Author: Lion City Sailors
They huffed and puffed, and after 86 gruelling minutes, finally brought the resilient Brunei DPMM house down.
In doing so, the Lion City Sailors maintained their 100% record in the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL), making them the only team in the league to remain perfect this season.
Goals from Shawal Anuar and Maxime Lestienne in the 87th and 95th minute respectively helped the Sailors secure all three points against DPMM, who suffered their first defeat of their campaign.
The Sailors’ 2-0 victory at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday (18 June) night also marked a new club record of eight consecutive SPL wins – an impressive streak that dates back to July 2023.
This is also the first time that the Sailors have won their first three games of the season since its inception in 2020.
Despite the win, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković admitted there were aspects of the game, particularly in the attacking third, where he felt his side could have performed better. Nevertheless, he credited their never-say-die spirit for eventually securing the breakthrough.
“We didn’t capitalise on a few good chances in the first half. In the second half, DPMM made it very tough – they were really compact and didn’t allow us much space,” the Serb explained.
“I felt we could have done better and moved the ball faster. But credit to the boys, they gave everything, and I have to say it was a well-deserved win for us in the end.”
The match also saw new signing Lennart Thy make his Sailors debut – the former Dutch Eredivisie forward proved to be a lively presence up top, linking play well and coming close to scoring on several occasions.
While Lennart— who was substituted in the 69th minute for M. Anumanthan — did not score, his overall performance was encouraging enough for Ranko to feel optimistic about what he can bring to the team in the months ahead.
“The plan was always to substitute him off in the second half as he’s still settling in and quite fatigued,” Ranko revealed. “We’re being very cautious with how we handle him. He’s proven he can score goals at the highest level, and I’m sure we’ll see a different Lennart in the coming weeks.”
The Sailors started the match brightly and quickly asserted their dominance in the first 45 minutes, creating numerous promising goalscoring opportunities.
However, their efforts were thwarted by a combination of wasteful finishing and outstanding goalkeeping from DPMM’s Macedonian goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski, with the 35-year-old producing at least four crucial saves to deny Lennart, Maxime, and Bart Ramselaar in a half where the Sailors outshot DPMM 16 to 5.
DPMM gained a stronger foothold after the break and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute through Julio Cruz. However, the Mexican forward’s speculative drive from 35 yards out was denied by the woodwork.
That was the cue for Ranko to rejig his frontline, as Song Uiyoung came on to support Shawal, who moved from the flanks to go up top.
The change helped Ranko’s charges keep the pressure on DPMM, and they would finally reap the rewards of their endeavour in the 87th minute through the ever-reliable Shawal.
When the DPMM defence failed to clear Toni Datković’s inswinging cross, Shawal – who had taken the captain’s armband after Hariss Harun was substituted – controlled the ball with a deft touch before executing an acrobatic volley to score and give his side the lead.
The goal means the 33-year-old has now scored in each of his four appearances this campaign, including the season-opening SPL Community Shield.
Reflecting on his match-winning strike, Shawal said, “My goal was a result of the team’s hard work to get this win. We’re happy with this result, but it’s back to the training ground tomorrow – we want to improve further as a team, play good football and continue to deliver victories for our fans to savour.”
But the Sailors were not done just yet. In the fifth minute of injury time, Shawal turned provider as he teed up Maxime, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a stupendous drive from the edge of the box beyond a hapless Naumovski.
As a result of the win, the Sailors have moved up to second in the table, a point behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more. The Sailors will next take on defending SPL champions Albirex Niigata (S) at Bishan Stadium on Sunday (23 June) evening.
Local healthcare practitioner Bone Setting SG has come onboard as the Official Partner of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team for the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
This partnership represents a shared commitment between both organisations to enhance the well-being and performance of women’s football players in Singapore, as the women’s game continues to experience exponential growth in the country.
Specialising in bone setting manipulation to help reset bones, muscles, and joints, Bone Setting SG brings forth their expertise to empower the reigning WPL champions with key injury prevention and recovery solutions.
