Our Singapore Premier League Team Of The Week #6

This Gameweek marked a special moment for the Singapore Premier League. Starting from this week, up to 250 fans could come down and watch games without having to do a COVID-19 test. Many fans turned up in the various fixtures and their presence made a huge difference. I went down to catch the Sailors fixture and I loved the banter from The Crew.

This week we had another internal review but fellow co-founder and chief writer Jack Transou watched all the weekend SPL games for the first time, so he is the “guest” for this week’s team of the week.

Stay tuned for his article on his thoughts on the SPL.

The Defence

Hassan Sunny – GK

The veteran custodian was at it again, making decent stops against Hougang United but it was his world-class save against a rocket of a strike from Kaishu Yamazaki that earns him a place in this week’s team of the week. The Sailors need to continue winning to keep the pressure on the White Swans, who don’t seem to be slipping up. Hassan Sunny helped ensured the three points with that save.

Jorge Fellipe

The towering Brazilian was winning most aerial duels and his presence in central defence was a key reason why the Cheetahs had to play through the wings. Even then, Jorge was usually there to clean up any messes.

Faizal Roslan

He scored a good header against Young Lions and helped open the floodgates in the 4-2 victory over the cubs. Defensively, Faizal did well and hopefully he can build off this performance in the games ahead.

Maksat Dzhakybaliev

Hougang United’s defensive display was impressive against Sailors and in thick of things was Maksat. The Kyrgyzstani was cancelling out driving through balls, making important slide tackles and literally throwing him infront of Sailors’ shots to prevent a goal. “Diego’s moment of magic was truly harsh on the Hougang defense.”

The Midfield

Blake Ricciuto

The Australian box-to-box midfielder “caused problems for Tampines in midfield and found the space to be dangerous in attack. He assisted Tanjong’s first goal, and was a large reason why Tanjong were able to cause enough issues to earn a point.” Blake demonstrates why again it is a waste to play him as Centre-back.

Ryoya Taniguchi

Taniguchi produced yet another brilliant display this week. “With two assists, he was the biggest threat for Albirex in their fairly poor first half. But, he really turned it on in the second half and was probably the most dangerous Albirex player on the whole.”

Barry Maguire

The flying Dutchman has been sorely missed by Geylang for the majority of the first round. “Everything ran through him, every positive Geylang attack seemed to involve him, 2 assists, on the whole the best player on the pitch in Geylang-Young Lions.”

Diego Lopes

In a game that saw the Sailors take on a stoic Hougang defence, it was always going to take a stroke of brilliance to break the deadlock. Diego delivered that in spades with a Puskas-worthy volley that saw the Sailors take all 3 points. Massive.

The Forwards

Kuraba Kondo

Once again the 18-year old dazzled for the White Swans and scored the 4th Albirex goal to cap off a brilliant display. And what a goal! Jack agrees. “Kondo scored a very good individual goal in the second half, could have been goal of the week if Lopes didnt do what he did, game changed when he came on in the second half, Albirex were more flowing and dangerous in attack with him on the pitch.”

Kiyoshiro Tsuboi

His second hattrick of the season, Tsuboi is really living to the hype. Jack sums it up really well. “He should have had one or two more (though one of his three may have also been offside), great finisher and positional sense is phenomenal, probably the best number nine in the league.”

Moresche

It is yet another brace for the Brazilian who is making it a habit to notch two whenever he scores. Good to see Geylang back to winning ways and Moresche was just as important as Maguire in this victory. Jack mentions that “his goals were mostly poachers efforts but you have to be there to score them after all, dangerous attacker, caused Young Lions lots of problems.”

Special Mentions

All Image Credits to the Singapore Premier League