Since 2015, no local team have won the Singapore Premier League (previously known as the S-League), and no team have broken the Albirex Niigata monopoly since 2016.
But a trio of regular contenders and dark horses have emerged in a bid to end the Japanese team's dominance this season.
Five-time champions Tampines Rovers and two-time winners Home United have already beaten the White Swans this year, and kept the bulk of their respective squads.
With chairman Desmond Ong handing out multi-year contracts since coming on board in 2017, the Stags are benefiting from stability and continuity as their players show understanding of their roles and responsibilities on the pitch.
The young and talented - such as 19-year-old Singaporean Joel Chew and 20-year-old Serb Zehrudin Mehmedovic - are complemented by seasoned campaigners such as Canadian Jordan Webb, 30, and 41-year-old centre-back Daniel Bennett, into his 21st season.
"Having kept the bulk of players from last season definitely helps in terms of chemistry," said Webb, who has 79 goals in 208 league games over nine seasons. "I would be selling us short if I say we are not going for all the trophies. We have good atmosphere, good ideas and the energy levels are high."
His coach Gavin Lee added: "We want to be effective in and out of pre-season. If we can win and entertain with attractive football, that would be the ideal scenario."
The Protectors were the best local side last season, finishing as SPL runners-up and winning the AFC Cup Asean zonal final.
Like Tampines, they have retained 17 of 24 players, including South Korean linchpin Song Ui-young and the evergreen Shahril Ishak, who combined for 40 goals in all competitions last term.
They boast the impressive Under-23 trio of forward Adam Swandi, central midfielder Hami Syahin and central defender Taufiq Muqminin.
With their last major trophy coming in the Singapore Cup in 2013 and their last league title in 2003, Home coach Saswadimata Dasuki said it is time to end the drought.
"We want to build on our successes last season and go one better," said Saswadimata, whose side beat Albirex on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield last Saturday.
"It should be one of the most open seasons in recent years, but we won't write them off. They can only get better training full-time, without national service or school commitments (like local clubs).
Meanwhile, the dark horses in the nine-team SPL appear to be Hougang United, who added considerable firepower to a team who scored a league-low of just 22 goals in 24 games last season.
While they have never finished in the top half or won any major titles, the Cheetahs are gunning for history, with coach Clement Teo declaring that "third would be an underachievement".
Retaining forwards Iqbal Hussain, Shahfiq Ghani and Fazrul Nawaz, they signed Faris Ramli and welcomed back Croat Stipe Plazibat and captain Zulfahmi Arifin.
They initially secured the services of 2015 and 2016 top scorer Rafael Ramazotti, only for the Brazilian to go missing and sign for Mexican club FC Juarez. Instead, they have shored up their defence with South Korean centre-back Kong Ho-won.
Teo said: "Afiq Yunos was our only natural centre-back... The Ramazotti incident allowed us to sign Kong and it was a bonus we picked up Faris. He will give us a different dimension with his ability to take on players.
"With the team we assembled, we feel we need to be in the title race. Among our players, the mindset is, even a draw is underachieving."
Zulfahmi, who has returned after one season with Thailand's Chonburi, added: "Any team can win the league this season and Albirex are beatable. It depends on who are the most consistent across 24 games.
"We now have quality attackers and a great team, so we got to be more adventurous and clinical than before to fight for our targets."
CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to face Manchester United this summer after being kept away from a tournament in America over fears he will be detained in a rape probe. ICC TOURNAMENT . The majority
ICC news: Ronaldo skips ICC, Barca bring Messi, Suarez
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle (Reuters) - Crystal Palace all but banished any lingering relegation fears as captain Luka Milivojevic fired home a late penalty to secure a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle on Saturday.
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle | Reuters.com
WOLFSBURG, Germany (REUTERS) - Germany's new-look team made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday (March 20), showing signs of improvement following a disastrous 2018.
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw
Goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday in manager Jurgen Klopp's 200th game in charge.
Southampton 1-3 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side return to top
Soccer Football - FA Cup Fifth Round - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - February 18, 2019 Manchester United's Ander Herrera scores their first goal Action Images via
Soccer: United dump holders Chelsea out of Cup to pile
Spurs TV fixtures: Where you can watch the clashes against Manchester City and West Ham. Tottenham will be on television a few times before the end of the season
Tottenham confirm Man City clash at Wembley - africa.espn.com
So tl dr First half Spurs push two full back forward Rashford and martial play wide to exploit that space left behind full back on counter (get 1 goal) Second half Poch change spurs shape to 3-3-1-3 only trippier push forward davies stay back and it make our counter attacking plan failed. 3-3-1-3 also make we 1 man down in the midfield.
Spurs must become world-class team to match world-class
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to
If his status as one of the Amsterdam club's most exciting prospects in years did not place enough pressure on his shoulders, there is the added burden of being the son of Ajax and Barcelona
Why Dutch Clubs Sell Their Best Players - Football Oranje
Justin Franks (I) on IMDb: Movies, Tv, Celebrities, and more LATEST HEADLINES. Viola Davis to Return as Amanda Waller in James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' (Exclusive)
NASA Encounters the Perfect Storm for Science - mars.nasa.gov
Leicester axe Puel, target Rodgers as successor, Football
Mauricio Pochettino praised his Tottenham players after an "important" 3-0 win at Cardiff banished the memories of Saturday's shock home defeat to Wolves. Spurs moved back into second place and
Leicester City Welcome Brendan Rodgers With Win, Newcastle
Cristiano Ronaldo will spearhead Juventus' old guard as they look to finish the job on Tuesday against Ajax's impressive young guns in a quarter-final clash between two sides desperate to end
Football: Juventus' old guard bidding to finish job against
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch premier league live in stream
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming hd
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch champions league live streaming vf
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch soccer live stream app
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming quality
where to watch premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer am live stream
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch premier league darts live stream
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch live streaming of premier league football
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer games live stream free
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch english premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee5
#Barca #fut #Sunday #goodday #chocolatecoffee #Suarez #bayervshoffenheim #commento #leicestercity #bayernmunich #alissonbecker #league2 #league1 #nikesoccer #seriea #BMW #liverpoolfc #vandijk #frasitrap #frasirap #soccerbible #footballstreaming #cristianoronaldo #soccermemes #midnight #champion #england #arsenalnews #PartyTime #bayern #manunited #arsenal #valcea #watchlive #ronaldo #lfc #villarealcf #roadtrip #nutmeg #serieatim #mancityvsliverpool #vip #leomessi #hoffenhiem #coys #Fcb #bestshishacafedubai #manchestercity #soccer #calciatoribrutti #romania #goal #paulmcartney #barcelona #sixtimes
No comments:
Post a Comment