SPL Comes First as Sailors Pursue Regional Success

Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Lion City Sailors will begin the 2025-26 season with a target on their backs.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

On top of the domestic double with triumphs in both the SPL where they secured 22 wins in 32 games to finish eight points clear of BG Tampines Rovers – and the Singapore Cup, the Sailors also made a dent in Asian football after an unprecedented journey to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two final, as they saw off teams from China, Japan, Australia and Thailand along the way.

But, while they eye another deep run in the ACL 2 and also improve on an Asean Club Championship group-stage exit, the Sailors cannot afford to take their eyes off the local prize, with the 2025-26 SPL set to provide a stern test for the privatised club.

SPL clubs will be able to field up to seven foreigners per match – an increase of one – in the coming season.

Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic has already sounded the warning.

“It’s a totally different competition and you cannot compare it,” said Rankovic, who pointed out that some teams have registered more than seven foreigners.