Player Type: DEFENDERS
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 31 July 2007 (16)
Previous Club: Mattar Sailors
Tia started playing football when she was in primary Three and fell in love with the Beautiful Game, hooked on the thrills of defending against opposition forwards. She is the second of three sisters who are all part of Lion City Sailors Girls’ Academy.
Mainly deployed as a right-back, Tia is blessed with skill, pace and is aggressive when it comes to defending 1v1 situations and committing to challenges.
Inspired by French footballer Sakina Karchoui, Tia wants to improve her game and play at a higher level in the future.
Nationality: Australian
DOB/Age: 28 July 1992 (32)
Previous Clubs: Preston North End (2010-2017), Bristol City (2017-2020), Sunderland (2020 – loan, 2020-2023), Rotherham United (2023 – loan)
Bailey is an Australian international, who was a part of Australia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar that saw the Socceroos qualify from a group that featured France, Denmark and Tunisia, before falling to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the eventual tournament winners, in the Round of 16.
An old-school robust centre-back who wears on his heart on his sleeve, he is undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the team and is a perfect role model for the younger players in the squad.
Bailey joined the Sailors in the SPL mid-season transfer window after departing Sunderland, where he was a cult hero of the Black Cats’ faithful during his three-and-a-half years on Wearside. Those years saw Sunderland enjoy much success, winning their first trophy since 1973 as they lifted the 2020/21 Papa John’s Trophy (EFL) at Wembley, before earning promotion into the English second-tier – the Sky Bet Championship – in 2022.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 28 November 1992 (32)
Previous Clubs: Tampines Rovers (2014, 2016, 2022), LionsXII (2015), Young Lions (2016), Home United (2017-2018), Geylang International (2019-2021)
Comfortable with either foot and on either flank, Chris’ versatility makes him a quality acquisition for the Sailors ahead of the 2023 campaign. The self-professed late bloomer has come a long way since making his name in local football reality TV series, FirstXI, in 2014.
He flourished for LionsXII in the 2015 Malaysia Super League, grew into a dependable first-team player over the years for various clubs, before a standout 2022 campaign for Tampines saw him become one of the first names on the team sheet for the Singapore National Team. Chris is undoubtedly at the peak of his powers now, as he lines up for the Sailors’ charge for a Singapore Premier League title since 2021.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 8 September 2001 (23)
Previous Clubs: Young Lions (2020-2021)
A lanky defender with excellent physical attributes and is composed on the ball, Bill is highly-rated and has the potential to go far. First called up to train with Home United’s – the former iteration of the Sailors – first team in 2017 when he was three months shy of his 16th birthday, the youngster made his debut for the Protectors two years later.
After two seasons with Young Lions in 2020 and 2021, Bill – son of former Singapore international Bah Mamadou – has showed promise for the Sailors in 2022 and 2023 and will look to continue his upward trajectory this coming campaign.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 29 March 1998 (26)
Previous Clubs: Young Lions (2016-2019, 2021-2022)
A modern-day full-back who is aggressive in the tackle and excels in making forward runs to support the attack, Zulqarnaen is an asset at both ends of the pitch. Part of the Sailors’ squad in the club’s inaugural season in 2020, he returned to play for Young Lions for one and a half seasons where he furthered his development and is now a Singapore national team regular.
Having particular sparkled towards the end of 2023 with strong performances in the Tiger Cup against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and in the AFC Champions League, he was unfortunate to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this year and is currently on the road to recovery.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 21 February 2003 (20)
Previous Clubs: South Avenue SC
Playing at the void deck with her brothers at the age of nine sparked Khairunnisa’s love for football, and she went on to represent Singapore at various age-group levels, and eventually earned a call up to the senior National Team.
She may be tiny in size, but she more than makes it up with her heart and grit on the pitch. An adept reader of the game, she executes her tackles both aggressively and effectively on the right side of defence.
As someone who juggles her school commitments and part-time work with football, Nisa is hoping that her sacrifices and perseverance pay off as she continues to cement herself as a first-team regular for club and country.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 20 December 2001 (22)
Previous Clubs: Aerion FC
Having finished top scorer with eight Pannas to help the Sailors win the inaugural FAS Women’s Panna Challenge in 2020, Syazwani is blessed with skill and ball control. But playing as a defender, she has since worked on adding a touch of steel to her game by becoming more aggressive in 1v1 situations and committing to challenges.
Inspired by her football-loving dad, Syazwani picked up the sport at the age of five and honed her skills at Admiralty CSC. Syazwani simply cannot live without football – she is often found either kicking the ball in her home or just juggling whenever she has some free time.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 11 March 2002 (21)
Previous Club: South Avenue CSC
Sporting a scar on her forehead due to an old head injury, Umairah’s commitment and love for the Beautiful Game is clear.
A no-nonsense centre-back who wears her heart on her sleeve, the youngster models her game after Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and is inspired to lead her team in a similar fashion.
Picking up the game at the age of five when she joined her brothers in a small community football club, Umairah never looked back, going on to play for her primary and secondary schools.
Her recipe for success is calming herself down with deep breathing and visualising how she plays in the dressing room before the game begins.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 11 June 1994 (29)
Previous Clubs: Arion FC, H20/ITE Dream Team, Tanjong Pagar United FC
Having started out as a midfielder, Fatin is now most comfortable as a defender, because she relishes the feeling of not letting anyone get past her backline and helping the team keep a clean sheet. Her assured reading of the game and leadership at the back was crucial in helping the Sailors keep numerous clean sheets in the 2022 WPL title-winning season.
Weekly void deck football sessions with her cousins led to her developing a passion for the sport as she began to play more seriously at the age of 17 at the junior college level.
Now more than 10 years into the game, her determination to succeed remains strong as ever. Fatin’s pre-match routine is wildly specific – she must consume a banana, some black coffee and three dates one hour before the game begins.
Nationality: Singaporean
DOB/Age: 19 November 1990 (34)
Previous Clubs: Young Lions (2007-2011), LionsXII (2012-2013), Johor Darul Ta’zim (2014-2021), Home United (2017 – loan)
As one of Singapore’s most successful footballers of all time, Hariss is a household name who was brought in to be the engine of the Sailors squad. The all-conquering midfielder joined the Sailors in 2021 after a successful eight-year spell at Malaysia Super League (MSL) side Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), where he led them to six league titles, as well as to a historic AFC Cup victory in 2015.
A natural leader who can play in the middle of the park as well as in central defence, the Lions skipper is tasked with guiding the exciting young talents at the club, as he looks to usher in a new era of success for the Sailors.