An integral part of orthopaedic medicine
Through this partnership, Bone Setting SG will provide bone setting services for the Sailors Women for all matches (both pre-match and half-time therapy) throughout the 2024 season. In addition, they will offer oil massage therapy for individual players at their Marsiling or Centropod outlets upon request.
Bone Setting SG will also conduct educational workshops for the Sailors Women, sharing knowledge on rehabilitation techniques and overall musculoskeletal wellness to benefit the team.
Founded in 2021, Bone Setting SG applies the principles of traditional Chinese Tit Tar for their treatment. These treatments consist of three segments: massage, stretching, and a full body adjustment.
Utilising specialised manipulation techniques to correct misalignments and remove obstruction in the joints, bone setting therapy facilitates the body’s natural healing processes and enhances the body’s mobility.
This helps ease or prevent issues such as chronic pain, frozen shoulders, migraines, lower back pain, and arthritis.
Clear vision to empower women’s football
While they have partnered Singapore Football League Division One side Singapore Khalsa Association over the past couple of years, this is Bone Setting SG’s first foray into women’s football.
“Women’s football has progressed swiftly over the past few years, and we’d like to play our part to help lift the game here to another level. Our objectives are very much aligned with the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team, and what we aim to achieve is to improve the holistic health of female athletes, both on and off the pitch,” said founder Zul Nor Farahin, a former national Under-23 and professional footballer.
“The recovery options for female sportsmen are still inadequate, and we are committed to bridging this gap by educating them on the importance of proper body care. Proper treatment and care are essential so that they can prolong their career as athletes.”
The Sailors Women have already benefited from Bone Setting’s treatment this season.
“Sometimes, our muscles get tensed up and stiff before a match. So the pre-game muscle release helps us get a better adjustment of our bodies, and gets us warmed up quicker. It certainly puts us in a better condition, and helps enhance our performances on the pitch,” said Sailors vice-captain Ho Hui Xin.
Teenage teammate Nur Sarah Zu’risqha echoed Hui Xin’s sentiments, and added, “We do have a busy schedule filled with training sessions and matches, so it really helps when our recovery is properly taken care of. Sometimes, I have aches in my body that makes me really uncomfortable, but after the treatment, I feel more relaxed, which helps me in my daily life.”
Bone Setting SG is hopeful that this partnership will mark the start of a long and rewarding journey in empowering women’s football.
“Ultimately, what we want is for female football players to understand their bodies better, and to elevate their performances on the field,” said Bone Setting SG co-founder, Nadya Lim Shanna. “I’m sure the Sailors women players have ambitious goals, and we want to help them in any way we can to achieve their targets.”
Exactly a month after their last Singapore Premier League (SPL) game – a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Young Lions – the Lion City Sailors will return to league action once again, when they take on Brunei DPMM in a rescheduled game on Tuesday (18 June) night.
With the return to training of several key Sailors such as Hariss Harun and Christopher van Huizen from the recent international break, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges have ramped up their preparations for the DPMM game over the past few days.
Sailors midfielder Adam Swandi revealed that the whole team is eagerly anticipating the restart of the league, and urged his teammates to build on their winning start to the season.
“Everyone in the team has been training very hard, even during the international break. Now, with the (Singapore) national team boys back, we’ve intensified our preparations, and all of us are raring to get back on the pitch to show what we can do,” said the 28-year-old.
Unfortunately for Adam, he was not among the six Sailors who were called up to the Lions for the recent international break.
While admitting it was slightly ‘disheartening’ not to receive a call-up, he is determined to channel that frustration into motivation, as he looks to drive the Sailors forward in their pursuit of the title.
“Playing for the national team is the highest honour for a footballer, so I’m definitely disappointed on that front,” Adam said. “But I’m going to work hard to show my abilities whenever I’m on the pitch, and the aim is really to put up good performances to help the team get the results we need.”
