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Malaysia beat Ireland 58-44, while Botswana defeat Singapore A team 50-31 on Day 2 PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE SINGAPORE, 5 December 2022 – Singapore’s netball team kept their Fijian opponents on their toes throughout most of their Nations Cup 2022 clash on Monday (5 Dec), but eventually succumbed 60-53 at the OCBC Arena. The other matches of the day saw Malaysia beat Ireland 58-44, while Botswana defeated the Singapore A team 50-31. Hosts Singapore and Fiji both started off strong but the latter were the sharper of the two from the beginning. Trailing 11-15 at the end of the first quarter, Singapore fought to catch up and both sides continued to press each other. But a botched pass from Singapore at 24-27 proved to be costly – Fiji moved further ahead to lead 32-28 at half-time. PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Singapore were relentless in attack and kept the pressure on their opponents. Two goals from shooter Amandeep Kaur Chahal in the last three minutes of the third quarter saw Singapore lead 42-41, and the quarter ended with the score locked at 44-44. But Fiji put up an aggressive performance in the final quarter and, coupled with untimely mistakes from Singapore, recorded their first win of the tournament. Singapore centre Angelina Lim said: “It’s definitely disappointing as we were so close to getting a win, and it took us a lot of effort to draw the game in the third quarter. It's not over yet, we just need to keep winning the subsequent games from tomorrow. We did make a few mistakes in the last quarter, maybe there were nerves or anxiety and it got to us. So we need to know how to settle down, especially when we don’t have much time left, and make every pass count.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE In the first match of the day, Malaysia defeated Ireland in an entertaining encounter that saw both sides exchange leads multiple times throughout a tight first half. The first quarter ended 14-13 in Malaysia’s favour, and Ireland caught up to go up 27-25 at half-time. Malaysia started strong to regain the lead in the third, though their opponents were never far behind as they kept the goal deficit to just one. But a missed attempt from the Ireland shooting side as they trailed 34-35 allowed Malaysia defender Ashwinii A/P Kali Tass to pounce on the rebound and give her team the chance to extend their lead. Malaysia entered the final quarter up 43-37 and remained in imperious form, pulling ahead with a seven-goal spree that all but secured victory. Malaysia coach Choo Kon Lee was pleased that her charges bounced back well from their opening day loss to the Singapore A team. She said: “We stuck to our game plan today, which is to be strong in getting the ball, and they did a good job today – the shooters were amazing. For the attackers, I needed them to come forward for the ball and not wait for the ball. I told them to get the ball and feed the shooters. The shooters were very good in holding the defenders and this way they could get the ball easily.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Singapore A team overpowered by Botswana The Singapore A team gave a strong fight but were ultimately overpowered by Botswana in a high-speed, high-intensity game. The home side were marked closely by their opponents throughout the match, with Botswana’s defenders a menace to the Singapore A shooters. Singapore A captain Aqilah Andin said: “The intensity was very high, but it was consistent throughout the game. We gave them a very good fight, I think they didn’t expect us to come up as hard as we did, and we managed to delay their attacking as well. We came into the match expecting a very tough one and it was, and the team did well.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE The 26-year-old defender is making her return to netball after giving birth in July. Her last competitive outing was in 2019, and Aqilah is enjoying her comeback. “It’s just about getting my movement back again, because some of it is still pretty awkward. I love netball so much – it’s something that I’ve been very passionate about since I was young. I’m loving the time I have right now and it’s a great opportunity for me and the Singapore A team to compete and play against international teams.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE The action continues at the OCBC Arena on 6 December, with the fixtures as follows. 3pm - Ireland vs Singapore A 5pm - Fiji vs Malaysia 7pm - Botswana vs Singapore The 14th edition of the Nations Cup features six teams from five countries: 2011 champions Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia, Botswana, two-time champions Singapore, and a Singapore A team. The tournament will be played in a round robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the finals. Tickets are available for purchase at this link here. #SportPlusSG #Netball #NationsCup

Singapore netballers defeat Ireland 47-45 in Nations Cup thriller; young Singapore A team beat Malaysia PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE SINGAPORE, 4 December 2022 – Nations Cup 2022 got off to a thrilling start on Sunday (4 December) at the OCBC Arena, with hosts Singapore delighting the home crowd as the netball team pulled off a gritty comeback to open their campaign with a 47-45 victory over Ireland. Botswana and the Singapore A team also won their opening matches, defeating Fiji and Malaysia respectively. The first match of the day between Singapore and Ireland was close from the start, with little separating both sides who tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. Singapore led by as many as five goals in the next quarter, but a series of unfortunate errors from the hosts allowed Ireland to narrow the gap and eventually edge ahead to lead the first half 26-25. Both sides continued to press each other on the third quarter, and Ireland capitalised on shaky play from their opponents to hold a 38-34 advantage at the end of the quarter. Singapore never let up despite trailing throughout most of the final quarter, thwarting Ireland’s attacks and moving quickly to feed the shooting circle. PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Five consecutive goals near the end of the quarter saw the hosts overtake to lead 45-44 with three minutes of play left, as the crowd’s cheers got progressively louder each time the ball found the net. Though Ireland pulled one back to equalise, Singapore remained steady to shoot two more goals before the final whistle sealed their win. Singapore, Nations Cup champions in 2006 and 2007, recorded a 69% shooting accuracy while their opponents had 83%. Singapore co-captain Toh Kai Wei said: “We were definitely a bit nervous because there were a few missed shots and passes, including by myself. When we were leading we were actually quite nervous and the passes went flying. We really wanted to win this first game. After the third quarter, we settled down a little bit, talked it out and tried to calm ourselves and tackle each ball at a time. That’s when we had more interceptions coming through, and also more controlled passes. Going forward, we’ll definitely work on staying focused and having more control of the shots.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Ireland coach Teresa Gillespie said: “Singapore gave us a great game, they came out fighting from the first centre pass. It’s hard when you’re the away team because the crowd is behind Singapore, so you’re really playing against 8 players instead of 7. We just have to attack the ball better, look after the ball, get it to our goal shooter and score often. But I think our girls worked hard for each other, and they did all the things we asked them to do. We gave a structure, they followed the structure, but when that breaks down, we lose the game. But I think the girls did very well, Singapore was a formidable opponent.” A youthful Singapore A side also had reason to celebrate as they defeated Malaysia 51-39 at the OCBC Arena. Keeping to the basics worked well for the Singapore A team, who have a combined 85 caps in comparison to their more experienced opponents who have a total of 292 caps. PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Singapore A vice-captain Laura Low described the match as a “dream come true”, revealing that she had battled nerves ahead of the opening game. She said: “Only a handful of us have international caps, so (the win) feels surreal for most of us and it was definitely a very good experience for us out there. There were a lot of nerves and being the vice-captain, I want to set a good example for my team. For me, it was about getting wisdom from the more experienced players, so I spoke to those with caps and what worked for them. I learnt a bit from different players and added those into my game, and that helped me calm my nerves.