League resumes after two years with landmark sponsorship from Deloitte and three new clubs

 

L-R: Albirex Niigata (S) captain Tina Afrida Nasmi, Hougang United player Michelle Lim, Still Aerion captain Stephanie Gigette Dominguez, Tiong Bahru FC vice-captain Raudhah Kamis, Lion City Sailors captain Ernie Sulastri and Balestier Khalsa captain Mastura Jeilani at the Deloitte Women’s Premier League sponsorship ceremony, 4 May 2022

 

SINGAPORE, 4 MAY 2022 – Deloitte Singapore (Deloitte) and Football Association of Singapore (FAS) today announced the resumption of Singapore’s top women’s football competition and unveiled professional services firm Deloitte as its new title sponsor.

 

The sponsorship marks the first time that Singapore’s top-flight women’s football league will have a title sponsor since its launch in August 2000. To be known as the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), the league will return on 28 May 2022 after a two-year pandemic-enforced absence and will feature seven clubs in its 21st season: Albirex Niigata (S), Balestier Khalsa, Hougang United, Lion City Sailors, Tanjong Pagar United, Tiong Bahru and Still Aerion.

 

There is also a slice of history for Albirex, Balestier and Hougang, who have followed in the footsteps of their AIA Singapore Premier League counterparts Lion City Sailors and Tanjong Pagar United in incorporating a women’s senior team within their set-up. Furthermore, with help from the FIFA Covid-19 Relief Plan and the Unleash the Roar! project, all seven clubs will each receive a subsidy and a dedicated training facility respectively.

 

Mr Philip Yuen, Chairman, Deloitte Singapore and Mr Lim Kia Tong, FAS President, 4 May 2022

 

FAS President Mr Lim Kia Tong said: “The women’s football fraternity has waited patiently for the return of the league, and we are grateful for their continued support. The FAS has taken the opportunity during this time to evolve the league with an increased number of clubs, a more competitive format and structured support provided for the teams to elevate the standard of football for our local female players.”

 

Deloitte’s three-year sponsorship, with an option for two additional years, will add a more than S$300,000 boost towards elevating the professionalism of the game – a historic feat for the women’s football scene.

 

Deloitte currently employs several women’s national football team players through the Deloitte Ignite athlete career opportunity program, which has seen over 130 athletes work or have worked in Deloitte since 2014. As part of this sponsorship, and in line with FAS’ strategic intent in assisting players transition to corporate careers, Deloitte and FAS are in discussions to extend the Deloitte Ignite program for both men and women football players to open the doors to more work opportunities during and after their football careers.

 

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Edwin Tong, with the six WPL players, 4 May 2022

 

FAS President Mr Lim added: “We are pleased to have Deloitte on board as the new title sponsor of the WPL. Deloitte has shown commitment in improving the landscape of local sport and we are delighted to have them support women’s football. We believe that this sponsorship will not only elevate but evolve women’s football and increase interest in the sport from the grassroots to the elite level.”

 

Mr Philip Yuen, Chairman, Deloitte Singapore shared: “We are delighted to work with FAS through this sponsorship to develop women’s football in Singapore. We believe that sports embodies our shared values of leadership, integrity, care, inclusion and collaboration, and this fuels our commitment towards developing sports within the local community. As title sponsor of the Women’s Premier League, we are excited to engage with the community, our people, and our clients, to build an integrated and inclusive Singapore through sports.”

 

The league will continue to follow a home and away round-robin format. Teams can register up to 25 players, with a maximum of four foreign players and a minimum age of 16 years old. WPL clubs will also not face relegation for the next three seasons.

 

Clubs will also undergo a licensing programme, as announced at the Women’s Football Conference 2022, to fulfil five pillars of sporting, infrastructure, legal, administration and personnel, and finance to provide stability and structure for staff and players. Clubs will go through a two-year education phase before the system is enforced in 2024.

 

 

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Annex

Year	Champions	2nd	3rd	No. of Clubs
2000	Tampines Rovers	Singapore American School “A”	Forze Ragazze	6
2001	Tampines Rovers	Home United FC	Singapore Armed Forces FC	6
2002	Tampines Rovers	Home United FC “A”	Clementi Khalsa FC	6
2003	Tampines Rovers	Home United FC	ITE Women’s Soccer Team	6
2004	Guangzhou Sunray Cave	Home United FC	Young Women	5
2005	Paya Lebar Punggol	Bishan Arsenal	FAS Under-23	6
2006	Young Women	Paya Lebar Punggol FC	Arion Women’s FC	6
2007	Bishan Arsenal FC	Young Women	Arion Women’s FC	8
2008	Young Women	Arion Women’s FC	Police FC	5
2009	Sengkang Punggol FC	Middle Rangers A	Arion Women’s FC	8
2010	Ang Mo Kio FC	Middle Rangers FC	International Soccer Academy	7
2011	Borussia Zamrud FC	Police SA	Young Women	7
2012	Tanjong Pagar United FC	Middle Rangers FC	Young Women	8
2013	Middle Rangers FC	Young Women	Police SA	9
2014	Eunos Crescent FC	Police SA	F-17 FC	9
2015	GFA Sporting Westlake FC	Police SA	Arion FA	8
2016	Warriors FC	Arion FA	Police SA	11
2017	Warriors FC	Woodlands Wellington FC	Police SA	5*
2018	Warriors FC	Woodlands Wellington FC	Police SA	4
2019	Warriors FC	Home United FC	Simei United FC	5
2020	Cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021

*League restructured to include Women’s National League (2^nd Division)