While the Sailors have delivered a series of strong performances this season, they will likely be tested by a reinvigorated DPMM side featuring a new foreign attacking trio — Miguel Oliveira, Julio Cruz, and Gabriel Gama — along with homegrown sensation Hakeme Yazid.
Nonetheless, Sailors Head Coach Ranko has backed his players to rise up to the challenge.
“We’ve watched and analysed DPMM’s first two matches (2-1 and 4-1 victories over Young Lions and Albirex Niigata (S) respectively). They’ve improved a lot from last season, and the foreigners they brought in are real quality. It’s going to be challenging, but I’m confident that our boys have the ability to get the victory.”
There might be a new face in the Sailors’ line-up for their match against DPMM, as forward Lennart Thy could potentially make his debut.
With fans eager to see what Lennart will bring to the team, Adam has reassured them that the German is a quality addition and believes he will make a positive difference this season.
“Lennart has been training with the team for two weeks now, and he’s been a great addition on and off the pitch,” said Adam. “Everyone can agree that he’s a goalscoring machine – he can score with his left foot, right foot and with his head. I’m sure with every small chance he gets, he can convert and help us win matches.
“We’re all excited to work with a player of his calibre. All of us have been helping him as much as possible to integrate into the team and I’m sure he’ll be someone that can light up the league – and hopefully that starts against DPMM.
“We all recognise how important this game against DPMM is. They are also on a good run of form and will likely contest for the title, so we’ll need to put up a dominant performance to get all three points.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to compete in the inaugural season of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL), which will get underway in August.
The AFC confirmed earlier today (14 June) that the Sailors are among the 22 clubs – one from each country – that will participate in the first-ever flagship club competition for women’s football in Asia.
Clubs from the top eight AFC Member Associations (MAs), based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of 15 March 2024, will qualify directly for the Group Stage. This stage features three groups of four teams each, and will be contested in a centralised league format from October 6 to 12.
The remaining 14 clubs, including the Sailors, will compete in the Preliminary Stage, which consists of four groups: two groups of four teams, and two groups of three teams. This stage will be played in a centralised league format between August 25 and 31 in either Malaysia, Thailand, Jordan, or Saudi Arabia. The winners of each group will then advance to the Group Stage.
The knockout stages will be played next year, with the final slated for May 24, 2025.
The competition represents a huge opportunity for the Sailors Women, who have dominated the domestic Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), winning the last two league titles without suffering a single defeat.
An off-season shakeup to inject youth into the squad has further reinvigorated the side. The reigning WPL champions have won all seven of their games so far, and currently lead the nine-team WPL by three points.
While acknowledging that the AWCL will present a significant challenge for his team, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes his players have the ability to rise to the occasion and showcase Singaporean women’s football in the best possible light.
“It’s a real honour for the club to represent Singapore in the first-ever AWCL,” said the 35-year-old. “We’re excited by the opportunity to test ourselves against high-calibre opposition and see how we match up against our counterparts from Asia.
“More importantly, we want the players to have this huge goal to aspire to as they continually elevate themselves. I’m confident they’ll be able to give a good account of themselves in this competition.”
Sailors Women captain Umairah Hamdan echoed these sentiments, adding, “Seeing our Men’s professional team represent the nation in the ACL for the past two seasons truly inspired us and fuelled our determination to strive for a similar goal.
“It’ll be challenging for sure, but these matches will bring out the best in us. We have many young players here, and our participation in this tournament will help us improve both individually and as a team.”
The official draw ceremonies for both the 2024/25 AWCL Preliminary Stage and Group Stage will be conducted on Thursday, 18 July at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The Lion City Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) away fixture against Brunei DPMM, originally pencilled for Saturday, 15 June in Bandar Seri Begawan, has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, 18 June in Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium at 7.45pm.
The change was made upon the request of DPMM to allow them to address technical issues which they are currently facing at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
The clash against the two-time league champions will be the Sailors’ first game after the June international break.
Thereafter, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges will return home to Bishan Stadium to face defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) on Sunday, 23 June before wrapping the month up with an away game against Geylang International at Jalan Besar five days later.
