Category: Feature
Receiving the ball from Stipe Plazibat, Song Ui-Young instantly laid the ball back to the Croatian striker and made a darting run into the box in expectation of a through pass.
Song’s faith was repaid – Stipe sent a delightful ball into the path of Song, who finished the move off with remarkable precision to score the Sailors’ third goal in their 6-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United last Friday (Nov 13).
That goal was the talk on social media over the weekend, with netizens praising the quick interchange of passes between Song and Stipe, four touches over the course of just five seconds. More importantly, the goal is a great example of how scintillating the Sailors have been in attack in their last few Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches.
It is also a showcase of the improved chemistry and telepathy between the attackers – something that Song puts down to his excellent off-the-pitch relationship with Stipe, who only joined the club in September.
“I don’t know how to explain about this goal… It just happened!” recounted Song, who also linked up with Stipe to score in the Sailors’ previous match – a 7-1 thrashing of Balestier Khalsa. “The relationship between me and Stipe is really good. It is not only about football; off the field we are good friends as well. We talk a lot, and we share many things about life.
“We played together before (at Home United in 2017) and we kept in contact even after he left the team. We understand each other very well (outside football), and that’s why the situation on the field is probably the same.
“It’s not only this goal. I believe more goals are going to come as a result of our relationship.”
Since making his debut in Singapore football with Home United in 2012, Song has played alongside quality forwards such as Frederic Mendy, Indra Sahdan and Ken Ilso. But the South Korean still ranks Stipe amongst the very best forwards – if not the best one – that he has had the opportunity to play with.
“They all have different styles – Mendy is tall and is always a physical presence. Ilso is a bit more technical, while Stipe is usually an out-and-out finisher, although sometimes, he plays like a playmaker,” Song mused. “Stipe has been scoring a lot each year, to the point I’ve stopped counting his goals! I think he has more than 50 goals in the SPL now and he’s definitely one of the best strikers we have in this league.
“When I worked with Mendy, Indra and Ilso, I was in my early 20s and quite young so I was more on the field as a support to them. Now, I have a main role in the team with Stipe, so I have more responsibility to make a difference for the team. But it really makes my job easier with his (Stipe) presence upfront.”
After a disappointing 2019 season in which Home finished sixth out of nine teams and failed to qualify for continental football for the first time in four seasons, the club is now showing shoots of promise, after being rebranded as the Lion City Sailors, and coming under the stewardship of renowned Australian coach Aurelio Vidmar.
Song has only good things to say about the gaffer, who previously led A-League side Adelaide United to become the first Australian team to qualify for the AFC Champions League (ACL) final in 2008.
“Last year, our head coach kept changing (from Saswadimata Dasuki to Noh Rahman to Raddy Avramovic and back to Noh Rahman). The tactical system kept changing, so naturally the team took some time to adjust. That’s why our results were not so good,” the 27-year-old reflected.
“This year, we have stability with Coach Aurelio – he has huge experience as a player and as a head coach. He’s getting respect and trust from the players and the coaching staff for the ideas that he has brought in. So far, everything’s going well and I think everyone can see our improvement this season, so that’s very positive for us.”
Under Coach Aurelio, Song’s role with the team may have altered a little as he is required to sit slightly deeper, but he is relishing it nonetheless.
“My role this year is a new one. Last year it was just like a pure no. 10, in a free role where I could focus a bit more on attack,” he revealed. “This time I’m playing not just as no. 10, but also as no. 8. I’ve to adjust according to the game’s situation, but there’s no big issue for me because I’ve been playing in both positions over the years.
“The combination between the midfielders is really good. Shahdan (Sulaiman) sits a bit deeper and I will support Saifullah (Akbar) or Gabriel (Quak) more in the attack. I’m really enjoying this new role with this group of good players.”
After thrilling with 13 goals in their last two outings, the Sailors are now gunning for a third straight league victory.
But it will not come easy. The Sailors have an away fixture against a disciplined Hougang United side on Tuesday night (Nov 17). The Cheetahs managed to frustrate the Sailors two weeks ago in a 1-1 draw at Bishan which Song missed through injury, and he is now ready to make up for that missed opportunity.
“Hougang is a difficult team to break down. When we played against them, they were really focused on the defensive areas – with five defenders and four midfielders all in their own half,” he pointed out.
“It wasn’t an easy game with so many of their players back there. But if they set up like that again, we have no choice but to break them and score to get the three points. I believe the winning mentality is much stronger than before after our last two performances, and now we’ve to prove our quality in this match.”
Currently three points off the top with six games still to be played, Song believes the team is poised for the title challenge as he set his sights on playing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.
This year’s SPL champions will earn an automatic berth in the group stages of Asia’s elite club competition.
“I’m really eager to win the league because I’ve never won it in my nine years here,” said the Incheon native. “We’re now in a good flow to make this happen, and I’m going to do my best to help the team achieve our dream.
“I’ve been dreaming of playing in the AFC Champions League since we finished as zonal champions in the 2018 AFC Cup. I remember scoring against (Indonesia’s) Persija Jakarta (in front of 62,198 fans at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium) and that was a really special memory,” said Song of Home United’s exploits in the AFC’s second-tier regional club competition.
“I want to have that feeling again – playing against a strong team in front of a big crowd. To be in this competition playing against Asia’s biggest teams will help not just the club, but also Singapore football as a whole, to improve.”
