2019 Singapore Premier League

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]

Singapore Premier League
Season2019
Champions DPMM FC
(2nd title)
AFC Champions LeagueTampines Rovers
AFC CupHougang United
Geylang International
← 2018
2020 →

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
Albirex (S)
Warriors FC
Hougang United
Young
Lions
Balestier Khalsa
Home Utd
Geylang International
Tampines Rovers
Locations of the 2018 Singapore Premier League teams from Singapore
Team Stadium Capacity
Albirex Niigata (S) Jurong East Stadium 2,700
Balestier Khalsa Bishan Stadium 3,500
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
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
Albirex Niigata (S) Keiji Shigetomi Kyoga Nakamura [7] Mizuno [8] Canon
Balestier Khalsa Marko Kraljević Zaiful Nizam [9] Lotto Jeep [10]
DPMM FC Adrian Pennock Wardun Yussof Lotto
Geylang International Mohd Noor Ali 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 Razif Bin Onn Khairul Nizam [17] Joma Rhino Sports
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 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 Kedah FA 8 October 2018[21] Pre-Season Saswadimata Dasuki 3 December 2018[22]
Tampines Rovers Jurgen Raab Sacked 9 October 2018[23] Pre-Season Gavin Lee 9 October 2018[24]
Tampines Rovers Gavin Lee No license 9 October 2018 Pre-Season Kadir Yahaya 9 October 2018
DPMM FC Renê Weber Sacked 16 October 2018[25] Pre-Season Adrian Pennock 17 October 2018[26]
Warriors FC Mirko Grabovac End of Contract 31 October 2018[27] Pre-Season Azlan Alipah 1 November 2018
Albirex Niigata (S) Kazuaki Yoshinaga End of contract 30 November 2018[28] Pre-Season Keiji Shigetomi 11 December 2018[29]
Hougang United NA NA 28 December 2018 Pre-Season Clement Teo 28 December 2018[30]
Balestier Khalsa Marko Kraljević Signed by Kelantan FA 26 January 2019[31] Pre-Season Khidhir Khamis 4 February 2019[32]
Home United Saswadimata Dasuki 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 Radojko Avramović 2 July 2019[36]
Home United Radojko Avramović Step down (health reason) 18 August 2019[37] 5th Noh Rahman (interim) 18 August 2019[38]
Balestier Khalsa Khidhir Khamis Sacked 24 September 2019 9th 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[40]

Albirex Niigata can sign up unlimited number of Singaporean players for the new season. Only 1 local player above 23 years old is allowed.[41]

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
Albirex Niigata (S) Hyrulnizam Juma'at[42] Noor Akid Nordin[43] Daniel Martens[44] Firas Irwan[45] Zamani Zamri[46] Gerald Ang[47]
Balestier Khalsa Kristijan Krajcek [48] Sime Zuzul [49] Sanjin Vrebac[50]
DPMM FC Blake Ricciuto[51] Charlie Clough[52] Andrey Varankow[53]
Geylang International Barry Maguire[54] Yuki Ichikawa[55] Matthew Palmer[56] Morteza Safdari[57]
Corey Warren[58]
Home United Isaka Cernak[59] Song Ui-young[60] Oliver Puflett[61]
Hougang United Stipe Plazibat[62] Kong Ho-won[63] Paulin Mbaye Rafael Ramazotti[64][65]
Tampines Rovers Jordan Webb[66] Ryutaro Megumi[67] Zehrudin Mehmedović[68] Mirza Delimeđac
Warriors FC Jonathan Béhé[69] Kento Fukuda[70] 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
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
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
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:
Colours: 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 DPMM[lower-alpha 1] (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 Albirex Niigata (S)[lower-alpha 1] 24 12 5 7 36 25 +11 41
5 Geylang International 24 10 3 11 41 48 −7 33 Standby team for AFC Cup group stage
6 Home United 24 9 3 12 34 46 −12 30
7 Warriors 24 6 5 13 40 56 −16 23
8 Young Lions[lower-alpha 1] 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. 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 Andrey Varankow DPMM FC 21
2 Faris Ramli Hougang United 16
3 Jordan Webb Tampines Rovers 15
4 Jonathan Béhé Warriors FC 12
5 Hazzuwan Halim Balestier Khalsa 10
6 Stipe Plazibat Hougang United 9
6 Blake Ricciuto DPMM FC 9
6 Gabriel Quak Warriors FC 9
6 Sime Zuzul Balestier Khalsa 9
6 Fareez Farhan Geylang International 9
11 Shawal Anuar Geylang International 8
11 Shahfiq Ghani Hougang United 8
13 Hiroyoshi Kamata Albirex Niigata (S) 7
13 Kyoga Nakamura Albirex Niigata (S) 7
13 Shahril Ishak Home United 7
13 Zehrudin Mehmedović Tampines Rovers 7

