The Singapore women’s national football team are still finding their footing under new head coach Mihoko Ishida, but their first international outings suggest a squad willing to embrace change.
In their first two matches under the Japanese coach, the Lionesses recorded a promising 2-0 win over Indonesia before suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat to Cambodia just three days later.
The contrasting results may have exposed weaknesses, but players and coaching staff believe the June international window provided something equally valuable: clarity.
A New Era Begins
Ishida, who took charge in April after replacing Karim Bencherifa, has spent the past two months introducing a new approach and expectations to the squad.
The recent friendlies in Bandung, Indonesia, were the first opportunity to see those ideas tested in competitive matches.
Speaking in an interview released by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Ishida said every camp and every match serves a purpose.
“This time, there will be a few players from abroad, and the local players from Sabah will be playing in this league. They have shown a lot of growth, so our goal is to match them well,” she said.
“First of all, they have been chosen here because they are strong.”
The 43-year-old also stressed that results remain important regardless of the occasion.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a practice match or an international match. Of course, the weight may change in an international match, but it doesn’t change. You have to stick to the result.”
Positive Signs Against Indonesia
The Lionesses opened the Ishida era with an encouraging victory over Indonesia, ranked 46 places above Singapore in the FIFA standings.
Forward Danelle Tan played a key role in the win and later described the result as a reward for the work done on the training pitch.
“We managed to keep a clean sheet and put two goals past Indonesia — only our second win in eight matches against them. It was a great team result,” she said.
In a separate FAS interview, Tan spoke about the challenge of adapting to a new coaching philosophy.
“We’ve been working on a new style of play and different ideas. Indonesia was a good test.”
The 21-year-old also marked a personal milestone by scoring her 10th international goal.
“It’s always an honour to represent the nation,” she said.
“I’m really happy to get back on the scoresheet, especially in a tight game against Indonesia.”
Cambodia Defeat Reveals Areas To Improve
Three days later, Cambodia provided a harsh reminder that progress rarely follows a straight line.
Singapore conceded three first-half goals before eventually falling 5-0 to a side that finished runner-up at the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup.
Tan acknowledged that fatigue may have played a part but insisted the team cannot hide behind excuses.
“We were more fatigued having played just three days ago, but that cannot be an excuse,” she said.
“It’s something we need to work on so that such a result never happens again.”
The defeat also highlighted specific issues, particularly defending set-pieces. Three of Cambodia’s five goals came from corners.
For Ishida, the setback was part of the learning process.
Young Players Seizing Their Chance
The June camp also offered opportunities for newer faces to gain experience at senior international level.
Among them was first-time call-up Yuvika Suresh, who described her selection as a dream come true.
“To be honest, I was in disbelief,” she said.
“Ever since I started playing football, it was always a dream for me to play for the women’s team.”
While adjusting to the senior environment was initially daunting, she said her teammates quickly helped her settle in.
“At this level, everyone has a really good game understanding and a very high work ethic. That’s something I wish to take away from them.”
The youngster also described sharing the pitch with senior players she had long admired as a “full circle moment”.
Players Buying Into Ishida’s Vision
One of the biggest positives for Ishida has been the attitude shown by the squad. While the results in Bandung offered both encouragement and reality checks, the Lionesses leave the June window with a clearer understanding of where they stand.
With the AFF Women’s Cup in Malaysia just weeks away, Ishida’s side now faces the challenge of turning those lessons into results when it matters most.
Watch videos here:
@lionessessg Off to Bandung, Indonesia 🛫
@lionessessg A first call-up and a moment to remember. 🦁 Yuvika Suresh on what it means to pull on the national jersey — and what she’s looking to take away from the June window. 🇸🇬
@lionessessg Women’s Head Coach Mihoko Ishida on what goes into building the squad — and why each camp is an opportunity. 🇸🇬
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