Rubbing off beads of sweat while trudging off the pitch following the Lion City Sailors’ resounding 7-1 win over Balestier Khalsa on Saturday, Gabriel Quak had reason to smile as he reflected on a productive evening where he was involved in three out of the Sailors’ seven goals.
In between his perfectly-weighted passes to set up Stipe Plazibat and Adam Swandi for their goals, he also notched an intelligent pre-assist ball over the top for Plazibat, who teed up Saifullah Akbar for the latter’s maiden Sailors goal.
Despite his impressive performance in the Sailors’ commanding win, however, the 29-year-old remains unsatisfied. Instead, Gabriel was more interested in reflecting on where he and the Sailors can improve for their upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches.
“The manner in which we scored some of the goals was exactly how Coach Aurelio (Vidmar) wanted us to play our football…I was really pleased with how we moved the ball as compared to our previous games, but it’s still not a complete team performance if you ask me,” said Gabriel. “There were still some errors from us here and there, so that’s where we need to improve on.
“For myself, I could have scored a hat-trick in the second half, but fatigue let me down in my finishing. This is what happens when games are played every three to four days. But I’m not too worried (about not scoring) because I’m getting into the key positions that I need to be in.”
Gabriel has recorded four assists so far this season, making him the joint-top assist maker in the league alongside teammate Plazibat and Tampines’ Jordan Webb.
And the Singapore international, who also has two goals to his name, is pleased with how his Sailors career has panned out so far. This is especially after a knee injury forced him to make cameos off the bench in the first two matches following the SPL restart, before finally returning to the starting eleven for the next three.
“I thought I won’t feature at all in the first game back (against Geylang International) as Coach felt it was better not to risk me with games coming thick and fast,” said Gabriel, who joined the Sailors after an excellent 2019, where he scored 11 goals in all competitions and captained the Warriors to the Singapore Cup final.
“But he still decided to give me some minutes to slowly ease me back – which was a great gesture from him. He brought me on in a crucial moment where Geylang was starting to come back strongly at 2-0 down, and that helped as I played a part in the final two goals that effectively killed the game off. From there, things just got better for me and I believe the best is yet to come.”
While widely known as a fleet-footed winger, Gabriel has these days morphed into an all-rounded attacker – one who is capable of playing through the middle or drifting infield to create chances.
While crediting his coaches at Warriors for the initial transformation, Gabriel revealed that he is now receiving crucial inputs from former Aurelio to bring his game to another level in this newfound role.
It is of no coincidence that the Sailors tactician was a legendary attacking midfielder who scored 17 times in 41 appearances for the Socceroos from 1991 to 2001.
“Coach actually sat me down for coffee before the season started to share his plans for me. He liked me in the middle because of my ability to create and what I can offer in tight spaces,” shared Gabriel. “With his experience as an attacking midfielder from his playing days, he knows exactly what he wants from a player in that position so that makes it much easier for me.
“Also, after playing on the flanks all these years, I think my runs are smarter and more effective now. So I told him I’ll play anywhere in the attacking third, and we even spoke about using me as a false nine before Stipe arrived.
“Not all players can play more than one position, so I’m really glad that I can add this new dimension to my game at this stage of my career. It’s a good option for Coach too, as he can work out his game plan without being so rigid.”
It has taken a while, but it seems like the team is now getting to grips with Aurelio’s coaching philosophy. The Sailors have looked fluent in attack in recent matches, and have scored 19 goals in five matches since the restart, making them the league’s current top scorers.
Gabriel puts that success down to ‘everyone having a common goal’.
“It’s a breeze (for the attackers) to work with each other because we don’t just want to win; we also want to bring the best out of each other,” he emphasised. “We know deep down Stipe is gunning for the Golden Boot so we’re all helping him.
“It’s also down to Coach’s excellent man management that we all know our roles. For example, Adam (Swandi) isn’t sulking because he’s not starting. He knows he will come in at some stage during the game and indeed he has done well in all his appearances off the bench. This happiness in the team is important for us to be successful. The moment selfishness kicks in, that’s a recipe for failure.”
Next up for the Sailors is a rematch against second-from-bottom Tanjong Pagar United at Bishan Stadium on Friday night (Nov 13). Gabriel believes the boys are out to prove a point after they could only eke out a 1-1 draw against the gritty Jaguars in their first match of the season.
“I’m personally looking forward to this match ever since the final whistle sounded in that first game,” said the veteran. “Tanjong Pagar have yet to win probably due to their thin squad, but they always put up a good fight in every game. So we have to be physically ready for the challenge and I believe everyone is eager to make amends for that result.”
Currently five points adrift of pacesetters Tampines Rovers with seven games to go, Gabriel is setting the bar high for the Sailors.
“Why not?” he replied, when asked about whether it is realistic to target an unbeaten run for the second half of this season. “When our team was assembled, our aim was to try and win every game.
“It takes time for a newly-assembled team to get going, but excuses will run out as time passes. We need to improve on our consistency. The 4-0 win against Geylang counted for nothing because we lost to Albirex (Niigata (S) in the following match; likewise for the 5-0 win against Young Lions, because we then drew with Hougang (United).
“We need to cultivate a winning mentality and make winning a habit if we want to seriously challenge for the title and be a successful side for years to come.”
