Month: February 2025
The Lion City Sailors closed the chapter on their inaugural ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Kaya FC–Iloilo at the Biñan Football Stadium on Thursday (6 February) night.
Although both teams were already out of contention for the knockout rounds, the match was still played with competitive intensity, and remained a hard-fought contest that was ultimately decided by two second-half goals from the hosts.
Led by Assistant Coach Marko Perović, who deputised for the unwell Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković, the Sailors made several changes to the starting XI that had beaten Geylang International in a Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash on 26 January, with the likes of goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad, winger Bart Ramselaar, and young striker Abdul Rasaq Akeem coming into the lineup.
As the rain poured down at the Biñan Stadium, both teams started cautiously, with Kaya seeing more of the ball in the early stages. While the Sailors gradually grew into the game, they, too, found clear-cut opportunities hard to come by.
The first real chance of the match finally came in the 21st minute, when Kaya winger Shuto Komaki — who previously played for SPL side Albirex Niigata (S) — skipped past his marker and unleashed a fierce drive that forced Zharfan into an instinctive save.
Four minutes later, a set-piece opportunity saw veteran Kaya defender Simone Rota rise unmarked in the box, but his header lacked conviction and deflected wide.
The Sailors’ best opportunity of the half came just before half-time, with some excellent build-up play leading to Christopher van Huizen teeing up Maxime Lestienne for a shot. The Belgian’s thunderous effort, however, was well saved by Kaya goalkeeper Walid Birrou, and though Rasaq pounced on the rebound, he could not generate enough power to trouble the Kaya goal.
The visitors started the second half brightly, with Bart, in particular, causing problems for the Kaya defence down the left flank. Indeed, the Dutchman was at the heart of the first real chance after the break in the 58th minute, as he delivered a delightful chipped pass into the path of Maxime, but the 32-year-old’s close-range header sailed off-target.
After the game, Marko highlighted the missed chances as a key factor in the defeat, as he said, “In terms of possession, we had a good performance, but we needed to be more aggressive. If you don’t take your chances, you will lose the game.”
The hosts went on to break the deadlock in the 65th minute, with substitute Lucas del Rosario slotting home the rebound after Zharfan had parried Komaki’s well-directed shot into his path.
Marko refused to place blame on Zharfan for the goal, stating, “For the first goal, it was a long ball over our defence, and our goalkeeper tried to deal with it, but the wet field made things difficult. The weather may have caused the ball to move faster than usual, but overall, I don’t think it played a significant role in the game.”
Before the Sailors could regroup from the setback, controversy struck in the 67th minute. A long ball from the back found Kaya winger Jesus Melliza on the right flank, and as he broke into the box, he went down under minimal contact from Hariss Harun. To the Sailors captain’s disbelief, the referee pointed to the spot, and even booked him for the challenge.
After a lengthy VAR review, the penalty stood, and Melliza duly sent Zharfan the wrong way to double Kaya’s lead on 71 minutes.
With time running out, the Sailors then threw numbers forward in search of a comeback. However, they struggled to break down a compact Kaya defence, and despite their best efforts, failed to truly test Birrou in the final moments of the game, as the hosts held on for their first points of the competition.
Despite the win, Kaya finished bottom of the six-team Group B with three points, while the Sailors placed fifth with four points, having recorded one win, one draw, and three defeats.
Reflecting on the Sailors’ Shopee Cup campaign as a whole, Hariss said, “I think we didn’t start the campaign well, and we put ourselves in a difficult position with the first two games (defeats to Borneo FC and CAHN). But we can take heart from the performances against KL City and Buriram United.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and coming into today’s game, there was nothing but three points to play for. Credit to Kaya — they made the most of their chances. We let two balls slip behind us and conceded two goals.
“We tried to put in a good performance, but it is what it is. Now, we have to put this behind us, look forward, and prepare for the next games.”
The Sailors will next take on Tanjong Pagar United in the SPL at the Bishan Stadium this Sunday (9 February).
