Category: Feature
Five milestones on the road to 10 October
In 10 days, the Lion City Sailors will line up in what will be the most important match in the club’s 20th month of existence.
Kim Do-hoon’s charges host Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium on 10 October, the final matchday of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, still in control of their destiny and the destination of the SPL trophy.
A win will put the Sailors in prime position to become Singapore’s champions for the first time in the club’s history, with Albirex Niigata (S) needing to beat Tanjong Pagar United, and win by five more goals than whatever margin Hassan Sunny and his team manage victory.
In what has been a bit of a rollercoaster 2021, we look back at five key milestones on the Sailors’ journey into uncharted waters.
1. Jorge Fellipe’s first goal in Singapore football, 7 April
After a topsy-turvy start to the 2021 season that witnessed two wins, a draw and a loss, the Sailors lined up against defending SPL champions Albirex – and the match was not going particularly well.
Two goals down in the first half, the Sailors pulled one back just before half-time. The second period saw the boys in blue throw everything at Albirex to no avail – even missing a penalty.
Up stepped big Jorge, with a towering header off a Naqiuddin Eunos right-wing cross to level things up with just three minutes left to play – his first goal in Singapore football.
The Sailors rescued a point – and prevented their main title rivals from gaining two – in a result that sparked reaction from the side that went on a six-match winning streak immediately after to get the season back on track.
2. That Diego Lopes wondergoal, 24 April
The Sailors lost 3-1 to Hougang United in March – the Cheetahs are the only team to have beaten the club in 2021 – and were struggling to break down a Hougang side that were again set up to frustrate.
Receiving the ball at the edge of the box from a Faris Ramli throw-in, Diego swiveled and unleashed a right-foot volley that seemingly defied the laws of physics as it curled outwards and dipped into the top corner of the Hougang net.
That goal silenced the Hougang Stadium, and ensured the Sailors exorcised ghosts of the club’s solitary defeat.
3. Kim Do-hoon’s first training session, 29 June
This may have been an introductory session held behind closed doors at the Jalan Besar Stadium, but it was a game-changer. Kim would be the third man taking charge of the Sailors in 2021, but the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) winner brought more than just stability.
On that day, he set in place demands on fitness, and an attitude of excellence that has held true since the Korean took charge. The Sailors are still on a 16-match unbeaten run – with Kim in charge for nine of those matches – including four matches in which they had to come from behind to secure points.
As a bonus for football fans in Singapore, Kim’s Sailors play an entertaining brand of attacking football.
4. A momentary lapse that changed threatened to derail the title charge, 17 September
A win over Albirex would have put the Sailors firmly in the driver’s seat for the SPL title, with just three games to play – and things were looking good at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Haiqal Pashia put the Sailors in front in the 23rd minute, and the Sailors held the fort for the 70 minutes that followed, even creating chances to kill off the match.
But a lapse in concentration saw the Sailors fail to pick up the run of Ryoya Taniguchi, whose header trickled over the line, with just seconds left to play.
The result gave Albirex the advantage in the title race, with the Sailors now needing to win their remaining games, and hope for a favour from Albirex’s two remaining opponents – Tampines Rovers and Tanjong Pagar United.
5. A resounding thumping of the Stags, 21 September 29
The Sailors dismantled the Stags at Our Tampines Hub, with a display of clinical finishing to take advantage of an error-strewn Tampines performance and triumph 6-1.
The thumping proved to be a wake-up call for Tampines that put in an inspired display of disciplined defence in their next fixture – a 0-0 draw with Albirex Niigata.
Those two results saw the Sailors regain the advantage, and wrestled control of their SPL destiny back from the White Swans, taking us to the present day, where a win over Balestier Khalsa on 10 Oct, could see the Sailors take the final step across the line, and be crowned SPL champions for the first time.
It is perhaps that photo of him with Liverpool’s Egyptian star Mohamed Salah that he is most recognised for, but for the three-and-a-half years Firdaus Maasar was tasked to provide sports science support to English Premier League titans Liverpool, he kept a cheeky little secret close to his heart.
Instead of Jurgen Klopp’s and Sadio Mane’s Reds, it is the Red Devils of Manchester United that are the protagonists in Firdaus’ theatre of dreams.
But fandom did not stand in the way of grabbing the chance to work with some of the best teams in the world.
The unique opportunity came as part of a collaboration between the Reds and Liverpool John Moores University, where Firdaus was studying for his PhD.
Having provided sports science support to Liverpool for as long as he did, Firdaus admits he has grown attached to the club, and continues to root for them even though he is no longer involved with the Anfield outfit.
“But of course, when we work for a club, we have to be professional, and we will always want the club to win, even though they may be my favourite team’s arch-rival,” said Firdaus.
“Now, whenever United play Liverpool, I just take a neutral stance and watch the match without supporting anyone!”
During Firdaus’ six-odd years of study in England, which saw him also provide sports science support to Huddersfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, he was able to see first-hand how some of the best players in the world came to be – through their professionalism, their discipline, and their humility.
It was an eye-opening experience for the 35-year-old, who had then only been involved with football in Southeast Asia, having previously played for Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan Under-19 side.
“The professionalism of the players is amazing. They take really good care of their bodies, they train at an extremely high-level, and many of them are very open to learning new things to improve themselves,” Firdaus observed.
“During the off-season, for example, they may go off on holiday, but they still pay close attention to their nutrition, and continue training on their own to keep fit.
“But that also stems from the competitiveness within the team. It’s so hard to break into the starting-11, and they know they cannot afford to fall behind. Now, when the players come back for pre-season, a lot of them are already at a certain level of fitness, so it’s easier for them to catch up to where they need to be.”
It is exactly this sort of standard of excellence that Firdaus hopes to inculcate within the Lion City Sailors.
Having officially joined the Sailors as their senior physiologist barely a month ago, Firdaus’ main goal is to improve the performance and overall fitness levels of the players at the club.
He elaborates: “One of my roles at the moment is to monitor the training and match load for the players. At the same time, I monitor how they react and adapt to the different types of training, both in the short-term as well as in the long-term.”