The Sailors produced a real statement of intent on Saturday evening (Nov 7) as they beat a high-flying Balestier Khalsa side 7-1 to reduce the gap between them and Singapore Premier League (SPL) leaders Tampines Rovers to five points.
Aurelio Vidmar’s charges flew out of the blocks and found themselves 5-0 up by the 35th minute courtesy of Stipe Plazibat’s well-taken hat-trick, as well as one apiece from Song Ui-Young and Saifullah Akbar.
The Sailors then put the icing on the cake with further strikes from Tajeli Salamat and super-sub Adam Swandi sandwiching a consolation goal by Balestier’s Kristijan Krajček.
Here, we look back on three talking points from an excellent outing for the Sailors.
Stipe’s not just a goalscorer
How can we start this piece without mentioning the contributions of our main man upfront?
It is clear that the club acquired Stipe in the mid-season transfer window mainly for his goalscoring ability – as seen over the years in the SPL, and even in his short time with the Sailors so far. It is clear, Stipe is a player who hits the back of the net on a regular basis.
However, his incredible goalscoring prowess has perhaps overshadowed other qualities that he brings to the team. Stipe’s not just an old-fashioned number 9 who stays in the box to finish off the chances that come to him. He’s a modern centre forward who brings his fellow attackers into play with his intelligence and spatial awareness.
We’ve already seen glimpses of that in previous games against Albirex Niigata (S) and the Young Lions where he laid on goals for Song, Adam and Gabriel Quak. And he was at it again against Balestier, with two more clever assists to set up Song and Saifullah.
For Song’s goal in the 19th minute, the Croat expertly controlled Naqiuddin Eunos’ low cross before taking Balestier centre-backs Jufri Taha and Fadlis Kamis completely out of the game with a deftly lofted ball for Song, who slammed it home from a tight angle.
He repeated the trick 15 minutes later by unselfishly squaring across goal for Saifullah to sweep home when it seemed like the most obvious option was to pull the trigger. Finally, in the 65th minute, Stipe cleverly sold a dummy that completely bamboozled the Balestier defence, giving Adam the time and space to place his effort into the bottom corner of the net.
Being involved in six of the Sailors’ seven goals, it was a good evening’s worth of work for Stipe. For fans of the Sailors, it is a tantalising prospect to see this well-rounded striker firing on all cylinders as we head into the business end of the season.
Sailors finally get off to a fast start
It has been clear that the Sailors have not started games particularly well since the SPL restarted in mid-October. In our prior games against Albirex, Young Lions and Hougang United, we found the going tough in the first 45 minutes, and only hit the right notes in the second half.
That was a pain point Coach Aurelio and the team had to fix quickly and boy, did they do that against Balestier. There was clear urgency from the get-go, with the support cast of Saifullah and Song linking up well with the front three of Stipe, Gabriel Quak and Haiqal Pashia on several occasions in the first half.
The first goal came off the Sailors’ first real chance, a confidence-booster that set the tone for the rest of the game. Thereafter, the team kept creating chances and could have found themselves commanding an even larger lead at half time, if not for the intervention of Balestier keeper Zaiful Nizam and the woodwork.
A five-goal advantage at the break meant the Sailors could afford to take the foot off the gas a little in the second half and play with less intensity to conserve their energy for the upcoming games – another advantage of starting games well. Of course, it is unrealistic to expect the boys to rack up an unassailable lead by half-time in every game, but given the quality of the Sailors’ attackers, it is well within the boys’ ability to be leading by a goal or two within the first 45 minutes.
Wreaking havoc on set-pieces
As Stipe nodded in Shahdan’s superbly-delivered free-kick in a carbon copy of his first goal to complete his hat-trick, it would have been easy to believe that the Sailors are a serious threat from set-pieces. But it was surprising to learn that we had only scored once through a non-penalty set-piece (Stipe’s debut goal for the Sailors against Geylang) this season prior to this game.
Throughout the first half, we looked dangerous whenever there was a set-piece situation, and could have scored another if Kaishu Yamazaki’s header off Shahdan’s outswinging corner did not come off the post. Is this a sign of things to come?
Set-piece plays are a key weapon in every team’s arsenal. In tight games where the opposition is tough to break down in open play, a well-executed set-piece could be the difference between one point or three.
With Shahdan’s uncanny ability to whip in a good ball to pick out his teammates, coupled with the the aerial prowess of Stipe as well as defenders Kaishu, Tajeli and Abdil Qaiyyim, the Sailors ought to be taking full advantage to score more via set-pieces. And who knows, that may eventually prove decisive in our pursuit of the SPL title.
It was a mixed bag of results for the Sailors over the past week as they followed up a 5-0 thrashing of Young Lions with a 1-1 draw against rivals Hougang United.
Here, we round up the three major talking points from the two matches, as Aurelio Vidmar’s charges continue to hunt down the early pacesetters in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
Stronger in the second half
It is becoming a trend now – the Sailors tend to put up a show in the second half. We saw that when they came from two goals down at half time to draw level, before losing to an injury-time goal against Albirex Niigata (S) some two weeks ago.
Against the Young Lions, it was a similar story: the team struggled to find rhythm in the first half, as they were kept at bay by a highly-motivated side fresh off their first win of the season. After the break, the Sailors ramped up the intensity and reaped the full dividends.
