Since 2015, no local team have won the Singapore Premier League (previously known as the S-League), and no team have broken the Albirex Niigata monopoly since 2016.
But a trio of regular contenders and dark horses have emerged in a bid to end the Japanese team's dominance this season.
Five-time champions Tampines Rovers and two-time winners Home United have already beaten the White Swans this year, and kept the bulk of their respective squads.
With chairman Desmond Ong handing out multi-year contracts since coming on board in 2017, the Stags are benefiting from stability and continuity as their players show understanding of their roles and responsibilities on the pitch.
The young and talented - such as 19-year-old Singaporean Joel Chew and 20-year-old Serb Zehrudin Mehmedovic - are complemented by seasoned campaigners such as Canadian Jordan Webb, 30, and 41-year-old centre-back Daniel Bennett, into his 21st season.
"Having kept the bulk of players from last season definitely helps in terms of chemistry," said Webb, who has 79 goals in 208 league games over nine seasons. "I would be selling us short if I say we are not going for all the trophies. We have good atmosphere, good ideas and the energy levels are high."
His coach Gavin Lee added: "We want to be effective in and out of pre-season. If we can win and entertain with attractive football, that would be the ideal scenario."
The Protectors were the best local side last season, finishing as SPL runners-up and winning the AFC Cup Asean zonal final.
Like Tampines, they have retained 17 of 24 players, including South Korean linchpin Song Ui-young and the evergreen Shahril Ishak, who combined for 40 goals in all competitions last term.
They boast the impressive Under-23 trio of forward Adam Swandi, central midfielder Hami Syahin and central defender Taufiq Muqminin.
With their last major trophy coming in the Singapore Cup in 2013 and their last league title in 2003, Home coach Saswadimata Dasuki said it is time to end the drought.
"We want to build on our successes last season and go one better," said Saswadimata, whose side beat Albirex on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield last Saturday.
"It should be one of the most open seasons in recent years, but we won't write them off. They can only get better training full-time, without national service or school commitments (like local clubs).
Meanwhile, the dark horses in the nine-team SPL appear to be Hougang United, who added considerable firepower to a team who scored a league-low of just 22 goals in 24 games last season.
While they have never finished in the top half or won any major titles, the Cheetahs are gunning for history, with coach Clement Teo declaring that "third would be an underachievement".
Retaining forwards Iqbal Hussain, Shahfiq Ghani and Fazrul Nawaz, they signed Faris Ramli and welcomed back Croat Stipe Plazibat and captain Zulfahmi Arifin.
They initially secured the services of 2015 and 2016 top scorer Rafael Ramazotti, only for the Brazilian to go missing and sign for Mexican club FC Juarez. Instead, they have shored up their defence with South Korean centre-back Kong Ho-won.
Teo said: "Afiq Yunos was our only natural centre-back... The Ramazotti incident allowed us to sign Kong and it was a bonus we picked up Faris. He will give us a different dimension with his ability to take on players.
"With the team we assembled, we feel we need to be in the title race. Among our players, the mindset is, even a draw is underachieving."
Zulfahmi, who has returned after one season with Thailand's Chonburi, added: "Any team can win the league this season and Albirex are beatable. It depends on who are the most consistent across 24 games.
"We now have quality attackers and a great team, so we got to be more adventurous and clinical than before to fight for our targets."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test - Daily Nation
The quarter finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup kick off tonight! Evra, van Persie & Fellaini and Januzaj are still in the hunt! We've felt a void the past two days with no football - well now it's finally back with an action-packed evening of quarter-final action: France vs. Germany and Brazil vs. Columbia.
Liverpool and FIFA Club World Cup - Confusion after Reds
LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on
Football: AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock
For more than 70 minutes, Tampines Rovers defended resolutely and looked on course to record a morale-boosting AFC Cup win over Hanoi FC despite their fatigue and injury problems.
New Singapore football coach Tatsuma Yoshida and players
usasportsradar.com/soccer/new-singapore-football-coach-tatsuma-yoshida-and-players-must-be-on-same-page/
Citing Vietnam's success with the unheralded South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, he said: "Park was relatively unknown until his first senior national team job with Vietnam in 2017, and their amazing run in which he led them to the AFF Suzuki Cup title last year and the quarter-finals of this year's Asian Cup.
Healthy business outlook for 2019, two surveys find
Home snap Albirex's title-winning streak The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5-4 on penalties to lift the Community Shield last night as the new Singapore Premier League (SPL) season
Derby boss Frank Lampard hits back at Leeds fans with Spygate
sportslifetale.com/soccer/derby-boss-frank-lampard-hits-back-at-leeds-fans-with-spygate-dig-after-play-off-triumph/
Following their first-leg win at Pride Park, Leeds fans mocked Lampard over the spying scandal with a chant to Oasis' 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' which sang: "All of the spies are hidden away, just try not to worry, you'll beat us some day. We beat you at home, we beat you away, stop crying Frank Lampard."
Albirex Niigata vs. Home United - Football Match Report
Vincent Kompany declared Manchester City are the best club in the world as he addressed the adoring fans at the champions trophy parade. On an evening of celebration, the departing captain reflected with both pride and love for the Club he has represented with distinction for more than a decade. The
City are the best: Kompany - straitstimes.com
Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa
Arsenal star Olivier Giroud angry with constant criticism from France fans and says it is getting 'tedious' The Gunners forward has come under fire from France fans once again but Giroud is
France's Giroud looking to silence "mudslingers" with goals
Premier League final table: Manchester City wins title over Liverpool; Tottenham clinches top-four spot It was a wild season where the blue side of Manchester won the league again
MADRID: Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport reported that the leaders of La Liga had agreed a deal to take Boateng on loan until the end of the
Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports - France - RFI
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190121-boateng-set-shock-barcelona-move-reports
Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport
Kevin-Prince Boateng set for shock loan move to Barcelona
BOURNEMOUTH: Footballer Emiliano Sala's family grieved on Friday (Feb 8) after British authorities formally identified his body as the one recovered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that
Body in Channel wreckage identified as footballer Sala
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