Ranko’s men are currently second in the nine-team SPL table, a point behind leaders Tampines Rovers after winning their opening two matches against Hougang United (4-1) and Young Lions (3-1).
The Lion City Sailors (LCS) Football Academy has been recognised for its robust development system for elite youth footballers in Singapore, having been conferred Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
The LCS Football Academy – which develops players from the age of three to 18 – is now one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to receive Two-Star grading, alongside Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim FC Academy, NFDP Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD), as well as Thailand’s Chonburi FC Academy.
Launched in 2017, the AFC Elite Youth Scheme recognises academies in elite youth football through three tiers: One, Two, and Three-Star. A total of 22 club academies have been endorsed under this scheme, with only two currently on the highest tier of Three-Star – namely, South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Academy, and Vietnam’s PVF Academy.
The LCS Football Academy received a Two-Star accreditation in April after meeting the assessment criteria set out by the Asian football governing body’s Youth Panel. The evaluation covers 20 performance categories, including administration, facilities, programmes, as well as player-centric factors such as welfare, psychology, and education.
“We’re proud to be amongst an elite group who have been awarded with the Two-Star Academy status,” said LCS chairman Forrest Li. “This is testament to the hard work that our Academy has put in over the past few years to ensure professionalism in all areas, from having specialist staff for every age-group team, to establishing a clear pipeline from the Academy to the First Team.”
AFC assessors Withaya Laohakul and Razip Ismail paid a visit to the Lion City Sailors Training Centre earlier in March and were impressed by the efforts that the Academy puts in to ensure the holistic development of the youth players.
“The LCS Football Academy has a good foundation, including a well-defined coaching structure, development plan for the club, coaching and playing philosophy, player profiles by position, training methodology, and financial stability.
“With strong leadership led by the club’s Technical Director, Sporting Director, and General Manager, along with their clear planning, vision, and philosophy, they’re heading in the right direction to succeed in youth development,” said Withaya.
Since attaining a One-Star grade back in September 2020, the LCS Football Academy has made sustained improvement and remarkable strides in various aspects.
Infrastructure
The operationalisation of the LCS Training Centre – the first-of-its-kind integrated football training facility in Singapore – in July 2022 is perhaps the biggest improvement that has been made over the past four years.
Equipped with physiotherapy rooms, a gym, an analysis room, and study facilities for academy trainees, alongside five top-of-the-line football fields, the Training Centre houses both Academy and First Team staff. Regular meetings between both parties ensure that goals and objectives are aligned, providing the club with the software and hardware needed to handle the rigours and demands of a modern and competitive football academy.
To complement the facility, the Academy has emphasised staffing in terms of both quantity and the variety of roles. Specialist staff now oversee every age-group team, including strength & conditioning coaches, sports psychologists, doctors, academic officers, and a full-time nutritionist who tailors the diet and nutritional requirements of the academy trainees.
The Academy also fully utilises technology to support academy trainees, employing match analysis tools like Hudl, and monitoring systems such as GPS and heart rate monitors.
Scholarship and education
The Academy’s Elite Development Programme – a multi-million dollar scholarship programme – is now into its fourth batch of scholars, with over 50 players from cohorts born between 2008 and 2011 benefitting from a well-rounded programme. This includes weekly local matches, quarterly overseas training camps, an annual major overseas tournament, as well as training stints with top foreign clubs.
The LCS Football Academy also ensures that its top talents are able to balance their footballing progress with robust academic development by partnering with St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) International.
The SJI International-LCS Elite Development Scholarship covers all associated school costs incurred leading up to either the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or, for some scholars, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The IGCSE is equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level), which enables entry into local polytechnics and junior colleges.
Acceptance into SJI International is subject to the scholars being deemed to be able to cope with its academic rigours, with entry evaluation carried out by the institution.
At present, there are two cohorts of scholars enrolled in the scholarship programme. Selected scholars also have the opportunity to pursue early enlistment for National Service (NS) after completing the IGCSE, facilitated by the Lion City Sailors Early Enlistment Bond. This initiative aims to prepare scholars for a career in professional football.
