tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83716341955219633142024-02-19T13:36:06.219+08:00S-league: Facts & Figureshappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.comBlogger1827125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-60097055955040511422018-05-02T17:28:00.001+08:002018-05-02T17:28:14.379+08:00Suzuki Cup group <p dir="ltr"><b>Group A</b><br>
Vietnam <br>
Malaysia <br>
Myanmar <br>
Cambodia <br>
Laos</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Group B</b><br>
Thailand <br>
Indonesia <br>
Philippines <br>
Singapore <br>
Qualifier winner</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-64508231113856746832018-04-30T12:27:00.001+08:002018-05-02T17:25:24.119+08:00Suzuki cup is coming back in 2018<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://youtu.be/SA47_9CnEm8">Suzuki Cup 2018 - Singapore</a></p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-69434824221073225982017-12-12T13:49:00.001+08:002017-12-12T15:34:22.520+08:00The facts behind the youth development myth<p dir="ltr">It is the festive season and one should be joyful until one keep seeing the direction of Singapore football.</p>
<p dir="ltr">First off, let go off track with the biggest story recently and that is the resignation of Winston Lee and for me it was years too late.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The media can keep hammering in his defence (Also the PAP no doubt as PAP never appoint wrong personal according to media) he is hardworking and always has Singapore football is his interest but it is already bullshit according to news reports back in 2015.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What happened in 2015. FAS was kicked out by FAM once again and to rescue face for the under-pressured worst-ever FAS president Zainudin Nordin the media released quotes from 2011, from those who really care about Singapore football, like former Geylang Patrick Lim telling FAS in a meeting that going back to Malaysia mean playing Cambodian standard within 5 years. (His words came true)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Yet they were ignored because Winston Lim care more about his own interests or should I say his six digits annual salary (which is not wrong if the media were truthful)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Then the use of hardworking as defence, which the media is using a lot now when so many elites are failing in the jobs (not just football), is a joke. If that the case then security guards should be earning up to $400k like FAS general-secretary and there are many more jobs with hours that matches Winston Lee hours so why is he the exception!</p>
<p dir="ltr">His job description mean he is worth it only if Singapore football had moved forward under him which it did not so he will be remembered along with Zainduin and Lim Chin as the 3 scourges of Singapore football.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After that let return to the header on the myth of Young Lions aiding Singapore football youth development.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Their defence center on the fact it is for SEA Games 2019 but excuse me, does it mean without Young Lions there is no team for SEA Games.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We know the answer to that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Then they claimed the period of 2004-2006 to showcase the Young Lions can be successful but they forgot during that period the Cubs were never a youth development team. It was filled with Foreign Talent Scheme players like Agu Casmir, Itmi Dickson, Shi JiaYi and Precious etc and the youngsters they pointed out as success were not greenhorns as Baihakki and Hassan had played for Geylang for 1 whole year before Cubs came calling because they were that good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So Cubs success story was build by butchering clubs especially 2003 teams of Geylang and Woodlands.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Therefore delaying the inevitable is wasting more time and efforts which Singapore football cannot afford.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We are possibly the only Association in the world still demanding all youth players come together to play in one team in the league. And the reason is not difficult to note why because FAS want glory and levels below senior and at times Under-23 go unnoticed thus they do not care.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Yet Singapore football cannot develop without developing level below under23 first.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So FAS should no longer care about Under23 level and formed a team for it because it is too late to develop most players by then and the focus should be under-21 and below but we all know without glory the top brass do not care and that is why the future is still as dark as the sky in December.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-42953794015750914362017-04-19T07:40:00.001+08:002017-04-19T10:01:18.491+08:00PAP must abide by their moral standard<p dir="ltr">No matter the outcome of FAS new executive council investigation into donategate, one thing is already certain from the information so far; under the reign of former FAS President Zainduin Nordin, the 3 scourge - including Winston Lee and Lim Chin - saw themselves as FAS Feudal Lords and did whatever they wished without any control by the then executive council.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was wrong and make a mockery of the 'superior system' of forced installation of the FAS President upon Singapore football by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was their man, former Bishan-Toa Poyah MP, Zainduin Nordin who had engineered this mess by allowing his fellow scourge and subordinate, Winston Lee, to run amok as long as he served the wishes and interest of the FAS President.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The appointment of the puppet, Lim Chin, was for the same reason as he was content to collect his six-figure salary as long as it was not him who was getting sacked or a pay cut. (Remember Tanjong Pagar United incident)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Nothing was done for the interest of Singapore football, only the interest and wishes of the FAS President.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After that come to the headline and  I must said PAP must act now as their man, Zainduin Nordin, is involved in the matter and he is hiding behind the fact he is a former PAP MP, the ruling government, thus he does not answered to anybody.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is totally ridiculous and a slap on the face of the ruling government constant talks of higher standard of morality from their MPs.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There are many questions to ask other than just the $500k as remember the $200k donation as well which raised other questions.<br>
