Latest news with #SingaporeCup
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Lion City Sailors score coup with two-time J1 League top scorer Anderson Lopes
Anderson Lopes, Lion City Sailors' new signing from Yokohama F. Marinos, at the Lion City Sailors training centre on July 15. SINGAPORE – The Lion City Sailors' unprecedented run to the AFC Champions League Two final in the 2024/25 campaign made clubs in the continent sit up and take notice. And ahead of the new season, Singapore's only privatised football club are not resting on their laurels. The Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup champions on July 17 confirmed that they have signed Brazilian forward Anderson Lopes from five-time J1 League champions Yokohama F. Marinos on a three-year contract. While the Sailors did not disclose the transfer fee, The Straits Times understands that it is lower than the club's record fee of €1.8 million (S$2.69 million) that it paid to sign Brazilian midfielder Diego Lopes from Portuguese Primeira Liga side Rio Ave in 2021, and the reported €1.5 million fee to Dutch Eredivisie side Utrecht for attacking midfielder Bart Ramselaar. The signing of Lopes, 31, from the Marinos is a coup for the Sailors and Singapore football. Lopes had rejected interest from Brazilian giants Botafogo and clubs from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, ST understands. Lopes who primarily plays as a centre forward but can also operate as a second striker or as a winger, told ST that the ambitious project outlined by the Sailors' management, along with Singapore being an ideal place for him and his family played a key role in his decision. Lopes, who has two children – a five-year-old son and one-year-old daughter – with his wife said via a translator: 'When the proposal came, of course, I didn't know too much about Singapore, but I started to ask around about the country and then I realised it's a good place for the family. After speaking to the club as well (about their project), I decided this was the right move. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Singapore Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it's time to raise the alarm Singapore NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa after elevated bacteria levels delays World Aquatics events Opinion The workplace needs to step up on mental health to match Singapore's efforts at the national level Life First look at the new Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore Singapore Zoo celebrates reptile baby boom, including hatchings of endangered species Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? Business Singapore key exports surprise with 13% rebound in June amid tariff uncertainty 'The club is ambitious and wants to keep growing and making history'. Lopes first moved to Japan in 2016 when he joined J1 League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima on loan from Brazilian side Tombense. He was then loaned out to South Korean team FC Seoul in 2018, before returning to Japanese football the following year after completing a permanent move to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. In 2021, he signed for Chinese club Wuhan FC but returned to Japan a year later to sign for Marinos. Since joining Marinos in February 2022, Lopes had established himself as one of the best players in the Japanese top tier. In his first season, he scored 11 goals in the club's league winning season. In the following two seasons, Lopes would win consecutive top scorer awards in the J1League. In 2023, he was joint-top in the scoring charts with Japan international Yuya Osako with 22 goals before he netted 24 goals the following season to finish as top scorer. I n the current season, Lopes and his club have struggled amid some managerial changes. Marinos are bottom of the 20-team league, with the Brazilian finding the net only twice in 20 matches. But it is his prowess on the continental stage that Sailors will hope to reap rewards. In the 2023–24 AFC Champions League season, Lopes was top scorer for Marinos – six goals in 11 matches – as the Japanese side reached the final, where they were defeated by Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates. In the inaugural season of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite, Lopes finished joint-second in the scoring charts with nine goals in 10 matches, sharing the spot with Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez and Gwangju FC's Jasir Asani. Saudi Arabian captain Salem Al-Dawsari claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals, but Lopes outscored several high-profile names including Al-Nassr's Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo (eight goals), Al-Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Al-Ahli duo Ivan Toney and Roberto Firmino, who each scored six. Lopes arrives in Singapore with a clear ambition. 'I came here to score goals and win titles. I want to grow with the club, and make history together and help the club to do even better and better,' said the Brazilian. The signing of Anderson Lopes, 31, from the Marinos is a coup for the Sailors and Singapore football. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Beyond that, Lopes vowed to put in relentless hard work. He credited this work ethic to his upbringing in the favela of Recife, Brazil, and the values instilled by his family. Football helped Lopes to purchase a flat for his family and build a future he once only dreamt of. That same drive and determination still remains. 'What they (fans) can expect from me is that I will give everything on the pitch, whether it is in training, the games, and I will score the goals to make everyone happy,' he added. Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic, who recently inked a two-year contract extension with the club, will now have added ammunition in his front line, which already includes 2023 SPL Player of the Year Maxime Lestienne – who is contracted to the club till December – German forward Lennart Thy, Ramselaar and Lions hitman Shawal Anuar. Rankovic said: 'To reach 100 goals in a league as competitive as the J1 speaks volumes about his quality. But it's not just about his goalscoring. Anderson is excellent at holding the ball up and just as capable of creating chances for his teammates. I'm confident he'll be a tremendous asset to the team this season.' The Sailors have also bolstered their squad since they made a historic run to the ACL 2 final, where they lost 2-1 to Emirati side Sharjah FC in May. The Sailors are the first team from Singapore to feature in a continental final. National team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin has joined on a season-long loan from Selangor, they have added Croat custodian Ivan Susak from Croatian top-tier side Slaven Belupo, and beefed up the midfield with former German Under-20 player Tsiy-William Ndenge. The Sailors who are competing on four fronts again – the SPL, Singapore Cup, Asean Club Championship and ACL2 – and will kick off their season with the Singapore Community Shield match against BG Tampines Rovers on Aug 16.
