SINGAPORE – A new season brings with it new hopes and Geylang International, Balestier Khalsa and Young Lions will head into the 2023 Singapore Premier League recharged and ready to challenge for victories on the pitch.
Geylang’s new collaboration with City Football Group announced on Feb 1 has brought them a J-League level forward, Young Lions have a new strategy with the addition of foreigners while Balestier Khalsa have a new home ground in Bishan Stadium.
With these new elements on board, the clubs are hoping to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon in this campaign.
The Eagles finished fourth in the eight-team league in 2022 and are already benefiting from their partner’s network with the recruitment of Japanese attacker Yushi Yamaya from J-League champions Yokohama F. Marinos. Yamaya, 22, was recommended after being scouted by CFG’s Group Football Operations department.
Geylang head coach Noor Ali is once again eyeing a top-four finish and will need Yamaya to successfully fill the void left behind by Sime Zuzul. The Croatian forward scored 19 goals and notched seven assists in all competitions for the Eagles last season and has left for Lokomotiv Tashkent in the Uzbekistan Pro League. They have also lost experienced custodian Zaiful Nizam, last season’s Golden Glove winner with a league-high nine clean sheets in 25 games.
Noor Ali said: “We have to accept that we have a weaker squad this time. Losing senior players who have been in the league for some time is a huge blow, but this is a challenge we have had almost every season.
“Yamaya brings very different skill sets from Zuzul because he is really quick and can play in any position across the front line. My target for him is to match Zuzul’s tally from last season. If he settles down early, I think he can really help us this season to meet our targets.”
Yamaya has set himself a lofty aim of 20 goals and 10 assists. The Kanagawa native said: “From the friendlies so far, I know that the football here is very different to what I have experienced in Japan. But there will be no excuses because I am a foreigner and I must help the team to score and have a good number of assists.”
Balestier Khalsa, who finished second from bottom in 2022, will be hoping that Dutch coach Peter de Roo’s first full season will bring with it a first top-half finish since 2015. Fuelling the confidence is the move to Bishan Stadium from Toa Payoh Stadium, which will be undergoing renovations – the poor condition of the pitch has long drawn the ire of coaches and players.
The Tigers have also been boosted by the signing of Slovenian central midfielder Alen Kozar who, in 2021, captained his former side NS Mura to a famous 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Uefa Europa Conference League.
De Roo said: “For us, that (the quality of a pitch) is so important because we want to be a team that dominates on the ball and, previously at Toa Payoh, that is not something that was always possible for obvious reasons.
“Recently, we played a friendly at Bishan and you could see, even before the boys headed out for training, they were really looking forward to playing there. Our new signings will also bring a much-needed balance and make us more competitive.”
Meanwhile, the Young Lions have turned to foreigners – former Albirex duo Kan Kobayashi and Jun Kobayashi – in the hopes of a better year.
The Young Lions were dismal in 2022 as they notched just eight points from 28 games while shipping 103 goals. Former coach Philippe Aw is back at the helm, having replaced Nazri Nasir. The developmental squad will also have to contend with the SEA Games in May and the Asian Games in September.
Urging fans to be patient, Aw said: “I am sure many people will expect more from us now that we have foreigners. But the core of the team still consists of young players who are talented but need time to mature and develop.
“Besides their footballing abilities, both Jun and Kan have brought professionalism and are already good role models... I hope this can cause a positive ripple effect which the young boys see and apply their level of discipline into their daily lives.”