Gabriel Quak started the ball rolling by forcing an own goal from Jacob Mahler through some direct play, before substitute Adam Swandi doubled the lead with a fine header. Stipe Plazibat then grabbed himself a brace and proceeded to tee up Gabriel to apply the coup de grace.
Against Hougang, the Sailors struggled to break down a defensive side which deployed a five-man defence and was content to soak-and-strike. Trailing 1-0 at half time, the team once again found their groove immediately after the restart. There was intent and more urgency in their play, and Shahdan Sulaiman soon drew the Sailors level with a crisp long-range drive. Aurelio’s charges kept going in the dying stages and could have won the game, but for the intervention of Anders Aplin, with the Hougang defender managing to clear Faizal Roslan’s shot off the line.
While it is impressive that the Sailors seem to get stronger in the latter stages, it is imperative that they start games equally well to accumulate more points in this truncated season.
The growing influence of Gabriel and Shahdan
It has taken a while, but it is now clear why the Sailors have swooped to recruit the likes of Gabriel and Shahdan for their ambitious project. They bring a touch of class to the team with their years of experience and know-how – especially after coming back from their respective overseas stints in the Thai League and Malaysia Super League.
Included in the starting eleven for the first time since the SPL restart, Gabriel put up a scintillating all-round display against the Young Lions to repay Coach Aurelio’s faith. Apart from his goal involvements, the winger was also one of the most hardworking players on the pitch – constantly making darting runs in from the right and occasionally drifting to the opposite flank to carve out opportunities for his teammates.
Meanwhile Shahdan returned to the line-up against Hougang after recovering from injury and immediately showed why he is likely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet. The creative playmaker kept things ticking in the middle of the park and was always on the lookout for the killer pass. Known for his dead-ball prowess, he showed that he can be similarly lethal with his magical right foot from open play. With no one closing him down, the 32-year-old unleashed a rasping 30-yard drive that left Hougang goalkeeper Ridhuan Barudin grasping at thin air for the equaliser. He almost replicated that feat from a similar range later in the game, but it was turned around the post. Shahdan ended the night with six shots, the most by any player on the night – showing the massive influence he had on the game.
Adam’s looking fine and pushing for a start
After a horrific knee ligament injury, it was always the plan for Adam Swandi to ease his way back into the team. But with each passing game, the case for the skilful attacker to be a starter gets even stronger.
Coming on as a substitute for all four Sailors matches since the restart, the 24-year-old is gradually rediscovering his confidence. The smile is definitely back on his face.
The Young Lions game was undoubtedly a big breakthrough for Adam as he became the first player to notch a goal and an assist off the bench this season. His incisive runs down the left and the swagger in beating opponents with his trickery were a real treat– bringing back fond memories when he broke out as a 15/16-year-old in the 2011 and 2012 Lion City Cups. What perhaps went under the radar was that he came up directly against his nemesis Irfan Najeeb – whose knee-high challenge resulted in his long layoff – and Adam was unfazed by it.
While his contributions against Hougang were not as significant, he still brought good energy and width to cause a few concerns in the Cheetahs’ backline. With performances like these, Adam is surely giving coach Aurelio a welcome selection headache.
The Lion City Sailors have endured mixed fortunes since the Singapore Premier League (SPL) restarted, with Aurelio Vidmar’s charges first scoring a big win, then hit with a heart-wrenching defeat. But for one Sailor, football’s resumption has seen nothing but a rise in his stock, a rise that started at the beginning of the year.
Joining from the Young Lions after the end of the 2019 season, Naqiuddin Eunos perhaps thought he would need to bide his time for regular football. But instead, he has already cemented himself in Aurelio’s starting eleven, missing just one minute of action in 2020, this after being substituted late on in the season-opening 1-1 draw against Tanjong Pagar United.
The 23-year-old is one of only four Sailors who have started each of the four games this year, alongside the more experienced figures of Hassan Sunny, Hafiz Nor and Song Ui-Young.
Naqiuddin is surprised by how well his Sailors career has taken off, especially having to adapt to a new role at a new club that boasts a roster packed with established senior players.
Despite being deployed mainly as a winger, and occasionally at left wing-back, throughout his time with the Young Lions, Naqiuddin was asked to adapt, and challenge for the left-back position at the Bishan Stadium.
“Slowly I managed to adapt to the role, and it’s been so far so good. I just take what the coaches taught me and go out there to perform to my best for the team,” said Naqiuddin, who is predominantly right-footed.
“It’s still quite early now, but I guess this position will stick, because I’m getting really comfortable playing at left-back now,” added Naqiuddin, who paid tribute to Sailors Assistant Coach Noh Rahman for his quick acclimatisation to life as a left-back.
Defensive technique was not all Naqiuddin had to learn – and learn fast – at the Sailors. Having played for a developmental Young Lions side, Naqiuddin noted the ‘much higher expectations’ that has come with pulling on the shirt of a wildly ambitious outfit like the Lion City Sailors.
“Yes, there’s so much attention and scrutiny when you’re playing for a big club. But that’s exactly why it was the right move for me to come here,” he emphasised. “As a young player, I have to learn how to cope with this type of pressure if I want to make it to the top as a professional footballer.
“The good thing is that there are several experienced coaches and players here who can help me to become a better player. For example, the intensity of Coach Aurelio’s training sessions is great, and he really understands and takes care of every single player,” added Naqiuddin.
