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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Danelle Tan makes Japanese top-flight debut in Tokyo Verdy Beleza's season opener
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Danelle Tan made her debut in the WE League on Aug 10. SINGAPORE – Just a day after Singapore celebrated its diamond jubilee, a Lionesses gem made her first strides in top-tier Japanese professional football. Danelle Tan, 20, debuted in Japan's top-tier Women Empowerment (WE) League on Aug 10 after being handed a start by Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza against International Athletic Club Kobe Leonessa in the clubs' season opener. But it turned out to be a losing debut for the Singapore forward with the defending WE League champions going down 2-0 in the away fixture in front of 2,453 fans. The hosts scored in the 63rd and 88th minutes as it rained down on the 45,000-capacity Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium. 'It was obviously not the result we wanted but I'm really happy to have made my debut for Beleza,' said Tan, who played 71 minutes before she was substituted by Japan international Moka Hiwatari. 'I think I've settled down really well so I'm glad I was able to hit the ground running and start in the season opener. I think it was a very even game. Both sides had plenty of chances and the score could very easily have been 2-0 to us. 'But that's football, you don't take your chances and the other team does and the game slips through your fingers.' Tan had conjured one of her side's best chances in the first half, when she found space to unleash a right-footed piledriver from about 20 metres, which forced the goalkeeper to tip the ball over the bar. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Tan and her teammates will now look to regroup for their first home match of the season on Aug 17 against Nojima Stella at the Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka in Tokyo. In July, Tan signed a one-year contract with Beleza, who were the inaugural winners of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Club Championship in 2019, and are record 17-time champions of the Nadeshiko League, which used to be the highest division in Japan before the formation of the WE League. It signalled a fresh start for Tan after her Australian sojourn. In May, Tan left Brisbane Roar, after making just three appearances in the 2024-25 A-League Women season. She joined the Australian club in August 2024, after helping German club Borussia Dortmund gain promotion to the Westfalenliga, the fourth tier of German football. But Tan found game time difficult to come by Down Under after a knee issue and a subsequent surgery to fix it saw her miss the first eight matches. But being handed a starting spot in the opening match of the Japanese season augurs well for her. The Lionesses forward described her stint as being amazing thus far. Tan said: 'My teammates have been incredible in welcoming me and helping me settle in, from guiding me with the language to giving me lifts and even helping me move into my new apartment. They've made the transition so much easier. 'Our training camp was a great nine days for the team to bond both on and off the pitch. We had sessions in the morning and again in the afternoon. Often my hair won't even be dry before we left for our next training. It was intense, but it helped me gel with the team.' While the season started with a loss, Tan will remember her first taste of Japanese professional football as well as the fervent support from her club's fans, who came up with a chant for her. She said: 'The fans are truly awesome. The match is 2.5 hours away by Shinkansen (bullet train), it was raining and yet they still turned up and sang the whole game. Even when we were down 2-0. The fans are the ones who truly make the game special and I'm incredibly grateful for their support.' Danelle's father Tan Meng Wei, who was in the crowd to watch his daughter's debut was awed by the experience as well. 'Football is differently special in Japan. The crowd in Kobe was passionate and to hear the Beleza fans in the rain sing Danelle's name was unbelievable. I know she played her heart out and am so proud of her,' he said, adding that there were hundreds of Beleza supporters. And as a special touch, Tan noticed that there was a red-and-white Singapore flag in the stands, waved by a Japanese supporter. Reflecting on Aug 9, Tan said: 'I didn't manage to catch the parade, but National Day is always a reminder of the pride we share as Singaporeans. Even though I'm overseas, Singapore will always be home. 'The fans waved a Singapore flag at the game today which was a really nice touch; a little piece of home finding its way to me here.'
Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lionesses forward Danelle Tan ready for new challenge in the Land of the Rising Sun
Danelle Tan will be wearing green in 2025 after she signed a one-year deal with Japanese champions Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza. SINGAPORE – Danelle Tan's first season as a professional laid bare the reality of top-flight football. Ready to attack her first campaign in Australia's A-League Women after a positive pre-season, an untimely knee issue and subsequent surgery set her back just before the season began. When the Singaporean returned to full fitness, she found game time limited, with more experienced teammates ahead of her in the pecking order. In May, Tan left Brisbane following the end of the 2024-25 season after making just three appearances. But this first taste of professional football has not dampened her desire to seek opportunities at the highest level. The Lionesses forward has signed a one-year contract with Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, the defending champions of Japan's top-tier Women Empowerment (WE) League. The 20-year-old went to Europe and Japan for trials once it was certain that her time in Australia was coming to an end. While she had a positive experience with a Portuguese club, Tan said that the offer from Verdy was more concrete and the prospect of playing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League won her over. 'Verdy are a huge club and obviously they just won the league last season as well, and to potentially play in the Champions League is immense for me. The calibre of players that I'll be playing with and against will be really high, and so I'm really very excited to get started,' said Tan. The WE League became the first fully-professional women's football league in the country, when it was launched in September 2021. The 2024-25 campaign saw 12 clubs compete with Verdy edging out International Athletic Club (INAC) Kobe Leonessa on goal difference to win the title. The 2025-26 campaign will kick off in August. Tan is the second Singaporean footballer to sign for a Japanese top-tier side. In 2021, Lionesses captain Siti Rosnani Azman inked a one-season contract with Kobe to play in the WE League. Verdy, the inaugural winners of the AFC Women's Club Championship in 2019, are a household name in Japanese women's football and are record 17-time champions of the Nadeshiko League, which used to be the highest division in Japan before the formation of the WE League. They have also produced several players who have gone on to big leagues abroad and the national team. Current West Ham United forward Riko Ueki and Manchester City striker Aoba Fujino came through the ranks at Verdy before joining England's Women's Super League. Mina Tanaka, who has 40 goals for Japan, is also a former Verdy player. Danelle Tan in action for Brisbane Roar during her team's exhibition match against Women's Premier League All-Star team at Bishan Stadium on April 4. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO At Verdy, Tan will be surrounded by players capped at international level by Japan. They include Nanami Kitamura, Asian Games-winning forward Maya Hijikata, Rikako Kobayashi and goalkeeper Momoko Tanaka, who was in Japan's World Cup squad in 2023. Miharu Shinjo, who was named the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Most Valuable Player last May, is also one of Verdy's main players in midfield. In Brisbane, Tan found herself in a similar environment – with several Australian senior and youth internationals – and found game time hard to come by. But she insisted that she is not worried, and is focused on being lifted by the high training levels. 'No matter which club you are at, game time is never a given,' Tan said. 'My aim is to keep my focus on fighting and doing well in training, and then if you're good enough, you get to play. 'But when the calibre of players is so high and the training environment is of a very high level, I'm confident that even without game time, I can still improve a lot.' While Verdy is just her second professional side, Tan is not new to club football. In 2023, the former Lion City Sailors forward became the first Singaporean woman to feature in a European league when she played for then English third-tier side London Bees in the amateur FA Women's National League South. Later that year, she became the first Asian to play for Dortmund women's team. With BVB Frauen, she won the fifth-division Landesliga to earn their third consecutive promotion in three years, while also triumphing in the regional cup competition, the Kreispokal, in 2024. She then accepted an offer from Brisbane, signing her first professional contract. While some see her as a trailblazer for women's football in Singapore, there have been inevitable questions on the stability of her career. But Tan is unfazed. 'At the end of the day, it's about finding the right environment, one where you feel you can grow and develop in. Sometimes that means recognising when a certain place isn't the right fit, and having the courage to step into something new,' she said. 'Of course, change can be uncomfortable, and there's always a level of uncertainty involved. But I think that's the reality of the profession especially in the early stages of your career. 'I'm still young and relatively free of major commitments, so I'm in a position where I can embrace those changes and seek out the best opportunities for my development. 'It hasn't always been easy, but I'm grateful for the different experiences I've had so far. They've helped shape who I am, both as a player and as a person.'