1) Have he seem those documents from Tiong Bahru and what was his reaction<br>
2) Why was it not debated at executive council as the law stated<br>
3) Was the $200k really for Lions XII or as revealed by <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2012/03/10-levy-and-hidden-cost-shock.html">TODAY then it was meant as FAM levy</a> (I bet everybody forgotten about this)<br>
4) How much was really given to FAM for LionsXII involvement and where did the money come from<br>
5) How much donation were there really under his reign (Bill Ng money were hide from public view so there may be more)<br>
6) Where did all donation under his reign really go and everything must be stated</p>
<p dir="ltr">Only the PAP executive board can forced the 51-year-old to open his mouth and reveal the whole truth and not hided behind the ridiculous reason he is no longer FAS President as donategate and other matters all happen under his reign and his name was used to hide it from almost the entire FAS Executive Council.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 3 fedual lords and scourges cannot just walk away now just because they are all, or soon to be, not involved with FAS anymore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Remember corruption start when the elites ignored failing by their own elites</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lee Kuan Yew will never allowed this as it involved public funds and he always asked the PAP to abide by a higher standard of moral conduct.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now his son and current Prime Minister can show if PAP is such a party or only one when it does not involved their people.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-79800079462217176362017-04-07T09:33:00.001+08:002017-04-07T09:33:28.184+08:00Overseas trips only benefit elites<p dir="ltr">This <a href="http://m.todayonline.com/sports/football/barbs-officials-go-paid-overseas-trips-unfair-says-former-fas-vp">TODAY article</a> is a week long but I still want to respond to it because for me, the issue of importance of overseas trips must be discussed more thoroughly.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Yes it is important, Mr Lim Kia Tong, but does all these trips really benefit Singapore football or just the elites running the game.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As I noted before, still-FAS general-secretary Winston Lee was praised for his overseas works but the domestic game is in a mess.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now Winston Lee have a job overseas because of what he did but for the local lads, not among these elites, they just have a paycut waiting for them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The departed worthless and inept Zainduin Nordin was pushing for ASL to get a job after this departure as noted by news article then.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What was the use of all those connections other than to benefit the 3 scourges - including puppet Lim Chin - Singapore football!</p>
<p dir="ltr">These connections will never bring our players overseas as our players do not have a good  reputation and other Asian Associations are not going to push Singapore players to their clubs knowing the backlash.</p>
<p dir="ltr">All we get out of it are a few overseas trial every now and then and we know how it ends.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also Mr Lim, you have no problems missing local events but have a problem missing even one overseas event and that's a bigger problem for if you're elected, you promised to bring National Football League (NFL) under your direct guidance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">You have no time for local events as it is so are you going to have a nominee but is this not repeating the current FAS model and we have seem how it is working. (All blames to nominee and all credits to Mr Lim etc)</p>
<p dir="ltr">The fact is that there is no shortcuts and only by building the domestic game will it bring Singapore football to greater height and not overseas trips which just benefit the ruling elites.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So in conclusion overseas trips are important but they must not come at the cost of the local game as it is now where the ruling elites spend all their time and efforts overseas while ignoring the local game.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-45348196625746981942017-03-21T11:58:00.001+08:002017-03-21T12:06:22.484+08:00The problems a datasheet do not show<p dir="ltr">I would agree with <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/pulling-young-lions-out-of-s-league-would-be-a-disaster">Straits Times headline</a> that pulling the Young Lions would be a mistake but as noted before <a href="http://sleaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2017/02/find-new-direction-for-young-lions.html">the direction of the Cubs are wrong</a> and Football Association of Singapore (FAS)  have to face up to it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As expected of FAS, whenever they want to prove they're right, <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2015/10/a-number-game-to-make-themselves-look.html">they pull out a datasheet to prove their point.</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">What they failed to note is what use are the minutes if the players are learning nothing. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Afterall, if they have gone to watch the games the Cubs are playing in, they'll have noted the Cubs are putting so many players behind the ball that I wonder how can any attacking midfielders or strikers learn from that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Is it any wonder then those players have to resort to long ball to attack as they have no other way to attack as their players are always in their own half.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is why in the 2015 SEA Games, even against a Philippines second team make of college players playing together for the first time, the Cubs had to resort to long balls and was more comfortable playing long stretch of the game as a defensive unit.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We're outplayed throughout the entire competition so what use was those minutes on the field.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is why I want the Young Lions to be a team for fringes players like in 2003 as those players are older thus likely to be more mature and understand that is their last chance to become a footballer.</p>