He can be described as a late bloomer, but that has not stood in the way of what has been a rapid rise for Naqiuddin. Unlike a number of his peers who rose through the national age-group squads from a young age, his is a road less travelled.
Spotted by Fandi Ahmad while playing for ITE College West three years ago, he was soon drafted into the Singapore Under-20 squad before making his professional bow with the Young Lions the following year in 2018.
Under the tutelage of Fandi and then-assistant coach Nazri Nasir, Naqiuddin developed into a fine player and was part of the national U-22 squad that played at the 2019 SEA Games before making the big move to the Sailors.
“To be coached by Fandi – one of the best Singaporean players ever – was a great experience. Nazri was great too, he helped me a lot with his encouragement and advice every day,” said Naqiuddin. “Training under them, I really improved a lot from year to year.”
Naqiuddin is set to face Young Lions for the first time when the Sailors host them at Bishan on Sunday evening. The developmental side is now led by Nazri, with several of his young squad getting their first taste of professional football.
While the Sailors are firm favourites to win, Naqiuddin believes Young Lions should not be taken lightly. He knows too well the dangers that lie in complacency – especially against the Young Lions.
“I remember when I was with the Young Lions, we were always eager to win and prove a point. We wanted to show that even though we’re young, we’re capable of competing,” he recalled.
“There were always comments saying Young Lions were not good or it’s a waste of time having the team in the league. But as players, we never dwelt on that – we just trained our best and went all out on match day,” added Naqiuddin.
“I expect the same fighting spirit from this year’s batch, especially because this squad is younger than before. They’ll definitely be eager to beat us, and coach Nazri is someone who can motivate the young boys.”
After the contentious last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Albirex Niigata (S) last Saturday, it is imperative that the Sailors bounce back with victory to remain within touching distance of the pacesetters.
The Sailors are currently in sixth place, seven points off Albirex, albeit with a game in hand.
“Sometimes football can be unpredictable like that. We played so well in the second half to level the game at 2-2, but the manner of the last goal from Albirex was a massive disappointment for us,” he said.
“We cannot go back to change the result so there’s no point talking about it now. All we have to do is work on our own performance. We’re definitely ready to bounce back this Sunday and get all three points.”
It was a disappointing outing for the Sailors on Saturday evening as they went down to an unlucky 3-2 defeat to title rivals Albirex Niigata (S).
Trailing 2-0 at half-time after goals from Tomoyuki Doi and Ryosuke Nagasawa, Aurelio Vidmar’s charges rallied in the second half with Song Ui-Young pulling one back from close range before substitute Gabriel Quak powered home a stunner to equalise with just two minutes left on the clock.
Just when the Sailors thought they had grabbed a valuable point, Albirex stole it at the death with Reo Nishiguchi scoring the winner under controversial circumstances.
Here, we look back on four talking points, that the Sailors can build on as the Singapore Premier League (SPL) continues…
First things first, our first-half display was not good enough for a team with title aspirations. But after Coach Aurelio’s half-time team talk and some soul-searching, the team came out flying in the second half and duly pulled one back through Song after some good build-up play.
There were times during the second half when we camped in Albirex’s half in what seemed like an attack versus defence exercise. We created chance after chance – with 14 shots to Albirex’s 10 – and eventually found the equaliser through Gabriel’s moment of brilliance.
It would have been easy to be content with a point away from home, but instead of just sitting back, we pushed on for a possible winner. That drive to win was great to watch, but it eventually left us exposed at the back, leading to Albirex’s late winner.
The team ought to be lauded for finding a never-say-die spirit when it seemed like the match was dead and buried by half time. This attitude will stand us in good stead as we look to tackle the challenges ahead in a jam-packed match schedule till the end of 2020.
Football is a game of fine margins and we were ultimately denied a point away at our title rivals, after Albirex’s winner was allowed to stand. This despite what looked like a handball in the lead up to the goal.
Talking about this now does nothing to change the result, and after all, referees are humans and humans do make mistakes and commit errors in judgement. Instead of crying over spilt milk, we perhaps have to defend better and possibly not put ourselves in such a situation in the first place. Albirex’s first two goals could have been prevented as well if not for lapses in concentration. The onus is on us to iron out the kinks while hoping we get the rub of the green in terms of refereeing decisions in the future.
He was a starter in his first two matches for the Sailors, but since the league’s restart, he had to be contented with making appearances off the bench instead. Instead of sulking and questioning the decision, Gabriel took it in his stride and impressed in his two substitute appearances to date.
Last week, he came on for the last half hour to good effect by setting up two goals in the 4-0 win over Geylang. This time round, he came on even later on the 69th minute. But in the short time on the pitch, Gabriel made his presence felt with three shots – only Song had more in the game with four – including that one that almost earned us a point.
Nudged on the back by Kenta Kurishima in the build-up, he could have easily stayed down to appeal for a possible penalty. But he jumped back up to his feet, shrugged off his marker, side-stepped another before firing a sizzling shot that arrowed into the top left corner.
The past couple of games should have given Coach Aurelio enough food for thought on whether to re-jig his tactics and re-instate a determined – and in-form – Gabriel back into the starting eleven.
Since the restart of the SPL, Abdil Qaiyyim and Tajeli Salamat have been the preferred centre-back pairing for the Sailors. However, when the former succumbed to muscle cramps shortly into the second half, it paved the way for Kaishu Yamazaki and subsequently Faizal Roslan to come into the picture. Yamazaki, who had been down with a niggling injury, slotted in well at the back before being shifted into the middle of the park – where he played his part in Gabriel’s equalising goal.
