Singapore Armed Forces Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional football
club that represents the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) and plays in the top-tier S.League
. Singapore Armed Forces Football Club was officially established on 16 February 1996. Despite their name, membership of the armed forces is not a prerequisite for representing the team, and several international players have played for them.
Using a rhino
as club mascot was their second suggestion after the S.League rejected their initial proposal of having a warrior as being out of line with the policy of clubs having animal mascots.
SAFFC is currently the most successful club in the history of the S.League, having won the title a record eight times: in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and finishing second in 4 seasons: 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005. In the 15 years since the inception of the S.League
, SAFFC have only finished outside the top two in 2003, 2004 and 2010.
The Warriors were based in Jurong Stadium
till 2000 but have been housed in the Choa Chu Kang Stadium
since 2001.
with opportunities to play competitive football. That year, they won the President's Cup, a feat they repeated in 1978, when they also captured the National Football League title to complete The Double
. Their Under-19 team won the national Under-19 title in 1979, 1980 and 1983, while the 1981 season of the National Football League saw the SAFSA football team emerge as champions without losing a game. The President's Cup was captured again in 1984 and 1986, the latter time as part of a second Double, as they also won the National Football League on goal difference. In 1990, the Pools Cup went to the SAFSA football team and their convincing displays led to their selection as one of eight clubs to compete in the newly-formed S.League.
The Warriors' entry into the S.League
in 1996 also resulted in the withdrawal of SAFSA from the NFL. SAFSA would not participate in the local football leagues again till 1999, when they rejoined the NFL, now the second-tier league in Singapore football.
took over from Mladen Pralija
in 1999.
In 2008, SAFFC became the first Singapore club to achieve the "double" back-to-back, after winning both the S.League and the Singapore Cup
in 2007 and 2008.
The following year, SAFFC qualified for the group stages of the prestigious Asian Champions League, marking the first time since 2002 that a Singapore club played in top-level Asian competition. They defeated PEA FC of Thailand and PSMS Medan
of Indonesia in the regional qualification playoffs.
SAFFC were drawn in a group with J.League champions Kashima Antlers
, K.League champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings
and Chinese Super League
runners-up Shanghai Shenhua
, and despite being confirmed as the group losers after a 5–0 loss to Kashima Antlers in Japan, they managed to win their first ever point in the competition with a 1–1 draw against Shanghai Shenhua at home.
Masahiro Fukazawa Norikazu Murakami
Fandi Ahmad
Rafi Ali Richard Bok
Aleksandar Duric
Mirko Grabovac
Rezal Hassan
Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin
Tan Kim Leng Nazri Nasir
John Wilkinson
Park Tae-Won
Therdsak Chaiman
Kiatisuk Senamuang
Europe Nenad Bacina Velimer Cljen Jure Eres Goran Gubrusic Ivan Lovric
Davor Mioc Andre Gumprecht
Niklas Sandberg
Africa Greg Nwokolo
South America Federico Martinez
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club that represents the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF) and plays in the top-tier S.League
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
. Singapore Armed Forces Football Club was officially established on 16 February 1996. Despite their name, membership of the armed forces is not a prerequisite for representing the team, and several international players have played for them.
Using a rhino
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
as club mascot was their second suggestion after the S.League rejected their initial proposal of having a warrior as being out of line with the policy of clubs having animal mascots.
SAFFC is currently the most successful club in the history of the S.League, having won the title a record eight times: in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and finishing second in 4 seasons: 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005. In the 15 years since the inception of the S.League
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
, SAFFC have only finished outside the top two in 2003, 2004 and 2010.
The Warriors were based in Jurong Stadium
Jurong Stadium
Jurong Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Jurong, Singapore. It is currently used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of Sinchi FC when they played in the S.League from 2003 to 2005. Previously, Singapore Armed Forces FC had played their home games in this venue.The stadium...
till 2000 but have been housed in the Choa Chu Kang Stadium
Choa Chu Kang Stadium
The Choa Chu Kang Stadium is part of the Choa Chu Kang Sports and Recreation complex located in Choa Chu Kang, Singapore. The international competition standard, multi-sport facility supports a range of sports and community functions, and opened in the year 2001...
since 2001.