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

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

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateReference
Andrey Varankow 5 DPMM FCBalestier Khalsa7–113 April 2019 [71]
Andrey Varankow DPMM FCWarriors FC3–014 September 2019 [72]
Fareez FarhanGeylang InternationalHougang United4–415 September 2019 [73]
Shahfiq GhaniHougang United DPMM FC4–529 September 2019 [74]

Note 4 Player scored 4 goals 5 Player scored 5 goals

Own goal
PlayerTeamAgainstDate
Zulfahmi ArifinHougang UnitedTampines Rovers3 March 2019
Darren TehGeylang InternationalBalestier Khalsa31 March 2019
Lionel Tan Young LionsTampines Rovers29 May 2019
Shah ShahiranTampines Rovers Albirex Niigata (S)15 June 2019
Hairul SyirhanGeylang InternationalWarriors FC18 September 2019

Penalty missed
PlayerForAgainstDate
Shahdan SulaimanTampines RoversHougang United3 March 2019
Taufik SuparnoTampines RoversHome United8 March 2019
Kyoga Nakamura Albirex Niigata (S)Warriors FC13 April 2019
Faris RamliHougang UnitedBalestier Khalsa12 May 2019
Jonathan BéhéWarriors FC DPMM FC6 July 2019
Sime ZuzulBalestier KhalsaWarriors FC19 July 2019
Shahril IshakHome UnitedBalestier Khalsa14 August 2019
Jordan WebbTampines Rovers Albirex Niigata (S)18 August 2019
Shahril IshakHome UnitedHougang United1 September 2019
Amy RechaGeylang InternationalHome United21 September 2019

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Reference
Coach Club Player Club
April Blake Ricciuto DPMM FC Kyoga Nakamura Albirex Niigata (S)
May Gabriel Quak Warriors FC Kyoga Nakamura Albirex Niigata (S)
June Shawal Anuar Geylang International Zikos Chua Geylang International
July Christopher van Huizen Geylang International Zikos Chua Geylang International
August Šime Žužul Balestier Khalsa Jacob Mahler 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 Adrian Pennock DPMM FC
Top Scorer Award Andrey Varankow DPMM FC
Fair Play Award Albirex Niigata (S)
Referee of the Year Farhan Mohd
StraitsTime Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Wardun Yussof
( DPMM FC)
Defence Nazrul Nazari
(Hougang United)		 Kaishu Yamazaki
( Albirex Niigata (S))		 Yuki Ichikawa
(Geylang International)		 Irwan Shah
(Tampines Rovers)
Midfield Blake Riciutto
( DPMM FC)		 Kyoga Nakamura
( Albirex Niigata (S))		 Shahdan Sulaiman
(Tampines Rovers)
Attack Gabriel Quak
(Warriors FC)		 Faris Ramli
(Hougang United)		 Andrei Varankou
( DPMM FC)
AIA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Wardun Yussof
( DPMM FC)
Defence Nazrul Nazari
(Hougang United)		 Kaishu Yamazaki
( Albirex Niigata (S))		 Charlie Clough
( DPMM FC)		 Irwan Shah
(Tampines Rovers)
Midfield Blake Riciutto
( DPMM FC)		 Kyoga Nakamura
( Albirex Niigata (S))		 Shahdan Sulaiman
(Tampines Rovers)
Attack Shawal Anuar
(Geylang International)		 Faris Ramli
(Hougang United)		 Andrei Varankou
( DPMM FC)

