Latest news with #LionCitySailors
CNA
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Forrest Li on Singapore football: ‘The moment nobody talks about it ... that's the end'
SINGAPORE: Having stepped up to the top post in local football, new Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li has much on his plate. Among his priorities are the preparations and operations for the national team, the competitiveness and appeal of the Singapore Premier League (SPL), youth development and infrastructure. But ultimately, Mr Li, who is the owner of Lion City Sailors, wants local football to be a talking point as well as a source of pride and joy once again. "For each individual, we have different expectations ... a different way to interpret success," said Mr Li. "If football can bring us and bring the whole society a bit more ... joy and pride - I would define that as success." Mr Li pointed out that in the past, there was a sense of national pride in Singapore football. "It's happened in history ... 20, 30 years ago, football was indeed the pride and joy for every Singaporean. We want to make that happen again," he added. He was speaking during the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) media day at Shangri-la Singapore which marked his council's 100 days since taking office. Mr Li was elected FAS president in late April and succeeded Bernard Tan as the association's chief. He is more than aware of the task at hand. "We have the best city planning, the best airport, best highways. A lot of things are world-class - why not football?" said Mr Li. "I know it's a moonshot, it's a long journey. At this moment, we're not talking about world-class, we're really left behind ... but this is something (where) I see the gap. I want to contribute, I want to make (an) effort." While people have different views, what would be most worrying is that if Singaporeans are apathetic about local football, Mr Li said in his opening remarks. "People have very, very different views (on) what should be the right thing to do ... what would be worst is that nobody talks about it," he said. "When the customers still comment on a certain restaurant, that's a good thing for the restaurant. The moment nobody talks about it, nobody wants to go ... that's the end of the restaurant." Mr Li's hope is that with success on the field, more people will follow local football and that interest will grow. Singapore are currently 159th in the world rankings. "Eventually what I hope is people really care, and football becomes a part of people's daily life and it becomes part of a regular family dinner table topic, I think that will be a win for whoever cares about football," he said. SHOWING "PROGRESS" AND "PRODUCT" A Singapore citizen who was born in China, Mr Li is best known as the founder of the Sea Group – the technology giant behind retail platform Shopee and gaming platform Garena. Media company Forbes estimated Mr Li's wealth at about US$9.3 billion. In 2020, Sea acquired one of Singapore's most successful football clubs, Home United, and rebranded the team as the Lion City Sailors. The team has gone on to achieve myriad successes on the pitch with the company's financial backing. Most recently, the Sailors pulled off the domestic league and cup double in the 2024-2025 season and made history by becoming the first team from Singapore to reach the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two – where they ultimately fell 2-1 to United Arab Emirates side Sharjah FC. But it was after the Singapore U-22 team's 0-7 hammering by Malaysia in the 2023 SEA Games that Mr Li first thought of running for the top post. "I know this matters a lot to a lot of people, to the public and people care about football. But that is exactly the reason why I decided to step up to take this job," he added. Mr Li added that he had been thinking about ways to contribute to Singapore. "I appreciate football. For my life, football brought me a lot of excitement, a lot of experiences. At the same time, I really have that same appreciation for Singapore - for my career, for my journey in business, Singapore gave me everything," he said. "I always think - what can I give back to Singapore society?" Mr Li said that he hoped to apply best practices from his corporate role and pointed out that there are similarities. "We are the underdog ... We are in that position where (we are) not the incumbent in the region for football," he added. Asked if he would be open to tapping his own resources, Mr Li said he was "open-minded". "Resources are very, very important ... I'm more open-minded. We have this mission and if money can help, we'll find a way to make that happen," he said. At the same time, he stressed that local football must meet a certain quality for investment to follow. "We need to show the progress and we need to show the product. And we need to show that football can really draw the attention, bring the happiness, bring the pride to society ... Money will follow the attention, money will follow the pride, and money will follow the joy," Mr Li said. He pointed out that at the global level, more money flows into sport. "Singapore football, because of the past several decades, the lack of investment and the lack of attention, we are not ready for that. What we are trying to do is that we