Balestier Khalsa FC

Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a professional football club based in Toa Payoh, Singapore, that competes in the Singapore Premier League. Founded in 1898, the club is considered as the oldest football club in the country. The club have won the Singapore Cup, Singapore League Cup and the Singapore FA Cup once.

Balestier Khalsa is the fourth oldest club in the Asia continent and is the oldest club in the Southeast Asia region.

History

Founding and early years (1898–1997)

Tracing their origins all the way back to 1898, the club was formed as Fathul Karib on 10 October 1898 and based in Farrer Park. One of the highlights over the following half century, before the side was renamed Balestier United Recreation Club in the 1975 as it was the outcome of re-organising the local football clubs structure by the Football Association of Singapore. During the time, Balestier United Recreation Club was providing nine players to the Singapore national team which competed in the 1958 Asian Games in Japan, losing 2–1 to both continental heavyweights South Korea and Israel.

When Balestier United Recreation Club first joined the inaugural National Football League, the team captured the Singapore Cup in 1958 and 1992. The club played in the Singapore Premier League (the forerunner to the S.League) from 1988 to 1995. The club became the first club in Singapore to bring in foreign players when they signed two Yugoslavian players, Joško Španjić and Boris Lucic, for the 1989 season. Balestier United are currently still active in local football, competing in the National Football League Division 1. Former Balestier Khalsa players such, Ruhaizad Ismail, Daniel Ong and Syafiq Zainal all played for the team as well.

S.League era as Balestier Central (1996–2002)

With the introduction of the S.League in 1996 and entities reintroduced as a professional football teams, Balestier United Recreational Club became a founder member of the S.League and competed under a new flagship name to Balestier Central.

Creating the foundation (2003–2012)

Merger with Clementi Khalsa and renamed as Balestier Khalsa

In 2002, Balestier Central took another turn as they merged with Clementi Khalsa at the end of the 2002 S.League season. Clementi Khalsa was formed as a club to represent Singapore's Sikh community and joined the S.League in 1999. Prior to the merger with Balestier Central, the club was based in the Clementi area of Singapore and played its home games at the Clementi Stadium.On 10 August 2012, Balestier Khalsa won the first Singapore League Cup Plate Final as the team defeated Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Achieving more silverware and AFC Cup debut (2013–2017)

In 2013, head coach Darren Stewart signed Nigerian Obadin Aikhena, South Korean Jung Hee-bong and several players from his former team, Gombak United and formed a strong foundation of the team, including foreign players Kim Min-ho and Park Kang-jin, together with Singapore national team player Qiu Li and proved to be a success. On 14 September 2013, The Tigers went one level higher by scoring a huge 4–0 win over DPMM in the 2013 Singapore League Cup Final and clinched their first ever silverware. Captain, Paul Cunningham and the team lift the trophy as well as clinching 3rd place in the 2013 Singapore Cup.

Balestier Khalsa signed former U-21 Croatian international Goran Ljubojević of Serbia from Novi Pazar. The Tigers won their first ever Singapore Cup on 7 November 2014, beating Home United 3–1 with Goran, Kim and Park scoring the goals. Thus, qualifying for the 2015 AFC Cup in the following year.

AFC Cup debut

The Tigers make their 2015 AFC Cup group stage debut on 24 February 2015, losing 0–3 to Hong Kong Premier League champions, Kitchee at the Mong Kok Stadium. On 10 March 2015, they almost held eventual Malaysia Super League champions, Johor Darul Ta'zim to goalless draw but the visitor scored in the 90+3 stoppage time. Balestier Khalsa finally got their historical first win in the following week, Jonathan Xu scoring his and Tiger's maiden AFC Cup goal and Miroslav Krištić's goal beating East Bengal from India 2–1. Balestier Khalsa went on to finished at the bottom of the table with 3 points.

Balestier Khalsa went on to finish as runner-ups in the 2015 Singapore Charity Shield to Warriors. On 10 July 2015, Balestier Khalsa lost narrowly 2–1 against Albirex Niigata (S) to finish runner up in the 2015 Singapore League Cup.

For the 2016 season, Balestier Khalsa qualified for 2016 AFC Cup as Singapore's 2nd best local team and got their first away goals/points in the AFC Cup, as they held Maldives Dhivehi Premier League champions, New Radiant 2–2 at Malé. They continue to improved their run in the competition winning against Kitchee & New Radiant 1–0 and 3–0 at home however that wasn't enough for them to secured to the knockout stage as they finished in 3rd place with 7 points, 3 points away from 2nd place, Kaya FC. Balestier Khalsa finished 4th in the Singapore Cup after losing to Ceres-La Salle in the third place playoff.

Tight budget

In 2017, due to tight budget, Balestier Khalsa signed 3 Myanmar national football team players, Aung Kyaw Naing, Kyaw Zayar Win, Nanda Lin Kyaw Chit from Nay Pyi Taw, Ayeyawady United and Yadanabon respectively.

Singapore Premier League era (2018–present)

In 2018, Balestier Khalsa went on to sign 4 foreigners with Vedran Mesec, Keegan Linderboom and Dusan Marinkovic joining the Tigers for the upcoming newly revamp league.

