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."
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday. The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Everton 1-0 Man Utd - Fellaini Heads Toffees To Surprise Win As Red Devils Flop At Goodison (Photos & Highlights) Alan Duffy . 20th, August 2012. 3 Comments. By Alan Duffy. Everton 1-0
Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Toffees win hard-fought battle of
Home » Sport » Champions League: What Fabinho said about Messi after Liverpool's 4-0 win over Barcelona. Champions League final: Barcelona react to Liverpool's 2-0 win over Tottenham.
What Luis Suarez said about Liverpool's incredible win over
Hugo Lloris believes that Tottenham Hotspur will face the most in-form team in the Premier League when they go up against Liverpool at Anfield. The North London outfit travel to Merseyside on the
Hugo Lloris fears Tottenham may have to WIN Champions League
Maurizio Sarri insists Chelsea can still finish in the Premier League's top four after Eden Hazard's late strike rescued a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday. Sarri's side were seconds away from
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw - Page 2 of 2
Football: Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid. Neymar will miss Wednesday's Champions League last-16 return leg against Manchester United with the metatarsal problem he suffered six weeks ago.
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid | Deccan Herald
Man United Miss Out On Top Four After Draw With Huddersfield by ogbiwa: 7:16am On May 06 Manchester United will have to settle for Europa League football next season after being held by a Huddersfield side who were relegated in March.
What Man United's draw with Huddersfield means for Arsenal
Sharjah 24 - Reuters: Fabio Quagliarella became Italy's oldest goalscorer as his double helped Roberto Mancini's rejuvenated side thrash 10-man Liechtenstein 6-0 in their second Euro 2020 qualifier on Tuesday.
Soccer: Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash
gambler
Synonyms for high-stakes gambler at Thesaurus.com with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Find descriptive alternatives for high-stakes gambler.
High stakes for 'gambler' Low - theworldnews.net
The Bankruptcy Means Test. Among other things involved in the bankruptcy process, before you can file a Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy, you will have to take a means test.The means test identifies those debtors who have the financial capacity to pay a significant portion of their bills to creditors.
List of retailers affected by the retail apocalypse - Wikipedia
Arsenal manager Unai Emery was fined £8,000 on Monday but avoided a touchline ban for kicking a plastic bottle at a Brighton supporter. Football news - Arsenal's Unai Emery fined for kicking
Unai Emery: Arsenal boss fined £8,000 by FA for kicking water
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de Gea Manchester United News:
David de Gea has made three errors leading to goals in his last four games in all competitions for Manchester United, as many as in his previous 123 matches for the club As Manchester United lined
Man Utd: David de Gea ridiculed for blaming wind for howler v
Jürgen Klopp's pre-match prediction proved to be spot on - all good things do come in threes.And after the match he warned again: Liverpool's sixth UEFA Champions trophy is only the beginning under his watch. "It's like this is still only the start," he said. "This club is about winning.
'This is only the start', says Jürgen Klopp after Liverpool's
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch champions league live streaming vf
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming online
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch champions league final live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch live english premier league online free streaming
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league live streaming vk
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch usa soccer live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch premier league stream reddit
watch live soccer stream android
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer game live now
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch live soccer streaming free android
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch soccer aid live stream online
free watch champions league live streaming
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
#sumbertv #cristianoronaldo #freekick #goodday #realmadridcf #adidasslipon #neymar #coffeebreak #champion #leicestercity #liverpoolfans #footballmeme #fut #commentimemorabili #battuteepiche #oasisandbeatles #england #nikesoccer #manchesterunited #Bar #gym #manchestercity #liverpoolfc #uefanationsleague #freekicks #gunners #valcea #Suarez #championship #boxing #manchestercity #433skills #panini #seriea #BMW #arsenalnews #gooners #livestreams #portsmouthfc #liverpoolcity #copaamerica #visubal #footballmemes #kopisusu #Liverpool #Barcelona #Vip45 #footballschedule #bestshishacafedubai #goal #thebeatles #oasisengland #vip #championsleague #oasis #football #zidane #football #romania #watchlive
No comments:
Post a Comment