How Japanese club Albirex Niigata scored big in Singapore soccer
- The satellite team has been a huge success in the Singapore Premier League, winning all 11 trophies on offer since 2016 and drawing bumper crowds
- But what does its dominance say about the standard of local football, and how long will the authorities allow it to remain?
In neat rows on black gym mats, they stretch to ready themselves for the two-hour session ahead. “They want you to come very early to get ready for training. You must be very disciplined here,” explains striker Daniel Martens, a player on loan from fellow Singapore Premier League (SPL) side Hougang United FC.
At other clubs Martens, 20, has been at, tardiness is a common issue. At Albirex, however, it rarely happens. If a player arrives late, he is banned from training for the day and made to run rounds.
Martens has been with the club for barely two months, but he is realising these little differences matter. In fact, they are probably why the club is dominating Singapore soccer.
You must be very disciplined here
Last year, they even became the first team in the SPL to go unbeaten for an entire season.
Off the field, the White Swans, as the club are also known, also top the table in terms of attendance, sponsorships and outreach programmes.
