The Lion City Sailors return to Singapore Premier League (SPL) action against Young Lions on Sunday (8 February) night, with one clear objective in mind: to set a new club record of nine straight league wins in a single season.
The buildup to this fixture, however, has been markedly different from recent weeks, with a new man at the helm. Following the departure of Aleksandar Ranković, former assistant coach and head video analyst Varo Moreno has stepped into the role of interim head coach, with the 36-year-old Spaniard — a UEFA A Licence holder — taking charge of the Sailors’ first team.
Speaking on the eve of the Young Lions clash, captain Hariss Harun expressed full confidence in Varo’s ability to guide the team through an important period of their title defence.
“Varo has been around the team for the past couple of years, so everyone is familiar with him and he understands the game very well,” said the Singapore international. “With his expertise in video analysis, he sees things differently and has a strong tactical understanding. On top of that, he’s also a good man manager.
“Overall, it’s been positive, and we’re all giving him our full support. Ultimately, we all share the same objective: to keep the club on the right track.”
At the same time, Hariss was keen to pay tribute to the outgoing Ranko, who departs after a highly successful spell in charge since June 2023. Under the Serb’s stewardship, the Sailors enjoyed sustained domestic dominance, made significant strides on the continental stage, and lifted five major trophies.
“We’ve achieved so much under Coach Ranko,” said Hariss. “He played a huge role in shaping our mentality and our success over the past few seasons, and that legacy will not be forgotten.
“We’ve many fond memories together as a team, and it’s sad to see him go. We wish him nothing but success in the future.
“But football always moves quickly. We have a match coming up soon, so it’s important we look forward, keep our heads clear and stay on the right path.”
A leader who sets high standards both for himself and those around him, Hariss was candid in assessing the Sailors’ 2025/26 campaign to date, while backing the side to finish strongly.
“This time last year, we were preparing for back-to-back continental matches and doing a lot of travelling,” explained the skipper. “This season has panned out differently, so our sole focus now is on the league.
“We have to keep our heads, our minds and our focus to steer things in the right direction. It may sound strange to say that when we have a perfect record in the league, but expectations at this club are high. Defending the league title is the bare minimum for us.”
Hariss also acknowledged the unwavering backing of the Sailors faithful and pledged that the team will give everything in the 13 remaining league matches between now and May.
“It’s never easy for supporters when change happens, and there can be uncertainty,” he said. “But our fans have been incredible from Day One. Through the highs and lows, they’ve always stood by us.
“I hope they continue supporting us. We’ll come out of this stronger together. There’s still so much to play for, and we want to finish the season united as one team.”
