2019 Singapore Premier League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Singapore Premier League
Season2019
ChampionsBrunei DPMM FC
(2nd title)
AFC Champions LeagueTampines Rovers
AFC CupHougang United
Geylang International
2018
2020

The 2019 Singapore Premier League (also known as the AIA Singapore Premier League due to sponsorship reasons) was the 2nd season of the Singapore Premier League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its rebranding in 2018. A major overhaul from the new FAS management was made from this season onwards to improve the standard of Singapore football.[1]

Rules[]

The following key changes were made to the rules for the 2019 season:[2]

  1. Singapore Premier League clubs could sign three imports from next season after the increase in foreign player quota was raised at the Football Association of Singapore's 36th Annual Congress [3]
  2. From 2019, only four stadiums host regular matches. The 8 teams (excluding DPMM) will host the matches in the following stadiums. Our Tampines Hub (Tampines Rovers and Geylang International), Jalan Besar Stadium (Young Lions and Hougang United), Bishan Stadium (Home United and Balestier Khalsa) and Jurong East Stadium (Albirex Niigata and Warriors FC).[4]
  3. For 2019, Albirex is allowed to sign as many locals as their budget allows. However, the club are only allowed one Singaporean over the age of 23. Also, Albirex must have two Singaporeans in their starting lineup for each game.[5]
  4. Each team is now able to register up to 28 players in their squad, an increase of 3 players as compared to 2018.

Teams[]

A total of 9 teams compete in the league. Albirex Niigata (S) and DPMM FC are invited foreign clubs from Japan and Brunei respectively. Despite large criticism and discussion against the Young Lions project, the Young Lions will continue to compete till 2019 for the purposes of training and preparing for the 2019 SEA Games.[6] The criticism mainly focused on the poor performances every season by the largely youth team made up of Singapore Football's brightest prospects. Season-long consecutive losses against the rest of the more mature teams inflicts serious long-term consequences on the morale of the players, considering that most of these players are in the developmental ages of their footballing career. The new age restrictions imposed on the rest of the Singapore Premier League clubs could be seen as giving the Young Lions a better advantage in terms of seniority, but most critics and fans of Singapore football are still wanting the FAS to abolish the FAS-managed Young Lions and have them developed under the guidance of genuine local clubs.

Stadiums and locations[]

Location of 2018 Singapore Premier League teams
Locations of the 2018 Singapore Premier League teams from Singapore
Albirex (S) Warriors FC
Albirex (S)
Warriors FC
Hougang United Young Lions
Hougang United
Young
Lions
Balestier Khalsa Home Utd
Balestier Khalsa
Home Utd
Geylang International Tampines Rovers
Geylang International
Tampines Rovers
Locations of the 2018 Singapore Premier League teams from Singapore
Team Stadium Capacity
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Jurong East Stadium 2,700
Balestier Khalsa Bishan Stadium 3,500
Brunei DPMM FC Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium 28,000
Geylang International Our Tampines Hub 5,000
Home United Bishan Stadium 3,500
Hougang United Jalan Besar Stadium 6,000
Tampines Rovers Our Tampines Hub 5,000
Warriors FC Jurong East Stadium 2,700
Singapore Young Lions Jalan Besar Stadium 6,000

Personnel and sponsors[]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Main Shirt sponsor
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Japan Keiji Shigetomi Japan Kyoga Nakamura[7] Mizuno[8] Canon
Balestier Khalsa Croatia Marko Kraljević Zaiful Nizam[9] Lotto Jeep[10]
Brunei DPMM FC England Adrian Pennock Brunei Wardun Yussof Lotto
Geylang International Mohd Noor Ali Japan Yuki Ichikawa[11] FBT[12] Epson
Home United Noh Rahman Izzdin Shafiq[13] Puma Linco Investments
Hougang United Clement Teo Zulfahmi Arifin[14] Warrix Jalan Besar Stadium
Tampines Rovers Kadir Yahaya Shahdan Sulaiman[15] Hummel[16] Hyunudai Avante
Warriors FC Khairul Nizam[17] Joma Rhino Sports
Singapore Young Lions Fandi Ahmad Joshua Pereira[18] Nike -

