2018 Singapore Premier League

Singapore Premier League
Season 2018
Dates 31 March 2018 – 3 October 2018
Champions Japan Albirex Niigata (S) (3rd title)
Community Shield Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
Matches played 79
Goals scored 248 (3.14 per match)
Top goalscorer Japan Shuhei Hoshino (18 goals)
Biggest home win

Albirex Niigata (S) Japan 5–0 Balestier Khalsa
(28 May 2018)

Albirex Niigata (S) Japan 5–0 Brunei DPMM FC
(3 June 2018)
Biggest away win Home United FC 1–6 Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
(18 April 2018)
Highest scoring Geylang International 2–6 Brunei DPMM FC
(10 June 2018)
Longest winning run 17 matches
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
Longest unbeaten run 18 matches
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
Longest winless run 13 matches
Hougang United FC
Longest losing run 5 matches
Geylang International
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 Singapore Premier League (also known as the Great Eastern Hyundai Singapore Premier League due to sponsorship reasons) is the 23rd season of the Singapore Premier League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1996. The season begins on 31 March 2018,[1] and is scheduled to conclude on 3 October 2018. Albirex Niigata (S) are the defending and imminent champions.

Each team will receive $888,200 if they meet key performance indicators that will be made known to them before the March 31 kick-off. This represents a "19 per cent reduction from the 2017 season", but funding for the league has been secured for the next five years.[2]

It is the league's first season after rebranding from the S.League to the Singapore Premier League. A major overhaul from the new FAS management is being made from this season onwards to improve the standard of Singapore football.[3]

An emphasis on youth development from the ground up is underway.

Rules

The following key changes are being made to the rules for the 2018 season:[4]

  1. It is compulsory for each of the SPL's six local clubs to recruit at least six Under-23 footballers for their squad, with a minimum of three Under-23 players to feature in the starting 11 for each match. The first U-23 player must be replaced by another, if the substitution occurs in the 1st half. Beyond this, any U-23 players can be replaced by any other players.
  2. Depending on the squad size, each team is to sign at least eight local players aged 24 to 30. A 25-man squad will need to have nine local U-23 players and 10 local players aged 24 to 30.[5]
  3. Introduction of age quotas, with teams allowed to sign only two to six players above the age of 30, depending on squad size. For example, for squad between 19 and 22 players, there must be minimum of six under-23 players and 8 under-30 players. This will apply to all club except Young Lions and Albirex Niigata (S).
  4. Young Lions can sign a maximum of 33 players for the season.
  5. The foreign player quota for clubs will be reduced from three to two with no age restriction placed on them.
  6. Albirex Niigata (S) has age restrictions imposed by the FAS for the new season. The squad will be made up of 50% of U23 players, 50% of U21 players and one player of any age. This is excluding 2 Singapore U-23 players which they can choose to sign.[6][7]
  7. The Singapore Premier League lineup for 2018 will remain the same as Young Lions are set to compete in 2018.
  8. The Prime League will be scrapped with the National Football League (NFL) set to be installed as the second-tier competition.
  9. Yo-yo test will replace the current mandatory 2.4 km test, and players will be tested three times a year in the pre-season, midseason and off-season.
  10. All matches will be played during weekends at 5:30 p.m.

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. [8] 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

Team Stadium Capacity
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Jurong East Stadium 2,700
Balestier Khalsa Toa Payoh Stadium 3,800
Brunei DPMM FC Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium 28,000
Geylang International Bedok Stadium 3,800
Home United Bishan Stadium 3,500
Hougang United Hougang Stadium 3,400
Tampines Rovers Our Tampines Hub 5,000
Warriors FC Choa Chu Kang Stadium 4,000
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 Kazuaki Yoshinaga Japan Wataru Murofushi [9] Hummel [10] Canon
Balestier Khalsa Croatia Marko Kraljević Zaiful Nizam Mawin Jeep [11]
Brunei DPMM FC Brazil Renê Weber Brunei Shahrazen Said [12] Lotto –
Geylang International Japan Hirotaka Usui Japan Yuki Ichikawa FBT [13] Epson
Home United Aidil Sharin Izzdin Shafiq [14] Puma Lionco Investments
Hougang United Philippe Aw[15] Nurhilmi Jasni Vonda -
Tampines Rovers Germany Jürgen Raab[16] Fahrudin Mustafić Hummel [17] – [18] / ANA Courier Express
Warriors FC Croatia Mirko Grabovac Japan Kento Fukuda Umbro Rhino Sports / Armaggeddon
Singapore Young Lions Fandi Ahmad Taufiq Muqminin Nike -

Note: 1) ANA Courier Express is Tampines Rovers's Singapore Cup jersey sponsor only 2) Hougang United had a partnership with Assisi Hospice via its donation drive. Assisi Hospice will be published on the jersey