Faizal then took over at the heart of defence for the final 20 minutes and managed to keep Albirex at bay with some crucial interceptions and clearances – showing why he started all 48 league games across the 2018 and 2019 seasons when the club was known as Home United. As such, it was perhaps a tad surprising to learn that Faizal’s appearance against Albirex was just his first of the season.
Their performances were encouraging, especially with games coming thick and fast in this period. While Coach Aurelio will surely hope to have a settled backline, it is imperative that there are capable deputies that are ready to step in when called upon.
The Lion City Sailors were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller in the Singapore Premier League on Saturday (24 October), falling 3-2 to Albirex Niigata at the Jurong East Stadium.
Battling back from a 2-0 first half deficit to draw level, Aurelio Vidmar’s charges had their hearts broken right at the death by a controversial Reo Nishiguchi winner. Albirex captain Kazuki Hashioka appeared to have controlled the ball with his hand before setting up Nishiguchi to score at the far post in the fourth minute of injury time.
But Vidmar saw several positives in the performance despite the Sailors remaining in sixth spot in the nine-team SPL standings.
“I saw a strong mentality and a winning mindset throughout the game,” said a dejected Aurelio after the match. “We started off really well in the first 20 mins, unfortunately a couple of errors cost us goals, but we were certainly controlling the game, and continued that form into the second half.”
Albirex took the lead in the 19th minute, after Hassan Sunny in the Sailors goal could only palm a Hiroyoshi Kamata cross, with Tomoyuki Doi sweeping home the loose ball – this despite the Sailors looking comfortable in the opening period of the contest.
Song Ui-Young had two opportunities to level the game, but it was Albirex who doubled their lead, with Ryosuke Nagasawa rifling home in the 36th minute after the solid Tajeli Salamat uncharacteristically missed a clearance.
“We showed great resilience and that’s what it’s all about,” said Aurelio, who saw several encouraging signs. “This was never going to be an easy game, but we showed a lot of fight and a lot of spirit and great unity, and the boys kept pushing themselves right to the very last minute.”
The Sailors came out of the break battling. The team took control of the match, scoring first through Song who swept home in the 59th minute after a flowing move.
Substitute Gabriel Quak then bounced to his feet after falling in the Albirex penalty box in the 88th minute, shrugged off a challenge and sent a left foot bullet that easily beat Albirex goalkeeper Kei Okawa.
Despite having their hearts broken in injury time, Vidmar was wildly encouraged by the football on show.
He said: “We’re playing very good football and we showed that again tonight. We had a lot of great combinations, especially in the second half. The performance from the team was fantastic, special mention to all the boys who came off the bench.”
Aurelio was particularly pleased with the performances of the substitutes who drove the team forward in the second half. Kaishu Yamazaki and Faizal Roslan came on for their first appearance since the SPL restart, with Adam Swandi and Gabriel also coming on to good effect.
“It’s not easy being on the bench, cos everybody obviously wants to play. Their performances showed me that they were mentally and physically ready – all the boys who came on in the second half did a great job,” said Aurelio.
It was a similar positivity shared by Sailors midfielder Song.
“We made mistakes to concede those first half goals, but it was clear that we believed in our coach and in each other. Once we had some time to reorganise, we bounced back very strongly,” said the South Korean.
“I watched the video again after the game, and I think there’s an obvious handball before the last goal. But we will put the negativity behind us, and I’m certain that we will keep getting better as the season goes on.”
While Aurelio easily found positives from this defeat, he was less pleased about what lies ahead for the Sailors. The participation of 2019 SPL champions Brunei DPMM has yet to be confirmed, with their scheduled return to action – against Hougang United on Oct 25 –postponed, and no indication if the Brunei side will show up to face the Sailors at the Bishan Stadium on Wednesday (Oct 28).
“The whole league can’t just sit and wait, we have to prepare, we have to plan, we have to organise training venues and sessions. How can we do that if we don’t know if we’re going to play?” said a frustrated Aurelio.
“It’s so uncertain and something needs to be done immediately.”
The Sailors are up and running in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), having defeated Geylang International 4-0 on Sunday evening for their first ever win.
New signing Stipe Plazibat opened the scoring early on, before Song Ui-Young netted from the spot on the stroke of half time to double the advantage.
With Geylang playing the entire second half with a man less following goalkeeper Zainol Gulam’s dismissal for the foul leading to the penalty, the Sailors would go on to score a further two late into the game, with Stipe netting his second and substitute Shahril Ishak rounding off the victory near the end of the game.
Here, we look back on four talking points from an excellent evening for the Sailors…
- Stipe makes an instant impact… at both ends
All eyes were on Stipe making his much-anticipated debut for the Sailors and he duly delivered. Our Croatian hotshot converted two out of his three shot attempts, which showcased his ruthlessness in front of goal.
His predatory instincts were perfectly encapsulated in his maiden Sailors strike after just eight minutes, as he got ahead of marker Yuki Ichikawa to divert home a Tajeli Salamat knock-on from Shahdan Sulaiman’s outswinging corner. The second goal was much more straightforward, as he swept home from unmissable range after being teed up by substitute Gabriel Quak. He could have ended the night with a hat-trick, but a snapshot earlier in the first half was turned round the post by Zainol.
