It is Fairuz Fazli’s third campaign in the Singapore Cup as a Young Lion, but for the 20-year-old right-back, the 2024/25 edition has felt different. With a squad that has steadily grown in confidence, the Young Lions have shown glimpses of progress in what has been another challenging season. One important difference is perhaps the focus on process, progress and a focus on what each player can control - their own contributions. 

The Young Lions’ 3-0 Group A victory over Hougang United, a team pushing for a semi-final spot, was one of those moments the players delivered on their tasks as individuals and as a team to deliver a result . It marked just the second time this season they had won by a three-goal margin while keeping a clean sheet—the first came earlier in October against Brunei DPMM in the Singapore Premier League (SPL). It was a performance that highlighted their defensive discipline and also their ability to capitalise on attacking opportunities.

“We had a game plan and executed it perfectly,” Fairuz reflected. “The team was motivated and focused on our jobs, knowing we could secure the win. With strong spirit and hard work from the boys, we got the job done.”

Despite that, the Young Lions’ Cup run ended in the group stage following losses to DPMM and BG Tampines Rovers. 

“Our primary goal was to qualify for the semi-finals, he admitted. 

“We’ve had strong moments in our games, but at times, luck wasn’t on our side. One of our biggest challenges was executing the game plan consistently, especially against strong opponents,” he added.

Despite the results not going their way, Fairuz has his eyes on what he can control - a strong finish to the Cup campaign. The Young Lions’ attention turns to their final Group A match against Albirex Niigata (S). The six-time SPL champions may be at the bottom of the group, but their quality is undeniable. Still, the Young Lions have already shown they can compete—on 15 June, they stunned Albirex with a dramatic 3-2 league victory, coming from behind with goals from Itsuki Enomoto and Andrew Aw. That result ended a nine-year wait for a win against Albirex, a significant moment in their season.

However, the team has had to adjust since then. Enomoto, their top scorer with 13 goals, departed for Tampines earlier this year, leaving a gap in their attack. Others have since stepped up—striker Amir Syafiz has now netted five goals in the league, while midfielder Kaisei Ogawa has contributed three, including one in the Cup. Even Fairuz himself has found the scoresheet, scoring his first-ever Singapore Cup goal against Hougang.

Yet, he remains focused on the process. “Even though I’ve scored goals, I believe I can contribute even more to the team, he said.

“I’ll continue giving 100% effort and delivering my best performance in the next game.”

As the Young Lions prepare for their final Cup fixture, they are determined to end on a high note.

“There’s no key tactic to execute—it simply comes down to focus and which team wants the win more,” Fairuz pointed out.

And for him, this game is about more than just the result. “I believe it’s important to finish the campaign strongly, regardless of the outcome. It’s about showing resilience, effort, and determination until the very end,” he said.

In other matches, Lion City Sailors secured their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Geylang International in Group B, thanks to a hat-trick from Lennart Thy on 27 March. 

Hougang will face current Group A leaders, Tampines, in the other cup fixture on Saturday, 29 March, needing only a draw to leapfrog DPMM into the second semi-final spot behind Tampines. The Brunei side that have completed all their fixtures in the five-team group, are one point ahead of Hougang, but are two goals behind on goal difference.

On the same day, two sides already out of contention in Group B, Balestier Khalsa and Tanjong Pagar United, face off at Bishan Stadium. 

The final group stage match on 30 March will see Group B leaders BG Pathum United take on Lion City Sailors at Jalan Besar Stadium, with the top spot on the line. Tickets for the match are available here.

All Singapore Cup matches are broadcast live on StarHub TV, Singtel TV, and meWATCH. Fans can also catch the action on the SPL’s official YouTube channel.