Football: Uncharted waters as Lion City Sailors kick off 2020 Singapore Premier League season

Billionaire Li hopes success of privatised SPL club will change local football landscape

Lion City Sailors chairman Forrest Li, Football Association of Singapore president Lim Kia Tong and Home United chairman Winston Wong holding the club's new jerseys. The Sailors took over Home to become Singapore's first privatised football club. The
Lion City Sailors chairman Forrest Li, Football Association of Singapore president Lim Kia Tong and Home United chairman Winston Wong holding the club's new jerseys. The Sailors took over Home to become Singapore's first privatised football club. They will open their Singapore Premier League campaign against Brunei DPMM at the Bishan Stadium on Feb 29. PHOTO COURTESY OF LION CITY SAILORS
Lion City Sailors chairman Forrest Li, Football Association of Singapore president Lim Kia Tong and Home United chairman Winston Wong holding the club's new jerseys. The Sailors took over Home to become Singapore's first privatised football club. The
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After a quarter of a century, Singapore football finally has its first privatised professional club.

In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, billionaire Forrest Li revealed he will helm the Lion City Sailors Football Club, a new private entity that will replace two-time champions Home United in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 14, 2020, with the headline Football: Uncharted waters as Lion City Sailors kick off 2020 Singapore Premier League season. Subscribe