The Lion City Sailors will look to wrap up their inaugural ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup campaign on a high when they face reigning Philippines champions Kaya FC–Iloilo on Thursday (6 February) night at the Biñan Football Stadium.
Up against a dominant force in Philippines
Kaya FC are undoubtedly the dominant force in their domestic league, having won the last two Philippines Football League (PFL) titles. Last season, they went unbeaten with 13 wins and a draw, scoring an impressive 82 goals and conceding just five across 14 matches.
They have started the 2024/25 season strongly as well, coming from behind to defeat Dynamic Herb (DH) Cebu 3-1 over the weekend (2 February) to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, with seven wins and a draw so far.
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While they were unable to progress beyond the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two group stage, they have secured some credible results, including a 2-1 away win over Hong Kong’s Eastern SC, and a 1-1 home draw against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima — the only team to take points off the Japanese side.
However, things have not gone according to plan for them in the ACC Shopee Cup, with four defeats in as many matches consigning them to the bottom of Group B.
Kaya’s clash with the Sailors will be played at Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna, approximately an hour’s drive from downtown Manila, instead of Rizal Memorial Stadium, which is undergoing pitch renovations ahead of the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Nonetheless, Kaya head coach Yu Hoshide is determined to secure their first points in the competition on Thursday.
“We haven’t picked up any points so far, and with this being our last game, we’re obviously disappointed. But we’ve improved, and tomorrow we hope to get all three points,” said the 47-year-old Japanese coach at the pre-match press conference.
“It won’t be easy playing in a different stadium, and on an artificial pitch, but we still have an advantage (playing in the Philippines), and we’ll give our best. Overall, it’s been a good experience in the Shopee Cup, and hopefully, we can get a win for our supporters tomorrow.”
Some familiar faces
The Sailors will come up against a couple of familiar faces in Kaya’s Japanese duo, Kaishu Yamazaki and Shuto Komaki. Kaishu was part of the Sailors’ squad in their inaugural 2020 season, where he scored two goals in 13 Singapore Premier League (SPL) appearances, while Komaki featured for Albirex Niigata (S) in their title-winning campaign last season, playing three times against the Sailors.
The rest of Kaya’s squad includes several seasoned Azkals veterans, such as 40-year-old vice-captain Simone Rota, along with Fitch Arboleda, Jovin Bedic, Marwin Angeles, and Patrick Deyto.
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Kaya’s bid for a win has been slightly affected by the recent departures of key attackers Daizo Horikoshi and Robert Lopez Mendy, although the loan signing of Pocholo Bugas and the return of Gavin Muens from loan have bolstered the team.
Kaishu, however, is confident his team can overcome the Sailors, with the Japanese defender eager to show how much he has grown since leaving the club in 2021.
“We’re focused on getting all three points tomorrow, and on a personal level, I want to show the Sailors how much I’ve improved,” said Kaishu. “I’m really excited and happy to see them again, and I know a few of the players in their squad. But tomorrow, I’ll give 100% — I’m doing it for myself, for Kaya, and for our fans.”
No letting up for Sailors
The Sailors battled hard to hold Thai League 1 powerhouse Buriram United in their last outing, but it was not enough to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Nonetheless, they remain determined to finish on a high, with third place in the group still up for grabs.
“We’re coming off two strong performances in this competition. This is our last game, and we want to end it in the best possible way,” said Assistant Coach Marko Perović, who deputised for Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković who did not fly to the Philippines due to illness.
“We’re representing Singapore, so it’s very important to leave a good impression. We’re up against Kaya, who have a few quality players and are well-organised, but as I’ve said, we’ve had two solid performances, and we want to keep that momentum going.
“Against Buriram, we delivered a very good performance. They’re one of the best teams in Southeast Asia, and that result gives us a lot of optimism heading into a busy month with many games. We always play to win.”
While there may be not much riding on the outcome of this match, young Sailors forward Abdul Rasaq Akeem insists his side will approach it with the same seriousness as any other.
