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With a quarter of the 24/25 season already over, we picked 5 Singaporean players who have impressed so far
From the pinpoint crosses of Maxime Lestienne to the ruthless finishing of Tomoyuki Doi, the Singapore Premier League has seen plenty of quality foreigners over recent years.
Although this season’s increased foreigner quota has shone the spotlight on the new imports, plenty of local players have also proven that they could hold their own against top opposition.
1. Faris Ramli (BG Tampines Rovers)
After a disappointing end to his spell at Lion City Sailors, household name Faris Ramli has since found a new lease of life at BG Tampines Rovers. Having rediscovered his form, the 31-year-old winger has taken his overall game and production up a notch this season.
One of the first names on manager Gavin Lee’s teamsheet, Faris provides a constant attacking threat on both flanks alongside BG Tampines’ impressive attacking cast. His pace and trickery have proven to be a handful for any defender, having already notched 3 goals and 6 assists in the league.
Faris leads the locals in successful dribbles per game (3.9) while producing 2.6 key passes per game – second only to Maxime Lestienne. With Faris back to his best and playing with a smile, it’s looking ominous for Tampines’ title contenders.
2. Shawal Anuar (Lion City Sailors)
Despite Lion City Sailors sitting 2nd in the league standings, their star-studded squad has looked disjointed and flattered to deceive. One of their shining lights has been Shawal Anuar, who stands out even amongst their wealth of attacking options.
Known for his superb acrobatics and perfectly-timed runs into the box, the 33-year-old has developed a knack for scoring crucial goals to turn the tide for the Sailors. From frequently being used as an impact sub last season, Shawal is now one of the crucial pieces in Rankovic’s puzzle.
He has already scored 6 goals and assisted 4 this season, striking up a telepathic understanding with key player Maxime Lestienne. Given his red-hot form, the Sailors would be looking to him to fire the club to their second league title.
3. Farhan Zulkifli (Young Lions)
Young Lions are no longer pushovers. Once the whipping boys of the league, their proactive and progressive playstyle has caught the eye of many neutrals this season. Besides clever foreign recruitment and a maturing squad, the rise of 21-year-old skipper Farhan Zulkifli is a key reason behind a more competitive Young Lions.
Despite only starting in half the games this season, his side has frequently looked to him to inject some energy into their play. A master at close-control dribbling, seeing him effortlessly gliding past some of the best imports in the league has become a common sight. While his end product could still be improved, his 2 goals and 2 assists suggest that the future is bright for the mercurial winger.
4. Shah Shahiran (BG Tampines Rovers)
Aside from Faris Ramli’s productivity and fullback Irfan Najeeb’s surprising eye for goal this season, another standout player from BG Tampines has been Shah Shahiran. He has solidified his place in the heart of their midfield with a series of mature performances, starting all but one of his side’s games this season.
Silky and calm on the ball, Shah does not shy away from receiving the ball to progress play, commanding the highest passing accuracy per game among all locals this season (93%). His technical ability allows him to carry the ball forward comfortably, or switch the ball from one side of the pitch to the other to bypass the opponents’ press.
As his midfield partner, Kyoga Nakurama continues to show strong interest in naturalisation, this could be a foretaste of the national team’s midfield partnership for years to come.
5. Naqiuddin Eunos (Geylang International)
One of the club’s first signings in the off-season, Naqiuddin has slotted seamlessly into Geylang’s swashbuckling style of attacking football. In a system with wide players pushing high up the pitch, the former Tanjong Pagar United winger’s marauding forward runs have contributed to 4 goals and an assist.
In a side full of flair, Naquiddin’s raw pace adds a different dimension to Geylang’s attack, while also being able to fill in at wing-back when needed. At 27 years old, he still has his prime years ahead of him. Once coach Noor Ali finds the right balance in his team’s playstyle, Naqiuddin and Geylang International will be a force to be reckoned with.
Stats from Transfermarkt and Sofascore, accurate as of 24 July 2024
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