Coaching changes[]

Team Outgoing Head Coach Manner of Departure Date of Vacancy Position in table Incoming Head Coach Date of appointment
Geylang International Japan Hirotaka Usui End of exchange 29 September 2018[19] Pre-Season Mohd Noor Ali 21 December 2018[20]
Home United Aidil Sharin Sahak Signed by Malaysia Kedah FA 8 October 2018[21] Pre-Season 3 December 2018[22]
Tampines Rovers Germany Jurgen Raab Sacked 9 October 2018[23] Pre-Season 9 October 2018[24]
Tampines Rovers No license 9 October 2018 Pre-Season Kadir Yahaya 9 October 2018
Brunei DPMM FC Brazil Renê Weber Sacked 16 October 2018[25] Pre-Season England Adrian Pennock 17 October 2018[26]
Warriors FC Croatia Mirko Grabovac End of Contract 31 October 2018[27] Pre-Season 1 November 2018
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Japan Kazuaki Yoshinaga End of contract 30 November 2018[28] Pre-Season Japan Keiji Shigetomi 11 December 2018[29]
Hougang United NA NA 28 December 2018 Pre-Season Clement Teo 28 December 2018[30]
Balestier Khalsa Croatia Marko Kraljević Signed by Malaysia Kelantan FA 26 January 2019[31] Pre-Season 4 February 2019[32]
Home United Sacked 19 April 2019[33] 7th Noh Rahman (interim) 19 April 2019[34]
Home United Noh Rahman (interim) End of Caretaker 2 July 2019[35] 6th Serbia Radojko Avramović 2 July 2019[36]
Home United Serbia Radojko Avramović Step down (health reason) 18 August 2019[37] 5th Noh Rahman (interim) 18 August 2019[38]
Balestier Khalsa Sacked 24 September 2019 9th Croatia Marko Kraljević 24 September 2019[39]

Foreigners[]

Singapore Premier League clubs could sign three imports from next season after the increase in foreign player quota was raised at the Football Association of Singapore's 36th Annual Congress[3]

Albirex Niigata can sign up unlimited number of Singaporean players for the new season. Only 1 local player above 23 years old is allowed.[40]

Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 U21 Player 1 U21 Player 2 U21 Player 3 Former Players
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Singapore Hyrulnizam Juma'at[41] Singapore Noor Akid Nordin[41] Singapore Daniel Martens[42] Singapore Firas Irwan[43] Singapore Zamani Zamri[42] Singapore [43]
Balestier Khalsa Croatia Kristijan Krajcek[44] Croatia Sime Zuzul[44] Austria Sanjin Vrebac[45]
Brunei DPMM FC Australia Blake Ricciuto[46] England Charlie Clough[46] Belarus Andrey Varankow[46]
Geylang International Netherlands Barry Maguire[47] Japan Yuki Ichikawa[48] New Zealand Matthew Palmer[49] Australia [50]
Australia Corey Warren[51]
Home United Australia Isaka Cernak[52] South Korea Song Ui-young[53] Australia Oliver Puflett[54]
Hougang United Croatia Stipe Plazibat[55] South Korea Kong Ho-won[56] France Paulin Mbaye Brazil Rafael Ramazotti[57][58]
Tampines Rovers Canada Jordan Webb[59] Japan Ryutaro Megumi[60] Serbia Zehrudin Mehmedović[61] Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirza Delimeđac
Warriors FC France Jonathan Béhé[62] Japan Kento Fukuda[63] Japan Ryosuke Nagasawa

Note 1: Albirex is allowed to sign as many locals as their budget allows. However, the club are only allowed one Singaporean over the age of 23.

Note 2: DPMM FC can sign 3 foreigners.

Note 3: Singapore teams can sign 4 foreigners, of which 2 must be below 21 years old.