The goals aside, his all-round play upfront was promising, with Stipe constantly providing an outlet to link up with his team-mates. To cap it off, he also made significant contributions at the other end by often tracking back to help out the team in defending set-piece situations. All in all, it was a superb debut performance which will surely leave Sailors fans salivating for more. The danger for the rest of the league is that Stipe is just getting started.
- Song, now the wily old head
A lot of attention before the season started was focused on how the Sailors’ new recruits like Hassan Sunny, Shahdan Sulaiman and Gabriel Quak would impact the team, so much so that those who were already plying their trade at Bishan Stadium were perhaps overlooked. One such player is South Korean midfielder Song Ui-Young, who is now into his ninth season in Singapore (having spent 2012 to 2019 with Home United, our previous entity).
While he has been deployed in a few positions across midfield over the years, Song currently plays as a no. 8 in a three-man Sailors midfield – a role which allows him to utilise his incredible stamina to roam from box to box. The Incheon native showed why he is such a valuable member of the Sailors by putting up an impressive display against Geylang.
His clever movement and top-notch passing ability helped to link the lines between defence and attack seamlessly – which meant we often managed to get balls in behind the Geylang backline. A video that has been making its rounds on social media summed up Song’s key attribute in a nutshell – having evaded his marker with a strong run, he proceeded to produce a delicious 60-yard ball in between two Geylang defenders that teed up Hafiz Nor for a one-on-one which he did not manage to finish off.
This ball by Song though…. Shades of UCL 2005 final Kaka to Crespo…deserved a similar finish. Can we just give Song an honorary assist? #LCSGEY #SPL pic.twitter.com/mjJnD7vk9t
— Rhysh Roshan Rai (@RhyshRai) October 18, 2020
Also, his penalty? Coolness personified.
Despite turning just 27 in November, Song is already regarded as the wise old head in the Sailors squad, as he leads by example from the middle of the pitch.
- Young talents rise to the fore
The presence of experienced figures like Stipe and Song seems to be rubbing off on the younger players in the team, with Arshad Shamim and Saifullah Akbar showing their potential with good shifts on Sunday night.
Winger Arshad constantly provided an outlet down the right flank with excellent, probing runs – with one of those resulting in the 20-year-old being brought down by a crude challenge from Zainol that drew a straight red for the latter. Meanwhile, 21-year-old attacking midfielder Saifullah did not look out of place on his Sailors debut, with his tidiness in possession and incisive passes.
Nurturing young talents and seeing them progress to bigger and better things is a key facet of the Sailors’ philosophy, so it is important for Arshad and Saifullah to build on their encouraging performances against Geylang. Likewise, the youngsters’ good performances will also drive the senior players to take their game to a higher level – as evident in the impact that Gabriel and Shahril both made when they came off the bench.
- A handy first shutout to build on
It is an obvious fact in football that clean sheets breed confidence, thus the Sailors should be happy with their night’s work. Geylang did have some good moments in the first half, but goalkeeper Hassan Sunny was generally untroubled throughout, although he still had to make an excellent late save to deny Khairul Nizam’s downward header in the second half.
Tajeli, in just his second start for the Sailors, put up an accomplished performance at the heart of defence alongside the experienced Abdil Qaiyyim. Tajeli’s impeccable positioning and reading of the game allowed him to hack off the line from Darren Teh’s goal-bound header, and he was also influential in the Sailors’ opening goal with an excellent leap in the air to knock Shahdan’s corner into the path for Stipe to do the rest.
Meanwhile, full-backs Aqhari Abdullah and Naqiuddin Eunos gradually grew into the game and got forward well, with the latter teeing up Shahril for the late goal.
All in all, the win and the performance that accompanied it is a huge confidence booster for the Sailors, as we gear up for the big clash against the free-scoring Albirex Niigata (S) next week.
The Singapore Premier League (SPL) is set for an imminent restart, and the Lion City Sailors have been training on the pitch striving to be in the best shape to challenge for the title this season.
But one Sailor has been conspicuously absent from these sessions – full-back Ho Wai Loon.
Instead of being out on the pitch with his teammates, the 27-year-old has been forced to stay at home in a cast, after he sustained a right ankle fracture early last month.
The injury, which occurred during our second full training session, was severe enough that Wai Loon had to undergo surgery on his ankle the very next day.
“We were having possession training, and during one passage of play, I slid in to try and block a goal. But my right ankle got stuck in the ground, while the momentum carried me forward, and I suddenly heard a loud crack,” said a disappointed Wai Loon, recalling the painful incident.
“I knew immediately then that it was a bad injury, and that I’d be out for a long time.”
His recovery is estimated to take about four to six months, and the Singapore international will very likely miss a large chunk of the coming season, if not all of it.
After close to seven months without football due to Covid-19 measures, the left-footed Wai Loon was naturally upset at suffering such a serious injury, especially now with the season about to restart.
“It was a devastating blow for me,” said a candid Wai Loon. “Frankly, this year has not been a good year for me, football-wise. We only managed to play two games at the start of the season before circuit breaker started.
“Then just when things were picking up and we got back to full training, I suffered this injury, and will now have to miss another four to six months of football.”
Despite the ill-timed setback, Wai Loon is determined to maintain a positive mindset throughout his rehabilitation.