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing Head Coach Manner of Departure Date of Vacancy Position in table Incoming Head Coach Date of appointment
Brunei DPMM FC Scotland Steve Kean Sacked [19] 30 November 2017 Pre-Season Brazil Renê Weber [20] 1 January 2018
Singapore Young Lions Vincent Subramaniam Redeployed [21] [22] 14 December 2017 Pre-Season Fandi Ahmad [23] 14 December 2017
Warriors FC Razif Onn Redeployed [24] 1 January 2018 Pre-Season Croatia Mirko Grabovac [25] 15 January 2018
Geylang International Mohd Noor Ali Redeployed [26] 1 February 2018 Pre-Season Japan Hirotaka Usui [27] 1 February 2018
Hougang United Philippe Aw Sacked [28] 10 June 2018 9th Clement Teo (Caretaker) 10 June 2018

Foreigners

The foreign player quota for clubs will be reduced from three to two.[29]

In addition, Albirex was reported to have declared their intention to have Singapore players in their squad for 2018 and is understood that a proposal is being put together for Albirex to take in local players and they will be allowed to sign two Singaporean U-23 players.[30][31] Only DPMM are allowed to sign up to three foreigners. [32]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Youth Players 1 Youth Players 2 Former Players
Japan Albirex Niigata (S) Singapore Shahul Rayyan [33] Singapore Adam Swandi [34]
Balestier Khalsa Croatia Vedran Mesec [35] New Zealand Keegan Linderboom [36] Serbia Dusan Marinkovic Austria Sanjin Vrebac [37]
Brunei DPMM FC Iran Mojtaba Esmaeilzadeh [38] Northern Ireland Brian McLean [39] Ukraine Volodymyr Pryyomov [40]
Geylang International Japan Yuki Ichikawa [41] Japan Fumiya Kogure [42]
Home United Australia Isaka Cernak [43] South Korea Song Ui-young [44] France Sirina Camara [45]
Hougang United Italy Antoine Viterale[46] South Korea Jang Jo-yoon [47] England Adam Mitter [48] [49]
Tampines Rovers Canada Jordan Webb [50] Japan Ryutaro Megumi [51]
Warriors FC France Jonathan Béhé [52] Japan Kento Fukuda [53]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Japan Albirex Niigata (S)[lower-alpha 1] 24 21 3 0 69 17 +52 66
2 Home United 24 12 7 5 48 36 +12 43 Qualification to
AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1
or AFC Cup Group Stage
3 Brunei DPMM FC[lower-alpha 1] 24 11 8 5 46 38 +8 41 Qualification to AFC Cup Group Stage
4 Tampines Rovers 24 12 4 8 43 27 +16 40
5 Warriors FC 24 7 7 10 32 35 −3 28
6 Balestier Khalsa 24 7 6 11 25 36 −11 27
7 Singapore Young Lions[lower-alpha 1] 24 5 6 13 25 46 −21 21
8 Geylang International 24 5 5 14 26 57 −31 20
9 Hougang United 24 2 6 16 22 44 −22 12 Possible relegation to
National Football League Division 1
Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 2018. Source: Singapore Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of wins
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 The two foreign clubs – Albirex Niigata (S) and DPMM FC – 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 3 October 2018.
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Japan Shuhei Hoshino Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 19
2 France Jonathan Behe Singapore Warriors FC 17
3 Ukraine Volodymyr Priyomov Brunei DPMM FC 17
4 Singapore Khairul Amri Singapore Tampines Rovers 15
5 Singapore Shahril Ishak Singapore Home United 13

Clean Sheets

As of 3 October 2018.
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Japan Yōsuke Nozawa Japan Albirex Niigata (S) 10
2 Singapore Syazwan Buhari Singapore Tampines Rovers 9
3 Singapore Rudy Khairullah Singapore Home United 5
3 Singapore Mukundan Maran Singapore Warriors FC 5
5 Singapore Zaiful Nizam Singapore Balestier Khalsa 4

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateReference
Japan Taku MorinagaJapan Albirex Niigata (S)Balestier Khalsa5–027 May 2018
France Jonathan BéhéWarriors FCTampines Rovers3–217 June 2018
Khairul AmriTampines RoversBalestier Khalsa5–230 June 2018
Khairul AmriTampines RoversGeylang International4–121 July 2018
Brunei Abdul Azizi Ali RahmanBrunei Brunei DPMMHougang United3–118 August 2018
South Korea Song Ui-youngHome UnitedWarriors FC4–323 September 2018

