It has been an eventful few weeks for Lion City Sailors Women’s Team winger Nur Sarah Zu’risqha.

Just three weeks ago, on 29 June, Sarah scored an impressive five goals for the Sailors Women’s in their 13-0 victory over Tiong Bahru. Then, this past Tuesday (16 July), she was part of the Singapore women’s football team that made history with a 9-0 win over Macau, their largest-ever victory.

Sarah, who was one of 10 Sailors called up to the Lionesses for the international friendly, expressed her pride in representing the country, saying, “It’s always an honour to play for the national team, especially at home. It can be nerve-wracking at times but I do cherish every opportunity to don the national jersey.”

(Photo: Football Association of Singapore)

All things considered, Sarah and the Sailors will be heading into their upcoming Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) this Saturday (20 July) on a high.

But Sarah knows full well the threat that Albirex can pose, having spent the past two years with the White Swans before making the switch to the Sailors this season.

Making the move to the Sailors

Sarah, who turns 18 next Wednesday (24 July), explained that her decision to join the Sailors was a no-brainer, largely because it offered her the opportunity to play with a young squad featuring many players from the national set-up. More importantly, she felt it was the right step forward for her development as a player.

“As a young player myself, it’s fantastic to play with a young squad because I feel that we understand each other better,” said Sarah. “Moreover, the bulk of the Sailors team is made up of players from the youth and senior national teams – quality players I’ve played with before. Hence, we are always put through competitive and rigorous training sessions, which I thoroughly enjoy.

“My friends from the Sailors also told me that besides the high-intensity tactical and technical training they undergo, there are also far more opportunities for overseas exposure. After much consideration, I felt that this move would be best for my personal development.”

Sarah also credited Sailors Head Coach Daniel Ong for giving her the confidence to take the plunge and make the switch.

“I’ve been coached by Coach Daniel in the U19 National team for the past two years, and I know he’s a great coach,” Sarah shared. “So, when he approached me to join the Sailors, it was an easy choice to make. I’ve learnt so much more from him in every aspect of my game, and he always pushes us to our limits.”

However, while Sarah has since established herself as a key part of the team, her initial transition was not without its challenges.

“It was challenging to adapt to the team’s fast-paced style of play, and I wasn’t used to it,” Sarah recounted. “But, by attending training regularly and with the guidance of my teammates, I gradually grew into it. We also had team bonding sessions that helped me integrate better into the team.”

From teammates to rivals

With both the Sailors and Albirex currently tied at the top of the WPL table on 24 points, a victory for either side this weekend at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium will give them a crucial advantage in the race for the title.

Among the key players that Albirex count in their ranks include skipper Rosnani Azman and 2023 Young Player of the Year Dhaniyah Qasimah – both of whom also featured alongside Sarah for the Lioness in their win over Macau.

(Photo: Football Association of Singapore)

Chuckling at the thought of facing the two of them just days after being on the same team, Sarah said, “Nani and Dhaniyah are both top players whom I look up to. We’re friends in the National Team, but when it comes to the game on Saturday, we’ll be opponents. It’s going to be an interesting game because we’ve been at centralised training together for the past two and a half weeks.”

The race for the WPL title heats up

The last time the two teams met, the Sailors had to dig deep to edge out a narrow 2-1 victory. Sarah expects the upcoming clash to be equally tight, but has backed the Sailors to secure a crucial three points that could prove pivotal in the title race.

“We all know that this match could potentially decide who the eventual champions are, so we will give our all to secure the three points,” Sarah declared. “Albirex have been performing well this season, as you can tell from their teamwork, game play and results. We cannot afford to be complacent and let our guard down. The ball is round and anything can happen.

“Winning this game will take us a step towards our goal of winning the league, giving us the opportunity to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL) once again. That’s our team’s objective – to compete against the best in the region every year.”