SPL side Tampines Rovers to add ‘BG’ to their name after signing 3-year deal with Thai club BG Pathum

SINGAPORE – In a significant development for the Singapore Premier League (SPL), Tampines Rovers have inked a three-year collaboration with Thailand’s BG Pathum, the teams announced at the Singapore Recreation Club on Saturday.

As part of the agreement, the Singaporean outfit will be renamed BG Tampines Rovers from 2024. The Sunday Times also understands that after three years, the Thai club will take over operations of the Stags, which could set the pathway for more privatised teams in the SPL.

The Lion City Sailors, owned by tech company Sea, are currently the only privatised club.

With the partnership, Tampines are set to receive a wide range of benefits on and off the field from both the Thai League 1 side and their affiliated club, Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Tampines chairman Desmond Ong told ST that former Stags head coach and current head of youth football for Pathum, Kadir Yahaya, played a pivotal role in securing the deal. He said: “Kadir has a good relationship with the club, so we were exploring various options for collaboration.

“Then we realised that an invitation was extended by (national football project) Unleash The Roar! and the Football Association of Singapore for them and other clubs around the region to play a part in the SPL and help raise the standards of the league, so we pitched this possibility.”

Pathum’s director of international operations Philip Tan revealed that they had three options – joining the league using a home-and-away format, setting up a satellite team in the SPL, or their current partnership.

Under the arrangement, Tampines can gain access to Pathum’s top-notch facilities for pre-season and mid-season preparations, as well as tap on the Rabbits’ resources related to modern football technology and sports science.

Thai manufacturer Bangkok Glass or BG will also become the team’s shirt-front sponsor. Player movement among the three clubs is also likely. Ong said: “With Pathum in the picture, we’ll be looking more at Thai players. And Cerezo are willing to introduce us Japanese players, so we hope to leverage on this partnership to see who’s available to add to the roster. We also hope our local players are good enough... to go and train with them.”

He noted the coaching team will remain unchanged, adding: “I hope to let the coaches concentrate just on football. They’ve double-hatted for a long time, helping to build the club and get policies right, and it’s a relief to see Pathum willing to send people like their analysts over.”

Tampines have a long history in local football. Formed in 1945, they were part of eight founding members of the S-League (now known as the SPL) in 1996. They have amassed five league titles and four Singapore Cups.

This will not be the first time that the Stags have a Thai connection. Former coach and fan favourite Vorawan Chitavanich guided them to their first two S-League titles and two Singapore Cups during their golden era in the mid 2000s.

Former Thailand internationals Choketawee Promrut and Sutee Suksomkit had also played for Tampines.

Noting Pathum’s “expertise and insights”, Stags fan Pang Jia Tai, 31, said: “With cutting-edge technologies and knowledge-sharing, the league would be more exciting to watch.”

Ong is also looking forward to Pathum’s contributions, adding: “I’m very confident when at some point I walk off into the sunset, I’m leaving the club in good hands.”