Latest news with #SingaporePremierLeague
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bart Ramselaar's lone effort helps Lion City Sailors retain Singapore Cup
Unbeaten throughout the tournament, the defending champions proved to be the better side in front of a crowd of 2,766. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors completed their first domestic double with a 1-0 victory over BG Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Cup final on May 31 at Jalan Besar Stadium. Unbeaten throughout the tournament, the defending champions proved to be the better side in front of a crowd of 2,766. The Sailors sealed the win in the tight contest with a lone second-half goal from Bart Ramselaar. A late red card for a headbutt by midfielder Shah Shahiran on Ramselaar all but ended any hopes of a Tampines comeback. Full report to follow. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lion City Sailors seek ‘cherry on top' in Singapore Cup final against resurgent BG Tampines Rovers
Having won the Singapore Premier League, the Lion City Sailors are aiming to retain the Singapore Cup. PHOTO: AFP SINGAPORE – A staggering 392 days after last May's Community Shield curtain-raiser, two teams who have proven to be the best in this long domestic campaign will get another shot at glory when they meet in the Singapore Cup final at Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. Retaining the Cup will be a 'cherry on top' for Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors after a landmark season, while BG Tampines Rovers will be seeking to lift their first major piece of silverware since they last won the knockout tournament in 2019, during Gavin Lee's debut season as coach. Lee will be hoping that his men can reprise their high-octane display from the semi-final, second leg on May 27, when they prevailed 3-2 in extra time over a BG Pathum United side featuring the likes of Thai veteran Chanathip Songkrasin and Singapore internationals Ikhsan and Ilhan Fandi, to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory. Describing that showing – in which they registered 16 goal attempts to Pathum's eight – as being 'close to our best', Lee believes that ending their silverware drought will come down to 'maintaining our principles and finding the best solution'. 'It's really about us and our ambition,' added the 34-year-old. 'The final will be against the most consistent team in the league, so we relish the challenge and are looking forward.' Japanese playmaker Seia Kunori, who pulled the strings in the Stags' attack and chipped in with two goals in the second-leg win, said they will not be complacent. The SPL Young Player of the Year nominee, 24, added: 'We'll just keep playing our football, the way we always do. We'll enjoy playing football together as a team.' In their four SPL encounters this season, the Sailors and Tampines drew twice and notched a win apiece. BG Tampines Rovers' Seia Kunori says they won't be complacent in the final. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO The Sailors had also booked their spot in the showpiece finale by defeating foreign opposition, having overcome Malaysia Super League-bound Brunei DPMM 3-2 and 2-0 over both legs. Like his counterpart, Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic also tasted Cup success in his debut campaign in 2023 and has described a successful title defence as 'a cherry on top'. 'We've done amazing things this season,' said the 46-year-old Serb. 'We won the league, we won the Community Shield, we played the AFC Champions League Two final, and now if you win the Singapore Cup – (we'll be) one of the best teams in recent history in Singapore, so that's what we aim for.' Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad, who was named Man of the Match in their 0-0 league draw with the Stags on May 24, has been a constant presence in their Cup run, playing every minute of all six matches en route to the final and looks set to keep his place. Rankovic said: 'He will probably play (on Saturday) because he played all the matches in the Singapore Cup. Similar to Izwan (Mahbud) last season, who came off the bench to play (in the Cup run). 'I have two good goalkeepers, and I think Zharfan's getting a little bit of that confidence in the last couple of games, so I think he will play.' Going into the final with back-to-back clean sheets will be a vital confidence booster for the substitute goalkeeper, who has made just 10 out of 32 possible league starts this season. 'Given the fact that I've not had many minutes throughout the season, I told myself that if I'm fielded, I will do my best. And so far it has been a good run-out, and I am looking forward to the final,' said the 28-year-old. 'The previous two games have given me really good momentum... So we are pretty confident since we got a clean sheet again (against DPMM).' For teammate and attacking midfielder Bart Ramselaar, there is an added incentive. The Dutchman, who scored five goals in five Cup games, is just one strike behind Geylang International's Tomoyuki Doi and Balestier Khalsa's Kodai Tanaka, the joint top scorers in the knockout competition. However, the former PSV Eindhoven player insists team glory comes first. 'For me, (being the Cup's top scorer) is not important. I just want to win the cup. It doesn't matter if I score or not. I want to win,' said the 28-year-old. 'To be able to win trophies, that's why you become a footballer. And to potentially win three in my first season would be amazing. I'm really looking forward to it. ' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Brunei DPMM part ways with Singapore Premier League, returns to Malaysia Super League