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Sport
- AsiaOne
Lions stalwart Safuwan Baharudin returns to the Singapore Premier League after 14 years, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The last time Singapore national team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin played in the domestic league, it was still called the with teams such as Etoile FC, Singapore Armed Forces FC, Woodlands Wellington and Gombak United, while the iconic Aleksandar Duric powered Tampines Rovers to the league title. That was 2011 and Safuwan was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions. Now, 14 years later, Safuwan is back home as a Lions veteran. The 33-year-old has joined Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors on a season-long loan from Malaysia Super League (MSL) giants Selangor FC. Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup champions "To be honest, I have not been counting the years. But it feels surreal knowing it has been that long," said Safuwan, who has 124 caps for the national team. "When I was still playing for the Young Lions, there were very different teams to what there are now. I remember playing against Beijing Guo'an Talent (2010) and Etoile. "But I am excited to be back and I want to give credit to Selangor, for agreeing to this deal. "The Sailors came in strong, we had a good discussion on what we can expect of each other. That was important to me." The loan move ends a period of uncertainty for Safuwan, who was left in limbo at Selangor. Safuwan made his professional debut in 2009 with the Young Lions and made 58 appearances in the local competition before joining LionsXII — the now-defunct Singapore team in the MSL — from 2012 to 2015. He had a memorable, but short, loan stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in 2015. A year later, his journey as a foreign player in Malaysia started. He joined PDRM in 2016 and spent two seasons there, initially in the MSL before a season in the second-tier Malaysia Premier League after they were relegated. He then joined Pahang FA for the 2018 season and won the Malaysia FA Cup before he was snapped up by Selangor for the 2020 season. Safuwan left the Red Giants to join Negeri Sembilan for the 2023 season, but rejoined Selangor later that year. In two stints, he racked up 71 appearances with Selangor, donned the captain's armband and was also a firm fans' favourite. But in June, The Straits Times reported that although he still had a year left on his contract with Selangor, the defender had been told he was no longer part of their plans for next season. The ambiguity surrounding his career took a personal toll on Safuwan, who in the past two weeks had even been made to train with the club's Under-23 side. "It was very tough mentally. After the last national team break, there was still a lot of uncertainty and I was not sure what was going to happen in terms of my club career. But I am glad that now everything is in place and it feels good to know that I am in a club of the Sailors' calibre," said the centre-back, who has also been deployed in midfield or even up front on numerous occasions. As he looks back on his time in Malaysian football, Safuwan is grateful for the experience which has shaped him as a footballer. While he admitted that he is unsure if that spells the end of his Malaysian stint, he is looking forward to showcasing his ability to Singapore football fans on a more regular basis as well as winning over new fans. He said: "When you are away and miss out playing here for so long, not many of the newer generation know you too well. Yes, they do see me playing for the national team but it is a bit different to playing week in and out. Now it's time for me to prove myself. It doesn't matter what credibility that you had before, if you don't come back and prove yourself." In sorting out Safuwan's immediate future, the Sailors have also added arguably the best local defender to a backline that already has two players who made last season's SPL Team of the Year - Australian defender Bailey Wright and Croatian centre-back Toni Datkovic. Sailors' executive director Bruce Liang said: "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." The Sailors will be looking to go on a deep run in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) again, improve on last season's display in the ASEAN Club Championship — where they were knocked out at the group stage — and defend their domestic titles. Safuwan said: "I have already looked out for the first match of the season which is the Community Shield and I can't wait to get started. This club has made the ACL2 final and still wants to do better and I am going to do my best and help them progress even more." The Sailors' season will kick off with the Community Shield clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Aug 16, followed by SPL's first round on Aug 23. [[nid:719423]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lions stalwart Safuwan Baharudin returns to the Singapore Premier League after 14 years
