Football Association of Singapore

The 2024/2025 Singapore Premier League kicks off Gameweek 23 with a blockbuster clash between title-hopefuls Lion City Sailors and current holders Albirex Niigata on Friday at the Jalan Besar Stadium. The Sailors are looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, but an in-form Albirex side who have won four of their last five games stands in their way.

Matchday 2 opens with a clash between the bottom two teams in the league at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday – Young Lions and Tanjong Pagar United. Freshened after the break, the Jaguars side fancy their chances against a team who have lost some of their key players. The second game of the matchday sees Geylang International travel to face Brunei DPMM at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, which has proven to be a tricky place to go for many teams this season.

The game week wraps up on Sunday with Hougang United facing Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Both teams have made plenty of personnel changes over the break in an attempt to revive their fortunes and get their campaign back on track. 

Title contenders go up against title holders 

Lion City Sailors vs Albirex Niigata | 17 January | 7:45pm | Bishan Stadium | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch HS2

Team news for Lion City Sailors:

Zulqarnaen Suzliman has yet to reach full match fitness. 

Adam Swandi has retired due to a heart condition.

Team news for Albirex Niigata: 

Amy Recha will be returning to action after a long injury layoff. 

Syahurl Sazali has signed for the club from BG Tampines, as well as Japanese youngsters Taiki Maeda from Salt Lake Community College and Nozomi Ozawa from Ryutsu Keizai University. 

• Albirex have won six of their last eight games, whereas Sailors are unbeaten in their last six league games. 
• Albirex were the last team to hand the Sailors a league defeat, securing a 3-1 win at home in August. 
• The Sailors have won seven of their nine home games this season, which includes a 7-1 victory over Albirex in June. 

Bottom teams square off at the Jalan Besar Stadium

Young Lions vs Tanjong Pagar United | 18 January | 6:00pm | Jalan Besar Stadium | Singtel Ch 111

Team news for Young Lions:

Top scorer Itsuki Enomoto has departed for BG Tampines. 

Vice-captain Farhan Zulkifli has returned to Hougang United after completing his national service obligations. 

Danish Qayyum and Jun Kobayashi are doubts for the match. 

Team news for Tanjong Pagar United:

Former assistant coach Noh Alam Shah takes over as interim manager after returning from a training stint with J1 League side Tokyo Verdy.

Canadian goalkeeper Matt Silva has joined the club from Philippines side Loyola FC. 

• Young Lions’ last home victory came when they beat Tanjong Pagar United 3-2 in June. They have since failed to win any of their following six home games. 
• Young Lions only won one of their past six meetings with Tanjong Pagar United prior to this season. Victory here will help them to three consecutive wins over the Jaguars for the first time in the fixture’s history. 
• Tanjong Pagar has lost all but one of its ten away games this season – a 1-1 draw with Brunei DPMM in August, which marked the last time the Jaguars avoided defeat in the league. 

Eagles look to maintain flying form in Brunei 

Brunei DPMM vs Geylang International | 18 January | 8:15pm | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch HS2

Team news for Brunei DPMM: 

DPMM has switched up their foreign contingent, signing Icelandic international Damir Muminovic and Latvian international Davis Ikaunieks.

They have also added three Bruneian players to their ranks – striker Hariz Danial Khallidden, along with defenders Wafi Aminuddin and Na’im Tarif.

Team news for Geylang International: 

Huzaifah Aziz is working towards getting back to full-match fitness. 

Saifullah Akbar has signed on loan from BG Tampines. 

• Geylang International currently holds the best away record in the league with six wins, four draws, and no losses. The Eagles have also scored a league-high 38 goals on their travels. 
• Brunei DPMM has only lost once in their previous eight games – a 3-0 defeat to Young Lions at home.
• Eagles top-scorer Tomoyuki Doi has scored 33 goals this season, three more than the 30 goals that Brunei DPMM has scored as a team. 

Struggling sides seek to turn fortunes around

Hougang United vs Balestier Khalsa | 19 January | 6:00pm | Jalan Besar Stadium | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch HS2

Team news for Hougang United:

Hougang has brought in two centre-backs – Brazilian Daniel Alemão from Dynamic Herb Cebu and Montenegrin Jovan Mugoša from FK Igalo 1929. 

Farhan Zulkiflii returns to the club from Young Lions. 

Krsitijan Krajeck, Puttipat Kaewsawad, Ensar Brunevic, Faris Hasic, and Petar Banovic have left the club. 

Robert Eziakor has replaced Marko Kraljevic as interim head coach.

Team news for Balestier Khalsa: 

Balestier has secured the services of Sheikh Faris from Project Vaults Oxley Sports Club and veteran Abdil Qaiyyim. 

Sakthivelchezhian has returned to the club after completing his National Service. 

Goalkeeper Tung Han No has signed for the club.

Martyn Mun, Amer Hakeem, Mukundan Maran, and Tajeli Salamat have been released by the club.

Ismail Sassi has left the club due to personal reasons. 

Jordan Emaviwe has moved to Chiangrai United in Thai League 1. 

• No team has kept a clean sheet in the previous 10 meetings between these two sides, with the last coming in 2021 when Hougang United triumphed 1-0 over Balestier Khalsa. 
• Balestier Khalsa’s only two clean sheets this season have been both recorded away from home.
• The Tigers have only won one of their last five games, whereas Hougang United have only won one of their previous eight games. 

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