Shawal shines amid Sailors' many foreign stars
The Straits Times|November 07, 2024
The Lion City Sailors are stacked with seasoned players boasting international and European experience who cost millions in transfer fees and wages. Yet, it is Shawal Anuar who stands out.
Deepanraj Ganesan
Shawal shines amid Sailors' many foreign stars

The Singapore forward, 33, is proving to be the best value for money in a team featuring stars like former Croatia player Toni Datkovic, Australian international Bailey Wright, ex-Dutch international Bart Ramselaar, former PSV Eindhoven winger Maxime Lestienne, and German Lennart Thy, who arrived this season fresh off a 13-goal campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Shawal, who joined in December 2022 on a free transfer from Hougang United, has 30 goals and 19 assists in 56 appearances for the Sailors since then. He is the top local goal scorer and assist maker in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) this season with 11 goals and 10 assists in 17 matches.

He is also in a rich vein of form on the continental stage, as the Sailors look to advance to the last 16 of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Two (ACL 2).

Shawal put in a Man of the Match display by contributing two goals and an assist in the 3-1 away victory over Thai club Port FC on Oct 30, which propelled the Sailors to the top of Group F, with seven points from three matches.

This story is from the November 07, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the November 07, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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