Fresh from lifting the season’s first piece of silverware in the Singapore Cup, the Lion City Sailors have entered 2026 with a spring in their step and are aiming to extend their flawless start to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) campaign.
And with the campaign entering a crucial phase that will see the Sailors contest eight matches in 35 days, squad depth and timely contributions will be key for Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković.
One player poised to play an increasingly important role in the team is new signing Luka Adžić. The Serbian winger arrived earlier this month from Bangkok United to bolster the Sailors’ attacking options and is still settling into his new surroundings in Singapore.
“My first impression of the club is amazing,” said Luka. “I am very happy, the facilities here are like the top clubs in Europe. Everything, from the food to the organisation, is very good.”
Luka could hardly have asked for a better start to life in white and blue, lifting the Singapore Cup trophy in his very first appearance for the Sailors with victory over domestic rivals BG Tampines Rovers in the final.
“It’s an amazing feeling to win a trophy in my first game,” he shared. “It was very important for my career because I had never won a cup title before.”
That triumph marked just the second major honour of his career, following the 2017/18 Serbian SuperLiga title with Red Star Belgrade.
The 27-year-old then made his SPL debut in a 3-0 win over Geylang International last weekend, coming off the bench to deliver a pinpoint corner that was headed home by Shawal Anuar on his milestone 200th SPL appearance.
Indeed, both Luka and Shawal are already forging an encouraging understanding both on and off the pitch, which could prove valuable as the Sailors chase further silverware.
“Shawal made a great jump and scored with a header at the far post,” Luka said. “He’s a special goalscorer. From my first day of training, he spoke to me and helped me a lot. Every player here is very good.”
Next up for the Sailors is a clash with Hougang United, as they look to make it seven wins from seven. The Sailors have not tasted defeat against the Cheetahs in all competitions since March 2021.
This encounter, however, is expected to pose a sterner challenge following Hougang’s recent reinforcements, which include former Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix forward Jaushua Sotirio, as well as Ecuadorian centre-back Washington Jaramillo.
Both players featured as Hougang came from two goals down to defeat Balestier Khalsa 3-2 in their previous outing.
“We already had video analysis sessions about them and I saw their quality,” Luka explained. “But we are a very good team ourselves and we want to win every game in the league. For sure, we are targeting three points to continue our winning run.”
Having made two substitute appearances so far, Luka is eager to take on a bigger role, although he acknowledged the importance of being patient in a star-studded Sailors attack.
“I arrived just a fortnight ago and many things have already happened,” reflected the former Serbia youth international, who featured at the UEFA Euro Under-21 Championship against Denmark in 2019. “I won my first trophy here and delivered my first assist.
“I think very soon I will start games, but I need to be patient. I have to keep training hard, improve day by day and enjoy these moments.”
With the departure of club legend Maxime Lestienne leaving a creative void, Luka has been brought in on a deal until the end of the season to operate in a similar role, and he is determined to carve out his own legacy.
A scorer in the UEFA Conference League group stage just over two years ago, the winger brings his own blend of creativity, delivery and big-game experience.
“It’s too early to talk about numbers,” Luka stressed. “At the beginning, it’s always a bit difficult because you need to adapt. I just want to show my qualities at this amazing club. My family loves it here, and I want to enjoy playing football.”
