Kyoga Nakamura joins Lion City Sailors, set for debut against ex-club BG Tampines Rovers

SINGAPORE – As a playmaker, Kyoga Nakamura constantly visualises potential scenarios in which he can make a killer pass or take a shot at goal.

But what the 29-year-old could not foresee was that in his first match back in Singapore after a six-month Thai sojourn, he would be playing for the Lion City Sailors, arch-rivals of his former club BG Tampines Rovers.

His debut could come as early as the Singapore Cup final between both sides at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Jan 10, a repeat of the May 2025 final, which the Sailors won 1-0.

The Singapore international, who was unveiled as a Sailor on Jan 8 after signing a 2½-year deal, told The Straits Times: “I have complicated emotions because I spent almost six years with BG Tampines.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against them as opponents, but I really respect them as well. It’s difficult, but I would like to enjoy the game.

“I got a lot of messages from Tampines fans who told me to go back to Tampines and not go to the Sailors. Maybe some fans will hate me, but I understand because after half a year overseas, I came back to join the Sailors. But since I have decided to join the Sailors, I will show my best attitude on and off the pitch.”

A former Japanese youth international who played at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup, Nakamura came through the JEF United Chiba academy and played in the J3 League for YSCC Yokohama and FC Ryukyu.

He was picked up by Singapore Premier League (SPL) side Albirex Niigata in 2019, and duly contributed seven goals and eight assists. The following season, he moved to Tampines, racking up 16 goals and 27 assists in 158 matches across five seasons before joining Thai League 1 side Bangkok United in June 2025.

However, things did not work out for Nakamura, who often started as a deep-lying midfielder and moved to right-back during the attacking phase. He managed just one goal in 17 games amid keen competition for starting spots and heavy rotation across five competitions.

But he said it was a non-football reason – his family’s long-term considerations – which prompted the mutual contract termination with Bangkok. Nakamura’s wife and two daughters aged four and one are Singapore permanent residents and moved with him to the Thai capital.

He said: “Yeah, I should have done better at Bangkok, because I feel I can do more. But playing as a right-back when we were attacking, it was difficult to make the final pass.

“At the start, it was not so good, but I was adapting better after that.

“Coming back to Singapore, I was thinking about the long term, and we felt that education-wise, family-wise, it may be better to come back to Singapore and this is the best timing to do so.”

Upon hearing of his availability, the Sailors wasted no time in snapping up the midfielder, who joins Serbian winger Luka Adzic as their mid-season signings.

Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: “Kyoga is a player we have admired for some time. He brings calmness and a strong positional sense in midfield, understands how to control the tempo of a game, and is one of the top players in Singapore football. That level of quality is exactly what we want in our squad.

“His experience and hunger to succeed are qualities that will boost us as we push on in the coming months.”

Sailors sporting director Luka Lalic added: “The opportunity to sign someone of Kyoga’s calibre was something we couldn’t pass up. His arrival reflects our intent to build for the long term, while continuing to compete at the highest level.

“He is already proven in Singapore football, and his work ethic, leadership and professionalism will raise standards within the team. We’re excited to see the impact he can make in the months ahead.”

The reinforcements will come as a timely boost for the SPL-leading Sailors, as they bid to retain both the league title and Singapore Cup.

On the regional front, last season’s AFC Champions League Two finalists were pipped to a spot in this term’s knockout stages by Bangkok and are fourth out of six in their Asean Club Championship group with four points from three games.

Nakamura is widely recognised as one of the most technically gifted players in the SPL, which led to him becoming the first Japan-born Lion after he was granted Singapore citizenship in October 2024.

He has since claimed 17 caps and two international goals, helping the Republic achieve a historic qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup. But he has yet to win a major trophy at club level.

While it would be “very nice” to break that duck on his Sailors debut, he retains the zen-like attitude that will be needed in the Cup final.

Nakamura said: “It is not just about the titles. I want to better myself every single day and improve every aspect of my football career.

“So, my first wish for the new year is that I don’t want to get injured. To achieve that, I will have to focus and prepare my body well before training and matches, and take care of important things like nutrition and rest, so I can play 100 per cent for Singapore and the Sailors.”