With the local football fraternity debating some significant changes for the 2015 S.League season, one club has already begun planning for the New Year with its usual quiet efficiency.
That's what we've come to expect from Albirex Niigata Singapore FC, the Japanese club side who have called the Jurong East Stadium home since 2004.
What started as a collaboration -- between the S.League and J.League club Albirex Niigata FC more than a decade ago -- has blossomed into a well-oiled machine that produces entertaining football on the pitch while leading the way in terms of fan interaction and community work off it.
Albirex team manager Yeo Jun Xian explained to ESPN FC what has helped the club remain competitive, in both a football and commercial sense. Yeo is not Japanese, but a Singaporean who has become one of the public faces of the White Swans in the local football scene.
"It started out as a partnership between the S.League and Albirex Niigata from Japan in 2004," Yeo said. "The concept was developing football for both sides. And this has always been the modus operandi for Albirex Niigata Singapore in our time here.
"It is not easy being in the S.League for 11 years. When it all started, Singaporeans may have viewed us as a foreign club but that has changed tremendously. We are fortunate to have close ties with the local community and we went one step further last year when we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Yuhua Community Sports Club. We have even more room to launch initiatives that will gather the Yuhua citizens to be part of this club."
While they are always competitive in matches -- the club finished fifth in the S.League this year and were crowned League Cup champions in 2011 -- it has been the way Albirex have reached out to a loyal group of fans that has most caught the eye of the Singapore sports fraternity. Their home matches are normally supported by enthusiastic supporters, along with their young cheerleaders, recreating Japan's unique footballing culture.
Yet the club never seem satisfied with what they've achieved, according to Yeo. They are constantly looking to evolve and launch new initiatives to keep the support strong.
"We always have new initiatives in our minds," Yeo said. "Like this year, we introduced performances by the Yuhua CSC volunteers who did Qi Gong and line dance demonstrations during half-time. We also hosted the first-ever Pokemon Day during our match against Home United FC at Jalan Besar Stadium in October.
This is done to ensure that a good mixture of talented youngsters are guided by a handful of experienced professionals to pave the way for successful careers in football.
"We conduct open trials during pre-season back in Japan," Yeo explained. "The Japan Soccer School will send a list of players and we pick our team from both the open trials and the JSS list. The players who are selected know that if they do well in the S.League, it could pave the way for them to get offers from regional clubs or even back in the J.League or Europe like some of our former players have done. So that is all the motivation they need to perform on the pitch."
As for himself -- one of the youngest team managers in Singapore at the age of just 26 -- Yeo is thankful for the opportunity. But he knows that he needs to keep learning and picking up more skills of the trade.
"I started out as an intern here at the club and was appointed team manager this season. All this would not be possible if not for the chairman (Daisuke Korenaga) and vice-chairman Mr. Koh (Mui Tee) who gave me the chance and believed in me. It has been an eye-opening two and a half years. Working with mostly Japanese here at the club, it gives me an opportunity to see the way they work and learn from it. I am learning something new every single day and will continue to do so in the years to come."
Albirex Niigata Singapore will be kicking off their 12th year in the S.League in 2015. Jurong East stadium will be the venue for yet another year of pretty, passing football backed by boisterous cheerleading. Whatever these Swans do, they seem to do it in style.