“This game is important for us because we didn’t start well in this competition, but we’ve improved as a team as the season has progressed,” said the 23-year-old, who will be hoping for his first continental goal for the Sailors.
“We want to show our supporters that we take every game seriously. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re well-prepared and have strong belief in this team.
“Overall, this competition has been a dream for us — to play against top teams in the region, to challenge ourselves, and to seize the opportunity to show what we can do.”
The Lion City Sailors are proud to announce that promising Singaporean attacker Khairin Nadim has secured a move to Portuguese second-division side FC Vizela on a one-and-a-half-year deal.
This move marks an exciting new chapter for the 20-year-old, who will take his talents to one of the world’s top footballing nations as he continues his upward trajectory.
Khairin’s burgeoning potential has been evident since his historic debut in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at just 15 years and 298 days with the Young Lions in March 2020 — making him the youngest-ever player to feature in the league at the time. While that record has since been surpassed by Raoul Suhaimi in 2021 and Nathan Mao in 2023, Khairin remains the third-youngest debutant in SPL history.
A trailblazer in more ways than one, Khairin still holds the record as the second youngest Singaporean to score in the SPL, netting his first goal against BG Tampines Rovers at 16 years and 194 days. He also became the youngest player ever to reach five SPL goals at 16 years and 316 days – an achievement that underlines his knack for making an impact on the big stage.
Khairin’s journey with the Sailors began when he joined the Sailors Academy, where his skills were further honed and refined, laying the foundation for him to become the dynamic, versatile attacker he is today.
The Sailors subsequently arranged for him to attend trials with FC Vizela. There, he impressed with his talent and technical ability — earning himself this opportunity to ply his trade in Europe.
Having signed a contract that runs until 30 June 2026, Khairin will feature primarily for Vizela’s Under-23 squad that competes in the Liga Revelação, while being closely monitored by the first-team coaches.
Vizela’s first team currently competes in Liga Portugal 2 (LigaPro), where they sit eighth in an 18-team league that includes the B teams of Benfica and FC Porto.
Importantly, Vizela has demonstrated a strong commitment to youth development, with 16 of their Under-23 players featuring for the first team over the past four years — a pathway that Khairin will be determined to follow. Indeed, Vizela’s current top scorer, Prosper Obah, was part of the club’s Under-23 squad as recently as last season, highlighting the clear opportunities available for young talents to make their mark.
Vizela Sporting Director Toni Dovale, who played a key role in the deal, said, “We’ve been investing a lot in our youth development program in the past few years, and signing top international talents is a part of our step forward as a club.
“Having played in Asia as a player, I’ve heard very good things about Khairin Nadim, and that was why I was keen to find out more about him. That proved to be the case in his trials with us, and we’re excited to see how far his potential can take him.”
Sailors Technical Director Luka Lalić is optimistic that Khairin has the qualities and mental fortitude to succeed at Vizela.
“As the youngest senior debutant in the SPL at one point, Khairin showed immense promise. Signing him for the Sailors at 17 was a no-brainer for me because he displayed a range of qualities that define a modern-day winger,” said Luka.
“Technically gifted, quick to find solutions in tight spaces, and adept at beating defenders 1v1 with pace and natural flair — Khairin has the kind of abilities that make him stand out from the crowd. He’s earned this opportunity to compete in Portugal, and he must make the most of these 18 months to prove he’s ready for the next step in his development.
“Given Vizela’s club structure, the people working closely with him, and Khairin’s own mindset and desire to succeed, I believe — with a bit of luck — he can do very well and make both clubs proud.”
Khairin is set to make his European debut on 25 February when Vizela’s U23s take on Benfica B in the Liga Revelação. Inspired by his peer Nur Muhammad Asis — who made history as the first Singaporean to sign a professional contract with a top-flight Portuguese club, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, in July 2024 — Khairin is determined to carve out his own path and make Singapore proud on the European stage.