<p dir="ltr">FAS Technical director Michel Sablon also talked about other points like mindset and he is right about them but he ignored the mindset of his paymaster, FAS.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A big part of the problem youth development sucks in Singapore is FAS demanded all credits must go to them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Have he seem their interview in the past, <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2009/09/will-fas-give-s-league-it-due-credit.html">it is always (National Football Academy) NFA this or NFA that</a> and they do not want to involved others in their work as they fear credits will be directed elsewhere.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I have said this before; no nation in the world have only one source for their players yet FAS can demand all their players from NFA to Young Lions must go onto become national players.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is unrealistic and it is holding us back.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Even the world best youth development developed no more than 5-6 players, if they're lucky for most of the time it is only 1-2 players, every generation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Keeping Young Lions as it is keep that mindset alive as they've to produce players to national side or face criticisms about their 'failures'. </p>
<p dir="ltr">That is why there are some quarters wondering why certain players were promoted even when they were underserved of their places in the Cubs and national team.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Isn't it better to change that mindset as well?</p>
<p dir="ltr">And the excuse of SEA Games preparation is lame.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why do every SEA Games squad have to be formed several years beforehand as SEA Games winner Thailand do not need to do that and is fine with that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The fact is if you've a good youth development with many sources, good players will develop with or without a SEA Games gold medal.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-45865218362869879342017-03-19T19:22:00.001+08:002017-03-19T19:22:44.082+08:00Better to admit errors<p dir="ltr">One knows how bad a job one has done when one claims to have nothing to do with it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is the message I got from FAS provisional council president Lim Kia Tong outbursts about his opponents weakness.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am not going to suggest his claims are wrong but why have it come to a situation where the incumbents are in such a terrible situation where they're not assured of a win.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The fact is incumbents always have the advantage in an election as their opponents lacked a track record to back them up.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After all, the opposition's supporters (I am talking about politics if one do not know) in Singapore always moaned the public never gave them a chance to prove their worth but honestly speaking, PAP have govern well so to suggest the public should change for the sake of change is naivety.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It will only happen when one has done such a terrible job that the public can no longer tahan being govern by the same people anymore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We can see that from the election in Taiwan last year where despite overwhelming wins in both the presidential and parliament race, the once-opposition and now government, DDP had really gathered less votes than ever as it was the fact large number of neutrals (who hated both sides for the mess Taiwan is in) and KMT supporters chosen to boycott the election for the terrible job KMT had done as their average salary stagnated to the same level as 20 years ago.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So incumbents are only in trouble when they govern that badly and to suggest Lim, Bernard Tan and Edwin Tong are not part of that group that led to the current situation in Singapore football is a joke.</p>
<p dir="ltr">They can't claimed Bernard Tan and Edwin Tong came in 2013 so were not involved in most of the decisions make under the worthless and inept Zainduin Nordin leadership as may I remind the incumbents that they're going to sign a new contract with FAM in 2015 where we pump in more money to the Malaysian sides while cutting our own to the bare bones.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was fortunate Malaysian states FA rejected the offer as inadequate and wanted more than we can afford or one can already imagine the-even-worse state we be in as more money get pumped into Malaysia, not Singapore, football while screaming we're poor by FAS leadership (which includes the trio)</p>
<p dir="ltr">And yet with a 'poor financial' situation, as they always claimed they're poor, they had no problem paying 6-figure sums to their fellow elites of Winston Lee and Lim Chin despite the duo continuing to be failure in their jobs.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lim along with Tan and Tong should admit their roles and not try to whitewash it away for if they got their way, we be in worse state than ever as they will never learn. (Some will suggest they will never learn and go back to their old elitism ways once this election is over)</p>
<p dir="ltr">You, trio, have nobody to blame if you lose the election as you're the cause of much of your downfall.<br>
</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-31336267198788150092017-02-28T19:02:00.001+08:002017-03-01T19:20:55.652+08:00A new direction for Young Lions needed<p dir="ltr">After another heavy defeat, 1-6, by Genera Young Lions we once again heard the same reasoning by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) that the players are gaining experience for the real target at year end - which is the SEA Games for those who do not know.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I cannot tahan anymore and will like to tell FAS, since the Cubs inception back in 2003, that plan has never worked.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead it have only breed an elitism system in recent years and now most of the clubs have chosen to give up developing any players. (Reason I have said too many times, good players they lose to FAS, bad players they also lose as FAS dump these players on them)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Worse is even the reasoning by FAS of youngsters gaining experience make no sense as remember Geylang United (now Geylang International), who before the inception of the Cubs, have given debut to the likes of Indra Shadan, Ahmad Latiff, Lionel Lewis, Hassan Sunny and Baihakki Khaizan etc</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also, the now defunct, Sembawang Rangers had given Noh Alam Shah his debut after getting him on a $2 transfer while the Warriors had given more playing time to Ashrin Shariff in one season than the Cubs two seasons (At that time, other than debut year, in 2003, FAS stuffed the Cubs with overage and experienced players and only called up youngsters to ask them to sit on the bench)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Therefore it is not clubs are not giving youngsters experience but rather the fact the youngsters have to be good enough first and at this moment in time they are not.