Firdaus, who will work closely with Sailors’ Head of Sports Science, Mario Jovanovic, added: “We will analyse the data that we get from the players during training, which will then give us a better idea of what sort of physical targets we should set for each individual player.
“Mario and I will then communicate that target to the coach (Kim Do-Hoon), so that he can tailor his session such that the player doesn’t under-train, or over-train.
“All of this is done so as to maximise the efficiency of each training session, and to get the optimal training output and responses from the players.”
Firdaus, however, concedes that it will take some time to bring the sports science capabilities of the Sailors up to the same level as that of those in Europe and England.
Nonetheless, the father of three is determined to do what he can to improve not only the Sailors, but Singapore football in general.
“I know exactly how far behind we are in this part of the world as compared to European football in terms of sports science,” said Firdaus.
“So that’s one of my targets here with the Sailors – to help Singapore football…by sharing my expertise and experience with the sports science community in the country.”
Firdaus, however, was primarily attracted to the Sailors project as he felt it was “interesting and challenging”, while also recognising the club’s ambition and immense potential.
In particular, the Johor-born Malaysian believes the Sailors’ focus on youth development – with their Lion City Sailors Football Academy – shows that they are serious about becoming a powerhouse in Southeast Asia, if not Asia itself.
Firdaus, who joined the Sailors from the renowned Aspire Academy in Qatar, explained: “In my initial discussion with the club management, I could see that the goal was to have the first-team excel, but at the same time, also have a robust youth programme.
“That, to me, is one of the most important things for a football club. In order to progress, you need to be able to develop young talents.
“The Sailors are currently working to put in place a well-structured sports science department, and have improved their backend and technical capabilities immensely, which is a clear sign that they are serious about becoming one of the best teams in the region.”
He added that it was encouraging to see the Sailors’ coaching team and management being so “open…and supportive” in the area of sports science.
With the current season coming to a close, Firdaus is already looking towards next year, where the Sailors will compete in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League for the first time.
While Firdaus is confident that the Sailors will eventually achieve their goal of being a “regional powerhouse”, he cautioned fans against expecting too much, too quickly from the team.
“We are in a good place to reach a high level of football, especially when we move to the integrated training facility next season,” Firdaus mused.
“I strongly believe this project can be amazing in the near future, but it won’t happen overnight. We have short, medium, and long-term plans for the project…first, though, we need to be domestic champions on a consistent basis.
“We have to do things right, and at the right pace. Personally, I will be looking at helping the players improve incrementally. But in the coming years, I have no doubt the Sailors can improve the quality of football by regularly competing at the Asian level.”
Picture the scene: 80,000-odd raucous home fans at Jakarta’s majestic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, cheering rabidly for their club in a do-or-die fixture.
Imagine the passion. The fervour. The vibrancy. The electric energy coursing through the stadium as the fanatical partisan crowd tries their best to will the home team to victory.
And, if you were part of the opposing team, the intimidation.
This was exactly the atmosphere that greeted Lion City Sailors’ Senior Executive of Operations, Nur Shuhadah Bte Sinwan in 2018. She travelled with Home United – the previous incarnation of the Sailors – to Indonesia, for their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup ASEAN Zonal semi-final clash against Persija Jakarta.
That match ended 3-1 in Home United’s favour and now is simply a footnote in the Protectors’ ultimately successful AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal campaign. But to Shuhadah – or Shu, as she is more commonly known – it remains one of the most enthralling football experiences she has ever had.
As part of the travelling contingent, Shu was seated in the zone demarcated for away fans but she was still able to witness first-hand how simultaneously imposing and inspiring fan support can be.
“Although I was standing in the away zone, it was surrounded by the home fans, and they were unlike most other supporters that I’ve encountered before,” Shu recalled. “They’re so lively, energetic and vocal! You could hear their cheers and chants echoing around the stadium, and it had a noticeable effect on the spirit of the team. The atmosphere was incredible, and it was a real eye-opener for me.”
Shu now hopes to one day be able to witness a similar level of support for Singapore football – a scenario the Sailors aim to help create.
Since their privatisation in 2020, the Sailors have made significant moves, both on and off the pitch, to gear themselves towards becoming one of the top footballing teams in the nation and the region.
Shu is hopeful that if the Sailors achieve that lofty target, football fans in the country will return to supporting the local game.
“I wish to be able to experience that sort of atmosphere here in Singapore,” said Shu. “Fans need to have more faith in local clubs and come support us. If they start watching our matches, they’ll realise there really is a lot of quality in local football.
“Hopefully the Sailors, especially if we become successful, will be able to attract more fans to pay attention to Singapore football.”
Shu, however, knows full well that the majority of football fans in the country still prefer watching European leagues, such as the English Premier League (EPL).
After all, she grew up in a family that followed the EPL closely – her father, along with one of her brothers, are Liverpool fans, while her other three brothers support Chelsea, Newcastle United and Arsenal.
Shu herself grew up supporting Manchester United, although she was not as “avid a fan” as the rest of her family.
Nonetheless, some of Shu’s fondest memories in football come from watching live Singapore Premier League (SPL) – then known as the S.League – matches, as well as being part of the home support for both the National Team and LionsXII games.
The LionsXII were a Singapore team that took part in Malaysian football competitions from 2012 to 2015.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching the Lions play,” said Shu. “When I was younger, I was a Woodlands (Wellington) supporter, and then later on, I also followed the LionsXII and went to a few of their games. It was fun being part of the support, and I had a good time at every match I went to.”
Shu is now supporting local football in a different – a more proactive – way.
As the person in charge of managing operations at the Sailors, Shu has to ensure that the club adheres to the guidelines set out by either the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) or AFC, especially on matchdays.
Part of her job also includes arranging for, and managing, the security, medical, and ticketing aspects of operations at Sailors matches.
Indeed, a lapse by Shu could potentially even lead to a match having to be abandoned – such is the importance of her role at the club – although that has thankfully never occurred before.