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE Botswana were victorious as well, defeating Fiji 60-43. Botswana dominated the first quarter to race to an impressive 21-7 advantage. The early lead proved crucial as the rest of the game was closer, with Botswana outscoring Fiji by just one and two goals respectively in the second and third quarters. Though both teams were equal on goals (12-12) in the last quarter, the Fijians found their groove too late and could not catch up to their opponents’ lead. Botswana captain Fattimah Dino said: “We did expect it (such a close contest in the last three quarters), because Fiji are a good team. Our goal is to win this title and go home with the gold.” PHOTO: NETALL SINGAPORE The action continues at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub, on 5 December, with the fixtures as follows: 3pm - Malaysia vs Ireland 5pm - Singapore A vs Botswana 7pm - Fiji vs Singapore The 14th edition of the Nations Cup features six teams from five countries: 2011 champions Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia, Botswana, two-time champions Singapore, and a Singapore A team. The tournament will be played in a round robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the finals. Tickets are available for purchase at this link here. #SportPlusSG #Netball #NationsCup

Singapore national football project Unleash The Roar! to introduce girls’ School Football Academies in 2023 PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Singapore, 28 November 2022 – The Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) national football project will work with Spain’s LaLiga Academy as its first overseas training partner to help groom Singapore’s brightest footballers. The UTR! project will also introduce two girls’ School Football Academies (SFAs) in 2023 for the first time. Partnerships with established sport excellence centres such as LaLiga Academy is an important building block for the UTR! ecosystem as it creates more pathways for Singapore’s best and most promising talent to pursue their football aspirations. The LaLiga Academy is part of the Madrid-based ESC (Education Sports Coliving) LaLiga & NBA, a youth excellence facility dedicated to grooming both football and basketball talent. The football programme has hosted promising youth from Japan and South Korea. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Speaking in Spain, where he visited the first batch of 20 UTR! footballers currently on a month-long attachment at ESC LaLiga & NBA, Mr Eric Chua, UTR! Executive Committee Chairman and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development said: “We want to build a youth football development ecosystem where our talented youth get full support in their football and academic pursuits. Bringing them out of Singapore challenges our youth beyond their comfort zone and gives them opportunities to train and compete with the best. ESC LaLiga & NBA is an excellent example of the type of partners we want to work with to groom the next generation of footballers. It is a purpose-built sport excellence centre that houses an international school, student accommodation, and sports facilities where our youth can be immersed in a high-performance setting.” PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! To expose budding male and female footballers to higher levels of football training and intensity, UTR! will send student footballers on short to medium-term attachments with UTR!’s overseas training partners, starting with ESC LaLiga & NBA. The first batch of UTR! footballers in Spain The first batch of UTR! footballers currently in Spain on the month-long training award trip comprises boys aged 12 and 13 from the SFA programme, the ActiveSG Football Academy Development Centres and the Football Association of Singapore’s talent identification programme. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! They played four friendly matches against youth sides from Spanish clubs Rayo Vallecano, Getafe, Fuenlabrada and Atletico Madrid. They will spend the final week of the Nov 5 - Dec 2 trip attached to Spanish clubs Real Sociedad, Deportivo Alaves, Celta Vigo, Atletico Madrid and Levante. UTR! head coach for the attachment Jaime Serra said the training trip was a great end to a busy year of football for our young talents. It has allowed the boys to continue their football education in a professional environment where the training methodology is similar to how we train them at the SFAs. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! “ESC LaLiga & NBA is an ideal partner because their training methodology is similar to what we have under the National Football Curriculum. We want to develop our boys and girls to understand better the crucial moments in a game, such as the transition between defence and attack. We also want to expose them to higher standards of play.” “It was satisfying to see the boys put into practice what they have learnt and apply that in match settings against quality opposition,” said Head Coach Jaime Serra. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Joshua Chong, a Secondary One participant from Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), was initially worried about being homesick: “We spent a few days adjusting to the weather and the daily training environment. The daily training, competitions with Spanish clubs and classroom lessons have helped me improve my game.” But it was not only players who benefitted from the trip. SFA coaches who accompanied the boys on the trip also had coaching workshops with LaLiga coaches. SFA coach Afiq Yahya was thankful for the experience at ESC Madrid: “There is nothing like attending the coaching workshops in person with the LaLiga facilitators, we had sessions on LaLiga Methodology, Game Model and individual training. We could ask questions and exchange views, and I have benefitted greatly in my development journey as a coach for youth football.” PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Introduction of girls’ SFAs for 2023 The UTR! project also announced that two girls’ SFAs will be introduced in 2023 for the first time. Woodlands Secondary School will have a football programme for its students, while Methodist Girls’ School will partner with Boon Lay Secondary School and Westwood Secondary School for the programme. There will be a total of 12 SFAs in 2023, of which 10 will have SFA programmes for boys. Over 550 male and female footballers aged 13 to 16 are expected to be on the SFA programmes in 2023. This is an increase from the 300 youths in the pilot SFA programme launched this year. Philippe Aw, Assistant Technical Director of FAS: “Using the National Football Curriculum as the guiding philosophy, we have designed the SFA programme to emphasise the fundamental technical development of each SFA footballer, building a strong foundation for them to improve and progress on their footballing journey.” PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! “The players need to be comfortable on the ball and be familiar with the style of football we would like to play. Off the field, the players have also benefitted from working with our sports scientists to refine their techniques and have become more aware of the importance of nutrition and recovery. More importantly, the players will be developed holistically as all-rounded individuals.” Apart from participating in the National School Games next year, the SFAs will compete in SFA tournaments in 2023. #SportPlusSG #Football #SGFootball #UnleashTheRoar #LaLiga

ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee added the ONE Welterweight World Title to his trophy case by overcoming Kiamrian Abbasov in a four-round thriller PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ 19 November 2022, Singapore - ONE Championship™ (ONE) returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE on Prime Video 4: Abbasov vs. Lee. The event featured a series of exciting matchups, headlined by two action-packed World Title fights. ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ In the main event, ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee added the ONE Welterweight World Title to his trophy case by stopping Kiamrian Abbasov in round four behind an exhilarating come-from-behind performance. Prior to the bout, Abbasov failed to pass weight and hydration, which caused him to lose the welterweight belt on the scale. Only Lee was eligible to win the World Title, and he did so with an impressive display of striking and grappling. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ Abbasov started the first round with a huge offensive onslaught, hurting and rocking Lee with a barrage of strikes that had the 24-year-old reeling. After surviving, the Singaporean-American came roaring back in round two, swarming Abbasov with a flurry of combinations. Lee also snuck in a couple of solid takedowns to do some damage on the ground. After a relatively nonchalant third round from both men, action picked up again in the fourth, as Lee unloaded a flurry of power shots. He then stung Abbasov with a series of right elbows as the Kyrgyz warrior tried to defend himself. With Abbasov on his back, Lee teed off with more ground-and-pound that forced referee Herb Dean to call a halt to the contest. In addition to the ONE Welterweight World Title, Lee also won a US$50,000 bonus. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ In the co-main event, ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon retained his belt with a one-sided beatdown of ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Joseph Lasiri. Lasiri started out very cautious, picking his shots while avoiding Rodtang’s power. After getting warmed up in the first, “The Iron Man” increased the pace in the second round, showcasing his vaunted speed and fierce combinations. Rodtang dropped Lasiri toward the end of round four, but the Moroccan-Italian fighter recovered. In round five, Rodtang turned up the pressure even more, as he sent Lasiri crashing to the canvas yet again. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Rodtang to win by unanimous decision. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ Team Lakay stalwart Stephen Loman turned in a spectacular performance against former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes, dominating the Brazilian legend across three rounds to notch a unanimous decision victory. The #5 contender showcased his strength throughout the contest, manhandling Fernandes at every juncture. “The Flash” tried his best to turn the fight into a grappling battle, but Loman showed impeccable takedown and submission defense. In the third round, Loman tallied points with a couple of emphatic slams, taking Fernandes to the ground and doing work from top position. It was an incredible performance from Loman, who won his 11th straight bout overall and emerged a serious World Title threat. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ Brazilian veteran Cosmo Alexandre overcame a game opponent in the United Kingdom’s Juan Cervantes to score a thrilling knockout victory. Cervantes went on the attack to start the fight, pushing Alexandre back with an intense flurry in the first round. “Good Boy” appeared out of rhythm for much of the bout, but his infamous power eventually shone through. Alexandre connected with an elbow in the second stanza as Cervantes lunged forward, dropping the Englishman for the stoppage win. Afterward, the Brazilian legend earned a US$50,000 performance bonus and announced his retirement. Kim Jae Woong took out former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon in the first round behind a blistering performance. The two aggressive fighters met at center Circle in the opening moments, with Belingon choosing to put Kim on the defensive. However, “The Fighting God” dropped “The Silencer” with a left hook coming in and sent the Filipino fumbling onto the canvas. Kim followed up with ground-and-pound to seal the TKO victory in his first appearance since dropping down from featherweight. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP™ Performance bonus winners: Christian Lee (US$50,000), Cosmo Alexandre (US$50,000), Danielle Kelly (US$50,000) MAIN CARD MMA - Catchweight (186.25 lbs): Christian Lee def. Kiamrian Abbasov via TKO at 4:20 of R4 Muay Thai - Flyweight: Rodtang Jitmuangnon def. Joseph Lasiri via Unanimous Decision MMA - Catchweight (153.25 lbs): Stephen Loman def. Bibiano Fernandes via Unanimous Decision Muay Thai - Welterweight: Cosmo Alexandre def. Juan Cervantes via KO at 1:23 of R2 MMA - Bantamweight: Kim Jae Woong def. Kevin Belingon via TKO at 2:33 of R1 LEAD CARD Muay Thai - Catchweight (148 lbs): Jonathan Haggerty def. Vladimir Kuzmin via Majority Decision MMA - Welterweight: Ruslan Emilbek Lulu def. Isi Fitikefu via Split Decision Submission Grappling - Atomweight: Danielle Kelly def. Mariia Molchanova via Rear-Naked Choke at 2:15 Muay Thai - Lightweight: Liam Nolan def. Eddie Abasolo via Unanimous Decision #ONEChampionship #ONEOnPrimeVideo4

3-2 Singapore Cup Final victory over Stags books Cheetah's berth in 2023 AFC Cup group stages PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 19 November 2022 - In a tightly-contested final at Jalan Besar Stadium, Hougang United won the Singapore Cup – their first trophy in their 24-year history – by defeating defending champions Tampines Rovers 3-2 on Saturday evening. Kristijian Krajcek's first career hat-trick ensured the Cheetahs dramatically ended their 24-year wait for major honours. After netting his second goal of the evening, the Croat unveiled a shirt with the face of his late younger brother, Dario, who passed on ten years ago. More action photos from the 2022 Singapore Cup Final available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG "I kept this shirt for four years in my closet. I dedicated this game for him (Dario). I believe he gave me the power for this game," Krajcek explained. Assistant head coach Firdaus Kassim attributed his side's cup success to stability. "The target has always been to qualify for the AFC Cup, and to do it this way is so much more meaningful. This club should exist for trophies. The players kept believing and trying. I am very, very delighted for the club and our players," he said. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG With the victory, Hougang booked their place in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup group stages at the expense of Tampines. The Singapore Cup, which commenced in 1998, resumed this year following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and was last won by Tampines in 2019. Defeat for four-time champions Tampines not only meant they failed to defend their title. The Stags now hold an unwanted record of most runners-up finishes (five) in Singapore Cup history. More action photos from the 2022 Singapore Cup Final available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Hougang fielded the same eleven that stunned league champions Albirex Niigata (S) in the semi-finals, but assistant head coach Firdaus Kassim – stepping in for head coach Clement Teo who was absent due to medical reasons – opted for the experience of Zainol Gulam ahead of Aizil Yazid in goal. After resting key players – including top scorer Boris Kopitovic midweek – head coach Gavin Lee reverted to the lineup that trounced Balestier Khalsa 8-1 in the semi-final’s first leg, with the exception of Ryaan Sanizal replacing Andrew Aw in defence. Tampines’ starting eleven featured five under-23 players, including the likes of Amirul Haikal, Ong Yu En and Joel Chew. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Many were playing in their first Singapore cup final, and Tampines’ nerves showed early on through their hesitance on the ball as Hougang piled on pressure from the starting whistle. Hougang were duly rewarded in the 18th minute, after midfielder Kristijian Krajcek anticipated a weak pass from Ong Yu En and nipped the ball from Stags’ captain Yasir Hanapi at the centre of the pitch. With an intelligent first-time backheel, Hougang forward Pedro Bortoluzo found Krajcek who made no mistake in a one-versus-one situation just inside the penalty box. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Gradually growing into the game, Tampines responded in spectacular fashion. Just six minutes before half-time, Tampines’ Taufik Suparno won the ball off Bortoluzo close to the halfway line. The 27-year-old confidently strode forward before unleashing a long-range piledriver into the bottom corner past an outstretched Zainol Gulam. Controversy struck thereafter when Gulam appeared to have intentionally touched the ball during a goal kick, but when an opportunistic Kopitovic tried to play the ball, referee Ahmad A’Qashah signalled for a goal kick. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG After the restart, Suparno continued to cause problems for the Hougang defence and forced a smart stop from Zainol Gulam after a mazy run. From the resulting corner, a perfectly-whipped cross from captain Yasir Hanapi was met by unmarked defender Irfan Najeeb at the back post to give Tampines the lead. With the Stags on the ascendency, it took a moment of brilliance from the ever-dependable Krajcek to draw Hougang level on the 57th minute mark. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Receiving the ball on the left edge of the penalty box, the Croat unleashed an unstoppable curled effort that was destined for the top corner once it left his boot. The final half hour saw end-to-end attacking action as both sides pushed for a winner, but it was Hougang who got the breakthrough in the 79th minute. Receiving a cut-back from teammate Shawal Anuar, Krajcek completed his hat-trick by rifling a half-volley from the penalty spot, leaving Tampines goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari rooted to the spot. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tampines threw every man forward in search of an equaliser, but the Cheetahs chased down every loose ball and defended resolutely to secure the victory. Stags head coach Gavin Lee said his players should not let the result of one game define their entire season. "It means a lot to us because this team has been through a lot. We were under a lot of pressure this year but the team trusted each other and stuck together. The consequence was the (positive) way we finished the season. That's why the players were devastated because everyone really wanted it (to win the cup)," he said. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG "This loss has kickstarted our 2023 campaign. For a lot of the young players, this was their first taste of a high-pressure situation. You look at the way Ong (Yu En), Joel (Chew) played, Ryaan (Sanizal), Irfan (Najeeb), and Amirul (Haikal). 'Wow'. The future is bright. Knowing the players, they will use the experience in a very positive way next season," he added. Coach Firdaus Kassim spoke about Hougang's shift from a possession-based system to a more direct style of play towards the end of the season. "We only played three or four games at the start of the season - the way we wanted to play. We needed to know when to adapt and continue the way we want to play. If we believed that we had the time, I am very sure that we would have been successful," he said. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG "We needed six, seven, eight months to see the end-product but a club like Hougang should be challenging for the title and cups. If we waited that long, we would have lost out. So we had to change the way we played, to be more direct just to get results." "Moving forward, we still want to play an attacking brand of football, but myself as a coach I learnt that there has to be a time where I have to adapt," coach Firdaus added. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The last time Hougang reached a cup final in 2011, they fell on penalties to Albirex Niigata (S) in the League Cup final. Before today’s triumph, Hougang were the only remaining team in the Singapore Premier League without a major trophy to their name. More action photos from the 2022 Singapore Cup Final available in our photo gallery here. #SportPlusSG #Football #SGFootball #SGCup

Kodai Tanaka and Manami Fukuzawa bag the Singapore Premier League and Women's Premier League Player of the Year prizes respectively at annual ceremony Kodai Tanaka (left) and Ilhan Fandi with the men's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE Singapore, 8 November 2022 – Outstanding individuals from the 2022 domestic football season were recognised on Tuesday evening at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Awards Night 2022 – the premier annual event that brings the local football fraternity together. Held at Orchard Hotel, it was a night to remember for Kodai Tanaka and Manami Fukuzawa, who took home the biggest prizes – the AIA Player of the Year and Deloitte Player of the Year awards respectively. With 33 goals and 10 assists in 28 appearances, 23-year-old Tanaka helped to fire Albirex Niigata FC (S) to their fifth AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) title. A stalwart of the local football scene, Fukuzawa, 30, hit eight goals to help Tanjong Pagar United FC finish a creditable third place in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL). SPL and WPL award winners at the FAS Awards night. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE Tanaka’s win completed a clean sweep of this year’s major SPL awards for Albirex Niigata (S). Ilhan Fandi, 20, was named the AIA Young Player of the Year following a campaign that reaped 17 goals – one of which was a stunning overhead kick that bagged him the SELECT Goal of the Year prize as well. Kazuaki Yoshinaga, 54, picked up his third POLAR Mineral Water Coach of the Year award to go level with Vorawan Chitavanich and Richard Bok as the coaches with the most wins in this category. Lion City Sailors' Izzati Rosni with her Top Scorer and Goal of the Season awards at the FAS Awards night. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE Tampines Rovers FC forward Boris Kopitović, 27, received his SPL Top Scorer prize after plundering an incredible 35 goals in 28 matches, while Geylang International FC goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam, 35, kept nine clean sheets to earn the SPL Golden Glove award. The duo, along with Tanaka and Ilhan, were also named in the AIA SPL Team of the Year. The final nominees and eventual winners for all the SPL awards were selected by a judging panel that includes the current Head Coaches and Team Captains from the eight SPL clubs participating in the 2022 season, as well as former professional footballer and current SPL pundit Rhysh Roshan Rai and four representatives from separate media outlets. WPL Player of the Year Manami Fukuzawa. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE Women's Premier League: Double Joy for Tanjong Pagar There was double joy for Tanjong Pagar United in the WPL awards as Fukuzawa’s team-mate, Haziqah Haszman, was named Young Player of the Year. The goalkeeper, 19, kept four clean sheets in a breakout season that saw her handed a senior international debut. The Coach of the Year accolade went to Yeong Sheau Shyan, 44, who guided Lion City Sailors FC to their maiden title amid a remarkable unbeaten season. Singapore star Izzati Rosni, 23, who fired in 10 goals to win the Top Scorer award, also took home the Goal of the Year prize. At the other end of the pitch, team-mate Beatrice Tan, 30, accumulated six clean sheets to win the Golden Glove award. As always, the men in black were recognised in the SELECT Referee of the Year and Assistant Referee of the Year categories, with the awards going to Ahmad A’Qashah and Ronnie Koh Min Kiat respectively. Jared Gallagher of SoccerKakis (left) with his Story of the Year Award and Junpiter Futbol picking up the Photo of the Year. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE The return of all other domestic competitions this year meant that there were also awards on offer in the Singapore Football Leagues (SFL) 1 and 2. Fariz Faizal and Sukhvinder Singh were named Player of the Year and Coach of the Year after helping Singapore Khalsa Association to the SFL 1 crown, with Fariz’s 12 goals also bagging him the Top Scorer prize. SFL 2 champions Jungfrau Punggol FC also collected both top prizes as Sadik Said and Ahmad Salihin were named Player of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively. A remarkable 20-goal haul earned Singapore Cricket Club’s Chang Guo Guang the Top Scorer accolade. A total of 14 FAS Recognition Awards were also handed out. Recipients included Singapore football’s latest international centurion, Hassan Sunny, as well as retired Lions Baihakki Khaizan and Hafiz Sujad. Finally, the importance of the media in generating awareness of local football with their tireless coverage was recognised and the honours for Story of the Year and Photo of the Year went to Jared Gallagher of SoccerKakis and Chua Boon Ping of Junpiter Futbol respectively. #SportPlusSG #SgFootball #SPL #WPL

