Lionesses' New War Cry - Play To Win

Coach Bencherifa credits 'mindset shift' to overseas players; looks to 2025's big events

- Kimberly Kwek

Almost two years into his role as the Lionesses coach, Karim Bencherifa said the national women's football team have seen a "mindset shift", with the players now striving to "play to win" as they aim to become more competitive in the region.

The 57-year-old recently signed a one-year extension that will keep him in the position till March 2026, and he is looking forward to building on what the team have accomplished so far.

"Singapore doesn't play any more to not lose," Bencherifa said.

"There's a big difference between playing the game to not lose - whether from the tactical choices like when you go in the game, you try to defend, play with one striker, you wait for the opposition. That's part of playing not to lose.

"The mindset shift is to play to win. That's what we try to do now - high pressure on the opponent, playing two strikers, keeping possession."

He credits this shift to the presence of overseas-based players such as Danelle Tan, who plays for A-League Women side Brisbane Roar, and recipients of the Unleash The Roar! scholarship.

On staying another year, Bencherifa said: "When I came in March 2023, I feel like I have started a project. It took me a few months to understand the environment and I started to work towards the future as well.