Shu admits she puts a lot of “pressure” on herself to do her job well, as she explained: “We can get fined and punished if something goes wrong on my end. So, there is that pressure on me to ensure that everything goes according to the regulations.
However, Shu, who joined the club nearly four years ago, insists that the hard work she puts into her job is rewarded whenever the team achieves success on the pitch.
“Yes, it can be tiring and I am sometimes pushed to my limits. But what keeps me going are our victories and successes,” Shu shared.
“At the Sailors, everyone is expected to give their 100 percent. When it comes to operations and support, I give my all, and at the same time, the team is also expected to do their best whenever they are on the pitch.
“So, whenever the players win a match, I feel that our hard work has also paid off. It’s a team game, after all, and every one of us at the club has a role to play in bringing us to the top.”
There are many challenges that Shu faces in her current role, but none more unique than what she terms as having an “unapproachable” look.
Shu, who could not help but laugh as she elaborated the point, said: “I have this face that can seem unapproachable, so people are scared of coming to talk to me. Sometimes the younger players from the team, or third-party vendors who aren’t familiar with me, will try to avoid me.
“But I’m actually really friendly la! Once you talk to me, you’ll realise I’m very easy-going. Although maybe it’s a gender thing as well – as it’s a male-dominated industry, having to interact with someone of the opposite sex can make some of them feel uncomfortable,” she added.
Having seen first-hand how the club has evolved over the years, Shu, who lists playing mobile games and cycling among her hobbies, believes the Sailors are moving in the right direction.
“The Sailors are goal oriented and hungry for success. It’s not that Home United back then weren’t ambitious as well, but it’s just that there is more for the Sailors to prove with all the investment that has been put into the club,” mused Shu.
“The club is determined to show that the path they have taken is the right one. To do that, we need to achieve something to show that we are serious about our ambitions.
“You can see that everyone, both players and non-playing staff alike, are working extremely hard to pull the club towards the top. We are all bonded by that common goal…everyone is doing their part, and we are all confident that the team will be able to win silverware soon.”
Hougang United was his first club when he first arrived in Singapore in 2016, and it was also his first port of call three years later when he returned to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) after an unproductive spell in Thailand.
He is still on very good terms with the club’s management and of his ex-teammates, but ahead of the Lion City Sailors’ clash with the Cheetahs at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night, Stipe Plazibat was adamant that there will be no room for sentiment.
“I’m very grateful for what Hougang has done for me and there’ll always be mutual respect,” said the 31-year-old. “I’m still very good with everyone at Hougang from coach Clement (Teo), general manager Matthew (Tay) and my old teammates,” said Stipe.
He left Hougang for Bishan twice – the most recent instance was in the 2020 mid-season transfer window – and he is now leading the Sailors’ charge for what would be the club’s first-ever league title.
“It’s nice to see your friends, but there’s no discount for anyone. I’m sure they’ll be tough on me on the pitch and I’ll be tough on them as well.”
And there is good reason for the aggressive Hougang approach that Stipe expects.
The Cheetahs are still in with a fighting chance to win the league. They are five points behind second-placed Sailors – and eight behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) – but have played a game more.
The Sailors did not enjoy the best of starts to the 2021 season, collecting just four points from a possible nine, languishing fourth in the eight-team standings after the first three rounds.
The 3-1 loss to Hougang that came during that period in March proved to be the Sailors’ only defeat this term. Since then, they have gone on a club record 12-game unbeaten run – amassing 30 points from a possible 36.
A change of coach and playing system did little to hinder the Sailors’ championship quest, as they picked up successive victories over Tampines Rovers (4-1) and Tanjong Pagar United (2-1) after kick-starting Kim Do-hoon’s reign with 1-1 draws against Albirex and Balestier Khalsa.
Now three points behind leaders Albirex with a game in hand and with a better goal difference, the Sailors know they have fate in their own hands. As long as they win their final six games – including a match against Albirex on 17 Sep – the Sailors will land their hands on the coveted trophy.
“In the beginning we were still trying to find our feet as a new team and we needed some time to adjust to each other, but we slowly progressed and you can see the improvement now,” explained Stipe.
“Under Coach Kim, training sessions are longer, tougher and more physically demanding. The football style is more industrial than before, but we’re gradually adapting to his philosophy and it’s good that we are winning again after two draws,” he added.
“We have six cup finals left and we just have to take each game as it comes to achieve our target.”
After a good debut year with the Sailors – he netted nine goals and chalked up five assists in seven starts – Stipe has carried that form into his first full season with the club with 13 goals and seven assists in 15 starts.
The 2020 SPL Golden Boot winner is now three goals behind Hougang’s frontrunner Tomoyuki Doi and has every chance to finish top scorer again this year, but is not fixated on that target. Instead, it is the team’s ultimate goal that is foremost on Stipe’s mind.
“Honestly the most important thing is that we win the league. If my goals help us to achieve that and also help me to win the Golden Boot, that will be great, but my priority is the league title,” he insisted.
And Stipe is hoping that he will be the third time lucky, this after some wretched luck saw his teams fall short of the title in the past two years, as he missed crucial games at business end of those seasons.
In 2019, Stipe was absent for the final two games for Hougang due to injury as the Cheetahs agonisingly missed out on their first-ever league title. Then last year, a hamstring injury meant he only played a bit part role – just 6 minutes – in the Sailors’ final five games as they eventually finished third behind Albirex and Tampines.
“Hopefully this year I will stay healthy all the way till the end of the season to help my team,” said the hotshot, who has a grand total of 76 SPL goals in 93 appearances. “I have a good feeling this year might be the year that I finally win the league.”
Should the Sailors lift the SPL trophy on the final day of the season on 2 October, it will be double happiness for Stipe – who is set to welcome the birth of his first child, a son, later that month.
Now living alone in his Bishan apartment because his wife Marija had flown back to Split in July to prepare for the delivery, he is hoping to make it back to his native Croatia in time to witness the life-changing moment.
“She was with me in Singapore from July 2019 until last month,” revealed Stipe. “Right now, there’s nothing much I do every day – sometimes I will go cycling with (Sailors Head of Performance) Mario Jovanovic, and maybe go to the supermarket to top up whatever I need at home. If not, it’s only between Bishan and Jalan Besar for training and matches.