Early Enlistment Bond
The bond, launched in December 2020, involves selected trainees enlisting for NS after completing secondary education, under Singapore’s Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme. The aim is for them to fully immerse themselves in the rite of passage for Singaporean males before directing their full attention towards pursuing their footballing dreams.
When these players return to football, they are guaranteed a four-year professional contract with the club. Their primary aim would then be to battle for a spot in the Sailors’ first team, before eventually seeking to secure a move to a European club.
There have been four cohorts under the bond since its launch, with the first two batches already completing their Operationally Ready Date (ORD). Nur Muhammad Asis, from the inaugural cohort, is the first player from the LCS Football Academy to sign a professional contract with the Sailors, paving the way for many more to follow in his footsteps.
Overseas exposure
Thanks to the academy’s partnerships and strong relationships with top foreign clubs such as Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid, Sailors trainees are afforded unique opportunities to participate in training and exchanges across Europe.
In 2024, all LCS Football Academy teams from Under-13 and above are travelling to Europe for either training camps or tournaments. They will visit countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and Portugal.
LCS Football Academy Technical Director, Luka Lalić, said, “We place a strong emphasis on our youth players measuring up against their European counterparts, from their game understanding to the tactical, technical and physical aspects, as well as their responsibilities off the football pitch. We want them to see for themselves what the benchmark is, so they know what to work on and what they should aspire to become.
“We have excellent relationships with several top European clubs, and we want to continue leveraging these connections to provide our trainees with the best possible exposure, helping them become top-level professionals in the future.”
Building a pipeline for Singapore
The Sailors are also committed to consistently producing players for the national youth squads. At last year’s Lion City Cup final, eight out of the 11 players who started for the National Development Centre’s Under-15 squad were from the LCS Football Academy — a testament to the club’s strong development efforts and pivotal role in boosting football in the country.
LCS Football Academy General Manager Tan Li Yu stressed, “Ultimately, our goal is to help the national cause and build up a strong pool of players who can go on to play in the Singapore national team in the future.
“We firmly believe that there are plenty of budding football talents in the country. Our aim is to remove the obstacles or boundaries that prevent them from reaching their full potential. We are fully committed to our vision of being an elite development hub and will leave no stone unturned to help our youth players.”
With players like 16-year-old Nathan Mao and Asis already establishing themselves in the club’s first team squad, the Sailors remain dedicated to advancing their youth development efforts, and will strive to help the academy achieve the highest grade: Three-Star.
Reaffirming the Sailors’ commitment to youth development in the coming years, Li said, “We’re humbled by this Two-Star accreditation, and it only strengthens our determination to nurture the next generation of football stars in Singapore. We will continue to work extremely hard to develop the infrastructure and capabilities needed to attain the Three-Star grading in the coming years.”
Ask Lennart Thy about the incredible gesture he is perhaps best known for, and he will likely respond with an unassuming shrug or a wry smile.
After all, over the past few years, the Lion City Sailors’ newest recruit has consistently downplayed the significance of his act, insisting it was nothing more than ‘normal’.
But what exactly was it that Lennart did which earned him widespread praise and recognition?
The year was 2018, and Lennart was playing for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Ahead of a crucial match against league leaders PSV Eindhoven, Lennart received news that he was a DNA match for a leukaemia patient urgently requiring matching stem cells for treatment.
Lennart, who had joined the donor register in 2011 while playing for Werder Bremen in Germany, knew immediately what he had to do. With the blessings of Venlo, he agreed to donate his blood to generate stem cells for the patient’s transplant.
This decision meant missing the game against PSV – but it was all worth it, as Lennart’s blood saved the patient’s life.
“For me, it was just a normal thing to help others when I can,” said the 32-year-old. “But it became a big thing in both the Netherlands and Germany – much bigger than I expected. Nonetheless, the love and gratitude that I received afterwards was really heartwarming.”
