Tanjong Pagar United secured the services of attacking midfielder Bruno Dybal ahead of the 2025/26 domestic football season, as part of efforts aimed at improving their goal-scoring exploits – the Jaguars scored a league-low 35 goals in the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League (SPL). 

Despite missing the first two league games due to an injury, the Brazilian has since hit the ground running. He announced himself with a composed side-foot finish against Young Lions on his September debut, and has scored in each of his two appearances since.

Dybal and the Jaguars are still finding their rhythm in the league, sitting seventh in the eight-team standings, with three points from five matches. But with the league taking a backseat until January, the Singapore Cup campaign offers Tanjong Pagar a chance to restore some much-needed pride. 

The Jaguars will compete in a single round-robin group stage with four other teams, with their campaign kicking off on Sunday, 2 November, against Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium. 

And Dybal cannot wait to get things started. 

“The Cup is important to us as it is a fresh start, which gives us the chance to build confidence for the league. I am a player who always fights and gives his best for the team. I try to contribute in the attacking third of the pitch, but the final result is the most important to me,” said Dybal, who is determined to spearhead his side’s push for one of the two semi-final spots up for grabs. 

“My goal is to help the team earn maximum points in the league, as well as finish in the best possible position in the cup.” 

More than just his eye for goal, the 31-year-old Dybal has impressed with his playmaking ability, and he is certain that the Jaguars are more than capable of dishing out good football.

“We may have lost our last two (league) matches, but we played good football and created chances to win both. But when you get the chances, you have to score and kill the match,” he said. 

 But with the Jaguars sitting seventh in the SPL table, Bruno knows his side needs to start converting performances into points. 

“Football is about results. We need to pay more attention to how we start games, while also ensuring we see them out when we take the lead. As long as we start getting the wins, the confidence will then follow,” said Dybal, who has previously plied his trade in the top-flight leagues of Japan and Brazil. 

He has also won a league title in Lithuania with FK Sūduva in 2018, and more recently,  has amassed nearly a century of appearances for clubs across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Dybal is one of the several new additions in the Jaguars camp, which includes the likes of seasoned centre-back Aaron Evans, as well as forward Youssef Ezzejjari – who recently netted four goals against the Young Lions. 

“We have a good team and coaching staff, but we need more time for us to gel,” said Dybal. “The team is on the right track, and we are all putting in the work. The results will come soon.” 

Dybal is hoping they come as soon as Saturday, against Balestier, but he knows that the Jaguars still have some work to do. 

“We played against Balestier and they are a good team, so we have to prepare well as it will be a difficult match,” he stated

The match kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets are available on Trip.com.