1975 - 1996: SAFSA
The club has its roots in the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA) football team formed in 1975 to provide talented footballers serving National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with opportunities to play competitive football. That year, they won the President's Cup, a feat they repeated in 1978, when they also captured the National Football League title to complete The Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
. Their Under-19 team won the national Under-19 title in 1979, 1980 and 1983, while the 1981 season of the National Football League saw the SAFSA football team emerge as champions without losing a game. The President's Cup was captured again in 1984 and 1986, the latter time as part of a second Double, as they also won the National Football League on goal difference. In 1990, the Pools Cup went to the SAFSA football team and their convincing displays led to their selection as one of eight clubs to compete in the newly-formed S.League.
The Warriors' entry into the S.League
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
in 1996 also resulted in the withdrawal of SAFSA from the NFL. SAFSA would not participate in the local football leagues again till 1999, when they rejoined the NFL, now the second-tier league in Singapore football.
1996 - 1999: Early S.League
SAFFC continued their domination of the league where SAFSA left off, finishing second in 1996, 1999 and winning it in 1997 and 1998.2000 - 2003: Fandi Ahmad
Former Singapore international Fandi AhmadFandi Ahmad
Fandi bin Ahmad is a football coach and former professional footballer from Singapore. During his playing career, he enjoyed success playing in both Europe and Asia, and was captain of the Singapore national football team...
took over from Mladen Pralija
Mladen Pralija
Mladen Pralija is a retired Croatian football player who played for NK Šibenik, Hajduk Split, [Split], Hamburger SV, Čelik Zenica, Hajduk Split, NK Pazinka and Croatia Toronto during his career...
in 1999.
2003 - 2005: Instability
Three coaches were at the reins during this period, each lasting only one season. SAFFC finished second in 2005 but otherwise outside the top two.2006 - Present: Richard Bok
Richard Bok took over as club head coach in 2006.In 2008, SAFFC became the first Singapore club to achieve the "double" back-to-back, after winning both the S.League and the Singapore Cup
Singapore Cup
The Singapore Cup is an annual soccer competition in Singapore.The Singapore Cup is the major cup competition in Singapore football, and has existed since the 1997 ....
in 2007 and 2008.
The following year, SAFFC qualified for the group stages of the prestigious Asian Champions League, marking the first time since 2002 that a Singapore club played in top-level Asian competition. They defeated PEA FC of Thailand and PSMS Medan
PSMS Medan
Persatuan Sepakbola Medan dan Sekitarnya , commonly referred to as PSMS Medan or simply as PSMS, are an Indonesian football club based in Medan, Indonesia. They are one of Indonesia's most successful clubs. PSMS Medan were founded on April 21, 1950...
of Indonesia in the regional qualification playoffs.
SAFFC were drawn in a group with J.League champions Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island"....
, K.League champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Suwon Samsung Bluewings is a South Korean football club based in the city of Suwon, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. Founded in December 1995, they have become one of Asian football's most famous clubs with a host of domestic and continental honours...
and Chinese Super League
Chinese Super League
The Chinese Football Association Super League , commonly known as Chinese Super League or CSL, currently known as the Pirelli Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional association football in China, operating under the auspices of the...
runners-up Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek...
, and despite being confirmed as the group losers after a 5–0 loss to Kashima Antlers in Japan, they managed to win their first ever point in the competition with a 1–1 draw against Shanghai Shenhua at home.
Managers
- 1995–96: Ivan Raznevich
- 1996–98:
Singapore Vincent SubramaniamVincent SubramaniamVincent Subramaniam is a Singaporean football manager. Educated at Victoria School, Vincent was most recently in charge of Indian side Churchill Brothers SC.He was manager of the Singapore national football team 1998-2001.-References:... - 1999:
Independent State of Croatia Mladen PralijaMladen PralijaMladen Pralija is a retired Croatian football player who played for NK Šibenik, Hajduk Split, [Split], Hamburger SV, Čelik Zenica, Hajduk Split, NK Pazinka and Croatia Toronto during his career... - 1999–2003: Singapore Fandi AhmadFandi AhmadFandi bin Ahmad is a football coach and former professional footballer from Singapore. During his playing career, he enjoyed success playing in both Europe and Asia, and was captain of the Singapore national football team...