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lionesses' Asian Cup qualifiers in Jordan postponed amid escalating tensions in Middle East
Singapore's Danelle Tan (in red) going for a high ball in a friendly against Hong Kong at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on June 15. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – The Lionesses' 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers have been postponed amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, announced the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on June 19, a day before the team were scheduled to fly off to Jordan. The Group A matches, originally scheduled from June 23 to July 5 at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan's capital, is now expected to be played at another venue from July 7 to 19. In its statement, the FAS said the Asian Football Confederation cited the 'ongoing situation in the region and logistical concerns raised by several participating member associations as reasons for change'. The worsening security situation in the region shows no sign of de-escalation, as Israel and Iran continue to exchange heavy bombardments. On the latest developments, Lionesses coach Karim Bencherifa said: 'We have prepared well, the players have worked very hard, but these are things beyond our control. The team has shown resilience throughout our preparation phase, and we will regroup and stay focused.' He acknowledged that the postponement does affect their plans, with the availability of players, but said that the team will adapt to the circumstances. The Moroccan added: 'The staff and players are fully committed to the cause and while we will need to adapt – we are ready for when the competition resumes.' Other sports events that have been affected by the conflict between Iran and Israel include the Maccabiah Games, an international multi-sport event held in Israel featuring Jews and Israelis. Originally scheduled to take place from July 8 to 22, the quadrennial event, which was expected to welcome over 8,000 athletes from 55 countries, has been moved to 2026. World No. 139 Singapore had been drawn into Group A alongside the 75th-ranked Jordan, Iran (68th), Lebanon (130th) and Bhutan (171st), with only the group winners advancing to the final tournament in Australia. In preparation for the tournament, the Republic had played two friendly matches against world No. 80 Hong Kong at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on June 12 and 15. The first match was played behind closed doors, while the second was abandoned early in the second half owing to inclement weather. The Singapore team had been set to fly off for Jordan on June 20, three days ahead of their first match against Bhutan. Farhanah Ruhaizat was initially disappointed by the change in tournament dates, but the forward has chosen to take a more optimistic outlook towards the situation. She said: 'Honestly, at first I felt disappointed because we had prepared everything and made a lot of adjustments for this tournament. 'But at the same time, now that it's been postponed, we have extra days to train and prepare even better for the tournament.' Lionesses captain Rosnani Azman shared a similar sentiment. She said: 'Of course we were looking forward to competing, but safety comes first. As a team, we've always believed in adapting and staying ready. 'We'll keep training hard and supporting one another, and make sure we're ready when the time comes.' The Lionesses last featured in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2003, before a qualification round was introduced from the 2006 edition onwards. The AFC has emphasised its intention to complete all qualification matches ahead of the final tournament draw on July 29. Only the top team in each group will advance to the tournament proper in Australia, where eight spots are up for grabs. The Asian Cup qualifying tournament is one of two major events lined up for the Lionesses this year, with the other being the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand. They were also initially slated to take part in the Aug 6-19 Asean Women's Championship in Vietnam, having qualified by finishing third at the Asean Football Federation Women's Cup in December 2024. But they withdrew their participation from the event as it clashes with the AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, which will take place from Aug 2-10. Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Former footballer Madelin Lock shoots for honours at NBA Rising Stars Invitational
SINGAPORE – Madelin Lock is as good with her feet as she is with her hands – as a student-athlete she has proved her prowess on both the football field and basketball court. A former Lion City Sailors academy player, the midfielder scored a hat-trick in her final game for the club's under-16 team in 2023. And on May 23, the Hwa Chong Institution basketball captain, 18, led her team to the National School Games A Division girls' title. Football and basketball are her favourite sports, but in 2023 the Singaporean quit football to focus on the latter as she wants to 'pave the way' for the next generation. 'I realised that in football, a lot of my teammates want to go pro, and there are a lot of opportunities given to footballers, such as the Unleash The Roar! (scholarship), and people like Danelle Tan have already paved the way,' said Lock, on the sidelines of a clinic held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) at Spectra Secondary School on May 30. 'So I was hoping that, since I had the option, that I could do either one… I wanted to try and pave the way for basketball, because basketball has a very special place in my heart, I just love training by myself, and I feel I could train for hours. 