Results[]

Home \ Away ALB BAL DPM GEY HOM HOU TAM WAR YLI ALB BAL DPM GEY HOM HOU TAM WAR YLI
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 2–1 0–0 2–0 4–0 1–2 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 NA 1–0 NA NA NA 4–1
Balestier Khalsa 1–3 1–7 3–0 2–4 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–1 NA 1–4 3–4 NA 3–4 NA 3–3 NA
Brunei DPMM 2–0 2–1 3–0 2–0 3–2 2–1 4–2 0–0 NA NA 3–0 NA 5–4 0–1 3–0 NA
Geylang International 1–0 5–0 1–3 2–3 2–2 0–1 5–2 1–2 1–0 NA NA NA 4–4 2–1 4–3 NA
Home United 3–3 0–0 0–1 3–0 0–2 2–4 4–4 2–1 NA 1–3 1–0 3–2 NA NA NA 0–3
Hougang United 4–2 1–0 3–1 4–1 1–0 1–5 5–1 0–1 1–1 NA NA NA 2–0 2–4 3–1 NA
Tampines Rovers 0–0 4–2 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–3 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–3 NA NA 3–0 NA NA 1–1
Warriors 1–2 3–3 3–3 1–2 0–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 NA NA NA 1–3 NA 0–1 2–0
Singapore Young Lions 1–2 1–4 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 NA 1–0 1–1 1–2 NA 2–4 NA NA
Source:[citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

League table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Brunei DPMM[a] (C) 24 15 5 4 51 25 +26 50
2 Tampines Rovers 24 12 8 4 52 29 +23 44 Qualification for AFC Champions League preliminary round 1
3 Hougang United 24 13 4 7 58 45 +13 43 Qualification for AFC Cup group stage
4 Japan Albirex Niigata (S)[a] 24 12 5 7 36 25 +11 41
5 Geylang International 24 10 3 11 41 48 −7 33
6 Home United 24 9 3 12 34 46 −12 30
7 Warriors 24 6 5 13 40 56 −16 23
8 Singapore Young Lions[a] 24 6 4 14 21 38 −17 22
9 Balestier Khalsa 24 4 5 15 37 58 −21 17
Source: Singapore Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of wins
(C) Champion
Notes:
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c The two foreign clubs – Albirex Niigata (S) and DPMM – as well as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) under-21 team, Young Lions, are ineligible for any AFC competition spots.

Statistics[]

Top scorers[]

As of 29 Sept 2019.
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Belarus Andrey Varankow Brunei DPMM FC 21
2 Faris Ramli Hougang United 16
3 Canada Jordan Webb Tampines Rovers 15
4 France Jonathan Béhé Warriors FC 12
5 Hazzuwan Halim Balestier Khalsa 10
6 Croatia Stipe Plazibat Hougang United 9
6 Australia Blake Ricciuto Brunei DPMM FC 9
6 Gabriel Quak Warriors FC 9
6 Croatia Sime Zuzul Balestier Khalsa 9
6 Fareez Farhan Geylang International 9
11 Shawal Anuar Geylang International 8
11 Shahfiq Ghani Hougang United 8
13 Japan Hiroyoshi Kamata Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 7
13 Japan Kyoga Nakamura Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 7
13 Shahril Ishak Home United 7
13 Serbia Zehrudin Mehmedović Tampines Rovers 7

Top Assists[]

As of 29 Sept 2019.
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Belarus Andrey Varankow Brunei DPMM FC 10
1 Christopher van Huizen Geylang International 10
1 Japan Ryutaro Megumi Tampines Rovers 10
2 Croatia Šime Žužul Balestier Khalsa 9
3 Japan Kyoga Nakamura Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 8

Clean Sheet[]

As of 29 Sept 2019.
Rank Player Club Clean Sheet
1 Brunei Wardun Yussof Brunei DPMM FC 10
2 Japan Kengo Fukudome Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 8
3 Syazwan Buhari Tampines Rovers 6
4 Nazri Sabri Home United 5
5 Ridhuan Barudin Hougang United 4

