SINGAPORE - Since 2015, no local team have won the Singapore Premier League (previously known as S-League), and no team could break the Albirex Niigata title monopoly since 2016.
But a trio of regular contenders and dark horses have emerged in a bid to end the Japanese team's dominance in the 2019 season.
Five-time champions Tampines Rovers proved their mettle early on with a 4-0 pre-season win over the White Swans and will be keen to show they are way better than their fourth-placed finish last season.
With chairman Desmond Ong handing out multi-year contracts since coming on board in 2017, the Stags are benefiting from the stability and continuity as their players are showing a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities on the pitch.
Even as 19-year-old Singaporean Joel Chew and 20-year-old Serb Zehrudin Mehmedovic look set to be a revelation in midfield with their intelligent play, Tampines are also banking on those at the other end of the experience spectrum to make a difference.
Canadian Jordan Webb, 30, is entering his 10th SPL season and for a winger, has an outstanding record of 79 goals in 208 league games, while 41-year-old centre-back Daniel Bennett is into his 21st SPL season.
Possibly the longest-serving import in the local professional game, Webb has thrilled fans with his ability to take on and beat defenders. He said: "Time moves so fast. I want to play for a few more years and win some silverware.
Â
Â
Â
Â
"Having kept the bulk of players from last season definitely helps in terms of chemistry. I would be selling us short if I say we are not going for all the trophies. We have good atmosphere, good ideas and the energy levels are high."
Tampines coach Gavin Lee added: "Many are raving about Joel's talent and potential but we need to be careful with expectations and give him every chance to succeed.
"As for Daniel and Jordan, it is not about age. They are as good as any player in their positions in the local game and we wouldn't sign them if we didn't think they can contribute. Besides their abilities, they are great leaders to those learning the ropes.
"We want to be effective in and out of pre-season. It is not just the results, but the performance that defines who we are. If we can win and entertain with attractive football, that would be the ideal scenario."
Two-time winners Home United are also another local side to have gotten one over Albirex this season, when they beat the defending champions on penalties for the Community Shield last Saturday.
The Protectors were the best local side last season, finishing league runners-up and winning the AFC Cup Asean zonal final. Like Tampines, they have retained 17 of 24 players, including South Korean lynchpin Song Ui-young and the evergreen Shahril Ishak who combined for 40 goals in all competitions last term.
They also boast of arguably the league's best local Under-23 trio in forward Adam Swandi, central midfielder Hami Syahin and central defender Taufiq Muqminin.
With their last major trophy coming in the form of the 2013 Singapore Cup and their last league title in 2003, Home coach Saswadimata Dasuki said it is time to end the drought.
He added: "We want to build on our successes last season and go one better. Fifteen years without a league title is too long and we will have to work hard and keep our concentration even with our AFC Cup commitments to end that wait.
"Beating Albirex on penalties is good for our confidence and it should one of the most open seasons in recent years but we won't write them off as they can only get better training full time without National Service or school commitments.
"They played with five at the back against us and we couldn't score, so it is up to us to find ways to adapt and penetrate against such teams in the future."
Meanwhile, the dark horses in the nine-team SPL have to be Hougang United, who added considerable firepower to a team that scored a league-low of just 22 goals in 24 games last season.
While they have never finished in the top half or won any major titles, the Cheetahs are gunning for history, with coach Clement Teo declaring that "third would be an underachievement".
Retaining forwards Iqbal Hussain, Shahfiq Ghani and Fazrul Nawaz, they have since signed Faris Ramli and welcomed back Croat Stipe Plazibat and captain Zulfahmi Arifin.
They initially secured the services of 2015 and 2016 top scorer Rafael Ramazotti, only for the Brazilian to go missing and sign for Mexican club FC Juarez.
Teo was positive and saw this development as a blessing in disguise as it allowed him to shore up his defence with South Korean centre-back Kong Howon.
He said: "We wanted two foreign strikers to give us more firepower, but it was also true that Afiq Yunos was our only natural centre-back.
"The Ramazotti incident allowed us to sign Kong and it was a bonus we picked up Faris, and he will give us a different dimension with his ability to take on players. Yes, we have many attackers, but this also means there is a good and healthy competition to start a game.
"With the team we assembled, we feel we need to be in the title race. Among our players, the mindset is even a draw is an underachievement."
Zulfahmi, who has returned after one season with Thailand's Chonburi, added: "Any team can win the league this season and Albirex are beatable. It depends on who are the most consistent across 24 games.
"Thanks to our chairman Bill Ng and the management, we now have quality attackers and a great team, so we got to be more adventurous and clinical than before to fight for the targets we want to achieve."
