Happy New Year.

In 2025, thanks to your generous support and cheers, Albirex Niigata Singapore was able to achieve significant development. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you all.

The 2024–25 season marked a major transition, as we reshaped our squad from one centered on Japanese players to one built primarily around Singaporean talent. Unfortunately, we concluded the season in 6th place—an outcome that fell short of our ambitions. We deeply regret that we were not able to fully meet the high expectations and passionate support you showed us.

However, in the 2025–26 season, as we look to bounce back, we have made a solid start in the Singapore Premier League. Although only four matches have been played so far, our young players have stepped up impressively, and we currently stand at two wins, one loss, and one draw. On the other hand, in the Singapore Cup, while we finished top of the group stage, we were defeated in the semi-finals. It was a tournament that clearly highlighted what worked and what didn't, and we have vowed to grow as a team from this experience.

Before the season began, I shared the following message with the players:

“Let’s become the No.1 club in the league through hard work and teamwork. If we do, results will surely follow.” Intensity in duels and speed of transition. While these are basic elements of football, please continue to pay attention to these aspects of the game, which Head Coach Shigetomi insists on thoroughly.

As for our women’s team, we finally achieved our long-awaited first championship. Led by player-manager Kana Kitahara in her fourth year, the team brought dynamic passing football to life on the pitch. In the fourth season since the Singapore Women’s Premier League was launched, the overall standard of the league continues to rise, our team showed a quality that shone exceptionally bright. In 2026, we will represent Singapore in the AFC Women’s Champions League. We will give everything we have, and we sincerely ask for your even greater support.

In the academy department as well, we have seen major growth—both individually and as teams. Many of our academy players are not only training with the first team, but are also steadily earning minutes in official matches. We are confident that, in the coming years, many players who will carry this club forward will emerge from our academy.

At our football academy, we were also proud to host the “Albirex (S) S.E.A Cup” again this year—an international tournament launched in 2023 to further develop football across Southeast Asia. Qualifiers were held across eight countries—Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Laos—and as many as 1,140 young players took part. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the partner companies and organizations that supported the operation of a tournament of this scale, as well as to all participating teams and players. We truly hope that friendships formed beyond borders will continue to grow and lead to a brighter future.

Seeing the children in our Soccer School and Cheer Dance School grow day by day is a great joy for the club. With increased opportunities for overseas expeditions to Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and other places, we feel that the growth speed of the children who have gained these experiences is accelerating. And above all, the pure voices of the children cheering at the stadium always push the players forward. Thank you very much, always.

Yuhua Albirex Football Academy (YAFA) has now reached its 13th year. We believe it is a wonderful project that brings joy of physical activity and the value of social skills to children in our hometown through football. To all the volunteers who have supported YAFA—thank you as always. From 2026, we will expand our activity area, and we look forward to kicking a ball with even more children in the Jurong community.

Now, from 2026, we will officially change our name to "Albirex Jurong Football Club" and expand our hometown to the Jurong region (the first team will adopt the new name from the 2026–27 season). Working together with the residents of Jurong and local authorities, our goal is to become a club that functions as social infrastructure in the future.

Our vision is clear: to be as essential as “Water, Electricity, Gas, — and Albirex.”

A new name, a new emblem, and the beginning of a new history.

100 years from now, we may no longer exist in this world.

But even after 100 years, Albirex Jurong FC will love Jurong, be loved by Jurong, and exist as infrastructure beyond just a football club.

With this vision in mind, our next challenge begins.

Daisuke Korenaga
Chairman
Albirex Jurong Football Club