need to improve our own quality first," added Mr Li. One of the first things Mr Li will need to tackle is the hiring of a new men's national team head coach. In June, FAS announced Tsutomu Ogura's resignation as head coach of the Singapore national team due to personal reasons. Ogura, who was appointed in February last year on a two-year contract, needed to return to Japan for "pressing personal matters", said the association. This leaves Singapore looking for its fourth national coach in six years, and FAS has appointed Gavin Lee, former head coach of BG Tampines Rovers FC, as the interim replacement. "It's not necessarily that the more expensive coach will be the better coach, or in our case the coach (with the better fit). In our selection criteria, we don't really put a cap and say we are only looking for coaches that cost us this much," said Mr Li. 'I hope one day, when we announce the next national team coach, that will be the conversation at every dinner table in every house that evening in Singapore." The recruitment process is still ongoing and FAS has received 67 proposals for the role. The association subsequently shortlisted 16 individuals with 10 selected for interviews so far. "It's important to really know the person. We cannot just make a decision by the resume," said Mr Li. "For the finalists, when we have the serious candidates we consider ... if I need, I will go wherever in the world to meet them and I will invite the candidate to come to Singapore to spend the day with a lot of our people ... to get to know each other." The short-term goal is for the men's national team to qualify for the Asian Cup, said Mr Li. And the FAS is committed to providing them the necessary resources to do so, he stressed. This includes a financial incentive structure where players' win bonuses have been tripled and local training allowances almost doubled, said FAS deputy president Desmond Ong in a presentation later in the evening. Singapore are currently top of their third-round qualifying group on goal difference, with four points after their first two matches. The Lions are ahead of Hong Kong on goals scored, with Bangladesh third and India bottom. Each of the six group leaders will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup, and the Lions will return to competitive action with a double header against India in October. "We are leading the group and this is important. This matters a lot to me personally, to the council, and we take the national team's performance very seriously," said Mr Li. "We'll try everything we can do to try to qualify." Ultimately, taking Singapore football in the right direction needs the effort of an entire ecosystem, said Mr Li. "I believe I'm the right man. This is kind of the reason I decided to step up. I understand this is a huge commitment and that this is a long-term commitment. And I will try my best," he said.
Euronews
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Euronews
Lion City Sailors: Singaporean team making waves in Asia
The team from the tiny island nation defied the odds and enjoyed great fortune along the way to reach the final of the Asian Football Club competition. The success of the Lion City Sailors will help grow the game domestically. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
Independent Singapore
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Lion City Sailors bolster squad with Safuwan loan deal, extends coach Rankovic's contract
SINGAPORE: Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season, signing national defender Safuwan Baharudin, and extending the contracts of head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and Portuguese left-back Diogo Costa. Head coach Rankovic was offered a two-year extension with the club, as the Sailors are looking to continue building on the strong foundation laid during a historic 2024-2025 season, including leading the club to the final of the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two. The Sailors became the first Singaporean side to reach the final of a major Asian club competition. Although the team narrowly fell 2-1 to UAE's Sharjah FC, the campaign firmly cemented the Sailors' reputation on the continental stage. 'It's an honour to continue this journey with the Lion City Sailors. The trust from the management, the players, and the fans means a huge deal to me. What we've achieved last season was extraordinary and will be difficult to replicate, but we relish this challenge,' said 46-year-old Rankovic, who has a record of 50 wins and 12 draws in 79 matches in charge. Aleksandar Ranković signs a two-year extension with Lion City Sailors after historic treble-winning season. (Photo credit: Lion City Sailors) Since taking the reins in June 2023, the Serbian native has guided the Sailors to four trophies, including a domestic treble last season, winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title, Singapore Cup, and Community Shield. Rankovic also lifted the Singapore Cup in 2023, just six months into his tenure with the club. 