“Hopefully the team can achieve our target of winning the title. Then I can happily go home to my wife and son.”
Stipe is also looking further to the future, after seeing teammate Song Uiyoung secure his Singapore citizenship last week.
Stipe – who is now into his fifth season in Singapore across two spells – is also hoping to sink roots in the Lion City.
“I’m so happy for Song – he’s been trying so hard for 10 years, and he’s finally become a Singaporean,” said Stipe.
“I’ve also always said I want to set up my family here, and hopefully if all goes well, I will try to apply to be a Singapore PR (permanent resident) next year.”
A Singaporean Song
He placed his hand at the centre of his chest, then pulled it down to his gut, making a tight fist as he did so.
“It felt really strange, like something deep inside here was changing. I knew that I was nervous before going into the room, but I was still surprised by the strong emotion,” said Song Ui-young.
“My voice was shaky, and my hands too. I still can’t quite describe it, but I felt my identity was changing, like I was becoming a different person.”
The Lion City Sailors midfielder was indeed going through a metamorphosis – reciting the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL) – to become a Singapore citizen.
Recounting the moments on Friday (20 August) as he uttered the words that would confirm his Singaporean status at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Building on Kallang Road, Song still struggled to verbalise his emotions.
“Before I went into the room, the officer said to me: “From now on, you are a Singaporean”. And hearing that somehow made all this real,” he said. “And it was really emotional.”
Song knew precious little of the Lion City when he first arrived as a teenager to join Home United – the previous iteration of the Sailors – in 2012, and recalled being terribly uncomfortable here.
But a few short years after picking up English and being able to assimilate with teammates and friends, Singapore very quickly found a place in the heart of the 28-year-old who has spent his entire adult life in Singapore.
“I spoke to the club management at the end of 2015, asking them for advice on how I can apply for citizenship. I knew I wanted to sink my roots here, because whenever I returned to Singapore after visiting my family in South Korea – it felt like I was coming back to the place I was most comfortable,” he said.
And having finally succeeded in making Singapore his home, Song had several to thank for the support on his journey to citizenship. He pointed to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Sailors, and the Yio Chu Kang Grassroots Organisation as key supporters.
“They helped me with strong letters of support, and for that I’m grateful. I’m also humbled by the support I’ve received from my teammates, Singapore football fans, and even the local media,” said Song.
“It felt like I was already being supported – and welcomed – by so many Singaporeans.”
This support that Singaporeans have shown for its own, and loyalty to the nation, was a facet of the country that still inspires Song, who recalled the outpouring of emotion – and unity – as Singapore mourned the death of Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2015.
“Watching people come out onto the streets in the rain, saying thank you, even crying was unbelievable for me – there was so much feeling for the Prime Minister and for the country. I have never seen that before.” he said.
“Now I’m proud to call myself Singaporean, and of course I want to play for the national team, he said, with a broad smile. “I want to do something for my country.”
In the decade he has plied his trade in Singapore football, Song has proven to be an asset across the pitch. First as a lungless defensive midfielder protecting the backline, then flourishing in a more attacking role.
He scored 20 goals in 27 games in 2018 – a prolific return for an attacking midfielder – then followed that up with 11 goals in 25 games the year later. His stats in the Sailors’ inaugural year in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) was no less impressive – nine goals in 11 games, and even while struggling for game time in a 2021 squad that now includes $2.9 million signing Diego Lopes, Song started the year as the club’s top scorer with three goals in the opening three games.
“I know I have to prove myself to the national coach, and show that I deserve a place in the Lions. After all, I was not part of any naturalisation programme,” said Song.
“But I fought to get citizenship because I want to make Singapore my home. I have grown up as a person and a footballer in Singapore – I’ve spent my entire 20s here – and it will be a great honour to contribute to Singapore.”
China-born forward Qiu Li was the last footballer to be naturalised and eligible to play for the Lions in 2010.
Song candidly admitted that there will always be some Korean-ness about him, but there is much of the Singaporean way that has already seeped into his psyche and sunk roots.
“I will always like kimchi, but my usual breakfast is kopi or kopi-o kosong and kaya toast at the kopitiam,” he said.
“When I told my friend that I’m now scared of doing something wrong or breaking the law because I’m Singaporean, he laughed at me,” said Song, who immediately burst out laughing.
He struggled to stifle a few hearty guffaws before finishing his sentence: “He told me that if I’m kiasi, I’m definitely Singaporean.”
A new coach, a new philosophy and a lot of hard work to learn the ropes, but the Lion City Sailors continue to cut through choppy waters, extending their unbeaten run in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) to 11 matches.
Ushering in the Kim Do-hoon era with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with defending champions Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors were next made to dig deep to secure another 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa. The first win under the renowned South Korean coach would finally come in a convincing 4-1 triumph over title rivals Tampines Rovers, a result – and performance – that made the football fraternity stand up and take notice.
Here, we round up the major talking points from the Sailors’ first three games under the former Ulsan Hyundai man.
Kim’s Sailors revolution is starting to take shape
The arrival of AFC Champions League (ACL)-winning coach Kim Do-hoon signalled the Sailors’ real ambitions of becoming one of the best clubs in Asia. There can be no doubts about his credentials, but there were segments in the fraternity who wondered what exactly he would bring to the table.
Three games in, and Singapore has gotten a glimpse of what is in store for the rest of the campaign and beyond.
The 51-year-old has placed a strong emphasis on a solid team structure in view of building a side that is not just defensively sound but also effective going forward. And things started to take shape in his first outing against Albirex. The Sailors appeared more tactically savvy at the back than before, limiting space for their opponents to run in behind and capitalise on.
A demanding trainer who focuses a lot on discipline and fitness, the effects of his approach could already be seen in the Sailors’ following game against Balestier. The team were able to find an extra gear in the latter stages of the game, they out-ran and out-fought the Tigers before finally breaking down the door with a 95th-minute equaliser.