SINGAPORE – The last time Singapore national team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin played in the domestic league, it was still called the with teams such as Etoile FC, Singapore Armed Forces FC, Woodlands Wellington and Gombak United, while the iconic Aleksandar Duric powered Tampines Rovers to the league title. That was 2011 and Safuwan was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions. Now, 14 years later, Safuwan is back home as a Lions veteran. The 33-year-old has joined Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors on a season-long loan from Malaysia Super League (MSL) giants Selangor FC. 'To be honest, I have not been counting the years. But it feels surreal knowing it has been that long,' said Safuwan, who has 124 caps for the national team. 'When I was still playing for the Young Lions, there were very different teams to what there are now. I remember playing against Beijing Guo'an Talent (2010) and Etoile. 'But I am excited to be back and I want to give credit to Selangor, for agreeing to this deal. The Sailors came in strong, we had a good discussion on what we can expect of each other. That was important to me.' The loan move ends a period of uncertainty for Safuwan, who was left in limbo at Selangor . Safuwan made his professional debut in 2009 with the Young Lions and made 58 appearances in the local competition before joining LionsXII – the now-defunct Singapore team in the MSL – from 2012 to 2015. He had a memorable, but short loan stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in 2015. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch Singapore Woman on SMRT bus 190 injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window Singapore Over half of 106 new MRT trains added to North-South, East-West lines; fleet completion by 2026 Asia 'Don't be seen in India again': Indian nationals pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint Business High Court orders Instagram seller to pay Louis Vuitton $200,000 in damages over counterfeit goods Singapore MOH studying 18 proposals to integrate TCM into public healthcare Asia Malaysian commando dies during military diving exercise off Kuantan coast Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds A year later, his journey as a foreign player in Malaysia started. He joined PDRM in 2016 and spent two seasons there, initially in the MSL before a season in the second-tier Malaysia Premier League after PDRM were relegated. He then joined Pahang FA for the 2018 season and won the Malaysia FA Cup before he was snapped up by Selangor for the 2020 season. Safuwan left the Red Giants to join Negeri Sembilan for the 2023 season, but rejoined Selangor later that year. In two stints, he racked up 71 appearances with Selangor, donned the captain's armband and was also a firm fans' favourite. But in June, The Straits Times reported that although he still had a year left on his contract with Selangor, the centre-back had been told he was no longer part of their plans for next season. The ambiguity surrounding his career took a personal toll on Safuwan, who in the past two weeks, had even been made to train with the club's Under-23 side. 'It was very tough mentally. After the last national team break, there was still a lot of uncertainty and I was not sure what was going to happen in terms of my club career. But I am glad that now everything is in place and it feels good to know that I am in a club of the Sailors' calibre,' said the centre-back, who has also been deployed in midfield or even up front on numerous occasions. As he looks back on his time in Malaysian football, Safuwan is grateful for the experience which has shaped him as a footballer. While he admitted that he is unsure if that spells the end of his Malaysian stint, he is looking forward to showcasing his ability to Singapore football fans on a more regular basis as well as win over new fans. Safuwan said: 'When you are away and miss out playing here for so long, not many of the newer generation know you too well. Yes, they do see me playing for the national team but it is a bit different to playing week in and out. Now it's time for me to prove myself. It doesn't matter what credibility that you had before, if you don't come back and prove yourself.' In sorting out Safuwan's immediate future, the Sailors have also added arguably the best local defender to a backline that already has two players who made last season's SPL Team of the Year – Australian defender Bailey Wright and Croatian centre-back Toni Datkovic. Sailors' executive director Bruce Liang said: '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.' The Sailors will be looking to go on a deep run in the AFC Champions League Two again, improve on last season's display in the Asean Club Championship – where they were knocked out at the group stage – and defend their domestic titles. Safuwan said: 'I have already looked out for the first match of the season which is the Community Shield and I can't wait to get started. This club has made the ACL2 final and still wants to do better and I am going to do my best and help them progress even more.' The Sailors' season will kick off with the Community Shield clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Aug 16, followed by SPL's first round on Aug 23.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Jalan Besar Stadium set to be fitted with natural grass pitch
