There is a renewed edge about the Lion City Sailors Women this season.

Having seen their three-year Women’s Premier League (WPL) reign come to an end last year, the Sailors have regrouped, refocused, and set their sights firmly on reclaiming their place at the top.

Early signs of that intent came last weekend, as the Sailors ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Still Aerion – a team they failed to beat in the previous campaign.

In a tightly contested affair which saw the Sailors remain compact and disciplined throughout, the winning goal came courtesy of an own goal by Angelyn Pang, who deflected Syazwani Ruzi’s cross into the back of her own net in the 80th minute.

For Sailors forward Farah Nurzahirah, now in her first full season at the club after joining in August last year, the result underlined the team’s resilience early in the campaign.

“As a team, we know Aerion are a very tough opponent, but we never gave up until the final whistle,” said the 22-year-old. “We kept pushing and fighting for the three points, and that was really important for us.”

That gritty win followed an emphatic 16-0 demolition of Balestier Khalsa in the season opener, as Daniel Ong’s side laid down an early marker in the title race.

It was the Sailors’ second-biggest winning margin in club history, with Farah netting a hat-trick to open her account for the season.

“For me, it’s really the team environment that pushes me to work even harder in games and training,” she explained. “Everyone is very competitive, but at the same time very encouraging, and that helps me stay positive every day.”

After scoring 17 goals and conceding none in their opening two matches, the Sailors currently sit second in the WPL standings, level on points with defending champions Albirex Jurong, but behind on goal difference at this early stage.

Having finished third last season, the Sailors are eager not only to wrest back the league title, but also to return to the continental stage at the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) in 2027.

“We are all very eager and committed to winning back the title this year,” said Farah. “Everyone has been putting in extra effort and working really hard in training to be better this season.”

One of those who played a pivotal role in the Sailors’ historic AWCL run last year was Japanese midfielder Ami Takeuchi, who scored four goals in the preliminary stage to help the club secure their first-ever group stage berth.

Ami, along with compatriot Eri Kitagawa (pictured below), has since returned to add further quality and experience to the Sailors in the WPL this season.

“Both of them are elite players,” said Farah. “It’s easy to link up with them because they know their own abilities and react very quickly. I’m still learning their playing styles, but it’s becoming easier for me to coordinate with them on the pitch.”

At the other end of the spectrum, the club continues to place strong emphasis on youth development, with promising teenagers progressing from the Sailors’ B team under the guidance of Women’s National League Coach of the Year Izz Haziq.

Remi Ogawa, who was named 2025 WNL Young Player of the Year, along with fellow youngster Ami Kawase (pictured below), have recently been integrated into the first-team setup and are already making their presence felt.

“They are both very talented and bring a really positive vibe to the team,” said Farah, who herself was named the WPL Young Player of the Year two seasons ago with Geylang International. “They are hardworking, eager to learn, and very easy to play with, both on and off the pitch.”

That squad depth could prove crucial with the 2026 WPL season running until June, in what promises to be another fiercely contested campaign.

Next up, the Sailors face Tanjong Pagar United on Saturday (7 February). The Jaguars are still searching for their first points of the season after back-to-back defeats, although Nur Syakirah Jumain did score their first goal of the campaign against Geylang.

Under the stewardship of Samawira Basri, Tanjong Pagar remain the only side to field an all-domestic squad this season, but they will have their work cut out against a Sailors side keen to extend their strong run of form.

“Our objective is always to win, but we also want to play well,” said Farah, who previously scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Tanjong Pagar last September. “We’ll take it one step at a time, stick to the coach’s plans, and focus on our own performance.”

With 43 WPL goals across the last three seasons, Farah will be hoping this is finally the year she lifts the league trophy for the first time.

“With so many quality players in the squad, nothing is guaranteed,” she admitted. “I have to show the coach that I can fit into his plans and play the way he wants. That means being consistent, working hard, and always being ready to put in extra work for the team.”