As Lennart Thy laid the ball off to Rui Pires outside the box, there was only one thing on the Portuguese midfielder’s mind – finding the back of the Tanjong Pagar United net.
Without hesitation, he unleashed a sublime first-time strike that arrowed into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam with no chance.
Beyond its quality, the goal carried special significance for Rui. It was the 27-year-old’s first-ever senior career goal, with his last strike coming all the way back in the 2017/18 UEFA Youth League for FC Porto.
But Rui was quick to downplay the milestone, preferring instead to highlight the team’s collective effort in their emphatic 7-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over the Jaguars last Monday (22 September).
“I’m happy about the goal, but I usually don’t think much about scoring. My focus is always on doing my best to help the team, and letting things happen naturally,” he said.
“Everyone in the team wants not only to win, but to do so with a strong performance. This result gives us confidence heading into the next few games.”
October will be a pivotal month for Rui and the Sailors, with two crucial Asian Football Confederations Champions League (ACL) Two Group G fixtures, alongside their domestic Singapore Premier League (SPL) duties.
With their sights set on another deep continental run, the reigning SPL champions bolstered their squad in the summer with several key additions, including Brazilian forward Anderson Lopes and Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Sušak.
While it has taken time for the newcomers to settle in, their impact is already being felt. Ivan produced a stunning last-minute save in the Sailors’ 1-1 draw away against Persib Bandung, while Anderson opened his club account with a brace against Tanjong Pagar.
“We want to help everyone adapt as quickly as possible,” said Rui. “It’s difficult coming to a new country where everything is different, but everyone has welcomed them with open arms. They’ve already made the team stronger.”
The Sailors now turn their attention to Wednesday’s (1 October) home clash against Selangor FC, as they look to build on their credible showing against Persib in their opening Group G game.
“It was a tough match because Persib are a strong side with many foreigners and a difficult home atmosphere,” recalled Rui. “But we did well in the second half and created a lot of chances. The point was deserved.”
With added intensity whenever Singaporean and Malaysian clubs meet, Rui knows the Sailors will need to be at their best.
“Every time we step onto the pitch, our goal is to win,” he said. “I’m aware of the rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, and that gives us extra motivation. We’ll give everything to get the three points against Selangor, and I’m confident we’ll put in a good performance.”
The Sailors will also be counting on the roar of their home supporters at Bishan Stadium, where they return for the first time since their heartbreaking ACL Two Final defeat to Sharjah four months ago.
“We know our fans will always be behind us. I’m sure they’ll create a great atmosphere and give us that extra push,” said Rui.
He added, “We know people will see us differently after what we achieved last season. But we can’t dwell on the past. This is a new season, with new teams. If we’re not performing at 100 percent, it’ll be very difficult.”
Now into his third year with the Sailors, Rui has established himself as one of the club’s most dependable figures. Reflecting on the Sailors’ journey since his arrival, he spoke with pride about how far they have come.
“Everything the management told me about their ambitions has come true. They wanted to build a winning team, and last year was the biggest proof of that,” said Rui, who is three games away from hitting 50 appearances for the club.
“There has been plenty of positive change, but we don’t want to stop here. We want to go further and keep growing as a club.”
