Latest news with #Sailors'
New Paper
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
ACL2 trophy is 'something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old with the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the midfielder, now 34, has the chance to scale the pinnacle of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: "Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. "With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal." With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. They include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup - the previous iteration of the ACL2 - with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends. He added: "Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. "I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. "We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans." The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high-stake matches. They include several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to "do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore". Lion City Sailors captain Hariss Harun and centre-back Bailey Wright at a training session on May 17. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: "We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. "We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and, if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time." Echoing those sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 17, Hariss said: "For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. "It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football." Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: "It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. "It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us." The ACL2 winners will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
ACL2 trophy is ‘something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Hariss Harun will lead the Sailors in their quest for the ACL2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC on May 18. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old representing the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the 34-year-old central midfielder has an opportunity to score the best moment of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League 2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: 'Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal.' With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. These include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone in their campaign by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup – the previous iteration of the ACL 2 – with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends at home. He added: 'Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. 'I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. 'We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans.' The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high stakes matches, including several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to 'do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore'. Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: 'We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time.' Echoing these sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 18, Hariss said: 'For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. 'It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football.' Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: 'It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us.' The winner of the ACL Two will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money. Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
On-pitch formula, family spirit among factors in Lion City Sailors' S'pore Premier League dominance: Pundits
Bailey Wright (No. 26) and Hafiz Nor (No. 11) leading the drills during a training session for the Lion City Sailors. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – A solid foundation at the back and unrivalled firepower have provided a winning formula for the Lion City Sailors on the pitch. That, combined with a strong family spirit, has helped them dominate the 2024-25 Singapore Premier League (SPL), football pundits told The Straits Times, as the Bishan-based side stand on the cusp of clinching their second domestic league title since privatisation. The Sailors, who need at most two more points from their remaining three games to add to their 2021 triumph, could seal the deal when they visit cellar dwellers Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium on May 10 (6pm). SPL commentator Rhysh Roshan Rai feels the key to the Sailors' dominance this season is their 5-4-1 set-up that 'turns into a 3-4-3 in attack and gives them the shape and solidity in central positions'. Coupled with the marauding runs of January signing and wingback Diogo Costa, the transitional attacking play of mercurial winger Maxime Lestienne, playmaker Bart Ramselaar and striker Lennart Thy has become their winning formula, he added. 'What they have done is build a solid foundation at the back with the likes of (Toni) Datkovic and Bailey Wright,' said Rai, a former league player. 'They have been solid in central defence, giving them the platform to let attacking players play on the counter-attack and do the damage with players like Lestienne and Ramselaar, who can take on defenders in one-on-ones. 'Their transition game has been very good this campaign.' He noted that Datkovic has stood out, not only giving 'a lot of strength to the backline, but also being able to pass through the lines and go for big switches in play and diagonal passes. That adds another element to their set-up'. In comparison to the Sailors' previous two campaigns where they fell just short, A. Shasi Kumar, formerly a coach and player in the league, believes their 'impressive defence' – which has conceded the lowest tally of 31 goals in 29 SPL games – has made the difference for them this season. Fellow commentator Khidhir Khamis hailed the team's ability to consistently execute coach Aleksandar Rankovic's style of play. The former Balestier Khalsa coach added: 'I salute Rankovic for his consistent playing style, even though the games are not always pretty, they have been really effective.' There was also consensus among the pundits that Albirex Niigata's conversion to a local club was a 'big factor' for the Sailors' domestic dominance. 