His fluid attacking approach that taps on the tactical awareness and game intelligence of individual players, is perhaps the most interesting. There are big responsibilities placed on players who are expected to take up different positions to capitalise on opportunities and space when presented in the game.
It all came to fruition against Tampines, with the game’s first goal perfectly encapsulating the new Sailors way.
With Stipe Plazibat dropping deep in midfield to hold up the ball, Gabriel Quak instinctively moved into the space the Croatian front man had vacated. The 2020 SPL Player of the Year was presented with an open path to goal and scored with a classy lob.
Kim’s high-pressing game plan was also on show, with the Stags unable to handle the Sailors’ rapid transition from defence to attack. Case in point: the Sailors’ second goal. It was just 10 seconds between Shahdan Sulaiman winning the ball in midfield to Stipe slamming the ball into the back of the net. The final two goals also came in a similar fashion.
With the team now starting to play Kim’s way – and effectively executing his plan on the pitch – fans can look forward to some exciting football in the remainder of the season.
The real Faris Ramli is back
Faris Ramli was unable to break into the Sailors’ first eleven in the first half of the season, he started just once and was introduced as an impact substitute on numerous occasions. It was understandably not a role he expected when he joined the Sailors after a season with Malaysia’s Terengganu FC.
But things are looking up for the 2019 SPL Player of the Year.
He has been largely involved in Kim’s first three games, playing the full 90 minutes in the big games against Albirex and Tampines, and was also the first substitute to be called upon to change the team’s fortunes in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Balestier.
Faris has not hid his frustrations at playing a bit-part role and has acknowledged that he had to stay the “most patient” in all his career, but he kept plugging away and is now seeing the fruits of his labour. The free-spirited 28-year-old played his best game of the season in the handsome win over the Stags, contributing three assists for the four Sailors’ goals.
Faris also put in a solid defensive shift, showing plenty of industry to win possession in crucial areas, even tracking back to perform his defensive duties in the dying moments of the game.
Having a Faris who is firing on all cylinders can only be a good thing for the Sailors who go into the business end of the season looking to come out on top of the league.
Missing key players? No problem
It is no secret that the Sailors have a quality squad at their disposal, with solid options on the bench ready to be called upon into action when needed. And the strength in depth is paying off.
Kim had to cope with the absence of the midfield trio of Saifullah Akbar, Shahdan and Song Ui-young through suspension against reigning champions Albirex.
Then against another title rival in the form of Tampines, the Sailors have to contend without the Brazilian duo Jorge Fellipe and Diego due to suspension and injury respectively. Many teams would have struggled without their leader at the back and star signing in such a big game, but the Sailors managed to plug those gaps with minimal fuss.
Kim is unbeaten in his first three matches as Sailors coach, and his ability to shape a team that can cope without key players can only breed confidence in the Sailors ranks as they battle for their first-ever SPL title.
Balestier Khalsa may be on an eight-match winless streak, but Lion City Sailors defensive lynchpin Jorge Fellipe is not taking victory for granted when the two sides meet at Toa Payoh Stadium on Sunday night (8 August).
Under the tutelage of Croatian tactician Marko Kraljevic, the Tigers are known to play an aggressive style of football with strong and powerful players who are not afraid to play the physical game. Jorge is one who clearly knows the threat they pose, especially on set-piece situations, and has emphasised the need for aerial domination.
“In these types of games, the little details may define the result,” explained the 32-year-old, who is one of the tallest defenders in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at 1.9 metres tall. “It could be from a free-kick or a loose ball in the box that could win or lose you the game.
“We know how difficult it is to play against Balestier at their home ground. Their pitch there is not so ideal as well, so we may not be able to present the best of our football. But it’s not a reason not to perform and I believe our team has the ability to control the outcome of the game.”
The Balestier game will be another opportunity for the Sailors to showcase the improvement that they have made under Kim Do-hoon since he officially took charge in late June. The Sailors played out an encouraging 1-1 draw against defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) in coach Kim’s first game at the helm on 23 July. The team was much more organised at the back and as a unit – which bodes well for the matches ahead.
It is still very much early days in the Kim Do-hoon era, but the highly successful former Ulsan Hyundai man has wasted little time in making his mark, paying close attention to small details. With the physical work hugely ramped up since he took over, the players are only going to benefit as the Sailors go into the business end of the season.
“Training is very physical and high in intensity under Coach Kim. I particularly like this style and it’s not new to me because I’ve worked with a few other coaches with this style in the past,” said Jorge.
“The load is demanding, but everyone in the team has been adapting well and is eager to learn more from him. I believe this intensity is perfect because it builds us up to perform better in games.”
So far it has been a good first year in Singapore for Jorge, who has been an ever-present since he made his club debut in a 3-1 win over Young Lions in early April. Since then, he has played every minute for the Sailors and the team has never lost a game with him on the pitch.
His centre-back partnership with one of Singapore’s best young defenders Amirul Adli is also a key reason in the club’s ongoing best run of form in a nine-match unbeaten run (since a 3-1 loss to Hougang United in mid-March).
“We have an excellent relationship not only on the pitch, but we’re also friends off it,” shared Jorge. “That really helps as the better we understand each other outside and as a person, it will better reflect in our game.
“Me being the more experienced one and him being the younger one, I always try to pass my knowledge on to him. But he is also a superb defender in his own right. The key is communication so we always talk a lot on the pitch so that our partnership can flourish.”
The Brazilian’s towering presence and leadership has also been effective at the attacking end of the pitch, with Jorge scoring two goals to aid the Sailors’ title challenge.
With Saifullah Akbar and Shahdan Sulaiman coming back from suspension to complement new arrival Hariss Harun in midfield, Jorge is excited at the prospect of playing in front of such a quality engine room against Balestier.
“It’s fantastic to be playing right in front of these fantastic players and I’m looking forward to this new midfield combo. They can certainly add more to our game,” he said.
With Albirex expected to pick up all three points against Tanjong Pagar United on Friday, the gap between the White Swans and second-placed Sailors could grow to seven points – although Kim’s men would still have two games in hand. Thus three points against the Tigers is of paramount importance to their title charge.
