27 FEBRUARY 2020 – Ahead of the 2020 AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we take a look at each of the nine clubs that are participating in the 25th season of the domestic top flight. Today’s focus is on Lion City Sailors!
Seasons: 1
Nickname: The Sailors
Stadium: Bishan Stadium
Chairman: Forrest Li
Head coach: Aurelio Vidmar
Captain: Izzdin Shafiq
Foreigners: Kaishu Yamazaki (Japan), Song Uiyoung (South Korea), Andy Pengelly (Australia)
Having made waves by becoming Singapore’s first ever privatised football club in the lead-up to the new season, the Sailors will enter uncharted waters when they take to the field. The club has splashed out on high-profile additions in both the coaching and playing department, recruiting former Socceroo captain Aurelio Vidmar to lead the likes of Shahdan Sulaiman, Hassan Sunny, Gabriel Quak and Kaishu Yamazaki. There appears to be a strong spine running through the newcomers and if the Sailors can get their engine going right from the start, they will be very strong contenders to win the title on their maiden voyage.
Squad (as at time of publication)
Goalkeepers: Hassan Sunny, Rudy Khairullah, Adib Nur Hakim*
Defenders: Zulqarnaen Suzliman*, Tajeli Salamat, Kaishu Yamazaki, Abdil Qaiyyim, Aqhari Abdullah, Faizal Roslan, Naqiuddin Eunos*, Ho Wai Loon
Midfielders: Shahdan Sulaiman, Arshad Shamim*, Song Uiyoung, Hafiz Nor, Iqram Rifqi, Izzdin Shafiq, Gabriel Quak, Haiqal Pashia*, Adam Swandi, Saifullah Akbar*
Forwards: Andrew Pengelly, Shahril Ishak, Amiruldin Asraf*
*Local SPL clubs are required to have a minimum of six local U-23 players for a squad size of 19 to 25 players; this increases to seven (squad size 26), eight (27) and nine (28).
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Check out other previews: Young Lions | Albirex Niigata (S) | Tampines Rovers | Brunei DPMM | Balestier Khalsa | Hougang United | Geylang International
All photos courtesy of Lion City Sailors