'Not to say that it has been easy, but to lose a big rival is something we need to acknowledge,' said Rai on Albirex, who had won three of the last four SPL titles with a largely Japanese squad. Khidhir added: 'The quality of the competition went down. Albirex is not the Albirex of old. There is no direct competition. But at the end of the day, you have to give credit where it's due, and the Sailors did their job, winning a majority of games.' In the wake of Albirex's decline, BG Tampines Rovers made a bold effort to fill that void, even topping the table after 12 games. 'Unfortunately, they sort of fell away,' Rai added. 'From a neutral's perspective, it is a little disappointing because they played some great football under coach Gavin Lee.' Another key factor in the Sailors' success was the tight-knit unit of both young and seasoned players like captain Hariss Harun and former Australia international Wright, whom Khidhir hailed as 'big-game players'. 'This season is a perfect example of experience and a bit of youth coming together. That leadership on and off the pitch is hugely important for a title-winning season,' he said. Shasi added: 'There's this togetherness in the team. I see it in them… When somebody scores, everyone on the bench gets up and celebrates with the team.' The Sailors will aim to recreate those scenes on May 10, as they close in on a historic treble of the SPL, Singapore Cup and Asian Champions League Two. BG Tampines Rovers v Young Lions (May 10, 6pm, Jalan Besar Stadium) After a shock midweek defeat by Balestier, Tampines' slim title hopes have all but evaporated, as they are eight points behind the Sailors with three games left. But the second-placed Stags, who have dropped points against the Young Lions only once since 2020 (2-2 in September 2024), will be keen to end their campaign strongly. Balestier Khalsa v Brunei DPMM (May 11, 6pm, Jalan Besar Stadium) Sixth-placed DPMM will be eyeing a top-half finish, following a late-season resurgence that has seen them unbeaten in their last six league games (four wins, two draws). They trail their fourth-placed opponents by seven points, but a win against the Tigers would blow the mid-table race wide open. Geylang International v Albirex Niigata (May 11, 6pm, Our Tampines Hub) Geylang will be hoping to build on their emphatic comeback 3-2 victory against the Sailors on May 4. A draw against the out-of-form Albirex will be enough for the Eagles to seal a third-place finish, their highest since 2003. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bishan Stadium's capacity to be expanded to 10,000 for Lion City Sailors' Asian Champs League 2 final
There will be three new stands on the north, east and south sides of Bishan Stadium, bringing the capacity up to 10,000 for the Asian Champions League Two final. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Bishan Stadium's capacity to be expanded to 10,000 for Lion City Sailors' Asian Champs League 2 final SINGAPORE – Preparations are underway to expand Bishan Stadium's capacity to 10,000 for the Lion City Sailors' historic Asian Champions League Two final against Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates on May 18. In a media statement on May 5, the club said that stands are being erected on three sides of the pitch so that the stadium can accommodate over three times more spectators for the continental showpiece. The main stand's capacity is only 2,800. Work being done to construct the north stand at the Bishan Stadium on May 5 ahead of the Asian Champions League Two final on May 18. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY When The Straits Times visited the stadium on the same day, workers were seen constructing the north stand and putting finishing touches to the east stand, with the help of a lorry crane. The south stand seemed to be completed. Bishan Stadium was a designated rally site during the recent general election, but the pitch looked fine after protective boards, which were used to cover the field during the campaigning period, were removed on May 2. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which had earlier granted provisional approval for the Sailors to host the final at Bishan, is expected to conduct a final inspection this week. 'The significant effort to prepare the venue for the final reflects the Sailors' commitment to ensure that this historic occasion can be enjoyed by as many fans as possible,' added the club statement. 'It is also the Sailors' desire to create an immersive atmosphere worthy of a continental cup final as the team chases glory on home soil.' Sailors chairman Forrest Li added in the statement: 'This final is not just a milestone for the Sailors – it's a celebration of Singapore football. 'We can't wait to see the stands packed and the nation rallying behind the team.' Tickets will go on sale via Sistic on May 6 at noon, with prices ranging from $26 (students and seniors) for all stands to $50 for a main-stand seat. Those who are part of The Deck, the club's official membership programme, will enjoy a 50 per cent discount on all ticket prices. Around five per cent of the total seats will be allocated to away fans. The Sailors had reached the ACL 2 final, which is contested by the top teams from East and West Asia, after a 2-1 aggregate win over A-League side Sydney FC in their two-legged semi-finals. Sharjah advanced also with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Taawoun in their last-four tie. The venue of the final alternates between both regions yearly, with this being the East region's turn. The Sailors had played their six ACL 2 home matches at the Jalan Besar Stadium this season, winning four times, drawing once and losing once. However, after both sides qualified for the showpiece, Sharjah requested via an open letter on social media that the final not be played at Jalan Besar, citing its artificial pitch and 6,000-seater capacity. The 55,000-seater National Stadium will be unavailable, as the first of Lady Gaga's four concerts will take place there on the day of the final. Workers adding in the seats to the newly erected east stand at the Bishan Stadium on May 5. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Following inspections by AFC officials, Bishan Stadium – also the home ground of the SPL-leading Sailors and Balestier Khalsa in the domestic league – was on April 23 given provisional approval to stage the final. The Sailors added that they 'are working closely with Sport Singapore, the Football Association of Singapore and sport industry partners to ensure that the venue is match-ready and deliver a true spectacle – one that showcases the nation's ability to stage world-class football events'. Fans can also look forward to an 'enhanced matchday experience', with mobile food trucks, carnival games and photo booths set to build the buzz ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Besides increasing the capacity, other preparations include improvements to the natural grass pitch and enhancements to the floodlights to meet TV broadcast requirements. According to the 2021 edition of the AFC Stadium Regulations, a horizontal illuminance – the amount of light that falls on a horizontal surface – of 1,800 lux is required for the final of the AFC Cup, the ACL 2's predecessor, while 1,400 lux is sufficient for the competition's earlier stages. 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
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Tomoyuki Doi's double hands Lion City Sailors a shock defeat
Geylang International forward Tomoyuki Doi celebrating his goal with Vincent Bezecourt in the 3-2 win over the Lion City Sailors at Our Tampines Hub on May 4. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – Table-toppers Lion City Sailors' 16-game unbeaten run in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) came to an end at the hands of record goalscorer Tomoyuki Doi, as the Geylang International forward netted twice to mastermind a 3-2 upset at Our Tampines Hub. The loss on May 4 marked the Sailors' first SPL defeat since they fell to Albirex Niigata 3-1 last August. Having taken a 2-0 lead through Lennart Thy and Shawal Anuar, the Sailors failed to see out the win as they fell to a stunning comeback, with Ryoya Taniguchi and Doi helping the Eagles flip the script to steal the victory. The Sailors, with a far superior goal difference, will need at least four points in their remaining three games to edge out second-placed BG Tampines Rovers, who have a game in hand, in the title chase. The leaders are due to face bottom side Tanjong Pagar United (May 10), Balestier Khalsa (May 14) and Tampines (May 24). They will also meet Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates in the Asian Champions League Two final on May 18. The defeat took Sailors' coach Aleksandar Rankovic by surprise. 'It was a tough defeat. It's not something we are used to, especially in our league. (With the loss) coming at this moment, it definitely doesn't help,' he said. 'We still have everything in our hands, and we still (are in) control (of) everything.' Sailors' captain Hariss Harun, who returned to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, said: 'It was not a good result, not the result we wanted. We just need to regroup and go again.' On squandering the lead, he added: 'We never want this (to happen). It's very frustrating for us. We shouldn't let this happen, but we cannot change the result now. We need to go back and work hard and try to do it in the next games.' Meanwhile, Geylang coach Noor Ali heaped praises on his charges, highlighting the contributions of his record-breaking striker. 'It's a collective effort, but Doi was superb from the front. He was pressing well, he was giving us good attacking options, and we know what Doi can do. He has been solid in that regard. It's nice to beat the league leaders,' he said. The Sailors broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when a swift through ball by winger Maxime Lestienne found the clever run of Thy, who took a deft touch, spun sharply and drilled it into the far corner. Five minutes later, Lestienne whipped in a cross to the back post into the path of an unmarked Shawal, who guided the ball past former Sailors goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah for his 18th league goal of the season. Geylang pulled one back right before the interval when a precise one-two between Taniguchi and Vincent Bezecourt down the wing ended in a low cross fizzed into the feet of an onrushing Doi, who made no mistake from close range. In the 71st minute, Geylang stunned the crowd when midfielder Takahiro Tezuka pinged a hopeful ball into the box and Taniguchi nipped in to poke home and level the score. Not content with the draw, Tezuka caught the Sailors on the counter-attack as he played the ball out quickly to Bezecourt, who capped off his marauding run with a defence-splitting pass to find Doi through on goal. The Japanese coolly lifted the ball over Sailors' custodian Izwan Mahbud with four minutes left to cap off the shock win. Doi's brace took his tally to 44 goals in 29 games as the top-knotted hitman continued to plunder goals at will. 'Throughout this season, (during the games) against the Lion City Sailors, we worked very hard, but we couldn't win. So the most important thing was to win the game, and I'm very happy to get two goals,' the 27-year-old Japanese forward said. Having set the lofty target of scoring more than one goal per game, Doi has surpassed expectations with his current haul but stayed grounded. 'I keep working very hard every game to score one goal, two goals, and after the season, I have (reached) this number. What I did was to focus on every game, and that's the most important thing. And in the end, if I can get a better (tally), it is better for me,' he added. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
