s told me his expectations of me and also what I can work on further,” said Gabriel.
“For me, this is a really important aspect of a player-coach relationship. I really value this two-way communication and I believe I can improve even further with him around.”
Kim’s first official game in charge of the Sailors comes on Friday night (July 23), and it is perhaps the hardest task in local football – a top-of-the-table away clash against reigning champions and league leaders, Albirex.
The Sailors are currently one point adrift of the White Swans, and gunning for a victory that will see them take control of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race with less than 10 games to go.
Shahdan Sulaiman, Saifullah Akbar and Song Ui-young are all unavailable due to suspension, and the responsibility of dictating the tempo in the middle of the park will likely fall on new arrival Hariss Harun.
Gabriel is personally excited at the prospect of playing alongside his national team captain at club level.
“Hariss is a welcome addition to the team, he definitely gives us a big boost going into the end of the season,” said the 2020 SPL Player of the Year.
“We have a few players out for this game, but how this team’s built is that we’ve got capable players in every position and whoever steps up will be ready to give their all.
“We know what’s at stake. One point is not good enough… it’s our coach’s first game in charge and I’m confident that we can put up a good show to get the win that we want,” added Gabriel.
Like Gabriel, Adli is ready to give his all in this crucial six-pointer.
He declared: “Everyone knows how important this game is. For us, we’re aiming to win every single game so we can become champions.”
Bundesliga giants and 2021 German Cup winners Borussia Dortmund (BVB) and Singapore Premier League (SPL) club Lion City Sailors (LCS) have forged a two and a half-year partnership. The commitment will see a series of youth development programmes, coaching, educational and professional exchanges as well as football training camps in Germany, among others, that will bring the two football clubs together with one common goal.
This partnership between BVB and LCS will harness the growing commitment to build a strong infrastructure for Singapore’s youth football development and overall support the growth in areas of sports science, sports medicine, analytics and talent scouting.
Benedikt Scholz, Head of International & New Business and Managing Director of BVB Football Academy said: “We are proud to solidify this partnership with LCS, one of the most exciting football clubs in the SPL. Establishing key partners of this scale and ambition has always been a central part of our vision for BVB, enabling us to keep sharing and contributing towards the growth of youth football in Asia.
“We are looking forward to working with LCS to bring to life our key objectives in youth development and sport education.”
The partnership will see an annual training camp in Dortmund for the LCS Football Academy’s elite team, with an additional training stint pencilled in for selected footballers from the Academy’s scholarship programme.
Suresh Letchmanan, Managing Director of BVB Asia Pacific further highlighted: “We are very excited about this partnership; it is an incredible milestone for both BVB and LCS. Both clubs are dynamic and progressive brands with a commitment to developing talented youth players and these common beliefs make the two organisations ideally suited.
“We will be working closely to implement creative and innovative activities with LCS in the coming months that harness the passion of our clubs and connect with our fantastic fans in and around Asia.”
The Sailors are excited at the prospect of a partnership that will boost its drive for development of the club and its LCS Football Academy that is aimed at growing into an elite youth development hub.
“We are delighted to partner with BVB, a club that has shown a tremendous commitment to youth development, fan engagement and the growth of the sport in general,” said LCS Chief Executive Officer, Chew Chun-Liang.
“We are an ambitious club with a vision of becoming one of the best in Asia. To get there, we must learn from the best, and in BVB we have found a partner that is among the best in the world,” he added.
“We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with BVB.”
The Lion City Sailors were in high spirits when news surrounding the restart of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) came through earlier today (7 July 2021).
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) revealed in an announcement that fans will be allowed back into stadiums when the SPL returns to action after a FIFA International break on 17 July – and the news was met with much cheer among the Sailors.
“Fans are at the core of everything we’re aiming to achieve at the Sailors, and we’re delighted to be able to once again welcome fans to our matches,” said Sailors’ Chief Executive Chew Chun-Liang.
The return of fans could not have come at a better time for the Sailors who return to SPL action on 23 July, against title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) in a top of the table clash.
The Sailors trail the league leaders by a solitary point in the eight-team SPL standings, and with just 10 games of the season to go, this match could play a key role in the SPL title race.
“There has been a spring in the step of our players since our new Head Coach, Kim Do-hoon took charge, and having fans in the stands will be a great welcome for him,” said Chun-Liang.
“And there is no doubt that fans will further boost the team in this important match too – the players are excited at the prospect of being able to perform for our loyal fans who haven’t been able to watch us “live”, and I’m looking forward to the match, that’s for sure.”
The FAS revealed that up to 250 eligible fans will be allowed to each SPL match starting from 17 July, with prevailing safe-distancing and security protocols in force. The FAS announcement outlines these details that are in accordance with Sport Singapore guidelines.
SPL fans will still be able to watch every match “live” on broadcast at Singtel TV, StarHub TV and live streaming online via the SPL Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as the Facebook page of 1 Play Sports.
Lion City Sailors will have to wait until next season to make their debut in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions.
This comes after confirmation from the AFC earlier today (7 July 2021) that all matches of the AFC Cup 2021 ASEAN Zone have been cancelled due to the challenges imposed by the global pandemic in finding a suitable host to stage the centralised matches.
The ASEAN Zone comprises Groups G, H and I as well as the Playoff Stage that would have followed. The Sailors were drawn in Group H alongside Kedah Darul Aman FC of Malaysia, Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura and the Vietnamese side, Saigon FC.
Geylang International was slated to be Singapore’s other representative in the competition, in Group I.
“We were looking forward to competing against regional clubs, and all of us are disappointed that our portion of the AFC Cup competition has been cancelled,” said Sailors Chief Executive, Chew Chun-Liang.
“But we are acutely aware of the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Sailors remain supportive of measures that help keep football fans, players and staff, across the region safe.”
New Sailors Head Coach Kim Do-hoon will now shift his focus to the Singapore Premier League (SPL). The Korean will have to drive his charges to finish among the top three local clubs in the SPL to earn the right to compete in the region next season.
Said Chew: “We will continue to work hard to achieve success locally to ensure we qualify for AFC competitions next season and work towards our vision of competing and doing well in the region.”
The Sailors are currently second in the eight-team SPL standings, one point behind Albirex Niigata (S). Kim’s men will take on Albirex on 23 July in a top of the table clash that marks his first game at the helm.