'I feel that since I am fortunate enough to try, I might as well just try and pave the way for future generations.' The 1.60m point guard will be part of the Hwa Chong team who will compete in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, the league's first regional basketball tournament for youths aged 18 and under, from June 25 to 29 at the Kallang Alive precinct. Spectra Secondary School students participated in a basketball clinic conducted by Natalia Andre (centre) from the NBA Asia's basketball operations department. PHOTO: NBA The event will feature high school teams from 11 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific, with Singapore's A Division boys' champions Anglo-Chinese Junior College and United World College South-east Asia Dover joining the mix. Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia's head of marketing communications, said: 'Doing events in Singapore was just part of our commitment to be entrenched in the community here. 'There have been discussions over many years about what we can do here, and that was the genesis for us to create this high school tournament. It's a first of its kind. Our ambition for this particular tournament is that it becomes the premier tournament for high school kids.' The Karim Family Foundation (KFF), which also sponsors the Singapore Badminton Open, have also come on board as a community partner for the tournament. KFF principal Cindy Karim said: 'My family and I have always believed in the power of sport to inspire ambition, build character and unite communities. 'Through Karim Family Foundation's support of the sporting community, we hope to encourage young athletes in Singapore to pursue their dreams professionally and to see sports as a meaningful and fulfilling career path.' Noting that the NBA event is a 'great opportunity' for her, Lock is also looking ahead to her basketball future. She added: 'I do have the option to play in America right now, but this year, I will focus on my A levels and focus on getting better, and then next year I might go overseas, go to America and attend camps and try to find the most suitable option for me. 'I want to make sure that I'm very comfortable with the school I'm going to, at the same time, I'm also open to playing in other countries like in Europe. At the end of the day for me, the goal is to play professionally, be it in the WNBA or the Euro League.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore's Danelle Tan leaves Brisbane Roar, wants to keep her options open
Danelle Tan in action for Brisbane Roar during an exhibition match against Women's Premier League All-Star team at Bishan Stadium on April 4, 2025. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Singapore's Danelle Tan leaves Brisbane Roar, wants to keep her options open SINGAPORE – National women's footballer Danelle Tan is on the hunt for a new club. On May 28, she announced on Instagram that she will leave Brisbane Roar after making just three appearances for the A-League Women side. In a statement on social media, the club said the 20-year-old forward is among five players who will leave the club after their contract expires at the end of this season. Brisbane, who finished seventh out of 12 in the recently concluded A-League Women campaign, thanked the players for their contributions and wished them all the best in the future. When contacted, Tan told The Straits Times that she is keeping her options open, saying: 'My main consideration is finding an environment where I believe I can improve and grow most as a player, whether in Europe or somewhere else in the world. 'I'm always trying to improve myself as a player, and that means constantly looking for environments where I can grow the most and take my football to the next level. 'While I'm grateful for my time at Brisbane Roar, I don't feel that it's the right place for me for the near future.' She joined the Australian club in August 2024, after helping German club Borussia Dortmund gain promotion to the Westfalenliga, the fourth tier of German football. Tan made three substitute appearances for the Roar – for a total of 45 minutes – after a knee surgery sidelined her for eight games. Her A-League Women debut came on Jan 4 in a 2-1 loss to Canberra United. She had a goal disallowed for offside in her second game on Feb 16, a 0-0 draw with Western United, before a 10-minute cameo in the 3-2 loss to Sydney FC on March 2. She then scored in a 7-1 friendly win against a Singapore Women's Premier League All-Star team at Bishan Stadium in April. When asked about her injury, Tan said: 'I think the knee injury came at a very unfortunate time – right before the start of the season. 'I had a good pre-season leading up to the season, starting in pre-season friendlies, so I really felt the injury killed my momentum. 'Even after coming back from injury, the team was doing very well, so competition was extremely high and I struggled for minutes.' In 2023, Tan became the first Singaporean woman to feature in a European league when she played for English third-tier side London Bees in the amateur FA Women's National League South. In the same year, she became the first Asian to play for the Dortmund women's team. She contributed 16 goals in 27 matches as BVB Frauen won the fifth-division Landesliga to earn their third consecutive promotion in three years and clinched the regional Kreispokal Cup in 2024. She then left Dortmund and accepted the offer from Brisbane, with whom she signed her first pro contract and became the second Singaporean footballer to feature in Australia's top-tier women's competition, following former national midfielder Lim Shiya, who played for Perth Glory in 2008-09. Thanking Brisbane for the opportunity to play in Australia, Tan said: 'My experience with Brisbane Roar is something I'm really grateful for. 'During my time in Australia, I've met some incredible people and life long friends that I'll carry with me beyond football. 'While I hoped the season would pan out a little differently, I'm still incredibly thankful to the fans for their unwavering support, as well as to the coaches and my teammates throughout the season.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