On 22 October 2021, Akbar Nawas was announced as the head coach of Balestier Khalsa, succeeding Marko Kraljevic, who left a week prior. Before this, Akbar leads the 2nd division I-League club, Chennai City to become champions of the league in the 2018–19 I-League with current player, Iqbal Hussain. According to a club statement, Akbar has penned a two-year contract “worth more than S$170,000”. However, less than 1 year into the contract, Akbar would tender his resignation to join Thai League 2 side, Udon Thani, less than a week after a record 6–1 win against Hougang United.

On 27 August 2022, The Tigers recruit former Football Association of Malaysia Technical Director, Peter de Roo as an interim coach till the end of the 2022 season but on 30 November 2022, he was appointed to permanent role as head coach of Balestier Khalsa.

Peter de Roo started off the 2023 season making slight changes to his squad signing Alen Kozar from NŠ Mura and Masahiro Sugita from Albirex Niigata Singapore. Under his reign, Balestier Khalsa went on to win 3 consecutive matches against Tanjong Pagar United, Tampines Rovers and Brunei DPMM before losing to Albirex Niigata (S) 6–2. The Tigers also went on to have another fine run of form winning 4 consecutive match till Hougang United end the streak on 21 July 2023.

In the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season, The Tigers sign an additional new signing of both Japanese player Kodai Tanaka and Riku Fukashiro, while Tunisian Ismaïl Sassi joined the club from AS Marsa. The club than participated in the 2024 Selangor Asia Challenge pre-season tournament on 26 and 28 April 2024 respectively.

In March 2025, Richard Harcus joined the club (former Director of Football at Angkor City FC) as Head of International Football Operations, to help drive the club forward internationally, with strategic, commercial and educational development.

Sponsors

For much of Balestier Khalsa's history, their kit provider has been with Umbro since their formation with Clementi Khalsa and Balestier Central up until 2017 whereby their main sponsor has been with Civic as well. In 2018, Balestier Khalsa signed a deal with Thailand sportswear, Mawin and then followed up with Italian sportswear brand, Lotto the following year in 2019. In 2020, Balestier Khalsa signed a deal with German sportswear Adidas to manufacture their kits alongside Weston Corp as their kit sponsors up till date.

On 29 March 2018, Balestier Khalsa launched their inaugural 2018 Singapore Premier League football campaign with the signing of a landmark sponsorship deal with sport utility vehicle brand, Jeep. The one-year deal that is worth $100,000 is the clubs biggest sponsorship contract in its history. On 28 February 2019, Balestier Khalsa extends their contract with Jeep for another year. Italian giants, Juventus who were also sponsored by Jeep, make a collaboration during their pre-season visit to Singapore.

Affiliated clubs

* Nusantara United (2024–''present'')

On 14 June 2024, Balestier Khalsa announced that Indonesian Liga 2 club, Nusantara United as their official partners.

* Western United (2024–''present'')

On 28 August 2024, Balestier Khalsa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with A-League club Western United.

Stadium

Balestier Khalsa played their home games at the Toa Payoh Stadium. The stadium held up to 3,800 spectators. For the 2023 Singapore Premier League season, Balestier Khalsa shared the Bishan Stadium with Lion City Sailors. The old stadium was demolished in October 2023, in order to make way for a new Regional Sport Centre.

Players

(on loan from BG Tampines Rovers)

^U23

^U23

^{U23
U23
FP U21}

^{FP U21}

^{FP U21}

Under-21s and Academy

^U21
U21

^U21
U21

Remarks:

On Loan

Club officials

Honours

''Bold is for those competition that are currently active.''

Personal awards

Domestic

* League Player of the Year
** Nazri Nasir (1997)

* League Young Player of the Year
** Kengne Ludovick (2006)
** Hazzuwan Halim (2017)

* League Coach of the Year
** Marko Kraljević (2014)

* League Top Scorer
** Goran Paulić (1997)

* League Goal of the Year
** Huzaifah Aziz against Young Lions on 20 September 2017.

* League Team of the Year
** Kristijan Krajček (2020)
** Šime Žužul (2021)
** Ryoya Taniguchi (2023)

Former managers

Balestier Khalsa head coach onwards after their merger with Clementi Khalsa in 2003

Domestic record

As Balestier Central/ Balestier Khalsa

As Clementi Khalsa

* The 1996 season of the S.League was split into two series.
* 2003 saw the introduction of penalty shoot-outs if a match ended in a draw in regular time. Winners of penalty shoot-outs gained two points instead of one.

Continental record

:

Records and statistics

As of 15 April 2025.

Top 10 all-time appearances

Top 10 all-time scorers

* Biggest Wins: 7–1 vs Sengkang Punggol (1 July 2006)
* Heaviest Defeats: 8–1 vs Tampines Rovers (11 November 2022)
* Youngest Goal scorers: Sameer Alassane ~ 18 years 5 months 2 days old (On 26 May 2016 ''vs Home United'')
* Oldest Goal scorers: Fabian Kwok ~ 34 years 2 months 15 days (''On 1 June 2023 vs Lion City Sailors'')
* Youngest ever debutant: Aqil Yazid ~ 17 years 2 months 5 days (''On 14 March 2021 vs Young Lions'')

See also

* History of Singaporean Indians
* History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia
* Indian diaspora
* Indian Singaporeans
* Sikhism in Singapore
* Singapore Khalsa Association
* List of Indian organisations in Singapore

References

External links

Official club website
*

{{2016 in Asian football (AFC)

Football clubs in Singapore
Association football clubs established in 1898
1898 establishments in Singapore
Singapore Premier League clubs
Indian diaspora in Singapore