Geylang’s Doi the big winner at season-ending SPL Awards Night

SINGAPORE, 2 JUNE 2025 –  The 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) Awards Night took place last night at the Orchard Hotel, honouring excellence across the domestic football season.

The event brought together clubs, partners, sponsors, and stakeholders in Singapore football to recognise achievements across a range of facets contributing to the SPL. This included player and coach accolades, media recognition, referee awards, and special contributions to the local game.

Geylang International forward Tomoyuki Doi was the standout performer this season – and the big winner on the night – and he took home four trophies: the Golden Boot, AIA Player of the Year, AIA Team of the Year and an SPL Special Award. 

Doi finished as the league’s top scorer with a record-setting 44 goals – including eight hat-tricks – across 32 league games, a performance that earned him the AIA Player of the Year gong and a spot in the AIA Team of the Year. His consistent scoring form contributed significantly to Geylang finishing third in the standings, behind league champions, Lions City Sailors and second-placed BG Tampines Rovers. 

The Stags’ Seia Kunori was recognised for his influence in midfield, following a season of consistent performances. The Japanese playmaker was named AIA Young Player of the Year for the second time and joined other top performers in the AIA Team of the Year, including Sailors’ duo Maxime Lestienne and Bailey Wright, and Geylang’s Vincent Bezecourt.

Sailors’ Head Coach Aleksandar Rankovic was named the POLAR Mineral Water Coach of the Year, recognised for guiding his side to a domestic sweep. The Sailors won their second SPL title, enjoyed a triumphant 2024/25 Singapore Cup campaign, their second in club history, this after winning the Community Shield. 

This came with a history-making continental campaign. Under Rankovic’s leadership, the Sailors advanced to the final of the AFC Champions League Two, becoming the first Singapore club to reach – and host – an Asian final. 

Their achievement marked a significant milestone for local football and demonstrated the club’s growing stature in the region.

At the youth level, Hougang United’s Louka Tan-Vaissierre emerged as the SPL Under-21 Golden Boot winner, topping the scoring charts with 28 goals. 

Match officials, Leow Hong Wei, Clarence, and Tan Mint Land, Andy, were named SELECT Referee and SELECT Assistant Referee of the Year, respectively. 

The SPL Recognition Awards this year paid tribute to individuals who have helped shape the football fraternity. Former Singapore internationals Adam Swandi and Khairul Amri were honoured upon their retirement, celebrating their years of service to the local game. 

Tomoyuki Doi was recognised for setting a new single-season goal-scoring record, and the Lion City Sailors received recognition for their historic runners-up finish in the ACL2.

In the media categories, Kenneth Tan won a second straight Story of the Year award, with another impactful story titled: Mother, Father, Supporter: Meet the driving force behind Asis’s rise.

Photographer Goh Si Wei claimed the Photo of the Year gong following his first nomination for the award, for a shot of Albirex Niigata (S) goalkeeper Hassan Sunny in full flight. 

The SPL Awards Night brought the curtain down on a season that saw both individual brilliance and collective growth, as Singapore football continues on its pursuit of excellence domestically and abroad.

The nominees and winners for all award categories were decided following a comprehensive review and independent audit conducted by Foo Kon Tan LLP. The verification process has been completed in full, ensuring integrity, transparency, and fairness in the selection and confirmation of all award recipients.