“The race for the title is still wide open and no one has won it yet,” said a defiant Jorge. “We have to treat each game from now as a final and don’t let the gap grow. We have to be united, be focused and take every three points on offer.”
So here we go again – the Singapore Premier League (SPL) returns after a two-month hiatus, with the Lion City Sailors looking to pick up where they left off.
Despite the departure of Australian coach Aurelio Vidmar in May, the Sailors have continued their smooth navigation to the higher echelons of the league table and mounting a serious challenge for the SPL title. Before the league was halted, they went on an eight-match unbeaten run and are on a club-record streak of six straight wins.
Currently one point off the summit with 10 matches to go, the Sailors are primed for a huge second half of the season ahead.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash against league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) on Friday night (23 July), here are five reasons for football fans to get excited about the resumption of SPL action.
1. Ahoy Hariss!
The signing of Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun on a three-and-a-half-year deal in May made the Singapore football fraternity stand up and take notice. It signaled the Sailors’ clear intention to dominate the domestic scene and create waves in the region.
Hariss brings with him a wealth of experience, having won six Malaysia Super League (MSL) titles and one Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup (2015) in seven wildly successful years north of the Causeway with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
A combative midfield enforcer who thrives on winning duels then encouraging his team into attack, Hariss brings some much-needed steel to the Sailors’ engine room. He is expected to complement the attacking sensibilities of teammates the likes of Shahdan Sulaiman, Saifullah Akbar and Diego Lopes.
His presence in the middle will help the Sailors’ wide array of attacking talent to cast off their shackles and give them the freedom to push forward in search of more goals. His leadership qualities should also rub off on the younger players, with many of them looking up to Hariss as a model professional.
2. Ushering in a new era under Kim Do-hoon
The signing of AFC Champions League (ACL)-winning tactician Kim Do-hoon on a two-and-a-half-year contract captured the imagination of the wider Singapore public. Kim’s pedigree and his track record of success in his native Korea mean there is little doubt that his signing was a massive coup for the Sailors.
Kim’s Ulsan Hyundai was well known for an attractive brand of attacking football complemented by defensive nous – and it is no surprise that he is looking to build up the Sailors in a similar mould. A strict trainer who places strong emphasis on discipline and fitness, Kim has wasted little time in laying down his philosophy.
Kim has been in charge for less than a month, but he has already recognised the way forward – he has emphasised the building of a solid foundation, grounded in team structure.
He is taking English lessons to improve communication with the Sailors, but that has not stopped him from moving to establish an interpersonal relationship with his players. Kim has made it a point to pull each player aside to discuss his expectations of them.
Kim’s rejection of lucrative offers from the Chinese Super League (CSL) and Japan’s J-League to join the Sailors is a testament to his commitment to the cause and his confidence in driving the club towards the lofty target of becoming one of the best clubs in Asia.
3. A healthy competition for places
You know how it works – a new gaffer tends to breathe new life into a squad. Everything starts afresh and the players will be keen to prove their abilities and make a positive impression on the new man in charge.
Players who have been first-team regulars like Shahdan, Gabriel Quak and Amirul Adli will have to show why they have been so highly-regarded and why they deserve to retain their spots in the starting eleven.
It also provides a fresh slate for players like Faris Ramli, Hafiz Nor and Aqhari Abdullah who have not played as regularly as they would have liked. They would certainly be out to show what they bring to the team and why they ought to be featured more than before.
There is healthy competition for places with every member of the squad already giving their utmost best in training sessions and matches and this can only be a good thing for the Sailors’ drive for trophies.
4. The treatment room is less crowded
The long break proved to be a blessing in disguise for the injured members of the Sailors squad, allowing them more time to recover. It is surely a pleasant sight for Kim to see the club’s treatment room now clearing up, with the likes of Nur Adam Abdullah, Justin Hui and Amiruldin Asraf now back to full fitness.
2018 Dollah Kassim Award winner Nur Adam was a real revelation at left-back with his crunching tackles and menacing crosses, before he sustained an unfortunate knee ligament injury in training that saw him miss five matches. Justin was out of action for the same amount of time due to a groin problem after showing promise in his first few Sailors appearances.
Amiruldin has yet to play a competitive match since October 2019 due to recurring medial collateral ligament (MCL) problem. Having first sustained the injury later that year, he sustained further damage to his knee in a training match in September 2020 and had to undergo microfracture surgery to repair the damage on his cartilage. Amiruldin finally returned to training a couple of months ago and has been in good form in recent friendly matches.
The availability of the trio boosts coach Kim’s options going into the business end of the season – especially upfront where Amiruldin could bring a different dimension to the Sailors’ attack.
5. A wide-open title race
There are just six points separating league leaders Albirex and fourth-placed Tampines Rovers, in what is a wide open race for the SPL title this season.
And the competition is set to get red hot as we enter the business end of the season. There are 10 games left to be played – still some way to go to the finish line – and a whole lot to play for.
With Tampines turning their attentions back to the league after their AFC Champions League adventure, Hougang United on a three-game winning streak since losing to the Sailors in April, and Albirex still the only unbeaten team in the eight-team standings, we can expect tight contests in the matches ahead – starting with Friday’s match against Albirex!
Fitness was a youth-fuelled obsession that was put through the forge of serious injury. But a chance encounter turned the wheels in a different direction, then in the blink of an eye, Fathul Nur Hakim became a world champion working with Singapore footballers looking to put the country on the map of Asian football.
That is the synopsis of Hakim’s sporting journey. And the 32-year-old still struggles to believe his own story.
“To beat the best of the best was something that I never expected, and that was a beautiful memory that will stay with me for a lifetime,” he said, of his feat: beating over 1000 participants in the 2019 Dr.stretch World Stretching Competition held in Tokyo.
A brand that originated from Japan, Dr.stretch focuses on a “core balance stretch” approach with trainers helping their clients through different techniques to get to deep muscles that they cannot reach by themselves.