'We're in the midst of assembling a strong squad for the season ahead, and we're determined to write new chapters in the club's history,' added Rankovic, who previously held coaching roles at Dutch Eredivisie sides Vitesse Arnhem, Sparta Rotterdam, ADO Den Haag, and FC Utrecht. The club will also welcome the return of Singapore national defender Safuwan to the Singapore league after he played nearly ten years abroad, including a stint with Australia's Melbourne City in 2015. Safuwan, who had been with Selangor since 2023, was reportedly not in their new head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi's plans for the upcoming Malaysia Super League campaign. With a year left on his contract, the lanky defender was allowed to leave the Malaysian club and join the Sailors on loan. 'I'm very excited to be part of a team that's doing everything it can to raise the bar for Singapore football,' said Safuwan in a media release by the Sailors. 'Safuwan is a proven top player in the region. His calming presence, winning mentality and versatility will add valuable strength and depth to our squad,' commented Sailors executive director Bruce Liang. There will be familiar faces when Safuwan joins his new team for the pre-season training, as he will be reunited with national teammates such as Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan, and Shawal Anuar. 'I followed the club's run in last season's ACL Two closely — it was something truly inspiring for the country. The club's lofty ambitions are very much aligned with my own goals, and I'm ready to help us reach even greater heights this season,' added the 33-year-old. Diogo Costa (left), and Rui Peres winning the 2025 Singapore Cup. (Photo credit: Lion City Sailors) The Sailors have also decided to convert Diogo Costa's loan spell into a permanent move after a successful season in which he played a key role in the club's historic treble-winning campaign. Blending European pedigree with a fearless style of play, Costa added steel to the Sailors' defence while posing a constant attacking threat with his overlapping runs and pinpoint deliveries. 'From the moment I arrived, I felt something special building here — from the players and fans to the club's ambition, I feel a deep connection and a strong desire to contribute to this project,' expressed Costa, who came through the youth ranks at Primeira Liga side FC Famalicão. 'It's an honour to be a Sailor for the next five years, and I'm committed to doing my part to help us realise our dream of becoming one of Asia's top football clubs.' The 21-year-old arrived in Singapore during the mid-season transfer window in January 2025 and wasted no time in making his mark as he quickly became a fan favourite, earning plaudits for his dynamism, grit, and relentless work rate down the left flank. Costa recorded 11 assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, including four in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two, where he played a pivotal role in the club's dream run to a first-ever continental final. The Sailors have begun their pre-season preparations as they have a massive campaign ahead, with the club not only aiming to defend their domestic titles, but also make further strides in both the ACL Two and the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup. In the regional ACC Shopee Cup, Sailors have been drawn in Group B alongside Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Bangkok United (Thailand), Nam Dinh FC (Vietnam), and Svay Rieng (Cambodia). The competition will begin with qualifying play-off matches on Aug 8 and 15 involving clubs from Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines. The winners will advance and join 10 top ASEAN clubs in the group stage proper, which is scheduled to kick off on Aug 20.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor outcast Safuwan lands loan move to Sailors
KUALA LUMPUR: Unwanted by Selangor despite having a year left on his contract, defender Safuwan Baharudin has officially joined Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors on loan for the 2025-2026 season. Selangor confirmed the move with a brief social media post on Sunday. "Centre-back Safuwan Baharudin has officially joined Lion City Sailors (Singapore) on loan for the 2025/26 season. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, Saf," read the statement. No further details were provided. The announcement ends weeks of confusion and speculation, following Timesport's report last month on what was dubbed the "curious case of Safuwan." The 34-year-old Singapore international had publicly claimed that he had been told he was no longer part of Selangor's first-team plans, and was later spotted training with the club's Under-23 squad in Shah Alam. Safuwan made history in 2015 as the first Singaporean to play in Australia's A-League, with Melbourne City. He has since become a familiar presence in the Malaysia Super League, having turned out for several clubs over the past decade. Now, he is eager to begin a new chapter with the Sailors, a move that reunites him with national teammates Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan and Shawal Anuar. "I'm very excited to be part of a team that's doing everything it can to raise the bar for Singapore football," said Safuwan in a statement. "I followed the club's run in last season's Asian Champions League 2 closely — it was truly inspiring for the country. The club's lofty ambitions are very much aligned with my own goals, and I'm ready to help us reach even greater heights this season."
