Ahead of the 2025/26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we look at each of the eight clubs participating in the domestic top flight. In today’s edition of our preview, we turn the spotlight on the Young Lions.
Seasons: 22
Nickname: None
Highest finish: 3rd (2004, 2006)
2024/25 finish: 8th
Head coach: Firdaus Kassim
Captain(s): Amir Syafiz, Lucas Agueiro
Key signings: Abner Vinicius (Brazil), Enrico Silveira (Brazil), Louka Tan-Vaissiere (Singapore)
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The Young Lions have been on the wrong end of many tough results in recent years, but the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season was one that witnessed creditable growth and improvement.
Despite finishing 8th in the league, the young side played some eye-catching football that helped them to memorable upsets such as the 3-0 win away at Brunei DPMM, as well as a 7-1 trouncing of Albirex Niigata (S) in the Singapore Cup.
Even after the departures of key players including Jun and Kan Kobayashi, the Young Lions have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about in the coming season.
This year will see the experienced Firdaus Kassim take the helm – the mastermind behind the Lion City Sailors squad that scored a league-high 83 goals as they romped to the SPL Under-21 League title last season.
Joining Firdaus in the Young Lions Class of 2025/26 are a wave of fresh young talent, including tricky winger Danie Hafiy and centre back Marcus Mosses.
They are accompanied by English winger Harry Spence and Brazilian centre-back Enrico Silveira who have both made their SPL debuts with the Lion City Sailors last season. Between the sticks, Slovenian goalkeeper Benjamin Zerak is expected to bring stability and composure to the team.
Enrico will not be the only one bringing samba flair to the squad, with five other Brazilians bolstering the Young Lions’ foreign contingent. Fellow central defender Joilson Lucas, defensive midfielder Lucas Agueiro, as well as forwards Sergio Mendonca and Abner Vinicius will all inject an extra competitive edge into the squad.
Foreign reinforcements aside, the foundations of this Young Lions side will still be built upon a pool of promising local players. Despite their age, there is no shortage of SPL experience among their ranks, with players such as defender Andrew Aw and Raoul Suhaimi who already have more than 50 top-flight appearances each. Winger Amir Syafiz is also one to watch, having recently been capped at senior level for the Singapore national team.
Another player with valuable first-team experience is attacking midfielder Nathan Mao, who is widely touted as one of the most promising talents in Singapore football. Having previously featured for the Sailors’ first team, the 17-year-old will look to provide the creative spark for forwards such as Louka Tan-Vaissiere – who has built a fearsome reputation for his goalscoring exploits in the U21 League last season.
Under the guidance of Firdaus, this new-look Young Lions are set to prove that they are far from pushovers this season.
The first test of their campaign will see them take on Balestier Khalsa on 21 September at Our Tampines Hub.
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Squad (at time of publication)
Goalkeepers: Ainun Nuha, Aizil Yazid, Benjamin Zerak, Ashman Saravanan, Firman Nabil, Travis Ang
Defenders: Kieran Teo, Aniq Raushan, Marcus Moses, Raoul Suhaimi, Fairuz Fazli, Andrew Aw, Iryan Fandi, Junki Yoshimura, Adam Reefdy, Aqil Yazid, Joilson Lucas, Enrico Silveira, Illya Naufal, Idzham Shah, Ikram Mikhail, Illhan Rizqullah, Jovan Ang, Luth Harith, Nur Muhammad, Aqil Khusni
Midfielders: Ong Yu En, Ryu Hardy, Ajay Robson, Nathan Mao, Lucas Agueiro, Henry Spence, Caelan Cheong, Casey Klein, Matthias Koesno, Harith Danish, Ilyasin Zayan, Ryan Vishal, Loo Kai Sheng, Adam Reefdy, Nyqil Iyyan, Sarrvin Raj, Yazid Rizal
Forwards: Danie Hafiy, Izrafil Yusof, Louka Tan-Vaissiere, Jared Ghadessy, Amir Syafiz, Abner Vinicius, Sergio Mendonca, Harry Spence, Sahoo Garv, Syazwan Latiff, Nicolas Beninger, Uchenna Ezaikor