Singapore Premier League Awards night winners

Awards Winners Club
Player of the Year Japan Wataru Murofushi Singapore Albirex Niigata (S)
Young Player of the Year Singapore Adam Swandi Singapore Albirex Niigata (S)
Coach of the Year Japan Kazuaki Yoshinaga Singapore Albirex Niigata (S)
Top Scorer Award Japan Shuhei Hoshino Singapore Albirex Niigata (S)
Goal of the Year Singapore Zulfadhmi Suzliman Singapore Tampines Rovers
Fair Play Award Japan Albirex Niigata (S)
Referee of the Year Nathan Chan
FansXI Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Japan Yosuke Nozawa
(Albirex Niigata (S))
Defence Japan Riku Moriyasu
(Albirex Niigata (S))		 Japan Shuhei Sasahara
(Albirex Niigata (S))		 Japan Kento Fukuda
(Warriors FC)		 Japan Kenya Takahashi
(Albirex Niigata (S))
Midfield Singapore Hafiz Nor
(Home United)		 Japan Wataru Murofushi
(Albirex Niigata (S))		 South Korea Song Ui-young
(Home United)		 Singapore Adam Swandi
(Albirex Niigata (S))
Attack Singapore Shahril Ishak
(Home United)		 Japan Shuhei Hoshino
(Albirex Niigata (S))

References

  1. ↑ "New season to start in late March 2018".
  2. ↑ "FAS president Lim Kia Tong calls for change of mindset to improve S-League".
  3. ↑ Football: Goodbye S-League, welcome Singapore Premier League Straits Times, 21 March 2018
  4. ↑ "2018 changes".
  5. ↑ "Age quota set in stone for 2018".
  6. ↑ "Albirex hit with age restrictions too but Koh's calm".
  7. ↑ "Announcement of 2018 Season's Players Regulation Issued by Football Association of Singapore".
  8. ↑ "Young Lions to escape axe, will continue until 2019 SEA Games at least".
  9. ↑ "Albirex captain and vice captain announced".
  10. ↑ "Hummel to sponsor White Swan from 2016 to 2018".
  11. ↑ "Balestier Khalsa embark on Singapore Premier League journey with Jeep".
  12. ↑ "New Captain Appointed for the new season".
  13. ↑ "FBT continue sponsorship".
  14. ↑ "Izzdin the new captain for 2018".
  15. ↑ "Aw gets 2nd year with Cheetah".
  16. ↑ "Rabb on 3 years contract".
  17. ↑ "Hummels the new sponsor for the Stags for 2018 and 2019".
  18. ↑ "Tampines will not have a main shirt sponsor this year".
  19. ↑ "Kean leaving Wasps".
  20. ↑ "Weber the new DPMM Coach".
  21. ↑ "SEA Games coach Richard Tardy to leave FAS as part of coaching changes".
  22. ↑ "Subramaniam names FAS coaching instructor".
  23. ↑ "Fandi to take charge of the Young Lions".
  24. ↑ "Razif Oon redeployed as club eyes Mirko".
  25. ↑ "Football: Mirko Grabovac permitted to begin coaching Warriors".
  26. ↑ "Noor Ali joins Japanese side Yamaga".
  27. ↑ "Noor Ali head to Japan for attachment".
  28. ↑ "Media Release".
  29. ↑ "Foreigners cut".
  30. ↑ "Albirex to have 3 local players?".
  31. ↑ "Albirex to sign 2 local Singaporean".
  32. ↑ "DPMM participation for 2018 season".
  33. ↑ "Shahul the new keeper".
  34. ↑ "Adam the 1st "local" signing".
  35. ↑ "Verdan the new poacher on roar!".
  36. ↑ "NZ striker to lead the line for the Tiger!".
  37. ↑ "New blood may give Tigers fresh impetus".
  38. ↑ "DPMM FC set to sign Iranian striker Mojtaba".
  39. ↑ "McLean set for DPMM FC return".
  40. ↑ "Ukraine striker join DPMM for 2018 charge".
  41. ↑ "Yuki san recontract with the Eagles for 2018".
  42. ↑ "Fumiya joins the Japanese revolution in Bedok".
  43. ↑ "Robbie Kruse and Ken Ilso got me to the Singapore League".
  44. ↑ "Song extends contract".
  45. ↑ "Camara retained for 2018".
  46. ↑ "Prime League foreign striker promoted".
  47. ↑ "Hougang United sign Chang Jo Yoon".
  48. ↑ "Adam Mitter the final foreigner in puzzle".
  49. ↑ "Adam Mitter out as Korean signed up".
  50. ↑ "Jordan Webb joins the Stags for his second stint".
  51. ↑ "Ryutaro Megumi extends his stay with the Stags!".
  52. ↑ "Warriors announced the signing of Jonathan Béhé for the 2018 Season!".
  53. ↑ "Kento retained as Mirko searched for new foreigner".
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