The Lion City Sailors are set to return to domestic action for the first time since late October as they begin their Singapore Cup title defence, starting with the semi-final first leg against Balestier Khalsa at Bishan Stadium on Sunday (14 December).

They will enter the tie on the back of their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two exit, which came despite a determined 1–0 victory over Selangor FC in Malaysia on the final matchday of the group stage.

Although the Sailors finished level on points with Bangkok United (10) and held a superior goal difference, they missed out on the knockout rounds due to an inferior head-to-head record against the Thai League 1 side.

“It is disappointing to be knocked out of the AFC Champions League Two at the group stage,” said Hami Syahin, who was among the standout performers in the win over Selangor. “But we know we have other competitions to look forward to, and we want to redeem ourselves by winning all the domestic trophies.”

There is little time for the Sailors to dwell on that disappointment, especially with the Singapore Cup semi-final looming large.

Thankfully, summer signing Tsiy Ndenge appears to have hit form at the right time. He opened his account for the club with a second-half winner against Selangor and has earned plaudits for his combative and assured displays in the centre of the park.

Hami, who is equally adept in central midfield, out wide or at right back, was full of praise for Tsiy as the German-Cameroonian midfielder enjoyed his moment in the spotlight.

“Since the pre-season, I have always spoken highly of Tsiy. He has the capability of bringing the ball forward from the defensive line all the way high up the pitch. His shooting ability is something that I am still in awe of to this day,” said Hami.

“He has been a great addition to our team. He has the experience of playing in Europe, and personally, I have learned a thing or two playing alongside him.”

Hami himself has been a valuable asset for the Sailors, with his versatility on display across multiple competitions on both the domestic and continental fronts.

The 27-year-old featured in every match of last season’s Singapore Cup triumph, and has gradually established himself as a key member of the squad.

Indeed, in the ACL Two clash against Selangor, Hami came up against one of Southeast Asia’s most dangerous wingers, Faisal Halim, and managed to nullify his threat for much of the contest.

“It is an honour to play against a player like Faisal. For me, before every game, I try to have a clear state of mind,” said the Singapore international.

“Whether I am playing against Faisal or any other player, my job is the same. I just want to do my job on the pitch and give my all for the team. I focus on what I can control, and hopefully I can perform well in every game.”

Hami is confident that he and the Sailors can carry their momentum into the weekend’s clash against Balestier.

The Tigers have reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2022, following a 2-1 victory over Hougang United last weekend. Tin Matić and Ignatius Ang were on target as Balestier edged through on goals scored.

Half of the team’s 10 Singapore Cup goals have come from Matić, who is enjoying a rich vein of form and currently leads the competition’s scoring charts.

Nonetheless, the Sailors have enjoyed a positive run of results against Balestier. Bart Ramselaar’s hat-trick powered them to a 4-1 victory in last season’s Singapore Cup, while the most recent meeting between the sides ended in a 5-0 win for the Sailors in this season’s Singapore Premier League (SPL).

But Hami is not taking anything for granted. He said, “This is a cup campaign, so it is different from the league. We will focus on ourselves and our performance, and as always, we will go into this game with the same mentality to get a win. I am sure Balestier will also come out strong and try to get a positive result, so it should be a good contest.”

The Singapore Cup offers the Sailors a chance to clinch their first trophy of the season, and it now carries added significance following their continental exit.

Albirex Niigata (S) remain the only club to have achieved three consecutive Singapore Cup triumphs, and Aleksandar Ranković’s side will be aiming to lift the trophy again as they continue their push for domestic dominance.

“As a team, I think we are all on the same page. We want to dominate the local scene. Our target now for the remainder of the season is to win every competition that is on offer,” said Hami.

“We’ve still got plenty to fight for this season. The Singapore Cup means a lot to us, and we’re determined to keep it for another year.”