Even amidst a Lion City Sailors squad littered with top talent, 33-year-old forward Shawal Anuar continues to command the spotlight.
Accumulating an impressive 17 goals and 12 assists in 27 appearances across all competitions this season, the nippy forward has been a key figure in Aleksandar Ranković’s side and is showing no signs of slowing down.
“I didn’t expect to be in such good form because, at my age, you don’t always get the opportunity to play 90 minutes in every game,” said Shawal. “But I’ve always made sure to give 100 percent whenever I get the chance to play, so being able to perform like this at my age is something I’m proud of.”
Shawal began 2025 just as he had ended the previous year, scoring two goals and providing an assist in the Sailors’ 4-2 away victory over Brunei DPMM in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) on Monday (13 January).
While it was far from smooth-sailing for the Sailors, the lethal partnership between Shawal and his strike partner Lennart Thy proved decisive, with the duo scoring a brace each on the night.
“It was a tough game for us, playing away against a team that added a few quality players during the break. However, we stuck to our coach’s plan and managed to bring home a good result,” said the Singapore international.
A delicate clipped ball from Lennart to find Shawal’s run for the first-half equaliser perfectly showcased the duo’s telepathic connection. Just minutes later, Shawal returned the favour by setting up the German in the box for a clinical finish that put the Sailors in the lead.
“I think we’ve developed a strong understanding of each other by building our chemistry in training. Whenever I make a run, Lennart will find me, and the same goes for him,” Shawal explained.
“Before each game, we always discuss our plans — like the types of runs we’ll make and what we expect from each other when one of us has the ball.”
This partnership will be crucial when the Sailors host a familiar foe, defending champions Albirex Niigata (S), in their first SPL home game of the year on Friday (17 January) at Bishan Stadium. With BG Tampines Rovers not in action this week, a win would take the Sailors three points clear at the top of the table.
The White Swans, however, will come into the match full of confidence, having won six of their last eight league games, including a 3-1 victory over the Sailors last August.
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Their squad has also been bolstered by mid-season additions which include the likes of midfielder Taiki Maeda and defenders Nozomi Ozawa and Syahrul Sazali.
“This game is important for us because we want to give the fans something to cheer for at the start of the year,” said Shawal, who scored the opener in the Sailors’ 7-1 triumph over Keiji Shigetomi’s side earlier in June 2024.
“Our last defeat in the league came against Albirex. That gives us enough motivation and desire to go out there and put things right on Friday night. We’ve done well in our first two games of the year and are currently at the top of the table, but we need to keep building on this momentum to go as far as we can.”
Shawal’s brace against DPMM meant he has now scored more goals in the SPL in his 30s than he did in his 20s.
He has netted a total of 37 goals in 75 outings after turning 30 on 29 April 2021, as compared to the 34 scored in 110 games prior to that — a testament to his relentless desire to improve with each passing season.
“I wasn’t aware of that stat because I don’t really keep track of my goals and assists. What’s important is that I always strive to give my best and improve on what I’ve done in the previous season,” said Shawal.
“My body still feels good, and I’m managing it well. I believe I have a few more years left in the tank, so I want to keep contributing to Singapore football. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure we win the title this season.”