The Lion City Sailors will kick off their 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign with a tough home assignment against V.League 1 powerhouse Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (8 October).
After group-stage exits in the past two editions, the Sailors are determined to mount a stronger challenge this time around as they target a spot in the quarter-finals.
Stern opening test
However, CAHN also have a point to prove. Having reached the final of the competition’s inaugural edition, they were eliminated in the group stage last season after finishing fourth in their group.
The Vietnamese side will enter this year’s competition with high expectations, having established themselves as one of the country’s most successful clubs in recent years. Since earning promotion as V.League 2 champions in 2022, CAHN have won two of the last four V.League 1 titles, two Vietnamese Super Cups and one Vietnamese Cup.
They have also started the new season in fine form, securing qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite with a 2-0 play-off victory over Adelaide United. Domestically, they have won all three league matches so far, scoring 11 goals without conceding.
At the helm of the club is Head Coach Mano Pölking, who was named V.League 1 Manager of the Season last year. The German-Brazilian is a familiar figure to many of the Singapore internationals in the Sailors squad, having previously coached the Thai national team.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Coach Pölking stressed the need for a strong performance against the Sailors as his side begin their pursuit of a first Shopee Cup title.
“I won my first title (the 2020 ASEAN Championship) as a coach with the Thai national team in Singapore, so this place holds very fond memories for me. Tomorrow, we have a very tough game, and we need to stay focused against a strong team,” said Pölking.
“There are a lot of familiar faces at the Sailors whom we’ve known for a long time, and their coach knows me better now too. I hope we can deliver an entertaining game for the fans and the competition, and come away with all three points.”
Polking has refreshed his foreign contingent with the arrivals of defender Frans Putros, an Indonesian league winner with Persib Bandung who was part of Iraq’s squad at the recent FIFA World Cup, former Lazio centre-forward Brayan Perea and winger David Henen, who made more than 50 appearances for Everton’s Under-23 side in Premier League 2.
They add to an already formidable squad featuring Brazilian duo Léo Artur and Alan Grafite. Artur registered 10 goals and seven assists last season, while Grafite was the club’s leading scorer in domestic competition with 16 goals. Midfielder Stefan Mauk, a seasoned A-League campaigner, provides another goal threat.
CAHN also boast a strong Vietnamese contingent, which includes attacking midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải, rising winger Nguyễn Đình Bắc, defender Đoàn Văn Hậu, and left-back Jason Pendant.
Văn Hậu echoed his head coach’s sentiments, and stressed CAHN’s determination to improve on their previous final appearance.
“Whenever we enter this competition, we aim to go far. We reached the final two years ago but could not lift the trophy, so we want the best possible outcome this season. That starts with a strong performance against the Sailors on Thursday,” said the defender.
Sailors looking to make their mark
Head Coach Mark Jackson will take charge of his first Shopee Cup match for the Sailors as they seek a return to winning ways, following draws against Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League and BG Pathum United in the AFC Champions League Two.
The two-week international break has given the Englishman valuable time on the training pitch to work with his players, while the return of the Singapore internationals following their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign has further bolstered the squad, with the past week focused on reintegrating them into preparations for Thursday’s.
“We have been working hard with the players. It was initially difficult with some away on Singapore national team duty, but we are fully supportive of the national team, and they have all returned in good shape,” explained Coach Jackson.
“It was important to reintegrate them into the group and manage their physical workload, while bringing them up to speed with what we have shared with the other players: how we want to play, my ideas in and out of possession, and how we want to move forward as a club.
“The players have taken everything on board very well. They have been focused and disciplined, and have shown a clear understanding of what we are trying to achieve.”
One player who knows the opposition well is centre-back Hugo Gomes. The Brazilian is set to face his former club, having played the full 90 minutes in CAHN’s 5-0 victory over the Sailors during the 2024/25 Shopee Cup. He will look to draw on that experience to help his new teammates meet the challenge.
“It’s always exciting to face your former club. But I am a professional, and my goal is to help my new club win. We are also representing Singapore against a Vietnamese team,” said Hugo.
“I want to win this competition. We have a coach who has already won it and a strong, talented squad. But for now, our focus is on this game because it is the first step towards our target of reaching the final.”
Jackson, too, brings valuable experience of success in the region. He guided Central Coast Mariners to the A-League Men Premiership and Championship double, alongside the AFC Cup title, in the 2023/24 season.
Most recently, he led Buriram United to a treble of the Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Shopee Cup, as well as the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals. He will now look to build a similar winning culture at the Sailors, starting with a strong showing against CAHN.
“The success I’ve had at my previous clubs comes down to many things: the players, the staff and the work that goes into building a strong culture,” said the 48-year-old.
“It takes time, but we have all the right ingredients here. Now it’s about putting in the work on the training ground and translating that into our performances in matches. We are heading in the right direction.
“This game is going to be a battle. Our tactical ideas will be important, but so will our physicality and winning mindset. We want to start my first campaign in this competition with the Sailors with three points, and I’m very optimistic that we can be successful.”
