Women’s Premier League ● May 26, 2022
Club Guide: 2022 Deloitte Women’s Premier League
SINGAPORE, 26 MAY 2022 – The 2022 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season commences this weekend! To get you ready, we take a look at the seven clubs that are participating in the 21st season of the domestic top-flight women’s game.
ALBIREX NIIGATA (S)
Seasons: 1
Nickname: White Swans
Training Ground: Jurong East Stadium
Highest finish: N.A.
Head Coach: Nahar Daud
Captain: Tina Afrida Nasmi
Social media: Instagram | Twitter
Foreign players: Marilou Bautista Rubio
Players to look out for: Tina Afrida Nasmi, Nadhra Aqilah, Irsalina Irwan
Despite making their debut in the WPL, the White Swans are eyeing the top prize with veteran Tina Afrida, who has competed in the league since its establishment in August 2000, leading the way. With guidance from former international forward Nahar Daud, Albirex have a good blend experience and youth for their maiden campaign.
BALESTIER KHALSA
Seasons: 1
Nickname: Tigresses
Training Ground: Toa Payoh Stadium
Highest finish: N.A.
Head Coach: Ratna Suffian
Captain: Mastura Jeilani
Social media: Facebook | Instagram
Foreign players: None
Players to look out for: Mastura Jeilani, Siti Nurerwadah Erwan, Nur Azureen Rahman
Under former S.League player and Singapore international Ratna Suffian, the Tigresses are eager to roar in the Women’s Premier League. With bulk of the players transferred from Simei United FC, who finished third in the 2019 season, most of the Balestier squad will not be strangers to the competition.
HOUGANG UNITED
Seasons: 1
Nickname: Cheetahs
Training Ground: Hougang Stadium
Highest finish: N.A.
Head Coach: Sivaraj Geevananthan
Captain: Ho Wen Jin
Social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
Foreign players: Michelle Lim Jia Yi, Agatha Putri Widjaya, Tran Thi Thai Khue
Players to look out for: Ho Wen Jin, Foo Shini, Dhaniyah Qasimah Zamri Abdullah
Hougang United are also making their debut in the Women’s Premier League, with head coach Sivaraj Geevananthan at the helm. Coach Siva has been a stalwart in the women’s football scene, having led teams at the varsity and club level for over a decade. The Cheetahs have banded together with players from Middle Rangers FC and added fresh players from the National University of Singapore with a key focus on development and the top WPL prize.
LION CITY SAILORS
Seasons: 1
Nickname: Sailors
Training Ground: Mattar Road
Highest finish: N.A.
Head Coach: Yeong Sheau Shyan
Captain: Ernie Sulastri Sontaril
Social media: Website | Instagram | TikTok
Foreign players: Madison Josephine Telmer, Miray Hokotate Altun, Julia-Vanessa Farr
Players to look out for: Julia-Vanessa Farr, Venetia Lim Ying Xuan, Nur Syazwani Ruzi
Like the men’s Singapore Premier League team, the Sailors have the advantage of experienced players in their mix – more than half of their squad hail from the Singapore Women’s National Team. On top of that, they are helmed by former Lioness Yeong Sheau Shyan, who is attaining her AFC Pro Diploma license.
STILL AERION WOMEN’S
Seasons: 13 (Previously known as Arion Football Academy)
Nickname: –
Training Ground: Bukit Gombak Stadium
Highest finish: 2nd (2008, 2016)
Head Coach: Hyrizan Jufri
Captain: Stephanie Gigette Dominguez
Social media: Facebook | Instagram
Foreign players: Malavika Hemanth, Larissa Anne Ortman
Players to look out for: Stephanie Gigette Dominguez, Nur Farhanah Ruhaizat, Nur Afiqah Omar
Still Aerion Women’s is the longest women-only club in Singapore and have played in the WPL for 12 seasons since 2006. With a healthy mix of young and older players under ActiveSG Football Academy coach Hyrizan Jufri, the team is gunning for the title after falling short twice in 2008 and 2016.
TANJONG PAGAR UNITED
Seasons: 3
Nickname: Jaguars
Training Ground: Queenstown Stadium
Highest finish: 1st (2012)
Head Coach: Samawira Basri
Captain: Nuriah Mohamed Noor
Social media: Facebook | Instagram
Foreign players: Yuki Monden, Manami Fukuzawa, Lim Ira Maon, Imai Nagomi
Players to look out for: Yuki Monden, Manami Fukazawa, Nurul Haziqah
Having won the WPL in 2012, the Jaguars are on the hunt to claim the title once more this season, under the guidance of former Lion and 2019 WPL Coach of the Year Samawira Basri. Tanjong Pagar is also the only club to have used their maximum quota of four foreign player signings, with the Japanese trio having been part of their 2019 Women’s Challenge Cup title win.
TIONG BAHRU
Seasons: 2
Nickname: N.A.
Training Ground: Woodlands Stadium (Wednesday), St Wilfred (Sunday)
Highest finish: 6th
Head Coach: Lawrence Lee
Captain: Rochelle Chan
Social media: Facebook | Instagram
Foreign players: Riddle Reneelyn Sison
Players to look out for: Raudhah Kamis, Riddle Reneelyn Sison, Wang Zhen Zhu
Tiong Bahru have returned to the WPL after their last appearance in 2007. They hope to better their finish of sixth place under the wisdom of Head Coach Lawrence Lee, who is known for his winning reign at the ‘A’ Division level with Victoria Junior College. Tiong Bahru have registered a full squad of 25 players with former Lionesses Angelyn Pang, Siti Wan Nabilah, Deborah Chin, Wang Zhen Zhu and Rochelle Chan in the camp to add to the team’s depth.
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Image credit: Unleash The Roar