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Fully artificial pitches to be banned in Asian Football Confederation competitions from August
Lion City Sailors striker Lennart Thy scores in a 2-0 win over Sydney FC at Jalan Besar Stadium in April. Artificial surfaces such as this will not be allowed in Asian Football Confederation competitions from next season. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Lion City Sailors and runners-up BG Tampines Rovers will lose their unique home-ground advantage of playing continental matches on the Jalan Besar Stadium astroturf, after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) banned the use of fully artificial pitches in major national team and club competitions under its sanctioning from August. In a June 11 memo to AFC member associations seen by The Straits Times, Asian football's governing body said the decision is in line with efforts to improve the quality of play, following feedback that the standard of pitches, in particular artificial ones, has varied over the past few seasons. Tampines coach Gavin Lee noted that, with the exception of a handful of clubs like Norwegian champions and Europa League semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, most teams around the world play on natural grass. Lee, also national assistant coach, said: 'I'll be lying if I said the astroturf was not an advantage for Singapore teams when we host opponents at Jalan Besar. And I can understand why there are more artificial pitches in our region because maintenance is much easier in our climate. 'But it's understandable why the AFC is heading in this direction because globally, almost all the major tournaments are played on grass. The affected competitions are the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, the Women's Asian Cup and Olympic qualifiers, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) and the AFC Women's Champions League. After notifying its member associations of the ban on June 11, AFC sent letters the next day to those who are affected by the decision, asking them to nominate an alternative venue with natural grass or a hybrid surface for their home matches. These include Singapore, who have played some national team games at the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium, when the 55,000-capacity National Stadium is unavailable or deemed too big for requirements. The Jalan Besar Stadium also hosted the Sailors and Tampines' ACL2 matches last season, with both teams having also qualified for the group stage of the second-tier continental club competition next season. A Football Association of Singapore spokesman confirmed the official correspondence and said it is working with AFC and national agency Sport Singapore 'to ensure that there will not be any disruptions to AFC matches for the 2025-26 season'. ST has also reached out to AFC and SportSG for comment. Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi welcomed the move to natural grass. He and midfielder Adam Swandi both sustained knee injuries in the 3-1 friendly win over the Maldives at Jalan Besar in December 2022, ruling them out of that year's Asean Championship. The 26-year-old came off worse as he ruptured his right patella tendon and was out for 11 months. Ikhsan, who has joined Ratchaburi FC on loan from fellow Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United, told ST: 'I've had an unfortunate injury on an artificial pitch, so I can relate to some of the concerns around them. I understand AFC's decision and trust that it's been made with the players' safety and the quality of the game in mind. 'That said, as players, our job is to adapt and give our best no matter the surface. At the end of the day, it's not our decision. We respect whatever regulations that are in place and focus on performing at the highest level wherever we play. ' Since the Jalan Besar Stadium was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005, other SPL venues, such as the Jurong East Stadium and Our Tampines Hub, have followed suit as the authorities feel that such surfaces are easier to maintain than grass pitches in Singapore's humid climate. Along the way, this has helped Singapore teams achieve some good results in international matches as visiting teams have often found it hard to deal with the pace, bounce and trajectory of the ball on the Jalan Besar pitch. During last season's ACL Two, the Sailors played six home games at Jalan Besar, winning four times, drawing once and losing once as they qualified for a historic final. Their opponents in the showpiece match, Emirati side Sharjah FC, complained that Jalan Besar was not worthy of the final. The match was then moved to Bishan Stadium, which was upgraded to a 10,000-seater venue in May, with Sharjah winning 2-1. The AFC is not the only football organisation to ban artificial pitches. Scottish Premiership clubs also voted in 2024 for a similar ban from 2026. Lee added: 'I don't think we can definitively say that playing on artificial pitches causes injuries because there is no conclusive evidence of causation. But from some players' feedback, it does impact them harder, and I believe those responses were taken into consideration. 'This is the decision the AFC has taken and we have to align and find the best solutions. It's not just about the game-day pitch, but also where we train at in the lead-up, and we will have to look at how we can breach the gap.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