Several of those 1000 Hakim beat were master trainers and grand trainers with some 10 years of experience. Hakim only had some two years under his belt at that time, going to the global tourney without any expectations, to “gain experience”.
That world championship triumph still feels surreal to him today.
“The winner in the previous year was a Japanese grand trainer who has been in the industry for a long time, while I was just a junior trainer in my second year,” said Hakim, putting things in perspective.
“To help people achieve things and go past limits that they never thought they can achieve is something very special,” he shared. “At that time, that was what motivated me at Dr.stretch every day.”
Today, Hakim is a Lion City Sailor, helping the likes of Singapore’s first multi-million dollar footballer, Diego Lopes and 2020 Singapore Premier League Player of the Year, Gabriel Quak reach further than they ever have before.
As a Sailors’ sports therapist, Hakim’s main task is to help the players recover from their injuries as quickly as possible by utilising his expertise in stretching techniques. He works hand-in-hand with the club’s sports trainer Fazly Hasan and sports scientist Danial Feriza, who focus on other aspects of recovery like massage and cupping.
Hakim is a relatively new addition to the team, having joined before the start of the 2021 season and his journey to the Sailors is unorthodox to say the least.
A fitness junkie from a young age, he initially worked as a gym instructor and personal trainer for a period of six years. Being a football lover as well, he still plays the game at the recreational level and that was how he suffered a horrific injury that changed his life in 2015.
At the receiving end of a crude challenge by an opposing player, Hakim tore two ligaments – his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) – in his left knee. To repair the damage, he required metal screws to be inserted into his knee, with weekly physiotherapy sessions at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for approximately six months a key facet of his recovery programme.
Having regular conversations with his regular physio, Hakim started to appreciate what the job entails and was inspired to work in this field. He started reading up about physiotherapy, and the opportunity for a career change came with a chance encounter in early 2018.
As he was recovering from a hernia injury that he sustained while working out in the gym, Hakim happened to come across a packed Dr.stretch outlet at the NEX shopping mall in Serangoon.
Watching trainers help clients in stretching was something that truly intrigued him, and Hakim did not think twice before sending his resume to apply for a physiotherapy assistant role in the company. He was accepted after a successful round of interviews, beginning a new journey with a 16-day course in Osaka. That course equipped him well, allowing him to build up a solid clientele base.
Things moved quickly, with Hakim being promoted to assistant manager within 12 months, and he was then chosen to represent the Paya Lebar Singpost Centre’s branch in a local Dr.stretch competition. Despite having some doubts, the faith shown by his bosses meant he felt obliged to put up a good performance for them.
Participants were marked based on the ‘power, transition and the effectiveness of the stretching’, as they were given one minute each to stretch the various blind-folded judges on their muscle groups like hamstring, quads or glutes – with the specific areas only made known on competition day itself.
Hakim bested six other participants from various branches to earn the right to represent Singapore at Dr.Stretch’s annual World Stretching Competition held in Tokyo in October 2019.
He then beat over 1000 participants to become world champion.
It was a defining moment for the ambitious Hakim, who recognised that he could develop further in the world of physiology. He continued to upgrade himself through courses and got his first experience of working in a football club in 2020 when he was attached to Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) from Dr.stretch for a full season.
Later that year, his childhood friend Hafiz Nor acquired his help in terms of recovery and visited him for a one-off session. The Sailors winger “felt a lot of difference in terms of the previous soreness and body aches” and to show gratitude, Hafiz posted a photo of himself and Hakim at Dr.stretch on social media.
The photo caught the attention of the Sailors management, and Hakim was won over by the club’s vision to evolve into one of the best clubs in Asia.
For Hakim this was living the dream – the marriage of his two big loves, football and physiology – to work full time as a physio in an ambitious professional football club.
The club’s footballers still needed some convincing as stretching is widely viewed as a “very basic exercise that can be done at home”. In contrast, massage and cupping are usually the local industry norms in terms of players’ recovery.
“Do you know established J-League clubs like FC Tokyo and Yokohama FC have physios who only do stretching for the players?” pointed out Hakim. “I can understand why players here may neglect this area and only prefer massage, but it’s my duty to step in and educate them of the benefits of stretching.
“What’s the point of the best technology and methods in recovery if you don’t even do the basics of stretching? Your muscle fibres are like rubber bands – if you keep pressing on them, it will cause inflammation and they will still feel sore.
“In order to reduce that, you have to stretch and that’s where I can help them with my technique, to achieve the range of motion that they can’t normally achieve themselves. In that way, the blood circulation can flow properly and they will eventually feel lighter. The results are of course not immediate, but the players will feel the difference in the long run.”
It was that wholeheartedness and unwavering dedication to his work that helped him convince the Sailors’ players to get in line with his philosophy. Right now, established players like Gabriel, Diego, Jorge Fellipe and new arrival Hariss Harun are undergoing regular sessions with him from three to four times a week.
Hakim finds the most satisfaction from “making a difference in someone’s life” as he highlighted how Gabriel’s “flexibility and mobility have improved a lot” since the start of the season.
“During my first session with Gabriel, he shared with me that there are certain areas in which he often suffers from pain and are not easily cured,” said the therapist. “I began to help him stretch, physically lifting up his leg to a certain degree and in a certain motion.
“After that, he felt lighter and told me this is exactly what he’s looking for in terms of recovery. Even when he was away with the national team, he was doing the exercises which I encouraged him to do,” said Hakim.
“It makes me feel really good when a player appreciates what you do for him.”
While he has now achieved his dream of working in professional football, Hakim is not one to rest on his laurels. Relishing the opportunity to learn from experienced heads the likes of Sailors Head of Sports Science, Mario Jovanovic, Head Physiotherapist Nurhafizah Sujad and Fazly Hasan on a daily basis, he is also consistently doing more research to learn more about treating cumbersome injuries.
Ultimately he aims to be a more well-rounded sports therapist in order to add more value to the club, and he is targeting certification in osteopathy next.
Hakim believes he could not be at a better place, with the Sailors’ “family-like atmosphere where everyone respects each other and works as a team to achieve a common goal”.
