Goal machine Boris Kopitovic leaves BG Tampines Rovers in surprise move

SINGAPORE – When Boris Kopitovic first arrived in Singapore to join BG Tampines Rovers in 2020, few expected the Montenegrin forward to make a lasting impact.

Struggling with the food, weather and homesickness, Kopitovic – who had left home for the first time – admitted to a difficult start in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).

Yet, game by game, “Big Bad Boris” found his stride, steadily racking up goals to become the club’s all-time top scorer in 2024.

In 138 matches, the 1.89m hitman plundered 110 goals and notched 41 assists, eclipsing the previous record of 105 goals set by local football icon Aleksandar Duric, who played for the Stags from 2010 to 2014.

But now, nearly five years after his SPL debut, the 29-year-old will depart for a new challenge after signing a 1½-year deal with two-time Indonesian Liga 1 champions Bali United.

The mid-season move comes as a surprise, as Kopitovic is the club’s top scorer – and joint-fourth overall – this SPL season with 16 goals. Tampines are leading the league after 20 matches, three points ahead of Lion City Sailors, who have played three games fewer than the Stags.

But in an interview with The Straits Times just hours before leaving Singapore, Kopitovic explained that it was “the right time” to go.

He said: “This is the third time Bali have offered me an opportunity and this time, I thought long and hard and even went back home to discuss it with my family. In the end, I called boss (Tampines chairman Desmond Ong) and told him I wanted to go.

“I want to go to Bali and try a better league. I really like Tampines, and I wanted to stay here until the end my career, but I thought about it and I felt that maybe when I retire, I will question myself for not taking up offers and testing myself in Thailand or Indonesia.”

He added that it was a difficult decision to make as he was closing in on the five-year mark of his time here and he was in the middle of preparing documents – supported by the club – to submit an application for permanent residency.

But the lure of playing in front of “crazy crowds” for a “very big club” was too much to turn down for the third time. Bali are fifth in the 18-team Liga 1.

A crowd of 8,390 fans watched their 2-0 win over Persebaya Surabaya on Dec 28 at Bali’s Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium.

Kopitovic, who won the 2022 SPL Golden Boot award with 35 goals in 28 matches and was named in the season’s Team of the Year, admitted that he is unsure how Tampines fans will react to the news.

But he added that he has given his all and thanked the club, head coach Gavin Lee, teammates and chairman for their support on and off the pitch.

Ong said: “Ultimately, Boris felt it was time for him to seek a fresh challenge. He takes the view that the Indonesian league is at a higher standard of football than where the SPL is now and we will not stand in his way.”

Admitting that the team will feel Kopitovic’s absence, Ong said he trusts “Gavin and the rest of the coaching team to come up with different solutions”.

ST understands that the club are close to signing a forward to replace Kopitovic.

While the player’s time with the Stags has ended, he will continue to root for them and has already listed their fixtures on his calendar so that he can follow their games from Indonesia.

One regret remains from his time in Singapore.

He added: “I never predicted that I will come here and score as many goals as I did.

“I have loved every minute of playing for this club but I am very sad, because in these five years, I could never help them to win the titles.”