Coming off a challenging yet enriching maiden voyage into the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL), the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team are determined to charge ahead and accomplish their goal for 2024 – to secure a third consecutive Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title. 

Daniel Ong’s charges know that three wins from their final three games – to be played in the space of eight days – will see them crowned champions. They will face fourth-placed Still Aerion this Wednesday (4 September) and third-placed Geylang International four days later (8 September), before wrapping up the season against BG Tampines Rovers the following Wednesday (11 September).

Currently three points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors Women crucially have two games in hand, and full-back Khairunnisa Anwar is backing her side to overhaul the White Swans – albeit with an eye on bigger ambitions. 

“It’s not just about winning the WPL; doing so will mean we have a chance to qualify for the next AWCL – that’s the bigger goal for us,” said the 21-year-old.  “Each of us has this hunger and determination to not just push for the title, but to also put up good performances for ourselves and the fans who are always supporting us. 

“We cannot be complacent, thinking we can go out there and easily win these three matches. We’ve to continue to put in the hard work to improve our game play, and we’re putting in a lot of effort to do so.” 

Participation in the AWCL has fuelled the girls’ desire and opened their eyes to a much higher level of football that they aspire towards in the coming years. 

“We now have a bigger goal and purpose to look forward to and work towards; it’s not just to be champions of the WPL,” said Nisa. “I think each of us really gave our very best and we did ourselves and the Sailors proud, no matter how the results turned out. 

“Now is the best time for us to reflect on ourselves, our performances and our mistakes, and put in even more hard work because ultimately, we want to make our mark in the next AWCL – and keep playing at this level for the next few years.” 

Indeed, the Sailors Women can look back on an encouraging debut AWCL campaign in which they gave a good account of themselves in the Preliminary Stage, despite coming up against far superior opposition in the form of Indian Women’s League champions Odisha FC and Jordan Women’s Pro League champions Etihad Club. 

“Credit must go to Coach Daniel; his philosophy for us is to have a lot of possession and constantly move after we pass the ball,” revealed Nisa. “Against Odisha, we did make a lot of good plays and showed that we can play good football, instead of simply kicking the ball away or pumping it upfield when we were under pressure. 

“We just need to keep believing in each other as a team, make runs for each other, and I’m sure we’ll be better equipped to play the region’s top teams in the future.” 

For now, the Sailors Women are fully focused on making it a WPL three-peat – an achievement that would have added significance given the shift to a more youthful squad, with most players aged 22 and below, including seven Academy graduates who made their WPL debuts this season. 

Nisa – a member of the 2022 and 2023 WPL title-winning squads – is relishing the opportunity to impart her knowledge and is urging the girls to cap off a season to remember. 

“Time passes in a flash; I’m already one of the senior players here,” she said. “While the team is now very young, I see a lot of potential in these girls and they have a lot to offer the women’s game here. 

“It’s not easy making the step up to play in the WPL, especially when they are younger than most of the players from the other teams. For the promoted and newer girls to win their first WPL trophy would be a reflection of the hard work they have put in all year long, and we’re all working towards achieving another significant milestone for the club.”