Young Tampines squad takes on experienced Jaguars in WPL kickoff
Saturday, 24 January | 5pm | Choa Chu Kang Stadium
BG Tampines Rovers and Tanjong Pagar United will kick off the 2026 Women’s Premier League season this Saturday, 24 January, 5.30pm at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Last season, Tampines finished 6th while the Jaguars ended 8th, and both sides will be eager to start the campaign with a statement. Half of the BG Tampines squad, led by captain and former Lioness Darvina Halini, will be making their top-flight debuts after progressing through JSSL, the club’s official youth development partner.
Youth internationals Nahwah Aidilreza and Aqilah Salihin add pace and energy to the squad, with the forward line led by up-and-coming academy talents including 15-year-olds Victoria Hudson and Kinley Melski, while defensive stability is anchored by 2022 WPL Young Player of the Year goalkeeper Haziqah Haszman.
The Jaguars, with an average age of 24.9 years, retained eight players from last season while adding fresh talent to strengthen their squad. Led by veteran centre-back and captain, Nuriah Mohd Noor, the team blends experience with emerging talent and have placed emphasis on resilience and discipline. They will look to challenge Tampines and start the season strongly, aiming to improve on last year’s 8th-place finish.
Albirex begin WPL title defence against Hougang United
Saturday, 24 January | 7.30pm | Choa Chu Kang Stadium
New-look Hougang United face their first major challenge of the 2026 season in their very first match of Women’s Premier League (WPL). They take on 2025 WPL champions Albirex Jurong FC (formerly Albirex Niigata (S)) this Saturday, 24 January, 7.30pm at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Last season, Albirex defeated Hougang 4–0 in both league meetings, setting a benchmark that Head Coach Al-Ameen Maricar — the former Lion City Sailors Women assistant coach and NFA Under-17 coach — will be eager for his Cheetahs to surpass as they look to maintain a top-half position this season.
The Hougang squad, which now has an average of 21.2 years, also features some familiar faces, including 23-year-old former BG Tampines Rovers captain and midfielder Iffah Amrin, who brings more than 50 senior WPL appearances and 29 youth international caps to the table, alongside 17-year-old vice-captain Anna Vaswani, a defender with Under-16 national team experience.
Albirex Jurong FC step out into the 2026 WPL season as defending champions carrying the confidence of a title-winning campaign and added motivation ahead of their AFC Asian Women’s Champions League debut this July.
The champions retain a strong core led by two WPL Golden Boot winners Ruriko Takashima (the 2025 winner) and Manami Fukuzawa (winner in 2024), title-winning player-coach Kana Kitahara and Lioness captain Rosnani Azman. They have also strengthened their squad with the additions of Anaya Sehgal who was part of the Lion City Sailors’ AWCL campaign last year, as well as Tanjong Pagar United forwards Miki Ayaka and Joie Teo, who combined for five goals last season. The Albirex squad also features emerging young talents Natasha Kaur and Talia Sachet, who both possess youth experience on the international arena.
Aerion aim to maintain momentum as Geylang chase return to top-three
Sunday, 25 January | 5pm | Bukit Gombak Stadium
Still Aerion and Geylang International are both eyeing a top-three finish in this season’s Women’s Premier League.
Aerion finished second last year — their best result since 2016 — face Geylang, who were fourth in 2025, in a must-watch season opener on Sunday, 25 January, 5.30pm at Bukit Gombak Stadium.
Aerion have retained their 2025 top scorer Sunisa Srangthaisong, and she is joined by fellow Thai international Pikul Khueanpet, a former FIFA Women’s World Cup player with 115 caps who helped Royal Arion win the 2023 Women’s National League (WNL) title.
Captain Fonda Chai leads a squad with a healthy mix of experience and youth, including WPL 2025 Golden Glove winner Lutfiah Hannah, young Lioness Calista Dodson, and former Hougang United forward Nicole Lim.
Geylang International boast a stellar line-up, blending experienced Lionesses such as Hamizah Talib, Nadhra Aqilah, Rochelle Chan, Mastura Jeilani — returning to the squad after two years — and captain Farhanah Ruhaizat. The Eagles’ squad also features young talents including 2025 WPL Young Player of the Year Nasriah Ibrahim, Naureen Qadriyah, Nurul Illyanis, and Elyssa Qistina.
With depth, experience, and youthful energy across the pitch, Geylang will be looking to challenge Aerion and kick off their push for a top-three finish.
Balestier gear up against a formidable Sailors side looking for redemption
Sunday, 25 January | 7.30pm | Bukit Gombak Stadium
Balestier Khalsa are set to open their 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign against Lion City Sailors this Sunday, 25 January, 7.30pm at Bukit Gombak Stadium. Historically, results have not always gone Balestier’s way in this fixture — this included heavy 9–0 and 14–0 defeats last season — but there have been bright spots for the Tigresses, particularly 17-year-old Sharifah Nur Amanina, who has made a strong impact scoring seven goals in 2025.
Amanina, the team captain and a nominee for both WPL Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Year at the recently concluded FAS Amateur Leagues Awards Night, will be tasked with leading a young squad averaging just 18.8 years of age, which includes several WPL debutants eager to make their mark, as they face a Sailors side looking to set the tone in a season they hope will bring redemption.
Izzati Rosni last played for the Sailors in the 2023 season.
The Sailors are looking to reclaim the WPL title after finishing third in 2025, breaking their run of three consecutive title wins between 2022 and 2024.
The Sailors squad, with an average age of 21.3 years, has a blend of experience and firepower. Izzati Rosni who scored 22 WPL goals across the club’s first two title-winning campaigns, returns to the Sailors after two seasons, while 15-year-old Remi Ogawa steps up after being crowned 2025 WNL Young Player of the Year.
They are joined by two-time WPL winner Venetia Lim, and Japanese attackers Ami Takeuchi and Eri Kitagawa who rejoin the 2026 Sailors squad, after helping the club make history as the first Singaporean side to reach the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Group Stage.
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