The 15th edition of the Nations Cup will feature six teams from five countries: 2011 champions Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia, Botswana, two-time champions Singapore, and a Singapore A team PHOTO: LYNN LEE, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 1 November 2022 – Netball Singapore’s most iconic event returns this year, with Nations Cup 2022 bringing top-notch sporting action to the OCBC Arena from 4-10 December. Tickets to Singapore’s biggest annual netball event, which is making a comeback after a two-year hiatus, are now on sale starting from just $4. The 15th edition of the Nations Cup will feature six teams from five countries: 2011 champions Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia, Botswana, two-time champions Singapore, and a Singapore A team. The tournament will be played in a round robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the finals. Singapore, who won the first two editions of the tournament in 2006 and 2007 and were finalists in 2019, return to competitive action fresh off their inspired performance at the recent Asian Netball Championships. PHOTO: LYNN LEE, SPORTPLUS.SG The Singapore Opens team will be led by co-captains Toh Kai Wei and Khor Ting Fang, with veterans Kimberly Lim and Sindhu Nair also in the line-up. They will be joined by young stars including shooter Amandeep Kaur Chahal, defender Jamie Lim and centre Tan Yi Jie. Shooter Matilda Su-Yin Narayan is set to earn her first cap at Nations Cup 2022. Spectators can also catch an early glimpse of the future of Singapore netball, through the up and coming players that form the Singapore A team. These include shooter Goh Wei Ping, who made her international debut at the Asian Netball Championships in September, as well as defenders Faithmaria Lawrence and Shannon Tan. The Singapore A team also boasts an experienced defender in Aqilah Andin, who is returning to competition after giving birth in July. The 26-year-old has 80 caps and her international experience includes being part of the gold-winning team at the 2014 Asian Netball Championships, as well as competing at the 2019 Netball World Cup and SEA Games. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG The squad lists for the Singapore and Singapore A teams are as follows: Singapore Team for Nations Cup 2022 Shooters Amandeep Kaur, Matilda Su, Yin Narayan, Tan Xinyi, Toh Kai Wei Mid Court Angelina Lim, Khor Ting Fang, Kimberly Lim, Tan Yi Jie Defence Jamie Lim, Reena Divya, Sindhu Nair, Yew Shu Ning Singapore A Team for Nations Cup 2022 Shooters Chloe Lee, Goh Wei Ping, Priscilla Wong, Syntyche Yeo Mid Court Cheyenne Lim, Jenine Ang, Laura Low, Rachel Ling Defence Aqilah Andin, Faithmaria Lawrence, K. Mishalenee, Shannon Tan PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG Netball Singapore president Jessica Tan said: “The Nations Cup is our flagship event and as Netball Singapore celebrates our 60th anniversary this year, we’re pleased to mark this milestone with the return of the tournament." "This year presents a treat for netball fans in Singapore – we had the Asian Netball Championships here earlier this year and with the upcoming Nations Cup, there’s lots of exciting netball for everyone to enjoy. Netball has grown in popularity over the last few decades and it is a well-loved sport here. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the OCBC Arena next month.” PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore defender Sindhu Nair said: “The Nations Cup is one of the events we look forward to every year, and we’re glad it’s back. It’s a privilege for us to get to play on home ground again. The atmosphere we experienced during the Asian Netball Championships was electrifying, and knowing that the crowd was behind us no matter what really elevated our spirits and performance during the competition. We’ve been building on the lessons we learnt from that outing and finetuning some aspects of our game, and we can’t wait to put it all together at Nations Cup 2022.” Aqilah, who was part of Singapore’s Nations Cup team at the last edition in 2019, said: “It’s wonderful to be able to return to competitive netball on home ground, and even more so at a tournament that hold such special memories. I’ve been playing netball for many years and had the chance to learn from senior players who have guided me well throughout my career. The Singapore A team has many talented rising stars, and I’m looking forward to being team-mates with them and enjoying ourselves on court next month.” Tickets are available here. PHOTO: LYNN LEE, SPORTPLUS.SG Ticket details are as follows: Day Pass (Per day) Child - $4 Concession - $8 Adult - $20 Finals Pass (1 day) Child - $6 Concession - $12 Adult - $30 Season Pass Child - $12 Concession - $18 Adult - $60 #SportPlusSG #Netball #NationsCup

World-class professional cyclists show their might in front of Singapore’s passionate cycling fans Jonas Vingegaard in jubilation after crossing the finish line first to become the first ever winner of the Tour De France Prudential Singapore Criterium. PHOTO: TOUR DE FRANCE PRUDENTIAL SINGAPORE CRITERIUM Singapore, 31 October 2022 – Though the Singapore circuit is one that is relatively flat, the atmosphere around the Marina Bay area was anything but in the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium. While Team Singapore’s Yeo Boon Kiak mounted an early challenge, it was yellow jersey holder Jonas Vingegaard who took top spot. The 20-lap race under the scorching sun saw many ebbs and flows. Yeo was the first to attack off the line in an attempt to pressure the other teams, and won the first of four Intermediate Sprints. The Tour De France Prudential Singapore Criterium starts off with a bang at the Float @ Marina Bay. PHOTO: AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION “It was great fun out there. I treated it like any other race, and just gave it my best. I knew the Europeans were gonna suffer with the weather so I obviously went early and tried to hit them where it hurts and it added to the thrill of the race,” said Yeo. On lap eight however, sprint specialist Mark Cavendish put his head down to challenge for the second Intermediate Sprint, though Simon Geschke beat him to it. Frustrated that he lost out, the Manx Missile launched himself across the line for the final two Intermediate Sprints, and took home the win for both which bagged him the highest number of points—14. Cyclists speeding across the Esplanade Bridge against the backdrop of the Singapore skyline. PHOTO: AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION Cavendish continued to entertain the crowd as he turned to the camera with six laps to go and dramatically released a huff while he wiped away his sweat, which earned him a hearty laugh from the few thousand spectators in the grandstand. In the closing stages of the race, five riders—Vingegaard, Geschke, Christopher Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Enric Masi—broke away from the Peloton to gun for the win. Eventually, it was a crucial move by Vingegaard as they exited the Esplanade Bridge, that allowed him to break clear of the rest and clinch the victory. Podium finishers Chris Froome (left), Jona Vingegaard (centre), and Vincenzo Nibali. PHOTO: TOUR DE FRANCE PRUDENTIAL SINGAPORE CRITERIUM Though Yeo joined a few more breakaways after his initial attack, he ultimately finished as the highest-placed Singaporean rider in 32nd place. Impressed with the Singaporean’s performance, Vingegaard said, “he started out strong and was very strong during the day. I think it was impressive what he did today.” Singapore witnesses an elite field of world class cyclists competing in the city for the very first time. PHOTO: AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION On his own race, the Dane said, “in the end it was a very hard race. Actually, I thought it’d be a sprint at the end, but luckily I got away and I was able to win.” “Every time it’s special to win in the yellow jersey,” he added. Across the 64km race distance, the riders averaged a speed of 45.7km/h. Singapore cyclist Yeo Boon Kiak with the Combativity Award. PHOTO: TOUR DE FRANCE PRUDENTIAL SINGAPORE CRITERIUM “On a technical circuit like this, it is a very high speed,” said Froome, who also added that the humidity was his biggest challenge. “You feel almost the same as if you’re riding on a turbo trainer. That made the race a lot harder.” Reflecting on his experience, Team Singapore’s Calvin Sim, said, “this is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” The 20-lap race saw a number of attacks and chases, creating an entertaining race for those who watched. PHOTO: AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION For Sim, it was an opportunity to learn from the best. “We got to talk to them and ask questions about training, about how they do certain things. It's not about doing different things but doing things differently. I think that was a really good experience.” Apart from the riders, the event also drew people from all over the world, and even a family of otters. For avid Danish cycling fan Dorte Smith, 55, it was a privilege to witness the world-class athletes in person. Team Thailand with the Best Asian Team Award. PHOTO: TOUR DE FRANCE PRUDENTIAL SINGAPORE CRITERIUM “It’s been wonderful and very exciting to have the riders here in Singapore,” she said, “and of course I’m supporting Vingegaard for the win.” Darine Choo, 24, the girlfriend of Team Singapore’s Darren Lim said, “I think this event has really helped to raise awareness for competitive cycling in Singapore and it’s nice to see that it is quite crowded around the circuit with people cheering the riders on.” PHOTO: AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION Yeo was also very pleased and hopes it will become a marquee event for the cycling committee for years to come. “It’s got the crowd going so hopefully the excitement it generates can give cycling as a sport enough momentum and we can build on this so the sport can build on all levels,” said Yeo. #TourDeFrance #TDFSG

First time Brompton World Championship has taken place since 2019 after a two-year break PHOTO: BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Singapore, 21 October 2022 – The famous Brompton World Championship (BWC) is returning after a tw0-year break, taking place in Singapore for the very first time on the 30th of October. BWC is part of the activities in the upcoming Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, which will see the world’s top cyclists compete on a specially designed street circuit in the heart of the city. PHOTO: BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Brompton, the UK’s largest bike manufacturer, will also be at the festival village all weekend long, where the public and race participants can take part in activities such as The Fastest Fold of a Brompton, the Longest Track Stand and test ride experiences. There will also be the opportunity to purchase exclusive event memorabilia, which includes a limited-edition t-shirt, and Brompton bikes with BWC commemorative plate. PHOTO: BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Official sponsors of the event this year include Nikon, LIVALL, Voost, Hydro Flask and 100Plus. The total prizes of this year’s race, proudly supported by the sponsors, will be distributed to the following prize categories accordingly: - Gold Medal winners of the Gentlemen, Ladies and Veteran categories will each receive 1 C Line Brompton bike and 1 Nikon Z fc with NIKKOR Z DX 16-50VR, worth a total of S$4,589. PHOTO: BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Silver Medal winners of the Gentlemen, Ladies and Veteran categories will each receive 1 Brompton Luggage and 1 LIVALL BH51 NEO Helmet, worth a total of S$1,531. - Bronze Medal winners of the Gentlemen, Ladies and Veteran categories will each receive 1 Brompton Luggage, 1 20oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flask with engraving, 1 24oz Standard Mouth Hydro Flask with engraving and 1 32oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flask with engraving, worth a total of S$1,329. PHOTO: BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Best Dressed Male and Female will each receive 1 Nikon Z30 with NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR each, worth S$1,309. − Longest Track Stand and Fastest Fold challenge winners will also be receiving 1 LIVALL Model C20 Helmet each, worth S$129. The event comes after an exciting year for Brompton, which saw them release the T Line, the Electric C Line in Singapore, and announce plans for a major factory of the future in Ashford, Kent. Will Butler-Adams also released a book chronicling the journey of the business, titled ‘Brompton: Engineering for Change’. Will Butler-Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Brompton Bicycle said: "What makes Brompton so special is our fantastic community of riders, and that’s why I am so thrilled to be attending Singapore’s first-ever Brompton World Championship." "After a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BWC is making a triumphant return. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, and hopefully putting in a decent performance at the race!" #BromptonWorldChampionships #BWCSingapore

Brace from Boris Kopitovic brings Tampines forward’s tally to 33 goals for the season, one ahead of Albirex’s Kodai Tanaka in the league’s Top Scorer race PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 15 October 2022 - Plagued by defensive errors, Champions-elect Albirex Niigata (S) fell to a 3-5 away defeat to third-placed Tampines Rovers in the AIA Singapore Premier League on Saturday evening despite putting up an impressive attacking performance. Albirex were crowned champions for a fifth time last weekend following a 4-2 victory over title rivals Lion City Sailors, while Tampines secured third place in the league prior to this match. More match photos from SPL2022: Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The win was Tampines’ first league victory over Albirex in their last seven attempts, while the White Swans fell to their first defeat since July. Speaking after the game, coach Gavin Lee said: “Albirex are the team we haven’t beaten this season. That was the main objective for us today (winning) after securing third spot. We want to go into the Singapore Cup strong.” PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tampines forward Boris Kopitovic netted a brace to move one goal ahead of Albirex’s Kodai Tanaka, who scored Albirex’s second goal, in the neck-and-neck race for the league’s Top Scorer award. The Montenegrin striker has now scored 33 league goals for the season, ahead of Tanaka who has notched 32 goals, in just 27 league matches. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tampines made just one alteration to their line-up, with Ong Yu-En replacing Firdaus Kasman in midfield. Head coach Gavin Lee deployed a fluid narrow midfield set-up with a host of central midfielders including Kyoga Nakamura and Syed Firdaus Hassan, with strikers Taufik Suparno and Boris Kopitovic upfront. Champions-elect Albirex made two changes with midfielders Mahiro Takahashi and Zamani Zamri coming in for Kan Kobayashi and Tadanari Lee. Kazuaki Yoshinaga’s men set-up in a 3-4-3 system on the ball but dropped back into a 4-4-2 when defending. More match photos from SPL2022: Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Within the opening 41 seconds, Albirex took the lead. A cross-field ball from right-back Masaya Idetsu was flicked on by Kodai Tanaka, allowing Singaporean forward Ilhan Fandi to slot past Tampines goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari. Tampines needed just ten minutes to respond. Boris Kopitovic notched his 32nd goal of the season – momentarily surpassing Kodai Tanaka as the league’s Top Scorer – with an acrobatic overhead kick after Albirex failed to deal with Yasir Hanapi’s corner. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Thereafter, Albirex recalibrated and largely controlled proceedings for the remainder of the first half. The away side had the ball in the back of the net just before the half hour mark, but Ilhan Fandi’s header was chalked off for an earlier offside. Against the run of play, Tampines stole ahead for the first time just before the half-time whistle. An inch perfect, defence-splitting pass from Ong Yu En found the stride of Taufik Suparno, who made no mistake one-on-one with Albirex goalkeeper Takahiro Koga. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Albirex started the second half where they left-off, with relentless pressure and dominance when on the ball. Their attacking impetus paid off in the 54th minute, after a series of passes found Ilhan Fandi on the edge of the six-yard box. The 19-year-old striker turned provider with a deft backheel for strike-partner Kodai Tanaka to sweep home his 32nd goal of the season and level the scores. More match photos from SPL2022: Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tampines gradually grew back into the game and eventually retook the lead in the 66th minute. Boris Kopitovic used his 1.89m-tall frame to muscle off surrounding defenders, before setting up captain Yasir Hanapi for a straightforward tap-in. Two minutes later, the Montenegrin forward doubled the Stags’ advantage. A throw-in from deep in Tampines’ half was controlled by Kopitovic, who shrugged off Albirex defender Keito Hariya and swivelled past the 19-year-old to fire into the bottom corner of the net. It was his 33rd goal of the season, now one clear of Kodai Tanaka in the league’s Top Scorer race. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Albirex upped their tempo as substitute Nicky Melvin Singh forced goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari into a smart save in the 78th minute. The White Swans pulled a goal back six minutes later, after Tanaka’s header from a corner was turned into his own net by Tampines defender Ryaan Sanizal. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tampines would wrap up the win in the 88th minute. Kyoga Nakumura powered a 30-yard drive into the bottom corner after picking up a short corner-kick from teammate Yasir Hanapi. Coach Gavin Lee gave some insight into a new-look narrow midfield system that has yielded positive results in recent games. More match photos from SPL2022: Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) available in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG “We’re trying to find the best complement for the team based on the players’ availability. We’ve got many good midfielders and it’s about getting them close to each other to play off each other and to have constant support,” he said. “We have been hurt quite a bit transition-wise so having players close to each other helps us defend against those moments,” coach Gavin Lee added. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Head coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga praised Tampines for their display following his side’s defeat. With the aid of a translator, the Japanese coach said: “The players are doing their best, but our opponents today were strong as well. We will prepare well for next week’s game against Geylang because we want to finish the season strong.” More match photos from SPL2022: Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) available in our photo gallery here. #SportPlusSG #Football #SgFootball #SPL #PRIMED2022

Second-half drama see Jaguars come-from-behind to hold 9-men Eagles to rollercoaster 3-3 draw PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 9 October 2022 - Despite ending the match with midfielder Joshua Pereira in goal at Our Tampines Hub, Geylang International put up a battling display to secure a 3-3 draw with Tanjong Pagar United on Sunday evening. Tanjong Pagar are now out of contention for third position, which could potentially guarantee an AFC Cup play-off spot depending on the winners of the Singapore Cup For more match photos, visit our photo album in the SportPlus.sg photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Two first-half Geylang goals were cancelled out by a trio of Tanjong Pagar headers after the home side were reduced to 10-men and subsequently nine, but Vincent Bezecourt’s late free-kick salvaged a late point for the Eagles. Jaguars head coach Hasrin Jailani said: “It was a game of two halves. We came back very strong from the second half even before the red card.” PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tanjong Pagar remain in fourth position, two points ahead of Geylang, and four points ahead of sixth-placed Hougang United with just two league matches remaining. Tanjong Pagar’s failure to win also meant Tampines Rovers have mathematically secured third spot in the league, along with potential qualification into the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup group stage phase. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The Jaguars will now have to win the 2022 Singapore Cup to secure a play-off spot to enter the AFC Cup group stage phase. The winner of the 2022 Singapore Cup will gain the only play-off slot into the 2023 AFC Cup group stage phase. Should the Lion City Sailors, Albirex Niigata (S) or Tampines Rovers themselves win the 2022 Singapore Cup competition, the slot will go to the Stags as the second-best placed local team. For more match photos, visit our photo album in the SportPlus.sg photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Lion City Sailors – as the league’s best-placed local team – will contest in the AFC Champions League play-offs for a berth in the group stages of Asia’s premier club competition. The Sailors will drop into the AFC Cup group stage phase should they fail to progress from the Champions League play-off phase. Both sides were evenly matched with similar 3-5-2 systems. Tanjong Pagar were unchanged, with defender Akram Azman continuing in a left-centre-back role. Geylang head coach Noor Ali recalled left-wing-back Ilhan Noor and midfielder Huzaifah Aziz into the line-up, which meant midfielder Joshua Pereira dropped back into defence. A cagey start to proceedings was amplified by a series of scathing challenges midway through the game. First, Geylang’s Huzaifah Aziz was booked for a reckless tackle on Blake Ricciuto on the 26th minute mark. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Next, two minutes later, it was Tanjong Pagar’s Raihan Rahman’s turn to be yellow-carded for a flying tackle on Sime Zuzul to prevent a Geylang counter-attack. Geylang eventually pulled ahead on the half hour mark from a similar situation – a quickly taken free kick from goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam. Striker Sime Zuzul tussled with defender Raihan Rahman to win the aerial ball, before feeding teammate Vincent Bezecourt with a square pass across goal. The Frenchman weaved his way past surrounding defenders before stroking the ball across ground into the bottom corner, on his weaker left foot. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Defender Raihan Rahman had to come off injured thereafter, replaced by national team veteran Shakir Hamzah. The 29-year-old defender with 58 international caps for Singapore nearly made an instant impact, after his header from a corner came crashing off the post just seconds after jogging on. Shakir Hamzah then went from virtually hero to villain on the 41st minute mark. He clumsily diverted Tajeli Salamat’s driven cross into his own net, giving Geylang a two-goal cushion before the half-time interval. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The Jaguars came out from the interval with greater attacking intention and saw their chances improve on the 57th minute. Geylang’s Huzaifah Aziz was sent his marching orders for a second yellow card offence on Tanjong Pagar’s Rusyaidi Salime. Replays showed Huzaifah Aziz could have been nudged by Tanjong Pagar striker Reo Nishiguchi into Rusyaidi Salime’s path, but referee Andrea Verocino’s mind was made up. Geylang were down to ten-men. For more match photos, visit our photo album in the SportPlus.sg photo gallery here. Tanjong Pagar capitalised on their numerical advantage just after the hour mark. Captain Faritz Hameed burst down the right flank and his lofted cross was deftly headed into the net by Australian teammate Blake Ricciuto. The Jaguars, buoyed by their attacking momentum, eventually overturned a two-goal deficit, and drew level in the 72nd minute courtesy of substitute Khairul Nizam. A short corner-kick found Aqhari Abdullah, who whipped a sumptuous cross into the box. Khairul Nizam rose highest to head past a flailing Zaiful Nizam, who failed to prevent the ball from sailing into the top corner of his net. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Minutes later, Tanjong Pagar could have taken the lead for the first time but striker Reo Nishiguchi, who netted five goals against Young Lions last week, saw a lobbed effort bounce narrowly wide of the post with Zaiful Nizam stuck in no-man’s land. Zaiful Nizam was hurt from scrambling back towards goal, and having used substitutes on three separate occasions, Geylang were forced to play with nine-men and midfielder Joshua Pereira in goal for the remaining eight minutes plus injury time. Despite making a number of saves, Joshua Pereira’s resistance in goal was broken in the 89th minute. Substitute defender Daniel Bennett’s cross was headed into the net by talisman Reo Nishiguchi to give Tanjong Pagar the lead for the first time in the match. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG With twelve minutes of injury time added on, Geylang bided their time and dramatically found an equaliser from a moment of individual brilliance. Vincent Bezecourt curled in a 30-yard free-kick from range, sending the home supporters and fervent Ultra Eagles into raptures. The home side held on for the draw to effectively end Tanjong Pagar’s hopes for third position and a potential AFC Cup slot. Speaking after the match, Tanjong Pagar head coach Hasrin Jailani said his players should be proud of what they have achieved despite missing out on third place. For more match photos, visit our photo album in the SportPlus.sg photo gallery here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG “We have come this far; the players shouldn’t feel disappointed. Everyone wants to have a spot at the AFC Cup, but we have improved from last season. We have two more games to play for fourth position, and we have the Singapore Cup coming up,” he said. “Not only the players, but everyone at the club is also aiming to achieve the highest position we want. The players are looking forward to the next two matches,” added coach Hasrin Jailani. Geylang head coach Noor Ali lamented the timing of the red card but remained proud of his players for the late equaliser. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG “The character of the boys was fantastic. They fought till the end and got a very good goal from Vincent (Bezecourt)’s free kick.” Speaking about the decision to play midfielder Joshua Pereira in goal, he said: “We were decided between Faizal (Roslan) and Joshua (Pereira) because both of them played as goalkeepers in training sessions. But I picked Joshua because Faizal can still be a centre-back in a makeshift defence. It was a gamble, but I think Joshua made two very good saves.” Coach Noor Ali also claimed the Eagles would be fully focused for the final two league matches. “For us we have to keep on going because at the start of the season nobody gave us a chance to finish fourth. We are in a fourth-place chase right now and we just have to keep on trying our best to finish as high as possible,” he added. For more match photos, visit our photo album in the SportPlus.sg photo gallery here. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

SportPlus.sg's Cheryl Tay shares her maiden experience at the BMW Berlin Marathon with our readers, from joy to anguish - the race brought out a rollercoaster of emotions in the triathlete PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF Renewed respect. That’s what I have for the full marathon distance and all marathon runners after completing the 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon. This distance is not to be underestimated and it requires an abundance of patience. When I first received the opportunity from BMW Group Asia to run the Berlin Marathon, I was excited and beyond ecstatic. I was on a mission to do better for myself and the environment, and this is the finale to the sustainability partnership with BMW Group Asia (focusing on both environmental and social sustainability), where we engaged in a series of conservation activities and raised funds for a good cause together. The 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon is a world-class marathon event – one of the six World Marathon Majors (WMM) – that you have to ballot for. It’s exclusive, special and limited. This marks my first WMM and only my second marathon. Although I am no stranger to endurance races (having done Ironman 70.3 races for nearly five years), this distance is new to me and running is not my strongest suit. But I had every intention to run a decent time. PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF Based on paper (extrapolated from my half-marathon personal best time of 1:49:30 clocked in May), going under 4 hours for a marathon is possible for me, but we all know that it doesn’t work like that. You still have to put in the hours and it also depends on the conditions on race day, including your body condition. I held on to my sub-4 target anyway, keeping it in sight. After the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast race at the end of July, the plan was to have 8 weeks of dedicated marathon training. However, I caught some vile flu bug and I was out for three whole weeks. Three precious weeks I could have used for training. I had lost my voice, came down with fever, had a nasty chest-wrecking cough with thick green phlegm, endured a burning throat and just felt awful. PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF This left me with only five weeks of marathon training. I tried to do some easy running two weeks after I fell ill, but I felt worse and had to wait for another week before I slowly felt well enough to resume training properly. I was panicking at some point, but I told myself to just recover and do what I could. Then another spanner was thrown in the works. With less than 3 weeks to the race, an old injury called plantar fasciitis decided to pay me a visit. In both heels. I had to pause training and pull out all stops to seek treatment. Thankfully, after bouts of dry needling, deep tissue massage and sports taping, I managed to reduce the pain and made it to the start line. PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF Deep down I knew that my sub-4 target was going to be challenging, but I still wanted to give it a try. BAM! I went out the start line feeling confident and the race atmosphere was so electrifying that I allowed myself to get swept up in it. The cool weather (of 11-16 degrees Celsius) also made for comfortable running conditions. Holding an average of 5:30-5:35 minutes per kilometre, I kept telling myself that all I had to do was keep this pace to the end. It was that simple… NOT. In my excitement, I had failed to notice my heart rate was spiking. By the time I hit the 26km mark, I blew up. Just like that. I had to stop abruptly and that was when I realised my heart rate was in Zone 5. My mind was willing me to keep going, but my chest and my legs weren’t cooperating. Yup, I’ve hit the Berlin Wall (you are allowed to laugh at this pun). PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF The truth was, I had definitely started too fast, gassed out and the resulting mental anguish was excruciating. I’ve heard from many that once you hit the wall, it’s gonna be a real struggle. Certainly was. It was still a long way to go – with 16.195km more – and no matter how bad I felt, I knew I had to keep the fight going. I did a mind reset, gave myself a pep talk and started jogging slowly. I walked through a few aid stations, kept myself hydrated, continued with my nutrition plan, stopped being concerned about my time and pace on my beautiful new Apple Watch Ultra (which I will give a detailed review on later) and just focused on one step at a time. PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF Thank goodness for the support on the course that was phenomenal. People were lined up all the way, all 42.195 kilometres, cheering and screaming. There were musicians and bands, people blasting music on speakers, people holding out cute signs like “Tap for more power” and “This is a lot of work for a free banana” – and all of these sights and sounds helped to keep me going. Strangers were calling out “Go Cheryl!”, “Come on Cheryl!”, reading my name off my bib. It was amazing! When the iconic Brandenburg Gate came into sight, it meant the finish line was very close and that was when the floodgates opened. I thought of the significance of Berlin, how it is so steeped in war history, how much the city has gone through and how lucky I am to be here. A mix of emotions overwhelmed me, the tears started flowing and I was wiping my face all the way to the finish. PHOTO: SPORTOGRAF I crossed the line in 4:15:49, which is not anywhere near my target, but at least I tried! It just means I have more work to do, both physical and mental. Perhaps I was also too harsh on myself! This is a 12-minute improvement from my first and last marathon in Singapore in 2019. It was a humbling experience too, because the marathon really, only starts after the halfway mark. 42.195km is very long and anything can happen during the race. Despite it all, nothing and nobody can take away the incredible experience I had, at my first ever WMM. It is everything that everyone has said about it – the cold weather, the flat route, the heartwarming supporters. And a world record venue – the legendary Eliud Kipchoge just broke his own record at the very same race. Now for some well-deserved rest, more Currywurst and some speedy action down the Autobahn in the BMW i4 M50 electric vehicle. Cheryl is enjoying her post-race vacation in Germany as she wrote this. #BerlinMarathon #CherylTay