The Japanese coach has extended his contract at the club, while former player Bruno Castanheira has returned to the White Swans for the upcoming S.League season.

By Khalis Rifhan

khalis.rifhan@goal.com

@KhalisRifhan

After leading Albirex Niigata (S) to their highest finish of third place in the S.League last season, coach Koichi Sugiyama has been rewarded with a contract extension for the upcoming 2013 league campaign.

It will once again be a new look for Sugiyama’s squad as several of last season's players have been released, with a new cohort of young and exciting players taking their place.

But White Swans supporters will not see the last of their idols from the 2012 season as some of them will still ply their trade in Singapore, having been snapped up by other local clubs.

Goalkeeper Takuma Ito and captain Norihiro Kawakami have flown to the east with Geylang International FC, while Tampines Rovers have secured the services of central defender Kunihiro Yamashita.

While the ever-smiling playmaker Musashi Okuyama has returned to Albirex Japan, pony-tailed Atsushi Shimono has made his way to Woodlands Stadium for the new season.

In a statement to Goal.com Singapore, Albirex general manager Koh Mui Tee said that it was natural for other clubs to move for the players who had performed well.

“As to whether Albirex players are more sought after as compared to before, I think this is a question of relativity," Koh pointed out.

"If our team does well for the season, more clubs would be interested in our players. This also depends on the individual clubs' needs at the end of every season.” "

The new additions to the team includes Bruno Castanheira, who wowed the fans with his trickery and goals when he was on loan at the club from Albirex Japan for two years in 2010.

“I am glad that I can play for Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore) again. Since we have not won the league title, I will do my best to achieve it,” Castanheira told Albirex’s Singapore official website.

The club have also turned to 21-year-old former Cerezo Osaka (J.League 1) goalkeeper Kenjiro Ogino, who started his youth career with Kyoto Mineyama High School, to fill the void left by Ito.

Keeping Ogino on his toes will be 35-year-old former goalkeeping coach Hiroaki Hara, who has been registered as a player for the new season.

But despite the massive changes in the club, there will still be a few familiar faces around - defender Yuki Ichikawa and midfielders Shuhei Hotta and Masatake Sato have been retained, while Takeshi Nagasawa has been converted from a coach to a player.

Albirex Niigata (S) 2013 Squad List:

Goalkeepers

Jersey No Name Age Former Club 1 Hiroaki Hara 35 * 22 Kenjiro Ogino 21 Cerezo Osaka (J1)

Defenders

Jersey No Name Age Former Club 2 Masahiro Ishikawa 23 Tokushima Vortis (J2) 3 Yuki Ichikawa 25 * 5 Kento Fukuda 22 Shonan Bellmare (J2) 6 Itsuki Yamada 22 Ritsumeikan University 15 Tatsuya Sase 21 Japan Soccer College 18 Takaaki Usami 19 Japan Soccer College 20 Yuya Nagae 20 Japan Soccer College 24 Naotoshi Ito 20 Japan Soccer College 25 Yu Takano 24 Japan Soccer College

Midfielders

Jersey No Name Age Former Club 4 Shuhei Hotta 24 * 8 Takeshi Nagasawa 23 * 10 Kento Nagasaki 23 Shizuoka Sangyo Uni 13 Gentaro Murakami 21 Japan Soccer College 14 Masatake Sato 22 16 Hiroki Morisaki 22 Japan Soccer College 23 Kazuya Fukuzaki 19 Japan Soccer College

Forwards

Jersey No Name Age Former Club 7 Bruno Castanheira 23 Albirex Niigata Japan 11 Kazuki Sakamoto 23 Ritsumeikan University 17 Ikuma Osaka 19 Japan Soccer College 19 Kazuki Hiroshi 20 Japan Soccer College 21 Yoshinaga Arima 20 Japan Soccer College 26 Katsumi Takahashi 23 Japan Soccer College

*Players retained from 2012 S.League season