After all, he believes that the key to a better and faster recovery is to stay positive – something he learnt while recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2015.
“When I had my ACL injury, I realised that your mindset plays a very important role in your recovery,” said Wai Loon. “You have to be mentally strong, and stay optimistic. It is hard, but you cannot wallow in self-pity because it is what it is, and there’s nothing you can change.
“So, instead of focusing on the injury, focus on the recovery. That’s why I’m choosing to look at the positives of my injury now. I believe that things happen for a reason, and maybe because of this injury, it’ll allow me to reset, recharge, and come back a stronger player.”
As part of Wai Loon’s rehabilitation, he continues to work with the club’s trainers to keep active in order to maintain fitness.
“I had just one week of rest after the operation,” Wai Loon revealed. “Since then, I’ve been going for treatment and working with our trainers to keep my quadriceps and hamstrings active so that my fitness levels don’t go down too drastically.
“Thankfully, the recovery process isn’t as tough as when I suffered the ACL injury, and doctors say I can probably begin cycling in a month, which will help with my cardio fitness.”
It helps, too, that Wai Loon’s friends and family, as well as his teammates and coaches, have been hugely supportive and encouraging.
“After the injury, my teammates have been checking up on me often, and of course it helps knowing that they care and that I’m not alone in this,” said Wai Loon. “Their encouragement, along with the support of the coaches and the trainer who’s helping me with my treatment, makes me extra determined to work hard.
“I know they’re all waiting for me to come back, so I shouldn’t disappoint them. Having said that, I won’t rush my recovery too or I might risk getting another injury.”
And while we will be without Wai Loon – who was set to play a key role in our charge for the SPL title this season – for the majority of the campaign, the full-back is optimistic in the team’s ability to achieve success on the pitch.
“I’m confident that the direction we’re going is the right one,” Wai Loon declared. “The coach, the staff, the players are all pulling in the same direction, and everyone is doing well.
“I believe the team will perform well this season, and we will soon be able to show everyone our way of playing football. The morale is high among the boys, and everyone is putting in a lot of effort in training. So even for me, while I’ll be sidelined, I’ll still be there to support the team throughout the season.”
It was past 8pm on a Wednesday at HYFA, and most of the young players from the Lion City Sailors Football Academy had already left for home after their training session.
Five of the academy trainees, however, remained behind on the pitch – sat in a semi-circle around Sailors centre-back Abdil Qaiyyim, eyes focused on the 31-year-old, hanging on to every word that came out of his mouth.
Abdil, one of the most experienced players in the Sailors squad, was sharing with them the valuable lessons that he had learnt – both on and off the pitch – throughout his illustrious career to date.
And the academy trainees – all centre-backs – were enraptured.
Abdil revealed that the one thing he wanted to get across to the five young players was that there was no escaping hard work and grit if they wanted to succeed at the top level of the game.
“My message to them was that even if you have a lot of talent, if you don’t work hard, your talent is going to be wasted. You need to put in the work,” said Abdil. “I told them to look at Cristiano Ronaldo, or Lionel Messi – they’re not the players they are simply because they were born like that. They had to put in a lot of time and sacrifice to perfect themselves.
“Even for me, when I was younger, I wasn’t a first team player. There were a few other players who were a lot better than me, but I did not give up. I knew that I had to put in the work, and that’s what I did. After training, if I had to stay back to do extra work, I would do it.”
Abdil’s impromptu sharing came after he, along with nine other Sailors, had donned their coaching hats and put the LCS Football Academy trainees through their paces in a special training session.
The session saw each Sailor personally conduct training for a group of up to five academy players who played in the same position as they did.
And Abdil, who taught his group about defensive positioning, as well as the art of defending corners, remarked that he was very “impressed” with what he saw of the young players.
“I was actually quite impressed with my group of kids because they showed me that they have a good mentality and the right traits in them despite being still so young,” explained Abdil.
“There was this boy, Jack, and he’s still in Primary School, but the determination that he showed, and his willingness to learn, really blew me away. He was also quite a fighter for his size, and that sort of spirit is very important for a centre-back.”
Abdil, however, was keen to emphasise that these young players had to not just hone their talent on the pitch, but also develop themselves in the right way when they stepped off it.
Reflecting on his own development as a player, Abdil said: “I’ll be honest, when I was younger, I made a lot of mistakes in my career. But I’ve learnt from these mistakes, and I can now share my experience with the kids so they don’t make the same mistakes I did.
“So, I think it’s great that such sessions have been organised for the academy players. Sometimes as players, there are some things that you want to ask your coach, but you’re afraid to do so because they think the question might sound silly.
“But now, these kids acknowledge me as a (fellow) player, so we’re sort of on the same level. I think it’s easier for them to interact with us, because it’s on a player to player basis. This gives us senior players the opportunity to impart our knowledge and experience, and guide the next generation of players for Singapore football.”
But while Abdil described his time with the academy players as “refreshing”, he remained coy on the possibility of going into coaching once he hangs up his boots.
“I don’t know if coaching is in my future, to be honest,” he said with a wry smile. “But I have friends and ex-teammates who went on to become coaches, and I actually look up to coach Noh (Rahman).
“After all, he was once a player, and I even played with him, but he’s now our coach. He’s a person who I look up to, so maybe I can follow his footsteps. But whether I really want to go down this (coaching) path is still unclear to me. Let’s just say I’m keeping my options open!”