“My friend Asis is doing well in Portugal now, and that motivates me. It makes me believe that taking this step is possible,” said Khairin, who has represented Singapore at the Under-23 level. “I’m grateful to the Sailors not just for shaping me into the player I am today, but also for creating this incredible opportunity for me.
“Playing in Europe has always been my goal, and I’m happy to be able to realise this dream. I’m not just representing the Sailors, but also Singapore as a young player here. I’ll train hard, prove myself, and show that I belong on the big stage.”
The Sailors Academy are one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to be conferred a Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
If there is one player in the Sailors’ squad who embodies the phrase “body on the line,” it is centre-back Toni Datković. The Croatian is known for his fearless commitment, and often throws himself into challenges to protect the Sailors’ goal.
Toni’s uncompromising defensive style has been instrumental in the Sailors boasting the tightest defence in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) so far, conceding just 24 goals in 20 games. Since the turn of the year, he has also helped the team keep clean sheets against formidable continental opponents, which include Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur City and reigning Thai League 1 champions Buriram United.
But Toni’s contributions to the team are not limited to just his defensive work. The 31-year-old has also developed a knack for scoring, and recently netted his fourth goal of the season — a crucial equaliser in the Sailors’ 2-1 league win over Geylang International.
“It was an important statement win for us,” said Toni. “We had the opportunity to go six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand, and we took it. The team has been doing an amazing job over the past few months, so now we just need to stay consistent and maintain this level of performance until the end of the season.”
As Toni’s nickname, El Sicario — a Spanish term that translates to “The Hitman” — suggests, he has added an extra layer of steel and aggression to the Sailors’ backline since signing for the club last February. In that time, he has forged strong bonds with teammates like fellow defenders Bailey Wright and Lionel Tan, and those close-knit relationships are paying dividends on the pitch.
“The relationships we share are a big strength of this team,” explained the Croatian. “We always hang out as a group and spend a lot of time together on and off the pitch — especially during away trips. Everyone is really happy, and that positive mood within the camp helps us perform well in games.”
These bonds will be crucial for Toni and his teammates as they face a hectic February, with seven games packed into just 21 days.
Their schedule could get even more demanding if they advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two, as they will then have to play a two-legged tie scheduled for 5 and 12 March. This could see them playing a match every three to four days until the mid-March international window.
“As footballers, we always want to play more games, so this won’t be a problem,” said an unfazed Toni. “It will be tough on us physically, but we’re already mentally prepared. We expect a lot of rotation, so every player must be ready because everyone is important.”
Having racked up over 100 appearances in Spain’s LaLiga 2, along with stints in top-tier competitions like the UEFA Europa League and Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA, Toni is eager to lend his experience to help his teammates navigate the packed schedule.
“I’ve played many games in Europe, where there’s much more pressure with tens of thousands of fans in the stands. It may be slightly different here, but the stakes are just as high and we have to be constantly on our toes to make sure our team win matches,” said Toni.
“Besides me, there are other players in the squad who’ve played in Europe and around the world, like Maxime (Lestienne) and Bart (Ramselaar). That experience will be invaluable, especially during times like these.”
The Sailors’ next continental challenge is a trip to the Philippines to face Kaya FC-Iloilo in their final ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup group match. While their place in the semi-finals is now out of their hands, Toni and his teammates remain determined to end their tournament on a high.
“Doing well on the continental stage is very important for this club, so we’re going there with everything to get the win. We want to show how much we’ve grown since losing the first two matches, and that we actually deserve to be in the next stage,” said Toni.
Fully aware of the high expectations surrounding the Sailors as they approach the business end of the season, Toni urged his teammates to embrace the pressure and keep fighting for the club.
“Many people in Singapore expect us to win everything, but this is football, and we’re confident about what lies ahead,” he said. “Everyone here wants to win trophies and continue making history for the club, so we’ll give 100 per cent to ensure we have no regrets at the end of the season.”
