'COMPLICATED EMOTIONS'

Nakamura joins Sailors, set for debut in Cup final against ex-team Tampines

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

As a playmaker, Kyoga Nakamura constantly visualises potential scenarios in which he can make a killer pass or take a shot at goal.

But what the 29-year-old could not foresee was that in his first match back in Singapore after a six-month Thai sojourn, he would be playing for the Lion City Sailors, arch-rivals of his former club BG Tampines Rovers.

His debut could come as early as the Singapore Cup final between both sides at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Jan 10, a repeat of the May 2025 final, which the Sailors won 1-0.

The Singapore international, who was unveiled as a Sailor on Jan 8 after signing a 21/2-year deal, told The Straits Times: "I have complicated emotions because I spent almost six years with BG Tampines.

"I'm really looking forward to playing against them as opponents, but I really respect them as well. It's difficult, but I would like to enjoy the game.

"I got a lot of messages from Tampines fans who told me to go back to Tampines and not go to the Sailors. Maybe some fans will hate me, but I understand. But since I have decided to join the Sailors, I will show my best attitude on and off the pitch."

A former Japanese youth international who played at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup, Nakamura came through the JEF United Chiba academy and played in the J3 League for YSCC Yokohama and FC Ryukyu.