The Singapore Cup final between BG Tampines Rovers (in black) and Lion City Sailors, at Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – The Jalan Besar Stadium's artificial turf will be removed to make way for a natural grass surface to meet the latest requirements set out by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Straits Times understands that work to returf the pitch is scheduled to commence in August and will be completed by January 2026. The 6,000-capacity venue, which originally had a grass surface, was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005. The change comes after the AFC banned the use of fully artificial pitches in its major national team and club competitions. In a June 11 memo to member associations, 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. 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. The Jalan Besar Stadium 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. 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 Jalan Besar Stadium when the 55,000-capacity National Stadium was unavailable or deemed too big for requirements. During last season's ACL2, 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, Emirati side Sharjah FC, complained that Jalan Besar was not a worthy venue for the final. The match was then moved to Bishan Stadium, where stands were added to make it a 10,000-seater venue in May, with Sharjah winning 2-1. The 2025-26 ACL 2 group stage, which involves Tampines and the Sailors, will kick off in September, but it is unlikely that Bishan will be ready to host home games then. Works have commenced to replace the rubber track at Bishan Stadium, which also hosts SPL matches, and that will require approximately 16 weeks to be completed. Lion City Sailors' Lennart Thy scoring the second goal in their 2-0 victory over Sydney FC in the AFC Champions League Two semi-final, first leg at Jalan Besar Stadium in April. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY To mitigate the situation, it is understood that FAS is in discussions with the AFC to allow both Tampines and Sailors' first ACL 2 group-stage games to be scheduled as away matches. ST understands that if work at the Bishan Stadium is completed by October, the facility will be able to host subsequent group-stage matches. But these games will be played at Jalan Besar once it becomes available as Bishan Stadium, which can accommodate up to 2,800 spectators, does not meet AFC's minimum requirement for capacity. The changes will also have an impact on the 2025-26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) – the season's curtain raiser, the Community Shield, is scheduled for Aug 16 at the Jurong East Stadium. When the SPL season kicks off a week later, matches will take place from Friday to Monday at Our Tampines Hub and the Jurong East Stadium, before Bishan and Jalan Besar's expected availability in October 2025 and January 2026 respectively. Since the Jalan Besar Stadium was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005, other venues, such as the Jurong East Stadium and Our Tampines Hub, have followed suit as the authorities deemed that such surfaces are easier to maintain than grass pitches in Singapore's humid climate. 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, which was last relaid between July 2020 and January 2021, with costs borne by Fifa. In 2011, Brazil legend Zico, who was Iraq's coach then, condemned it as being unsuitable for a professional football game ahead of his team's 2014 World Cup third-round qualifier against Singapore, noting that 'this kind of pitch is for school kids'. Local players have also raised concerns about the injuries sustained while playing on the artificial turf at Jalan Besar, though there is currently no conclusive evidence to show a link between artificial pitches and injuries. Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi and former midfielder Adam Swandi both sustained knee injuries in the 3-1 friendly win over the Maldives at Jalan Besar in December 2022. Ikhsan's younger brother Ilhan then suffered a serious knee injury as well during the Asean Football Federation Championship game against Vietnam on Dec 30 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Selection's Park Tae-won attempting a header in an exhibition match against Thailand All Stars on Nov 13, 2005. This was the first official match at Jalan Besar Stadium since the natural grass surface was replaced with an artificial pitch that year. PHOTO: ST FILE Jalan Besar pitch timeline: 2005: Grass pitch is replaced with artificial turf to withstand wear and tear; first official match is played there featuring S-League Selection and Thai All-Stars in November 2005 2008: A $1 million renovation is completed featuring a new artificial pitch with enhanced cushioning compared to the previous surface, along with upgraded floodlights 2014: Facility is returfed with a new artificial pitch as part of maintenance 2021: Relaid with Fifa Quality Pro artificial turf as part of a Fifa Development Project 2025: Natural grass to return to comply with AFC regulations 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