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In recent time, FAS have gone glory hunting with their LionsXII project and have cut youth development to the bare bones by cutting funding to the clubs Centre of Excellence (COEs) to the point they rather not bother about it while the National Football Academy (NFA) have failed to deliver.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead an elitism mentality have been breed as how can FAS explain the attitude of Sahil Suhaimi to his lacked of fitness and the way Shakir Hamzah continue to get in trouble thus FAS should have clam down on their attitude earlier and not looked the other way by telling us they are still learning.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now we faced a situation where many of these 'elite players' have failed to make the grade and the National team have to recall the oldies like Daniel Bennett etc.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is why we need  a new direction for the Cubs for if FAS continue to walk down this path where they want to keep all the promising youngsters for their Cubs and discouraged the clubs from competing with them then we will never develop a bigger pool of players.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I will repeat it again - Nobody will develop players so that another will come to get them for free.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We need to go back to 2003 where the Cubs were giving those on the fringes their chance and it saw Aliff Shafaein took the chance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It is those on the fringes that need Genera Young Lions to give them the chance for more experience as let be honest,the results are not any different with the youngsters suffering thrashing and if the clubs had gotten their hands on Khariul Amri and Harris Harun etc they would have played them for clubs are not stupid as seem by the examples listed above.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Therefore I can only hope when the new team is chosen for FAS in June election they will make the Cubs change course for it is not working now.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-9037714636557264372017-01-07T08:33:00.001+08:002017-01-07T15:30:19.965+08:00One scourge left (Edited)<p dir="ltr">With the departure of the 'worthless one' Zainduin Nordin and 'puppy' Lim Chin, everybody have forgotten there is still one scourge left.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Before commenting on the last scourge, a brief sidetrack to talk about the two scourge who had left.</p>
<p dir="ltr">First is the main villain, the worthless one, Zainduin Nordin, who is <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/Zai_ASLFootball/status/809054593699041280">doing exactly</a> what I have long derided about the previous system of appointment by Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY).</p>
<p dir="ltr">The former Bishan- Toa Poyah MP is suffering no consequences for his string of bad leadership and decisions during his 8 year reign of Singapore football and can joke about being struck in a plane as the worst that can happen to him in a time when many players to staffs have to suffer paycut or the prospect of jobless.</p>
<p dir="ltr">All of these is the result of his pursuit of vain project like the LionsXII etc which even the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) media are now admitting have caused Singapore football much harm as they finally detailed the opposition to his LionsXII project, after Suzuki Cup debacle, but he ignored them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">However he is the only person who is able to walk Scot free and that is why to label him as a scourge is the least he deserves.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After that come the 'puppy' Lim Chin for I wanted to comment him as a puppet or dog but he is worse than that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A dog will even challenge his owner if it is forced to act continually against it will at times but Lim never did that even once. As for puppet, it has no mind of it own so one cannot blamed it but Lim, as a human, do have a mind but he chose to be a puppet so he deserves no sympathy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The best defense his 'supporters' can give is he is hardworking but for his salary, six-digits sum, most will be hardworking and it is not enough as he was appointed to be a CEO; not a bull on a field.</p>
<p dir="ltr">His failure was he had chances to voice his opposition to the top and defend the S-league but he never did and he just stood by to protect his rice bowl while not caring others were losing their or suffering as a result.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So why pity him as he is a scourge for his action (or more appropriate non-action)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now back to the main topic and anybody who follow Singapore football must know who the third scourge is and yes, it is FAS general-secretary Winston <u>Lee</u>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Of the three scourge, he is as culpable, if not more, for the state of Singapore football as he has been S-league CEO (2006-2011) and is currently FAS general-secretary (2008-) but asked for any of his contribution, most will be at a loss to remark what he  has done.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He should be the highest paid member of FAS but Singapore football is in such state due to him indulging his boss Zainduin Nordin vain projects and projecting into an elitism squad system, from seniors to age-groups, all available cash and benefiting only a small group of chosen ones while ignoring the masses.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Indeed his only merit is his ability to bootlick his boss and be a willing scapegoat for their errors.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Afterall every time FAS faced a crisis he will be the one to face the public and media and tell <u>us</u> it was all his fault and nothing to do with his boss and yet the more 'mistakes' he admit to over the years, the longer his contract is extended.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What kind of logic is that!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Even now, the best his 'supporters' can tell us is he is doing a remarkable job at his side job as one of AFC vice-president and AFC staffs commended his work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">All this time at home, in Singapore, our house is on fire with our youth development is the dump, we cannot organised an election, our players and staffs faced mass pay cut while we cannot arrange a friendly for our lions outside Cambodia (how many times have we played them in the last couple of years) and lot more to list so who is really paying him nearly half a million a year!</p>