- 2004:
Kingdom of England Jimmy Shoulder - 2005:
Denmark Kim PoulsenKim PoulsenKim Poulsen is a Danish football manager, who is the current manager of the Tanzania national under-21 football team. He most notably guided Viborg FF to the 2000 Danish Cup.... - 2006: Kingdom of England Peter James Butler
- 2006–: Singapore Richard BokRichard BokRichard Bok is a soccer coach from Singapore. He is currently the Head Coach of the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club .In terms of results, Bok is the most successful coach in the history of Singapore's S.League...
Sponsors
- Main Sponsor: STAR Automotive Centre &
United Engineers Limited - Kit Supplier: UmbroUmbroUmbro is an English sportswear and football equipment supplier based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. The company is now part of Nike. Umbro designs, sources, and markets sport-related apparel, footwear, and equipment...
Current Squad
Prime League Players
S.League Record
- 1996 – Runners-up (Series 1: 4th place; Series 2: Champions; lost 1–2 to Geylang UnitedGeylang United FCGeylang United Football Club is a professional football club from Singapore, currently playing in the S.League. The club is based in Bedok and their home ground is Bedok Stadium. Their mascot is an eagle, and hence the team is also known as "the Eagles"....
in the championship final) - 1997 – Champions
- 1998 – Champions
- 1999 – Runners-up
- 2000 – Champions
- 2001 – Runners-up
- 2002 – Champions
- 2003 – 3rd place
- 2004 – 4th place
- 2005 – Runners-up
- 2006 – Champions
- 2007 – Champions
- 2008 – Champions
- 2009 – Champions
- 2010 – 4th place
Singapore Cup Record
- 1997 – Champions
- 1998 – Runners-up
- 1999 – Champions
- 2000 – Runners-up
- 2001 – 3rd-place
- 2002 – Quarter-finals
- 2003 – First Round
- 2004 – Quarter-finals
- 2005 – Semi-finals
- 2006 – Quarter-finals
- 2007 – Champions
- 2008 – Champions
- 2009 – First round
- 2010 – First round
Singapore League Cup Record
- 2007 – Did not take part
- 2008 – Quarter-finals
- 20092009 Singapore League CupThe 2009 Singapore League Cup kicked off on 1 June.For this season, the 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three in the preliminary round which will be played on a round-robin basis...
– Runners-up - 20102010 Singapore League CupThe 2010 Singapore League Cup will be held between 20 February to 7 March. The draw was held on Tuesday, 9 February 2010 in Singapore. The matches are played on a one match basis.-Bracket:-Preliminary Stage:The winners advance to the Quarter-Final stage.----...
– Quarter-finals - 20112011 Singapore League CupThe 2011 Singapore League Cup will be held between 19 to 30 July. The draw was held on Friday, 1 July 2011 in Singapore. The matches are played on a one match basis....
- Quarter-finals
Performance in AFC competitions
- AFC Champions LeagueAFC Champions LeagueThe AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
: 2 appearance
-
- 2009: Group Stage
- 2010: Group Stage
- Asian Club Championship: 3 appearances
- 1999: First Round
- 2000: Second Round
- 2002: First Round
- AFC CupAFC CupThe AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...
: 2 appearances
- AFC Cup
- 2007AFC Cup 2007The 2007 AFC Cup was the 4th edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.-Qualification:...
: Quarter-Finals - 2008AFC Cup 2008The 2008 AFC Cup was the 5th edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.-Qualified teams:...
