May 11, 2025

On a night when the goals didn’t flow as expected, our Sailors did just enough to secure our 2nd-ever league title. A stone-wall penalty earned by Maxime was converted with ease, and that brought to an end 4 years of waiting for the league title. There are some people who felt it was soft, and to them, I say, maybe go and watch more football and brush up on the rules of the game. Or maybe get an eye/brain transplant – easier. Let’s dive into some post-match thoughts. Credit to Tanjong Pagar For a team derided as “rubbish” a mere few days ago, the players responded in the right way, fighting hard to prove their coach wrong. While the score of 1-0 was slightly flattering for them given the number of chances the Sailors squandered, the Tanjong Pagar players must be given immense credit. The way they kept their shape, the way they got after the Sailors players in advanced positions, and yet ran back when their press was broken – amazing. Even when the goalie was finally beaten in the 2nd half, they got back on the line to clear Maxime’s effort. For a team that was already guaranteed to finish bottom of the table, that kind of intensity and determination was very good to watch. The gulf in quality is huge, and it is some feat to keep the Sailors to 1 goal. Worry about Bart As expected, Coach Ranko started a strong lineup from the beginning, as the intention was to not prolong the title race. Win at Jurong East Stadium, seal the title, and then plan accordingly for the big final on 18 May. However, a glaring absentee from the lineup was Bart Ramselaar. I know there’s the foreigners quota, but a 1-game absence I could put it down to rotation. When it’s 2 games in a row, and it’s 2 games with a strong lineup, then there is some worry that there may be an injury. He was present at Jurong East Stadium, watching the game, and he was walking without issue. However, he did have a little guard around his calf, so I do worry. Bart has been a key player for the Sailors since the turn of the year, and that was brought to the fore more after Maxime’s absence from the team. It’s as if he realised the playmaking burden fell on him now, and he took it upon himself to drive the team towards victory. I think a fit-and-firing Bart Ramselaar will be crucial to the way our Sailors line up against Sh**jah. Not only does Bart add the threat of goals and assists, his defensive industry will also be much needed against these very tough opponents. Let’s hope Coach Ranko is just being cautious, rather than it being a bad injury! Bond with the Fans There were some nice scenes at the end of the game, with the players cheering on with the fans, and Toni Datkovic even led the fans with a “COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE” chant. Some really nice scenes, which makes me very happy both for the team and the fans. It has been a marathon season, and it was kinda poetic that we won the league exactly 1 year after we kicked off the league season. Amazingly, we still have two more games to play in the league, on top of the Singapore Cup games, and of course, the 18 May date with Sh**jah FC. I think the numerous occasions where the players have seen the passion of the fans up close has strengthened the bond and it is nice to see the fans being appreciated for their tireless effort week in week out. I’ve seen up close and personal how certain members of the Crew meet up regularly to work on their drumming. I’ve seen how much effort and money the Crew puts in to remember players’ birthdays, buy cakes, write cards, buy gifts, etc. I’ve seen how much time and effort the logistics team puts in to ensure that on matchday, the flags are there, the drums are where they need to be, etc. I could go on and on, and I could also highlight how much effort the staff puts in to assist the Crew as well. It’s just amazing, and in a season where it looks like everything could be aligning for a dream end, I think it’s important to remember the process as well. Not just for the fans – but also for the players. Let’s remember the journey that everyone has come on thus far. Conclusion A low-key win to secure a very important title. With the resources at our disposal, the Sailors are always expected to win the title. However, with the multiple continental distractions (not just ACL2, but Shopee Cup as well), and progress in the Singapore Cup, our Sailors must be given immense credit for not taking our eye off the ball. Post-match, I spoke with Coach Ranko about the impact of the 5-0 loss to BG Tampines – I asked him if that defeat came at the right time. He agreed – saying that for a while this season it looked pretty comfortable for our Sailors, and we didn’t up our performances accordingly, but perhaps the 5-0 defeat shocked us into action, and we have since played far better. Now that the title has been secured, I really hope that Coach Ranko departs from his usual ways, and really rests everyone for the Balestier Khalsa game. I really don’t give a shit if we lose 8-0 or whatever – let’s see some of our U21 talent, let’s let some of our fringe players get a runout. The futures of some of our players don’t look promising, but we fans would still want to cheer them a final time. Could we see the likes of Anu and Mamat start, so that the fans can give them the applause they deserve for being great servants