The tactic that frustrates a lot of Spurs fans arguably the most about Pochettino. By. waited too long and Spurs paid the price. path of complacency, and we
Premier League: Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham against
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides
'We looked like schoolboys', says Suarez after Barca crumble again Soccer Football - Champions League Semi Final Second Leg - Liverpool v FC Barcelona - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 7
Luis Suarez: We looked like schoolboys at Anfield - Daily Nation
Hazard has been instrumental in Chelsea's unbeaten start under Maurizio Sarri, scoring eight goals in all competitions. — Reuters pic. LONDON, Oct 8 — Chelsea's Eden Hazard has cast fresh doubt over his future despite a blistering start to the season by admitting he is still tempted by the childhood dream of a move to Real Madrid.
Chelsea news: Hazard reunion ruled out by Thorgan as Eden
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday (Friday morning, AEDT) to sustain their English Premier League title bid. City shook off consecutive defeats to coast past Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Sunday, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero on target and James Ward-Prowse netting an own goal.
Pep Guardiola challenges Manchester City to beat Liverpool to
Heads, Toffees win, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits
May 04, 2019 · With a rip-roaring English Premier League title race entering its final week, Liverpool returned to the top of the table with a thrilling victory over Newcastle which ensures the EPL title will be
Official Liverpool FC Store | Liverpool FC Ball
AD
store.liverpoolfc.com/ball
Report Ad
Browse Our Wide Range Of Exclusive Liverpool FC Souvenirs. Shop Online Now.
Football News -TURIN, ITALY (AFP) - Ajax stunned Juventus to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1997 as Matthijs de Ligt's thumping second-half header secured a 2-1
Ajax stun Ronaldo's Juventus to reach Champions League semis
A lawyer for FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron is set to file a petition in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday seeking bail for the official who has been arrested in a defamation case following her criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh arrested FIFA official for 'defaming' PM Sheikh Hasina
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League - Guardiola in the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League
May 03, 2019 · Jan Vertonghen is set to sit out Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League trip to Bournemouth as he gets over the heavy clash with team-mate Toby Alderweireld that forced him out of the Champions
Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury - Pulse Nigeria
Villans ascend into EPL heaven. Aston Villa's John McGinn celebrates scoring their second goal that proved to be the difference in the Championship play-off final against Derby.
Villans ascend into EPL heaven - theworldnews.net
Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory 'icing on the cake' to a fine season
Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory
virginiabus.info/sports/football-valencia-chairman-murthy-says-kings-cup-victory-icing-on-the-cake-to-a-fine-season/
For Valencia chairman Anil Murthy, it was the "icing on the cake" in a remarkable season that also saw them finish fourth in LaLiga to remain in the Champions League, and make the final four of the Europa League, where they were knocked out by Arsenal. They also remained unbeaten against Barcelona.
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/news/magnitude-8-0-hits-northern-peru-usgs/
LIMA (AFP, REUTERS) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 stuck northern Peru, the United States Geological Survey reported on Sunday (May 26). The epicentre of the quake was 75km south-south-east of Lagunas at a depth of about 110km, it added.
Barcelona News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will travel with the rest of their squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion having nearly recovered from a hamstring injury, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Football Frames | For Football Fanatics
AD
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer online free streaming live app
free watch champions league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming match
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer live stream apk
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live in stream
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch premier league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming bola
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer game live espn
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
free watch soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming vk
#footballfans #soccerbible #romania #alissonbecker #pagani #visubal #juventus #gooners #manchestercity #nikesoccer #thomasmeunier #mancity #fcbarcelona #gunners #firmino #americanfootball #cristianoronaldo #panini #Suarez #frasitrap #ronaldo #livestreams #footballmeme #frasirap #Barca #risate #livesports #meunier #MyDubai #bestshishacafedubai #football #soccermemes #knuckleball #mensnightout #comics #arsenalnews #messi #liverpool #klopp #ballondor #elcasico #Liamgallagher #boxing #seriea #linkstreaming #watchlive #cristiano #crossfit #champion #insegreto #beatifulgame #goodday #winner #nutmeg #sumbertv #streamingbolaid #GarageCafeDxb #footballmemes #vip #fut #arsenalfantv #bayernmunich #cr7 #kroenkeout #uefanationsleague #salah #PartyTime #Celtic #manchestercity #liverpoolcity #freekicks #commento #coys #trollfootball #henderson #lovefootball #copaamerica #valcea #Vip45 #league1 #arsenal #londoncity #coutinho #coffeebreak #villarealcf #footballschedule #myfootballuniverse #cappucino #JUVENTUS #satira #midnight #neymar
No comments:
Post a Comment