For Lion City Sailors Women’s defender Dhaniyah Qasimah, last weekend’s 12-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United meant more than just three points.
Handed the captain’s armband for the first time in the absence of injured skipper Umairah Hamdan and vice-captain Syazwani Ruzi, Dhaniyah led from the front as the Sailors delivered one of their most emphatic performances of the season.
Now, buoyed by that result, the Sailors will turn their attention to Friday’s (13 February) Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against BG Tampines Rovers at Yishun Stadium.
Nonetheless, while the milestone was a proud personal moment, Dhaniyah was quick to shift the focus onto her teammates.
“I’m honoured to captain the team, but more than anything, I’m proud of the girls, particularly the younger ones, for stepping up,” shared the 21-year-old.
Taking on the armband came with added responsibility for the naturally vocal wing-back. With both Umairah and Syazwani unavailable, Dhaniyah had to recalibrate her approach on the pitch.
“Wani and I usually share the role of leading the girls in Mai’s absence. Wani is the quieter one and I’m usually the more vocal one,” she explained.
“With Wani not around last week, the challenge for me was finding the balance between encouraging the girls and making sure we stuck to the game plan. Wearing the armband meant I had to be more mindful of how I reacted on the pitch.”
The dominant display against Tanjong Pagar also underlined the rapid growth of the Sailors’ younger contingent. Teenagers such as Nur Ain Salleh have already made telling contributions with assists and three goals this season, while Ami Kawase — who is also on three goals — and Indra Lewin (pictured below) have slotted seamlessly into the senior set-up after stepping up from the Lion City Sailors Women’s ‘B’ team.
“I’m proud of the younger ones for playing with confidence and contributing strongly to the team,” said Dhaniyah. “They’ve fitted in seamlessly despite having limited time to train with the seniors.
“Even though some of them have only just made their WPL debuts, they show real maturity. It’s rewarding to see how much they’ve grown in just three matches.”
As one of the team’s leaders, Dhaniyah knows that guiding the next generation will be vital in what promises to be a demanding campaign, especially with rivals such as Albirex Jurong, Still Aerion and Geylang International stepping up this season.
“It’s important for me and Wani to support the team, especially the younger ones. We faced setbacks last year, but every match is a learning experience. With tougher opponents ahead, new challenges will arise, and we have to guide the girls, whether through advice, encouragement or staying calm under pressure.”
She also credited Head Coach Daniel Ong for shaping the senior players’ approach to mentorship.
“By observing him, we’ve learned how to mentor in a way that builds confidence rather than pressure. He is hard on us in a positive manner that drives us to be better, because he knows we’re capable of more.”
Turning her focus to Friday’s encounter with BG Tampines, Dhaniyah is eager for the Sailors to carry forward the positives from their last outing.
“We want to build on the momentum from the second half against Tanjong Pagar and bring that into the next match. It’s important that we switch on from the start and not wait until after the break to raise our level,” she said.
BG Tampines, however, will pose a different test, particularly with their threat in transition.
“We have to be ready to deal with transitions if we lose possession. They have quick attackers who can punish us if we’re not alert.”