SINGAPORE: There has been a mixed reaction from the football fans in both Singapore and Malaysia when it was announced that Brunei DPMM Football Club will no longer be participating in the upcoming season of the Singapore Premier League (SPL). Instead, Brunei's only professional club will be making a return to the Malaysian Super League. DPMM last played in Malaysia during the 2007-2008 season before making the switch to Singapore's professional league for the 2009 season. The latest development was first announced by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on May 22, stating that it acknowledges that Brunei DPMM will not participate in the SPL after the 2024/25 season. 'The decision was reached following discussions between FAS and DPMM, with the Brunei-based club expressing their intent to compete in other leagues. As the league's only overseas-based club, they brought diversity, professionalism, and a competitive edge that enriched the local football scene,' said FAS in the media release. FAS general secretary, Mr Chew Chun-Liang added that while the association are sad to see the DPMM leave the SPL, they understand the club's position and both (FAS and DPMM) are parting ways with the full support and appreciation from the FAS. 'DPMM has been a respected member of the SPL and a valued partner in the development of regional football. Their staff and players have consistently displayed an exemplary sporting spirit, and the club's impact on Singapore football will be long remembered. We wish them the very best in their future endeavours,' said FAS General Secretary Mr Chew Chun-Liang. Singapore Premier League 2024-2025 season final standings. (Photo: Facebook screengrab/SingaporePremierLeague) This year's SPL was won by a local club, Lion City Sailors, on 72 points, eight points ahead of second-place Tampines Rovers. DPMM ended the season in fifth position on 44 points. They won 12 matches, drew eight and suffered 12 losses. DPMM failed to advance to the Singapore Cup final, as they were edged out 5-2 on aggregate by Sailors in the semi-finals. In the other semi-finals, Tampines faced a tough battle against Thai side BG Pathum, with the SPL club eventually winning 4-3 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg. For a former footballer who had previously played for a mid-table team in the SPL, he wishes DPMM all the best for their return to the Malaysian League and hopes that FAS will now prioritise elevating the local professional league. 'I do not have anything against foreign clubs playing in Singapore. I have played against DPMM and also the Japanese club Albirex Niigata (S) during my playing career. These foreign clubs certainly bring excitement to the league. 'However, we have seen several foreign clubs come and go throughout the years. They need to bring value to the whole football ecosystem in Singapore,' shared the former footballer with The Independent Singapore . While some welcomed the move by DPMM, others questioned the club's topsy-turvy decision, which had brought them to play in both Singapore and Malaysia in recent years. 'The atmosphere was good when either Brunei or DPMM played in the Malaysian league. But the club has to be consistent and focus on long-term goals to develop their players, who form the bulk of their national team,' said Azman, a 50-year-old football fan in Malaysia. The midfielder, who wants to remain anonymous, feels that FAS should now focus on the growth and development of local clubs rather than inviting more foreign clubs to compete in Singapore in the future. 'We have always heard talks of expanding the league, so now we should focus on assisting local clubs to improve their standard and for FAS to do more in promoting local football and the league. For clubs that have aspirations to play in the SPL, they should receive the necessary guidance and expertise from FAS,' added the former Singapore Premier League footballer. MALAYSIA SUPER LEAGUE TO FEATURE 14 CLUBS, PERAK AND KEDAH AXED The new Malaysia Super League season is expected to start in August. It will feature 14 clubs, including the inclusion of two clubs, Melaka Football Club and Immigration Football Club, champions and runners-up of the Amateur Football League's (AFL) A1 League. DPMM will join the ranks of Johor Darul Ta'zim. The club owned by Johor's Crown Prince have dominated and won the Malaysia Super League title consecutively from 2014 to 2025. The remaining clubs for the new Super League season are: Selangor, Sabah, Terengganu, Penang, Kuching City, Sri Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur City, PDRM, and Kelantan. Citing financial issues, both Perak and Kedah have been dropped from the upcoming Malaysia Super League season. However, according to AFL chairman Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, both clubs will still continue to be active in the local football league and will participate in the AFL A1 league for the new season. Johor lifted their third consecutive Malaysia Cup, winning 2-1 against Pahang on April 26, 2025 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. (Photo: Facebook screengrab/malaysianfootballleague) Following the announcement by FAS on May 22, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) released a statement a day later to welcome the Brunei club for the upcoming 2025-2026 Malaysia Super League. 'DPMM FC will play as an invited club after receiving approval from the International Football Federation (FIFA) to participate in Malaysia's professional league, the Super League, which is expected to begin in August 2025. 'MFL warmly welcomes the presence of DPMM FC to add more competition and excitement to the Malaysian League 2025–2026 after their last appearance in the Super League in 2008,' read the statement by MFL. It was not the first time that a Brunei-based club had played in the Malaysian league. Prior to that, the Brunei Football Association had sent a team, mostly made up of their national team players, which debuted in the 1979 Malaysia Cup and later played during Malaysia's semi-pro league era in the 80s and 90s. Brunei previously won the Malaysia Cup in 1999, defeating Sarawak 2-1 at the iconic Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. For club-side DPMM, their best ever finish in Malaysia was third place during the 2005-2006 Super League season.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Balestier Khalsa bid farewell to coach with 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata
