Ahead of the 2025/26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we look at each of the eight clubs participating in the domestic top flight. Today, we turn our attention to Balestier Khalsa.
Seasons: 30
Nickname: The Tigers
Highest finish: 3rd (1996)
2024/25 finish: 4th
Chairman: S Thavaneson
Head coach: Marko Kraljevic
Captain(s): Madhu Mohana, Darren Teh
Key signings: Mario Mustapic (Croatia), Lazar Vujanic (Serbia), Tin Matic (Croatia)
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Despite not boasting the financial muscle of Lion City Sailors or the national team regulars of BG Tampines Rovers, Balestier Khalsa have consistently lived up to their billing as the SPL’s dark horses.
Last season, under the stewardship of Head Coach Peter De Roo, the Tigers earned a reputation for playing an eye-catching brand of attacking football. Their unwavering commitment to that philosophy, regardless of the opposition, saw them claim back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the league.
However, ahead of the 2025/26 season, changes are afoot in the Tigers camp. Peter De Roo and Chairman Darwin Jalil – both instrumental to the club’s recent success – have since departed. To fill the gap, Balestier have turned to a familiar figure – former coach Marko Kraljevic, who embarks on his third spell with the club.
The veteran coach has since tapped into his intimate knowledge of the Balkan region, bringing in a host of Croatians to refresh the team. This includes the likes of goalkeeper Mario Mustapic, central defender Mario Subaric, left winger Jakov Katusa, and centre-forward Tin Matic. Serbian defensive midfielder Lazar Vujanic has also been brought in to replace former club captain Alen Kozar, while his fellow countryman Bogdan Mandic adds extra firepower up front.
Marko is not the only returning figure at the club, with dynamic winger Daniel Goh rejoining the squad after a short spell at Albirex Niigata (S). Memorably, Goh’s most prolific campaign came when he was last in Balestier colours, registering nine goals and six assists in the 2023 season.
Having finished outside of the top 3 since 1996 – when the club was still known as Balestier Central – Marko and the Tigers will have their eyes firmly set on breaching that barrier once again in the post-De Roo era.
They begin their campaign travelling west to face Albirex Niigata (S) on 23 August.
Squad (at time of publication)
Goalkeepers: Mario Mustapic, Hafiz Ahmad, Martyn Mun, Zico Law
Defenders: Mario Subaric, Madhu Mohana, Abdil Qaiyyim, Harith Kanadi, Fudhil I’yadh, Darren Teh, Syafi Nur Hilman, Levi Farris, Syabil Hisham, Anyyq Yaqyn, Firdaus Roslan, Deshan Gunasegara, Brayden Goh, Jeff Lam
Midfielders: Lazar Vujanic, Masahiro Sugita, Elijah Lim, Tiago Martins, Yanir Yohanan, Rijan Rai, Adly Irfan, Wong Ngang Haang, Lin Ze Hao, Arfan Noor Ariff
Forwards: Jakov Katusa, Ignatius Ang, Daniel Goh, Bogdan Mandic, Tin Matic, N. Sakthivelchezhian, Husnan Hassan, Harris Ilhan, Nor Irfan