Hat-tricks[]

Player For Against Result Date Reference
Belarus Andrey Varankow 5 Brunei DPMM FC Balestier Khalsa 7–1 13 April 2019 [64]
Belarus Andrey Varankow Brunei DPMM FC Warriors FC 3–0 14 September 2019 [65]
Fareez Farhan Geylang International Hougang United 4–4 15 September 2019 [66]
Shahfiq Ghani Hougang United Brunei DPMM FC 4–5 29 September 2019 [67]

Note 4 Player scored 4 goals 5 Player scored 5 goals

Own goal[]

Player Team Against Date
Zulfahmi Arifin Hougang United Tampines Rovers 3 March 2019
Darren Teh Geylang International Balestier Khalsa 31 March 2019
Lionel Tan Singapore Young Lions Tampines Rovers 29 May 2019
Shah Shahiran Tampines Rovers Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 15 June 2019
Hairul Syirhan Geylang International Warriors FC 18 September 2019

Penalty missed[]

Player For Against Date
Shahdan Sulaiman Tampines Rovers Hougang United 3 March 2019
Taufik Suparno Tampines Rovers Home United 8 March 2019
Japan Kyoga Nakamura Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Warriors FC 13 April 2019
Faris Ramli Hougang United Balestier Khalsa 12 May 2019
France Jonathan Béhé Warriors FC Brunei DPMM FC 6 July 2019
Croatia Sime Zuzul Balestier Khalsa Warriors FC 19 July 2019
Shahril Ishak Home United Balestier Khalsa 14 August 2019
Canada Jordan Webb Tampines Rovers Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 18 August 2019
Shahril Ishak Home United Hougang United 1 September 2019
Amy Recha Geylang International Home United 21 September 2019

Awards[]

Monthly awards[]

Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Reference
Coach Club Player Club
April Australia Blake Ricciuto Brunei DPMM FC Japan Kyoga Nakamura Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
May Gabriel Quak Warriors FC Japan Kyoga Nakamura Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
June Shawal Anuar Geylang International Zikos Chua Geylang International
July Christopher van Huizen Geylang International Zikos Chua Geylang International
August Croatia Šime Žužul Balestier Khalsa Jacob Mahler Singapore Young Lions
September Shahfiq Ghani Hougang United Faizal Raffi Warriors FC

Singapore Premier League Awards night winners[]

Awards Winners Club
Player of the Year Faris Ramli Hougang United
Young Player of the Year Hami Syahin Home United
Coach of the Year England Adrian Pennock Brunei DPMM FC
Top Scorer Award Belarus Andrey Varankow Brunei DPMM FC
Fair Play Award Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
Referee of the Year
Goalkeeper Brunei Wardun Yussof
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Defence Nazrul Nazari
(Hougang United)
Japan Kaishu Yamazaki
(Japan Albirex Niigata (S))
Japan Yuki Ichikawa
(Geylang International)
Irwan Shah
(Tampines Rovers)
Midfield Australia Blake Ricciuto
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Japan Kyoga Nakamura
(Japan Albirex Niigata (S))
Shahdan Sulaiman
(Tampines Rovers)
Attack Gabriel Quak
(Warriors FC)
Faris Ramli
(Hougang United)
Belarus Andrei Varankou
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Goalkeeper Brunei Wardun Yussof
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Defence Nazrul Nazari
(Hougang United)
Japan Kaishu Yamazaki
(Japan Albirex Niigata (S))
England Charlie Clough
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Irwan Shah
(Tampines Rovers)
Midfield Australia Blake Ricciuto
(Brunei DPMM FC)
Japan Kyoga Nakamura
(Japan Albirex Niigata (S))
Shahdan Sulaiman
(Tampines Rovers)
Attack Shawal Anuar
(Geylang International)
Faris Ramli
(Hougang United)
Belarus Andrei Varankou
(Brunei DPMM FC)

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