Kyoga Nakamura joins Lion City Sailors, set for debut against ex-club BG Tampines Rovers

Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox

Kyoga Nakamura is ready for the heat as he is set for his Lion City Sailors debut in the Jan 10 Singapore Cup final against his former club BG Tampines Rovers.

PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS

Summary

• Kyoga Nakamura joined Lion City Sailors after leaving Bangkok United for family reasons, despite clamour from BG Tampines Rovers fans for his return there.
• Nakamura faces his former team, BG Tampines Rovers, in the Singapore Cup final and aims to show his best attitude for his new team despite having complicated emotions about facing his former club for potentially the first major trophy of his career.
• Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic values Nakamuras experience and skills; Nakamura focuses on self-improvement and avoiding injuries in 2026.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – As a professional footballer and playmaker, Kyoga Nakamura constantly visualises potential scenarios in which he can make a killer pass or take a shot at goal.

But what the 29-year-old did not anticipate was that on his return to Singapore football after a brief Thai sojourn, he would likely be taking on his former employers BG Tampines Rovers.

He is set to make his debut for Tampines’ arch-rivals Lion City Sailors in the Singapore Cup final at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Jan 10.

Nakamura, who was unveiled as a Sailor on Jan 8 after signing a 2½-year deal, told The Straits Times: “I have complicated emotions because I spent almost six