References
  1. Football: Goodbye S-League, welcome Singapore Premier League Straits Times, 21 March 2018
  2. "2018 changes".
  3. "Singapore Premier League could introduce third foreigner in 2019". Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  4. "Fans split on idea of shared premises".
  5. "Albirex new signing rules".
  6. "Young Lions to escape axe, will continue until 2019 SEA Games at least".
  7. "Kyoga Nakamura new captain for 2019".
  8. "Apparel Partnership Contract with MIZUNO for 2019 Season".
  9. "Our team captain and goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam was injured during a Singapore Premier League match".
  10. "Balestier Khalsa embark on Singapore Premier League journey with Jeep".
  11. "Captain Yuki has a message for you".
  12. "FBT continue sponsorship".
  13. "Izzdin the new captain for 2018".
  14. "Not many would have known that the Hougang United captain has been playing with a minor injury on his left foot".
  15. "Captain Shahdan Sulaiman adding their names to the score sheet".
  16. "Hummels the new sponsor for the Stags for 2018 and 2019".
  17. "Warriors have a full-strength squad to call upon, with new captain Khairul Nizam and deputy Sahil Suhaimi".
  18. "Young Lions captain Joshua Pereira challenging".
  19. "Noor Ali to return after 2018 end". Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  20. "Our Head Coach for 2019!".
  21. "Aidil Sharin leaves Home to take top role at Kedah FA". Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  22. "Home United appoint Saswadimata Dasuki as head coach".
  23. "Jurgen Raab has been relieved of his duties at Tampines Rovers FC".
  24. "Gavin Lee take over helm of Stags". Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  25. "Renê Weber to leave DPMM". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  26. "DPMM FC appoint Stoke City's former coach Adrian Pennock".
  27. "Mirko to leave after 1 season".
  28. "YOSHINAGA's Leaving Club upon Completion of Contract".
  29. "Contract with Head Coach Keiji SHIGETOMI".
  30. "Hougang United Football Club (HGFC) is pleased to announce that Clement Teo has been appointed as Head Coach of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) squad for the 2019 season".
  31. "Marko signed by Kelantan FA".
  32. "Khidhir Khamis appointed new coach for Balestier".
  33. "Head Coach Saswa leaves Home United".
  34. "Home United part ways with head coach Saswadimata Dasuki; Noh Rahman takes up interim role".
  35. "Home United finally confirm Raddy Avramovic as new head coach".
  36. "Raddy Avramovic could make shock return to Singapore as new Home United coach".
  37. "Raddy Avramovic could make shock return to Singapore as new Home United coach".
  38. "Home United head coach Raddy Avramovic quit after cancer diagnosis".
  39. "Marko returns after 8 months".
  40. "Singapore Premier League could introduce third foreigner in 2019". Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  41. "Albirex Niigata could sign up to four Singaporean players in a boost for 2019 SEA Games".
  42. "Hyrulnizam Juma'at signed for Japanese club".
  43. "Noor Akid Nordin signed for Japanese club".
  44. "Hougang player signed for Japanese club".
  45. "Firas Irwan signed for Japanese club".
  46. "F17 Zamani signed for Japanese club".
  47. "Gerald Ang signed for Japanese club".
  48. "Kristijan Krajcek sign for Tigers".
  49. "Šime Žužul sign for Tigers".
  50. "Sanjin Vrebac retained for 2019".
  51. "Ricciuto signed for 2019 season".
  52. "Charlie signed for 2019 season".
  53. "Andrey Varankow signed for 2019 season".
  54. "Geylang International sign former Dutch U-20 midfielder Barry Maguire".
  55. "Yuki into 6th season".
  56. "Palmer join Eagles".
  57. "Loan for Safdari".
  58. "Deal for Cuelho".
  59. "Isaka Cernak reject Kedah to stay with Protector".
  60. "Song Ui-young rejects Persija for Home stay, eyes Singapore colours".
  61. "OZ signed for Home United".
  62. "Stipe Plazibat to return to Singapore".
  63. "welcome our Korean centreback, Gong Ho-won, who hails from Paju, South Korea".
  64. "Rafael Ramazotti set for Singapore return with Hougang United from PKNS".
  65. "Singapore's Hougang United forced to terminate Ramazotti's contract after Brazilian striker joins Mexican club!".
  66. "Jordan Webb joins the Stags for his second stint".
  67. "Ryutaro Megumi extends his stay with the Stags!".
  68. "Tampines welcome Zehrudin Mehmedović to the club!".
  69. "Behe returned to Warriors".
  70. "Ex-Shonan Bellmare defender Kento Fukuda to continue Warriors stint in Singapore".
  71. "Five-star Varankou shines in 7-1 win as DPMM FC top Singapore league".
  72. "DPMM, who beat Warriors FC 3-0 last night thanks to Belarusian striker Andrey Varankow's hat-trick".
  73. "Hougang United score four goals against Geylang International, but still concede SPL title to Brunei DPMM".
  74. "Ghani's hat-trick not sufficient".
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