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore Premier League's youngest coach Gavin Lee leaves Tampines Rovers
SINGAPORE – Changes are afoot at BG Tampines Rovers after head coach Gavin Lee announced that he will leave the Singapore Premier League (SPL) club after almost eight years. Speaking to The Straits Times from Thailand, where he is currently on a break, Lee, 34, confirmed that both parties have agreed to part ways. While he declined to provide details, Lee said the decision to leave Tampines was due to a mix of personal and professional reasons. He said: 'The people closest to me know how I work and the manner in which I do things is quite 100 per cent and all in. I've been doing that for quite a few years now and sometimes it's about relooking and prioritising some things in life, so that's one contribution to the reasons to leave. Secondly, as a consequence of the manner in which I've worked, I need to find a way to refuel the tank.' He has not decided on his next move, adding: 'There are options and opportunities. I will take my time to consider the path that I want to take but as I alluded to before, there are certain priorities in my life that I want to pursue so my choices will be towards that direction.' Lee joined the Stags as an assistant coach in Dec 2017, before being promoted to the head coach role for the 2019 campaign. At just 28, he was the youngest ever head coach in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) then. And under Lee, who has been described by players and colleagues as someone who 'eats, sleeps and breathes football', the Stags have been one of the most attractive teams to watch in the league due to their possession-based attacking football. In 2019, Tampines won the Singapore Cup, before clinching the Singapore Community Shield a year later. In the recently concluded 2024/25 campaign, Tampines were runners-up to the Lion City Sailors in the Singapore Cup and finished second in the league, eight points behind the Sailors. Unlike the Sailors, who are a privatised club, the Stags do not enjoy the same resources and Lee has blooded several youth players over the years. Several players have gone on to be capped for the Lions including Ryaan Sanizal, Irfan Najeeb, Joel Chew, Shah Shahiran and Taufik Suparno. Thanking former club chairman Desmond Ong for putting his trust in him and 'providing the stability and clarity from the top', Lee said he has no regrets, even if the decision to leave the club did not come easy. He said: 'Ultimately, it is about recognising what is best for me and for the club... we needed to avoid being emotional about it, we wanted to be as logical and reasonable as possible for both myself and the club. 'If we allowed emotions to run the conversation, then I will still probably be at the club. I formed very strong relationships with people in and around the club and Tampines has always been more than a club for me. It's been my home.' ST understands that Akbar Nawas, who guided Tampines to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup in 2016, is in talks to return to the club as head coach. The 49-year-old was most recently the head coach of Nakhon Pathom United in Thai League 1 and was previously head coach at SPL's Balestier Khalsa from 2021 to 2022. Lee's departure comes amid leadership renewal at Tampines – long-time chairman Ong stepped aside at the start of June to make way for Japanese investment banker Shungo Sakamoto. The club has also made its first foreign signing for the new season, announcing on June 16 that 32-year-old Japanese attacking midfielder Koya Kazama from J2 League side JEF United Chiba would be joining the Stags. Lee is hopeful that the squad will continue to challenge for the top honours domestically and be competitive on the continental and regional stage. On top of the Asian Champions League 2, Tampines are also set to compete in the Asean Club Championship in the 2025/26 season. Lee, who is the Singapore national team assistant coach working alongside head coach Tsutomu Ogura, said: 'I think we have a better set of processes now compared to when we first started, we have a very strong core group of local players now that are still at a right age, and we have regional and continental competitions to play for. 'We can be proud of quite a few things that we have managed to achieve and hopefully, long it may continue, and the next person that comes in will just continue to improve the processes, improve the club, and bring more success.' 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.