<p dir="ltr">As FAS general-secretary he is in charge of day-to-day operation yet everything is falling apart under his charge so he cannot escape the consequences.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He must be the next to go whoever is the next FAS president and must not be handed anymore extension to his contract.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He deserves nothing more and his end will hopefully bring an end to the era of the three scourge of Singapore football for they are the trio to have benefit so financially from it despair.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-79980514053729438732016-12-09T15:05:00.001+08:002016-12-10T05:59:44.948+08:00SPH throw weight behind but cancelled launch tell us the turth<p dir="ltr">Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) continue to throw it weight behind the ASEAN Super League (ASL) project headed by former PAP Toa Payoh-Bishan man Zainduin Nordin with their paper <a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/football/infantino-views-asl-positively">The Newpaper (TNP) reporting FIFA president Infantino support the plan</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">However in the age of the internet, where one no longer have to take the facts of a story from only one source, <a href="http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/asean-super-league-faces-more-delays-zainudin-insists-it-will-take">the turth appear otherwise</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Indeed in the link, Football magazine Four Four Two tell us a different story as they report The worthless one Zainduin Nordin had cancelled a launch to officially kickstart the ASL project this week as ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) officials have got cold feet and noises are being make to cancel this project as support is at best lukewarm if not ice-cold.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Worse is there is much resistance from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), who is AFF head, as they continue to refuse to give any approval and AFC is somebody who AFF do not wish to clash with.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also the former FAS president, who is seeking to become ASL CEO, admitted to FFT ASL may not make it to launch even by October 2017, let alone the September date TNP keep mentioning.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why are such facts ignored by the SPH media and they wonder why readership of their papers are falling.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Who want to get such baised news and refusal to tell us the entire story just because  the worthless one is a former PAP man and it is well-known SPH backed them to the end no matter the facts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">ASL is far from ready and that is a fact everybody, other than the former Bishan-Tao Poyah MP and You SPH, acknowledged.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-47930049712842017262016-12-02T09:57:00.001+08:002016-12-02T11:02:43.747+08:00Elitism by any other name is still elitism<p dir="ltr">The newly revamped, and now free, The Newpaper (TNP) <a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/bozenko-fandis-sights?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1480600524">reported</a> Fandi Ahmad project with Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is taking shape and frankly nothing I've read tell me it is not yet another 'elite squad project'.</p>
<p dir="ltr">No doubt they tell us the newly recruited players are outside of the system so they are 'expanding' youth development.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If it was so easy to develop players at such late age after the system had failed them when they were much younger then a number of Asian countries namely China, Indonesia and Malaysia would be kingpins now.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why did I precisely named these 3 nations?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Because they have attempted similar schemes and with even bigger budgets; China sending them to Brazil, Indonesia twice with the first in Italy and second Uruguay and Malaysia with their idol project and their elites in Slovakia but may I asked if anybody's can named the success story.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Even a hardcore fan of football like me have a hard time finding names I can define as success and their careers is nothing like those with well-established youth development from Japan and S.Korea while in ASEAN, nobody is even near Thailand who have the help of sport schools system (They are unlike Singapore Sport School who are alone and only trained elite so they have the numbers advantage)</p>
<p dir="ltr">And numbers are important as once again I see Fandi Ahmad project is for only 30 players so how is it not elitism.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If it was really a youth development expansion then they should have started with the Under-8 to Under-10 etc like many have told them before but how can I expect any different as those in charge only know elitism squad system and this project is no different no matter what they call it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Only the small number of elite players need the best with $4millions for them while the rest should just be happy with whatever leftover they can get like the $70 k.<br></p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-20515431121583279272016-11-16T07:07:00.001+08:002016-12-09T15:24:29.971+08:00The reason FAS persist with ASL revealed<p dir="ltr">TODAY paper has reported the ASEAN SUPER LEAGUE (ASL) is back on the road.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I cannot understand why the FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (FAS) persist with this project when it has no support or else it will not have to keep sending teams overseas to sell the idea even now as reported in the report.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Worse was it has no sponsorship of any kind so the money has to come from FAS pocket.