“I can see myself staying at the club for a very long time,” he said.
Moving forward, Hakim yearns for the club to continue its emphasis on stretching and go beyond what they are practising now. He believes his measure of success is to help the club get to a level “no other SPL club has achieved before” in terms of recovery and performance.
“I hope we can set the benchmark in what we do,” he reiterated. “It’s not just doing stretching sessions with me, but every player can also partner with each other to do their stretches or warm-up together. That’s the vision and target that I have for them.
“This club has serious ambitions to become a big club in the region and I’m happy to be part of this big project that can do Singapore football proud.”
Having been involved in the National Team as their Head Physiotherapist for close to 10 years now, and with her family deeply entrenched in local football, Nurhafizah Abu Sujad thought she had just about seen it all when it came to the beautiful game in Singapore.
That was until the Lion City Sailors came along.
The privatisation of the Sailors in 2020 – making them the first, and to-date only, club in Singapore to do so – was a move heralded by many as the dawn of a new era for local football.
But Nurhafizah – or Fizah, as she prefers to be known – was initially cynical about the Sailors.
“As someone who is a part of the local football fraternity for a long time, I had my doubts about this venture,” admitted Fizah, who comes from a renowned footballing family which includes her father, former Singapore international Abu Sujad, elder brother Nadzi, who played for Balestier Khalsa, younger brother and current Lion, Hafiz, as well as her iconic cousin, Fandi Ahmad.
“After all, we had previously seen other clubs embark on ambitious endeavours that didn’t quite work out, so I was definitely a little sceptical about the Sailors project as well.”
Revealing that she had turned down job offers from private hospitals to join the Sailors as she searched for a new challenge in the next chapter of her career, Fizah pointed to the Sailors’ firm commitment to an ambitious vision that was the key factor in her decision.
Little by little, Fizah’s doubts about the Sailors began to dissipate, as she witnessed the club taking significant steps to improve the way they operated – both on and off the pitch.
Supported by chairman and owner Forrest Li, the club has moved to strengthen the squad by signing key players such Hariss Harun, Diego Lopes and Stipe Plazibat. Equally significant, however, was the investment put into ensuring that the Sailors would be well-supported by a team of qualified and professional backroom staff.
Given the immense respect that Fizah had garnered as a physiotherapist over the past decade, and her drive for developmental work and building top-level sports science and sports medicine departments, it was clear that Fizah’s vision was very much aligned with the Sailors’.
“I was convinced by how strongly Forrest believes in the Sailors, and how determined he is to achieve his goals for the club – I realised this is the real deal,” revealed Fizah.
“What impressed particularly was the fact that the club is taking active steps to ensure that their sports medicine and sports science department is at a high level, something I’m obviously interested in.”
As the Sailors’ Head Physiotherapist, Fizah will primarily be in charge of injury prevention and management. She will also work closely with the Sailor’s Head of Sports Science Mario Jovanovic in building a robust sports medicine structure across the Sailor’s first team all the way through to the academy.
Fizah will continue to serve the National Team as their Head Physiotherapist during FIFA International Windows. It is a commitment to the national cause that the Sailors – who are regularly well represented in Tatsuma Yoshida’s Lions – are proud of.
Fizah said her decision to embark on this career path was well-received by her family, although she joked that her brother, Hafiz, who plays for Singapore Premier League (SPL) rivals Hougang United, was far less enthralled than the rest.
“We’re going to be on opposing sides of the dugout!” Fizah laughed. “We’ve had a bit of banter already about me joining the Sailors, but I know he supports me completely and is happy that I have this new role.”
Fizah, who officially started in her new role on July 1, concedes she was a little “overwhelmed” by the large scale of the Sailors set-up when she reported for her first day of work.
“Including the coaches, we had over 20 support staff at training, which is the largest set-up that I’ve ever worked in, so I was quite overwhelmed at the start” said Fizah. “But having familiar faces around, like the National Team players as well as assistant coach Noh Rahman, helped greatly in my adaptation to the club.
“Due to the number of staff, every one of us can fully concentrate on our own roles, which means we can be more precise and detailed in what we do, making us more efficient.”
This also allows Fizah to pay more attention to her secondary role of building the club’s sports science and sports medicine department.
“In the next two to three years, I hope to be able to build up the quality of the club’s sports medicine department. My goal is to have a robust team of physios and sports trainers that will be able to provide the very best services to the senior team, all the way through to the academy,” Fizah declared.
In the short-term, though, Fizah is simply focused on helping the Sailors’ senior players minimise the risk of injury whenever they step onto the pitch.
This is especially so given that the Sailors’ new head coach, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) winner Kim Do-hoon, has made clear his vision of implementing a “dynamic style of attacking football”.
Fizah is fully aware that this usually involves players doing a lot of hard-running on the pitch, which can lead to a greater risk of muscular injury.
To counter that, Fizah will be emphasising on player recovery, which she says is crucial to keeping players fresh after such intense physical exertion.
“The key is good recovery…the recovery trajectory is incredibly important in preventing injuries, especially after an intense workout,” Fizah explained. “Of course, good nutrition and fitness levels are also crucial, so we will keep a close eye on aspects like players’ body fat percentage to make sure they are in optimum shape.”
When asked which player she thought was a role model in keeping themselves in the best of shape, Fizah replied without skipping a beat: “Our National Team captain – and Sailor – Hariss Harun.”
She added: “The way Hariss looks after himself off the pitch, in terms of his fitness, his recovery routines and what he eats is perfect. He’s the role model that other local footballers should look to emulate.”
Having now seen up close what the Sailors have done – and will continue to do – in their quest to become one of the top teams in the region, Fizah is confident that the club will succeed sooner rather than later.
“The goal of the club is to be one of the best in Asia. Given the support that has been provided by Forrest, I don’t see why we can’t achieve it,” Fizah said.
“I think we can definitely go far if everyone here pulls in the same direction and is hungry for success. Personally, I’m very excited to be part of this journey. It’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m up for it, and I will do my very best to help the club achieve its goals.”