Balestier Khalsa FC players celebrate by pouring a container of ice over their departing coach Peter de Roo after their Singapore Premier League match against Albirex Niigata. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – When Balestier Khalsa coach Peter de Roo took over a Tigers side who were second-last in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in September 2022, he introduced a style of football that combined possession with aggressive pressing during transitions. In his final match at Bishan Stadium on May 25, his charges did well to showcase his football philosophy, giving the Dutchman the perfect parting gift with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata — a team Balestier have not beaten since 2015. Substitute Reycredo Bukit, who scored his first goal for the club and the winner in the 95th minute, said: 'I (dedicate) my performance today to coach Peter de Roo. Thank you for giving me the experience of playing in my debut professional season. 'It's so amazing… A very good start for me, and I keep going.' Victory against Albirex, who in 2024 transitioned from a team comprising mainly Japanese players to a local outfit, on the final day of the SPL saw Balestier finishing fourth in the league in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1997 and 1998. De Roo, who was inundated with requests for photos and autographs by fans after the final whistle, said: 'I am proud the guys gave it their all to the end. We wanted to go out with a bang. We worked extremely hard. 'We wanted to repay the supporters for their faith in the last two and a half years. We did not do that with the best football, but as always, the boys played their socks off and worked so hard.' Members of Balestier Khalsa FC (in red) and Albirex Niigata FC (in white) compete for the ball during the final round of 2024-25 SPL season at Bishan Stadium on May 25. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The 55-year-old's swansong was all the more satisfying as he had finally broken the hoodoo against Albirex after eight losses in as many league meetings, including his first game in charge, a 3-5 home defeat. The Tigers began the game with just a third of the possession, but patiently waited for opportunities on the transition. They opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Jared Gallagher whipped in a deep cross that was met by Anton Fase, who rose highest at the back post to power a header into the top corner. Just before the interval, Balestier top scorer Kodai Tanaka combined with former Albirex teammate Masahiro Sugita for their second goal. Tanaka produced a neat flick into Sugita's path and the winger shimmied past a flailing Hassan Sunny before sweeping the ball home. After a brief VAR check, the players wheeled away in celebration, heading straight to the bench to share the moment with their departing coach. The White Swans threatened to spoil the party as they pulled one back soon after the restart. A cross floated in by Arshad Shamim was nodded in by defender Koki Kawachi for his first goal of the season. An unmarked run by Kawachi during a corner resulted in another bullet header past Balestier keeper Hafiz Ahmad to level the game. Throwing bodies forward in search of a winner, the hosts' persistence paid off when Reycredo spotted Hassan off his line and sent a shot into the back of the net. While disappointed with the stoppage-time loss, Albirex coach Keiji Shigetomi said: 'We wanted to finish the season with a win. We really wanted to give our fans a result they could celebrate… But I believe my boys didn't give up, and they showed our fighting spirit.' Over at the Jurong East Stadium, Tanjong Pagar United stunned third-placed Geylang International as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Earlier on May 24, Brunei DPMM brought their SPL chapter to a close with a sixth straight win, edging Hougang United 3-2 in a hard-fought encounter, courtesy of a brace from top scorer Davis Ikaunieks (12 goals). They are set to rejoin the Malaysia Super League in the 2025/26 season. Tampines Rovers and Lion City Sailors eked out a 0-0 stalemate on the same day after the latter rotated their outfield players for the match, retaining only substitute goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad from the first leg of the Singapore Cup semi-final against DPMM as they gear up for the second leg on May 27. Analysis Balestier showcased some attractive passages of counter-attacking play, but were nearly undone by some pedestrian defending. A late offensive onslaught paid dividends as they notched the late win for their departing coach. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Balestier Khalsa's departing coach Peter de Roo urges FAS to get out of comfort zone to improve SPL