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That is until now when one sentence from that report tell me everything, it reported FAS former president Zainduin Nordin, he stepped down a few days ago, was appointed ASL chief executive officer (CEO).</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is in my eyes the worst form of self-interest as that former Bishan_Toa Poyah MP has sacrificed Singapore football to secure his own future.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A CEO like the selfish asshole he is will not pay himself 'badly'.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The S-league CEO Lim Chin got himself a six-figures sum yearly excluding bonuses so his asshole will be much higher.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Not bad in the current economic climate where jobs are being lost and an average citizen (he will claim he is one of us now) can only hope to find a new job including a high paying salary that soon.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The best part is ASL is a private company and not under FAS so they do not have to reveal their salaries scale which caused problems for that asshole in September FAS AGM.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He has planned his future pathway well and is this what PEOPLE ACTION PARTY (PAP) meant when they keep pushing him upon on Singapore football for our own good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The government has failed Singapore football by allowing their own personal self-interest to triumph over the common good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A million dollars salary for that asshole ending in the destruction of much of Singapore football is what we got for nearly a decade of his leadership.</p>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-68278418797859115372016-10-05T07:29:00.001+08:002016-12-02T10:55:04.838+08:00$4 millions wasted for Tong election campaign<div dir="ltr">
Saw the <a href="http://m.todayonline.com/sports/football/fandi-ahmad-inks-new-deal-help-under-23s-qualify-2020-olympics" target="_blank">TODAY story</a> on Football Association of Singapore (FAS) pumping $4 millions into youth football but instead of rejoicing, once I saw where it is going, I knew it will be wasted as the problems are not just at the under-23 level but the entire system.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So what is the use of spending all that only on under-23 and neglecting the rest! </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It is clear as daylight it is meant for campaign purposes with FAS vice-president Edwin Tong an unpopular candidate for FAS president due to his association with the current incumbent, the even more unpopular, Zainudin Nordin.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Thus just days after the FAS AGM revealed high wages for a few FAS personals (Want to guess who) as well as the high amount of money that been blown elsewhere for no benefit to Singapore football like the now defunct LionsXII project, we see him heading a project now aiming for the Olympics.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Is this what Singapore football need?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The answer is no for what Singapore football need now is to kick-start the now-forgotten National Training Centre (NTC) if he really care about the state of Singapore football.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
After all as an example even England - since most Singaporeans followed only the English game - have finally finished building their own St Geogre's Park National Training Centre, after over a decade delay, as they admitted they need it more than ever with European Eilties like Germany, France and Spain having such centres and benefiting from it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Yet it is not what Edwin Tong need as he need headlines that he can achieve right away to kick-start his own election bid for the FAS post; now postponed to next year.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
That is why I am sure he must given a big salary increase to Fandi Ahmad to turn down Pahang and all that money for the SEA GAMES, Asian GAMES and the Olympics until 2021.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Let be brutally honest, building a NTC is expensive and in Singapore, where the government is unlikely to fully fund it, FAS will have to come out with a majority of the cash so we need to ask ourselves if we are really serious about building it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Because looked at the way we are spending!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The LIONSXII project had cost over a eight-figures sum in total in 4 years and ballooning at an average rate of $700k yearly with the final year budgeting at $4 millions and ticket revenues (Includes national teams games) revealed recently show we were only covering less than half of that money spend yearly.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
That is why in recently years I have questioned why youth development are disappearing under the name of "revamp" at the same time as LIONSXII appearance.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Did FAS transfer cash there and have it helped Singapore football as the LIONSXII was packaged as "youth development". (Despite the laughable part that most players on the field were always in the mid 20s to late 20s)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The national team showcased it is not so as our national team is ageing and are now manned by core players who are either in their late 20s or early 30s with no new players in sight.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
All this under the eyes of Edwin Tong, who has been vice-president since 2013, so to tell me he now care about youth development when he was part of the team tearing it down in recent years until LIONSXII expulsion by Malaysia is a joke as far as I am concerned.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Indeed the new project is just an example of his own self-interest being put ahead of Singapore needs as I can predict they spend it on mostly headgrabbing headlines of overseas trip either for the squad or a few individuals that helped nobody.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The<a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2015/07/worthless-one-will-still-be-acclaim-as.html" target="_blank"> 2015 SEA GAMES blueprint </a>already tell us such trips did us no favour as we were destroyed by our regional rivals. (who had mostly send their second teams)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So the $4 millions is already going down the toilet and Edwin Tong need to assess if such a project is really in the interest of Singapore football at this moment in time.<br>