: Quarter-Finals- AFC Cup Winners Cup: 2 appearances
- 1997/98: Second Round
- 2000/01: First Round
Former Players
Asia Kenji AraiKenji Arai
is a Japanese footballer.-Career:Arai entered professional football with Albirex Niigata after graduating from Rissho University in 2001 but was unable to hold on to the first team place although he played 20 league games for Albirex Niigata in his first season...
Masahiro Fukazawa Norikazu Murakami
Norikazu Murakami
is a Japanese football player.-Career:Murakami played for the Yokohama Flugels and Yokohama F Marinos youth teams as well as Meiji University. He had also played for regional league side Yokohama Sports ＆Culture Club and futsal with Predator Urayasu Futsal Club.He entered professional football in...
Fandi Ahmad
Fandi Ahmad
Fandi bin Ahmad is a football coach and former professional footballer from Singapore. During his playing career, he enjoyed success playing in both Europe and Asia, and was captain of the Singapore national football team...
Rafi Ali Richard Bok
Richard Bok
Richard Bok is a soccer coach from Singapore. He is currently the Head Coach of the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club .In terms of results, Bok is the most successful coach in the history of Singapore's S.League...
Aleksandar Duric
Aleksandar Duric
Aleksandar Đurić , is a Yugoslav-born Singaporean professional association football player who plays as a striker for the Tampines Rovers in the S...
Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac is a Croatian-born Singaporean former professional football player and coach. He had changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2002 in order to play for the Singapore national football team....
Rezal Hassan
Rezal Hassan
Rezal Hassan is a Singaporean football goalkeeper. He played for the Singapore national team in the late-1990s and early-2000s, and was part of the Singapore team which won the regional Tiger Cup in 1998...
Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin
Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin
Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin is a professional soccer player who plays for the Tampines Rovers in the S.League and the Singapore national football team....
Tan Kim Leng Nazri Nasir
Nazri Nasir
Nazri Nasir is a retired football player from Singapore. He was the captain of the Singapore national football team in the late-1990s and early-2000s, and led the team which won the regional Tiger Cup in 1998.In 1994, Nazri was a member of the Singapore side which won the Malaysian League and...
John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson may refer to:* John Wilkinson * John Wilkinson , British industrialist who suggested the use of iron for many roles where other materials had previously been used...
Park Tae-Won
Park Tae-Won
is a South Korean professional footballer who last played for the Singaporean club Singapore Armed Forces.-South Korea:He began his football career with South Korean club Chunnam Dragons in 1999. He played only 1 league game with Chunnam.-Singapore:...
Therdsak Chaiman
Therdsak Chaiman
Therdsak Chaiman is a Thai footballer who plays for Chonburi. Therdsak is a free kick specialist and can shoot with both feet.-Club career:Therdsak is regarded as one of Southeast Asia's finest footballers....
Kiatisuk Senamuang
Kiatisuk Senamuang
Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang is a Thai football manager and former football striker who played between April 1993 and October 2007, currently managing Chula United in the Thai Division 1 League.-Club career:...
Europe Nenad Bacina Velimer Cljen Jure Eres Goran Gubrusic Ivan Lovric
Ivan Lovrić
Ivan Lovrić was a Croatian writer, ethnographer, and medical student, best known for his work Observations on 'Travels in Dalmatia' of Abbot Alberto Fortis....
Davor Mioc Andre Gumprecht
Andre Gumprecht
André Gumprecht is a former German football player who is currently playing for Australian club Lake Macquarie City FC-Club career:...
Niklas Sandberg
Niklas Sandberg
Niklas Sandberg is a Swedish centre-back who plays for second-tier Swedish club Brage.He started his career in the Swedish top flight in AIK in 1996 but only played two games during two years. After a spell at Helsingborg he returned to Stockholm in 2001 to play at FC Café Opera. He played there...
Africa Greg Nwokolo
Greg Nwokolo
Gregory Junior Nwokolo is a Nigerian-born Indonesian footballer who plays for Indonesia Football League club Pelita Jaya.-Club career:...
South America Federico Martinez
Federico Martinez
Eduardo Federico Martinez Colombo is an Uruguayan football player, currently playing for FK Ventspils in the Latvian Higher League....