When a young Yuvika Suresh stepped into her first training sessions with the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team in early 2024, she was gripped by a wave of nervous anticipation.

After all, the Sailors Girls Academy graduate was about to rub shoulders with Singapore internationals and some of the top talents in the local game – players she had long admired from afar.

“Joining the Sailors’ Women’s Team is quite surreal for me,” shared the 16-year-old. “But it was also initially daunting, as many of them were from the national team. I was especially nervous about making mistakes during my first season.”

That anxiety, however, quickly began to melt away as Yuvika got to know her new teammates. Their warm welcome and unwavering support helped her settle into the squad and slowly feel at home – not just as a player, but as part of the Sailors family.

“As I got to know each of my teammates, I realised it was okay to make mistakes – they never put me down. Instead, they were always encouraging me,” said the forward. “This team spirit and the cohesiveness within the camp is what makes this team extra special to me.”

Reflecting on a journey that has taken her from the Academy to the bright lights of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL) last season, Yuvika admits she never imagined things would unfold the way they have.

“When I joined the Academy back then, I didn’t think much of it – I simply wanted to gain game experience,” said the forward. “But I never thought that this journey would take me this far, so this means a lot to me and I’m happy to be here.”

Now a Secondary 4 student at Cedar Girls’ Secondary School, Yuvika has already made a statement in the 2025 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Coming off the bench, she won a penalty and scored twice in a commanding 9-0 victory over Balestier Khalsa – matching her goal tally from the entire 2024 season in just seven minutes of action.

“Overall, it was a good match for me,” she recounted. “When I came on, my goal was to use my fresh pair of legs as an asset to run at the tiring defence. That worked out well – I managed to press, win the ball back… but scoring two goals was definitely unexpected!”

“Last season, I didn’t even score that early on – I only managed two goals across the whole campaign,” added Yuvika, who netted her first senior goal against BG Tampines Rovers in 2024. “So I’m really thankful that my teammates created those chances for me with such good passes – all I had to do was tap the ball into the net.”

It has been a good start to the season for the reigning champions, with two wins from their opening two fixtures setting the tone for another strong campaign. But Yuvika remains focused and grounded, and is committed to improving with each game.

“I think winning our first two matches is a great start, but we definitely cannot let our guard down,” she emphasised. “Coach Daniel has specific tactics planned for each opponent, so we need to keep pushing – not just to win, but to play well throughout the process.”

The Sailors’ next assignment is a midweek clash against Tanjong Pagar United on Wednesday (9 April) – a side that also started their season brightly with a 4-0 win over Balestier. Aware of the challenge that lies ahead, Yuvika is determined to play her part in keeping the Sailors’ early momentum going.

“It’s going to be hard to break down their defensive block, so I hope we can stick to controlling possession and creating different passing combinations to score the goals we need,” she said. “I know it’ll be a tough game, but I’m confident and motivated to give my 100% to help the team get all three points on Wednesday.”

Now in her second WPL season, Yuvika is thriving in the intensity of senior football – and embracing every opportunity to test herself against the league’s finest.

“The WPL brings a different kind of intensity compared to the (second-tier) WNL (Women’s National League), and that pushes me to give my best every single game,” she reflected. “I get to compete against fantastic players – some of whom have played in the World Cup – and the experience they bring amazes me. As a young player, these are the role models you look up to in order to become better.”

The confidence Yuvika now carries is clear to see – both on and off the pitch – as she sets her sights on bigger goals in the season ahead.

“Now that I’m more confident with the ball, I want to make a bigger impact – not just by scoring, but also by creating more chances for my teammates,” she said. “Our goal as a club is to win the league title again, so we can return to the AWCL and gain more experience playing against overseas teams.”