Though Lennart missed the PSV game, his presence was still felt at the Philips Stadion – he was honoured with the Man of the Match award, and the players’ escorts wore t-shirts emblazoned with the message, ‘Follow Lennart, become a stem cell donor.’
The subsequent widespread coverage of Lennart’s selfless act also led to a massive increase in stem cell donations in the Netherlands, and he was ultimately awarded the prestigious FIFA Fair Play Award later that year.
When asked if he would do it again if the opportunity arose, Lennart replied without hesitation, “Of course!”
Lennart, however, is not just a hero off the pitch. The experienced forward has often been the saviour for his teams, with his heart-on-sleeve style of play making him a fan favourite at every club he has played for.
In addition to being a hardworking No. 9 who presses from the front and can often be seen tracking back to help his team during defensive transitions, Lennart also has an innate knack for being in the right place at the right time.
But what sets him apart is his ability to finish with both feet – though primarily right-footed, Lennart scored eight of his 13 goals for PEC Zwolle in the recently concluded 2023/24 Eredivisie season with his left.
“My ability to finish with both feet wasn’t that obvious until last season, when people started coming to me saying ‘you’re better with your left foot’,” Lennart mused. “I said ‘No, no’, but in the following game I scored again with my left.
“I actually don’t dwell too much on which foot to use when I find myself in a scoring position, so perhaps going with my instinct makes it easier for me.”
Lennart’s footballing talent was evident from a young age. He was part of the Germany team – alongside the likes of Mario Götze and Marc-André ter Stegen – that won the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, finishing joint-top scorer of that tournament.
He also featured in the UEFA Champions League as an 18-year-old, when he came on for the last 10 minutes of Werder Bremen’s 3-0 loss at White Hart Lane against a Tottenham Hotspur side that featured players such as Peter Crouch, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modrić.
Unsurprisingly, he went on to enjoy an eventful and fruitful career in Europe. After his stint in the German top two divisions with Werder Bremen and St Pauli, he moved to the Eredivisie, where he played for three different clubs over the past decade.
Lennart finally bid farewell to the Eredivisie on 19 May, receiving a rousing reception from fans of PEC Zwolle – where he played over 100 matches – during their final league match of the season.
Now, Lennart is ready to embark on a new adventure – over 10,000km away, with the Sailors in Singapore.
He revealed that when the Sailors came knocking, the allure of being at the forefront of such an exciting footballing project in the Lion City proved too hard to turn down.
“I’ve always said I want to try to achieve something new in football outside of Europe,” said Lennart. “So, I was intrigued when the Sailors reached out to me. After doing my research, and speaking with the management here, it got me really excited about what the club is trying to build here in Singapore.”
The father-of-two added, “It’s also a great opportunity for me to go on a new adventure with my family.”
Outlining his ambitions with the Sailors, Lennart hopes to not only win silverware with the club, but also help the younger members of the squad become better players.
“I know the club is doing a lot in terms of youth development in the country, so I’ll do my best to help the young players at this club with the experience I have,” said Lennart, who once scored against Chelsea in a 2016 friendly.
“We also want to compete in two regional competitions, and are determined to win the league. I’m here to help the team score goals, play good football and achieve our objectives. The biggest challenge now is the weather, but I think I can adapt really fast over the next few weeks.”
The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce the signing of experienced German forward Lennart Thy. This exciting acquisition comes as the club seeks to bolster its attacking options while challenging on multiple fronts this season.
Having opened the 2024/25 campaign by beating Albirex Niigata (S) to win the Community Shield, the Sailors are intent on adding more silverware, and have set their sights on winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup this season. The club also aim to make a mark in regional competitions such as the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, and the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
Lennart, who joins from Dutch Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle for an undisclosed fee, has signed a two-year contract with the Sailors. The 32-year-old will add depth to the club’s frontline alongside players like Maxime Lestienne, Shawal Anuar, and Bart Ramselaar.
