Although the Lion City Sailors faced a challenging schedule of five games in just 16 days in September, this intense run presented a valuable opportunity for certain players to prove themselves and stake their claim as key members of the team, as Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković rotated his squad to keep everyone fresh and injury-free.

One player who seized the opportunity with both hands was Haiqal Pashia. The 25-year-old started the Sailors’ last two Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches, as he helped his team to a 3-1 win over Balestier Khalsa and a hard-fought 2-2 draw with title rivals BG Tampines Rovers.

With the Sailors set to return to action this Saturday evening (19 October) after a two-week international break, Pashia hopes that his strong performances in the last two games will earn him another start against Hougang United at the Bishan Stadium.

“It’s been going well for me, and I’m feeling really good right now,” shared Pashia, whose previous 10 appearances in all competitions this season have come off the bench. 

“After this match against Hougang, we have important away fixtures in the ACL (AFC Champions League) against Persib Bandung and Port FC coming up. There’ll definitely be opportunities for everyone to get involved, and it’s up to us to show Coach what we can contribute to the team.”

However, Pashia acknowledges the fierce competition for places in this Sailors team, which features several Singapore internationals and seasoned European campaigners. Yet, he insists that this only fuels his determination to prove his worth.

“I know getting minutes here is really tough because of the calibre of players we have, but as long as I train hard and keep myself fit, there’s a role for me in this team,” the former Singapore youth international said.

“During training, it’s always go-time because everyone’s fighting for their spots in the team — including myself. I’m always on my toes, ready to step up whenever I’m called upon.”

Patience, versatility, and words of encouragement from Ranko have all played a crucial role in Pashia’s quest for more game time. After starting on the left wing against Balestier, he was deployed in the unfamiliar position of right wing-back during a high-stakes clash with BG Tampines — and he rose to the challenge admirably.

“I was surprised when Coach put me there, especially since it’s been a while since I last played in that position — the last time was in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund back in November 2022,” Pashia revealed. “But I consider myself a versatile player, so I made sure to prepare thoroughly in the days leading up to the game.”

Reflecting on his performance, he added, “I thought I did okay, and Coach was a big part of that. He told me he was proud of how I played and encouraged me to keep it up.”

Pashia is now aiming to secure his third consecutive league start this weekend, but he’s well aware of the need for a rock-solid performance to overcome the rejuvenated Cheetahs, who have lost just once in their last six league matches, including three consecutive draws that have helped lift them out of the bottom two.

“We can’t take anything for granted, even though we’ve beaten them twice this season. They have physically imposing foreign players who can cause us problems, so we need to stick to our game plan — attack and defend as a unit, be clinical in front of goal, and make sure we finish our chances to get the win,” he emphasised.

With the Sailors currently holding a three-point lead in the SPL over second-placed BG Tampines, Pashia is urging his teammates to maintain their momentum before the league takes a break next month for the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

“The team spirit has been really high following some positive results in September, and we just want to keep our good run going. We’re focused on regaining our intensity and fitness for the important matches ahead,” he said.