<br></div>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-44970913922717752072015-10-04T06:29:00.001+08:002015-10-04T11:56:34.974+08:00A number game to make themselves look goodHave not written for a while due not only to the bad state of local football but also a lame duck president, the worthless one Zainduin Nordin, who is pushing the blame on everybody else; as shown by the SEA GAMES saga.<br />
<br />
With no sunlight in sight, just writing how terrible the situation is is depressing.<br />
<br />
Now I decided to pen one more article that show why I think FAS is all wrong at the moment.<br />
<br />
The recent announcement of a <a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/sleague-look-younger-players-and-fewer-foreigners" target="_blank">new plan for a better S-league</a> is not even worth debating if it is a good plan because it is bad to start with.<br />
<br />
The S-league plan will not be the first to force clubs (and not the last as others will attempt or re-attempt it) to start under-23 or under-21 in their line-up with history showing it always flopped.<br />
<br />
Why? Simple as the leagues starting such plans all have similar weakness; that is a youth development not worth it weight in gold so nobody want to play their youngsters thus their Football Associations have to force the issue.<br />
<br />
If the players are good to start, do you think clubs are that stupid not to play them no matter their age!<br />
<br />
And that is the main point, as the players being churned out are not good enough to play even at ASEAN level.<br />
<br />
The revamp of the National football Academy (NFA) and the COEs (centre of Excellences) of the past few years are a failure thus far while the new youth development plan put forth by the new technical Director Michel Sablon are still a concept on the drawing board (Looking at FAS track record on youth development it may died a still-born like so many others such as the infamous FAS Strategic Plan etc)<br />
<br />
In that case, is this not putting the cart before the horse as what kind of players can one expect now.<br />
<br />
Indeed it will only look good on datasheets and this may be why FAS is pushing for it as they want things to look good on papers; seeing how they always take out datasheets showing their plans are working when nobody else acknowledged it<br />
<br />
That is why Singapore football is a failure now for their leaders are more interested to keep their Key Performance indicators (KPIs) looking good even when the situation at the ground are in bad shape.<br />
<br />
In 6 months time, the new FAS president can take out a datasheet that show more youngsters are playing the game professionally but the real question of rather they are worth the place is not answered and we know the answer to that.<br />
<br />
Then how does it help Singapore football?It does not but that is not the main concern for the main concern is it help the FAS President.<br />
<br />
Everything's that wrong in Singapore football in that sentence for if they were really concern they should gone about it this way in my eye<br />
<br />
1) Solve NFA and COEs bad track of churning out players nobody want first<br />
2) Expand COEs as now only 3 clubs involved<br />
3) Solve the clubs conflict with FAS on youngsters at the same time as nobody want to develop players for others (ok FAS) just when they demand it<br />
4) Involved more teams outside professional arena in youth development<br />
<br />
Then we have a large enough supply to talk about whether enough youngsters are playing the game professionally because now it is just to make people at FAS look good without any solving of the real problem at hand.<br />
<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-55637911719168267722015-07-16T07:49:00.002+08:002015-07-16T07:51:09.228+08:00FAS face FIFA banAccording to <a href="https://sg.yahoo.com/sports/news/exclusive--fas-under-fifa-scrutiny-151115852.html" target="_blank">Yahoo</a>, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) face a ban by FIFA.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.300000011920929px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: 1.45em;">
FIFA spokesman said the organisation wants to end third-party influence in the FAS, even if that third party is a government ministry.<br />
FIFA was responding to a Yahoo query regarding the its views on Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (formerly Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports) appointing the FAS president and other members of the FAS Council, which governs Singapore's biggest sport. </blockquote>
Hope it true as let not kid ourselves, PAP will continue to appoint the FAS President as long as they can under the reason of it is 'for our own good'.happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-86056387191063580762015-07-14T12:17:00.001+08:002016-10-05T07:19:45.534+08:00Worthless one will still be acclaim as great leaderAfter the disastrous SEA Games, where Singapore Under-23 was not only knocked out at the group stage but humiliated as many of the opponents had brought their second team yet outplayed us, we are seeing <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/aide-iskandar-speaks-out-on-sea-games-debacle-weeks-after-shock-resignation" target="_blank">blames being passed on to each other</a> and <a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/stange-it-was-aide-who-sent-faris-and-sahil-lionsxii?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook" target="_blank">no faults attached to themselves.</a><div>
<br></div>
<div>
Frankly if you asked me, which nobody does, nobody should escaped the blame but the leader should always bear the most.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Yet we know the worthless one, Zainudin Nordin, is untouchable as we see blame passed onto everybody other than the Bishan-Toa Poyah Member of Parliament (MP).</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Afterall he has to approve the decisions make and he cannot tell he has no knowledge of the implications of his decisions.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Remember, almost two years ago when he had given another term as Football Association of Singapore (FAS) President, the government-backed Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) media told us it was because of his 'extraordinary leadership skill' which he wanted to pass down as well as the fact we needed it for the SEA Games preparation.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Unshockingly the following two years, we have not seem any 'extraordinary leadership skill', only a half-naked body.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
