Lion City Sailors sign five Japanese players in bid to reach AFC Women’s Champions League group stage

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(From left) Japanese players Miyu Inayama, Ami Takeuchi, Sakuarko Ohashi, Eri Kitagawa and Riari Kitaoka Asian have joined the Lion City Sailors ahead of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League campaign.

PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS

Summary

• Lion City Sailors aim to improve in the AFC Womens Champions League after heavy defeats last season, gaining valuable continental insight.
• The Sailors have signed five Japanese players, including Ami Takeuchi, to strengthen their squad and aim to advance past the preliminary round.
• Coach Daniel Ong emphasises the importance of the new signings technical ability, hunger, and drive, fostering a positive, healthy team environment.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – Despite heavy defeats by India’s Odisha FC (4-1) and Jordan’s Etihad Club (5-0) in their maiden Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League campaign last season, the Lion City Sailors gained crucial insight into the requirements to be competitive at the continental level.

With those lessons in mind, they have strengthened their squad for this season’s AWCL by signing five Japanese players – Ami Takeuchi, Miyu Inayama, Eri Kitagawa, Sakuarko Ohashi and Riari Kitaoka – as they aim to advance from the preliminary round to the group stage for the first time.

The three-time Women’s Premier League (WPL) champions will kick off their campaign in Melaka on Aug 25 against Etihad, before taking on home side Kelana United (Aug 28) and Kyrgyzstan’s Sdyushor SI-Asiagoal (Aug 31). All matches