Balestier Khalsa coach Peter de Roo says there is a lack of effort from the football authorities in making the game better. ST PHOTO: LUTHER LAU SINGAPORE – For most of the last decade, Balestier Khalsa had become a team known for their defensive, uninspiring brand of football rather than flair or ambition. That perception has been turned on its head under Dutchman Peter de Roo, who became their full-time head coach in 2023. With one game left, Balestier are fourth on 45 points – three more than their next opponents, fifth-placed Albirex Niigata – and are just a point away from securing consecutive top-four finishes in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) – the first time the club has achieved this since 1997 and 1998. The 55-year-old has done this while having introduced a possession-based, attacking style of play that has won fans and plaudits alike. But the de Roo era will end on May 25, after their season finale against Albirex at Bishan Stadium (6pm), as he has informed the club that he will not be renewing his contract. His decision was prompted by several factors, including difficulties in taking the next step at a club that he felt has reached its maximum potential with 'limited resources'. De Roo said: 'We compete with clubs who have a much higher budget than us and in the top four, we are the only club that doesn't have national team players. 'When you are successful in a club like Balestier, the budget is not going to improve in the next season, but the players want to earn more money and the expectations go up. To stay at the same level or even improve in terms of the results, is going to be a massive challenge. 'Where I come from, if you do well, you generate more income, there are more people watching, you get more money from broadcast and commercial arms to improve the team and the salaries of players. Simply, if you do well, the budget goes up. At Balestier, it is not like that. I must accept that.' Noting that he has achieved his objective of making an impact at the club, he added: 'You better leave two months too early than stay for one day too long.' While he exits 'with pain in my heart, because I love these boys, I love the club', de Roo said he also felt the need to be honest as he felt there was so much untapped potential in football here. Without mincing his words, he added that the football authorities' lack of effort and innovation has also contributed to his decision to leave. 'I've been part of the SPL for three years and what I noticed is that there is a lack of effort from the people (in charge) in trying to make it better and more attractive. I see a lot of people who take things for granted here and are too comfortable,' said de Roo. He mentioned, for example, that on several occasions, he had raised the issue of time-wasting by SPL teams with FAS. This had contributed to dull matches and, by his own tabulation, a below average ball-in-play time of the 'low 40s'. The average ball-in-play time in the English Premier League is 57 mins. 'It is disrespectful to people who watch it, and it's certainly not what young players should be seeing. FAS can do a lot about these things as well. We must do better, and we owe it to the people who watch our games to address these things,' de Roo said, adding that more should also be done in terms of fan engagement. While admitting he did not have all the answers, he stressed the need for innovation. He said: 'We need to try to encourage and promote and make the competitions better, but I get the feeling that everybody is sort of being comfortable. Being comfortable isn't going to lead to anything. They need to think outside the box.' The departure of club vice-chairman Darwin Jalil in April had also played a part in his own exit. De Roo credited Darwin for raising the standard at the club and being a crucial figure behind the Tigers' growth in the last two years. De Roo, who served as technical director at the Football Association of Malaysia from 2017 until the end of 2020, had initially joined as Balestier's interim head coach for the last six matches of the 2022 season after Akbar Nawas left to join Thai second-tier side Udon Thani. But he eventually accepted an offer to stay on as permanent head coach for the 2023 season before agreeing to extend his contract again for the 2024-25 campaign. The Dutchman said he accepted the role even though the Tigers' best offer meant taking a pay cut of up to 60 per cent compared to his previous salaries. Since leaving his appointment in Malaysia, he has been based in Singapore, where his wife works at the Netherlands Embassy. For now, de Roo has not thought of the next step in his career, but reiterated that he has enjoyed being in the Republic and hopes to see changes to improve local football. He added: 'During my time here, I have studied the history of the country. Look at where Singapore was then in the 60s or in the 70s, and where they are now. You're so good at planning and building so many things. So to me, it is weird that we can't get football organised. 'If you can transfer that mindset of how the nation was built into football, things will improve.' Hougang United v Brunei DPMM (May 24, 6pm, Our Tampines Hub) While DPMM will be looking to finish the season and their Singapore sojourn with a sixth consecutive win in the league, the Cheetahs will be looking to end a five-game winless run. BG Tampines Rovers v Lion City Sailors (May 24, 6pm, Jalan Besar Stadium) The champions have a chance to assert their dominance over runners-up Tampines. Eight points separate the two sides, and their previous encounters this season have produced one win for each and a draw, setting the stage for a decisive showdown. Tanjong Pagar United v Geylang International (May 25, 6pm, Jurong East Stadium) The 2024-25 season's wooden spoonists have just three wins all season, but they can draw confidence from their lone victory in the past 14 matches – a 1-0 win over Geylang in the Singapore Cup group stage back in March. 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.
