Photography courtesy of axrosstheline.com

Co-written by Gary Koh and Fujimiya Hiroya

An ever-present in the National Football League since its inception decades ago, Police Sports Association are the current leading force in the semi-professional circuit.

The policemen are currently leading the top-tier of the NFL and enjoyed an exceptionally successful 2013. Strengthened by a talented batch of young players, they won an array of local and domestic silverware.

Last season they secured the Division One title on the final day of the season, prevailed against the soldiers in the annual Boogars Cup and finished runners-up to Brazil in the World Police Games football tournament in Northern Ireland.

A squad of regular career officers and full-time national servicemen, Police place an emphasis on hard graft, teamwork and discipline above individual talent. It was through the overall strength of the collective that pushed them to their best season yet.

While the majority of the Police squad will be up against the professionals from the S.League for the first time, they will be counting on the previous experience of the few who had previously tasted competition at least at the Prime League level.

The 2013 Division One champions features former Jaguars coach Tohari Paijan’s son, Firdaus Tohari and former Geylang International player Razali Saad’s son, Danial Razali. The latter had also turned out for Geylang International Prime League two seasons ago.

The policemen are able to mix it up in their playing style, from their favoured simple-passing game to a more direct approach. Typically tough and uncompromising in defence, their ability to absorb lessons from game to game in the StarHub League Cup could be key to their progress in the tournament.

In their opening game on Thursday, the absence of their first choice goalkeeper proved fatal as the policemen succumbed to a 13 to nothing trashing at the hands of Albirex Niigata (S) at Jurong East Stadium.

Police SA conceded their first goal as early as the fifth minute when Kazuya Okazaki struck a free-kick from the right which flew straight past Zulhelmi Hazlan. The second goal came 17 minutes later courtesy of a header from Norihiro Kawakami who went on to score another to seal a brace for the game. The floodgates opened from that moment as Albirex went on to give Police SA a ruthless lesson as both Okazaki and Kazuki Sakamoto grabbed a hat-trick each.

As though losing by 13 goals isn’t bad enough, Police lost their midfielder Hishamudin Khairudin who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. He will miss Sunday’s encounter against the Jaguars.

Despite the trashing, Police midfielders Farhan Shamsudin and Firdaus Paijan showed glimpses of the spark they would probably need in Sunday’s game.