With over 200 appearances in Dutch football, including 173 in the top-tier Eredivisie, Lennart possesses genuine European pedigree. His goal-scoring prowess is evident through his tally of 54 goals across three different clubs – PEC Zwolle, VVV-Venlo, and Sparta Rotterdam – from 2017 to 2024.
Lennart emerged as the top scorer in the second-tier Eerste Divisie last year, recording 23 goals in 36 matches, and playing a pivotal role in PEC Zwolle’s immediate promotion back to the top-flight. He continued his impressive form into the recently-concluded 2023/24 season, notching 13 goals – including a memorable brace in a 2-2 draw away at Ajax Amsterdam – to finish seventh in the Eredivisie goalscoring charts.
Lennart, who has also represented Germany at the Under-20 level, previously played in the top two German divisions before making the move to the Netherlands in 2017.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković hailed the signing of his new 1.84m forward. He said, “Lennart is a quality player who is very lethal in the box, and can finish with both feet. More importantly, he embodies the modern forward, as he links up play well and presses hard from the front. He’s a real competitor who will work his socks off for the team, and I’m confident he will add a different dimension to our attack.
“His infectious energy and hunger are qualities that will rub off on the team, and I’ve no doubt he will score a lot of goals for us.”
One of Lennart’s most storied and unique achievements was winning the 2018 FIFA Fair Play Award. He received the accolade after making a blood donation to facilitate a stem cell transplant for a leukaemia patient, missing a game for VVV-Venlo against PSV Eindhoven in the process. Thy’s selfless act garnered widespread praise, and prompted a surge in donors stepping forward to contribute in the Netherlands.
Sailors Sporting Director Badri Ghent believes that the addition of Lennart will be beneficial to the team, both on and off the pitch. “Lennart is an excellent acquisition for us. He’s a genuine individual who transmits the right values and will be a positive influence around the younger boys we have amongst the ranks,” said Badri.
“And of course, his football qualities are something that will give us that edge up front as we challenge on four fronts this season.”
Lennart, who arrived in Singapore earlier this week, is excited to start this new chapter of his career, and has already set his sights on a fruitful voyage with the Sailors.
“I knew of the huge ambitions that the Sailors have in terms of wanting to change the football ecosystem in Singapore and to be amongst Asia’s elite clubs one day. That is what pushed me to come all the way here, as I want to be part of a team that makes history,” he said.
“I’m going to fight with the team and do all I can to make our fans happy. I want to be a league champion here, and help the Sailors progress in the continental competitions.”
Thank you, Richi
The Lion City Sailors have reached a mutual agreement with Richairo Živković to go our separate ways.
The 27-year-old forward, who joined the club in the middle of last season, was pivotal to the Sailors’ strong end to the 2023 campaign, as he finished as the club’s third-highest scorer last year with 15 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.
Three of Richi’s goals came in the Sailors’ Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign, which contributed to two memorable victories – a 2-1 win against Kitchee SC away in Hong Kong, as well as a 2-0 scalp of nine-time K League 1 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at home.
The former Ajax Amsterdam man also struck six times during the club’s first-ever Singapore Cup triumph, including a penalty that paved the way for a 3-1 triumph over Hougang United in the final. He ultimately ended the tournament as its joint-top scorer along with teammate Shawal Anuar.
We would like to thank Richi for his contributions to the club, and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.
Shawal withdraws from Lions squad
Lion City Sailors forward Shawal Anuar has withdrawn from the Singapore National Team squad that will face South Korea and Thailand in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifiers in June.
The 33-year-old made the decision for personal reasons, as his expectant wife is due to deliver their third child in the same month.
Shawal, who made a great start to the 2024/25 season with three goals in as many matches, has been replaced by Ilhan Fandi in the squad.
That leaves six Sailors in Tsutomu Ogura’s Lions squad, with Zharfan Rohaizad, Christopher van Huizen, Lionel Tan, Hami Syahin, Song Uiyoung and captain Hariss Harun in line to face South Korea and Thailand on 6 and 11 June respectively.
We hereby wish Shawal and his family all the best during this special time.