It was no secret <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2013/02/legacy-of-terrible-president.html" target="_blank">he was a disaster for singapore football during the first two terms as FAS president </a>so why did the ministry of culture, community and Youth (MCCY) give him another term!</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The SPH media can <a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/clear-ugliness-fas" target="_blank">publish all these stories now</a> but come September when it time for the FAS annual general meeting (AGM) will they stand in line and tell us, his '7 years of leadership was a success' like they are expected to do.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Indeed if he was really a leader then our Prime Minister (PM) would given him more roles in the government where many of the ministers have to take on multiple roles as their 'talents' are stretched thin for he is a four-term MP and 'have all the experience, knowledge and skills'.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
But he is nowhere near any leadership roles in the Singapore government and that tell us, how qualified our PM Lee really judged him.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
He is bottom-of-the-barrel MP wilkleak tell us of.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Now Singapore football are suffering thanks to the fact MCCY would rather appoint a bottom-of-the-barrel MP than have an outsider control an organization prized by the government for it propaganda purposes.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Tell me how this is our own good and do not tell us this 7 years, Singapore football have 'progressed under his extraordinary leadership' when he has shown us none.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
That why come September, do not acclaim 'he is a great leader like two years back'.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-9593872880737306062015-04-22T09:43:00.000+08:002015-04-22T09:44:16.139+08:00S-League in revolt (Even CEO)According to Straits Times, S-league clubs has revolted as they want Football of Singapore (FAS) to make a decision on Singapore football future.<br />
<br />
They accused FAS in a meeting, on Monday, that included the, gutless one, Winstin Lee and, worthless one, Zainudin Nordin of running S-league as a sideshow and focusing all their attentions on the LionsXII.<br />
<br />
In their arguments, FAS is damaging our long-term future for short-term gains.<br />
<br />
They have given FAS three choices<br />
<br />
1) Scrap LionsXII and Courts Young Lions and distribute all their players back to the S-league<br />
2) Scrap S-league and just focused on FAS teams<br />
3) Continue with current arrangement<br />
<br />
It is believed the third choice is favoured by nobody as even S-league CEO Lim Chin, has grown a pair of wing, told the Straits Times he will resign if FAS continue with current arrangment.<br />
<br />
A club chairman was quoted they are revolting now as other leagues in ASEAN are pulling away and minnows are catching up with us and doing nothing is not a choice thus change is needed.<br />
<br />
However the gutless one and worthless one, true to their name, have refused to make a decision.<br />
<br />
It is clear with 5 months to go until his departure, the worthless one does not want to do anything while the gutless one do not want to move until his boss open his mouth.<br />
<br />
This is the kind of leadership we have now and no wonder Singapore football is in revolt.<br />
<br />
All I can say is thanks People Action Party (PAP) for appointing such leaders and forcing them down our throats.<br />
<br />
The worthless one is a disgrace to the late Lee Kuan Yew as the founding leader will have make a decision and not leave a mess for the next generation<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-28607053809865859932015-03-30T21:49:00.000+08:002015-03-30T22:05:27.393+08:00Job of FAS, not coachIt seem national coach Bernard Stange is being blamed for everything in Singapore football now, including <a href="http://m.todayonline.com/sports/strong-reaction-stange-over-guam-fixture" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">not arranging top-notch opposition for the national team.</span></a><br />
<br />
For me, this point is totally off-target as one can claimed the German is a big mouth but which Football Associations in the world ask their national coaches to arrange matches for the national team.<br />
<br />
It is the job scope of FAS management and that mean the president, the worthless one Zainduin Nordin, and the Secretary-General Winston Lee.<br />
<br />
Afterall, the media reminded us <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/singapore-lee-top-post-afc" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Winston Lee is on the verge of being appointed to a big post in AFC thanks to his network in Asia.</span></a><br />
<br />
Yet, he cannot arrange for us a decent team from Asia so what's the use of that!<br />
<br />
But of course, one know the worthless one is untouchable (Stange also know to point finger at somebody else) and since he cannot do without his fall guy Winston Lee (The worthless one may need him for June as things look bad) so TODAY point their finger at Stange.<br />
<br />
However I must say, Coaches coach, not arrange matches. That is the job of FA.happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-86798033536759683562014-12-22T08:26:00.000+08:002014-12-22T18:32:50.389+08:00You take a peice, he take a piece and leave nothing for Singapore footballHave one ever wondered why the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) like revamp so much?<br />
<br />
The answer is simple, it allowed FAS to 'rob' the rest of Singapore football clean legally.<br />
<br />
Once again, another revamp, that claimed to put money into clubs hand, is found wandering yet again.<br />
<br />
First, the sum do not add up with FAS only passing out $130k (It may even be less as I explain later) to each clubs but that is only $780k altogether.<br />
<br />
FAS, when they culled Tanjong Pagar and forced merger of Woodlands Wellington and Hougang, have nearly $2million extra from the revamp.<br />
<br />
It is missing nearly $1.2 million of funds so want to tell us where it goes, FAS!<br />
<br />
It does not take a genius to see as I had previously questioned <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.com/2014/11/whose-pocket-will-it-end-up-in.html" target="_blank">if the money will really reached the clubs</a>.<br />
<br />
After all, FAS had increased the number of internationals in their LionsXII squad, with widespread knowledge they do that by spending big bucks on their wages, FAS will need a lot of extra funds to cover that as well as losses in the past.<br />
<br />
Before going on, let take a look at if it possible for LionsXII to make money.<br />
<br />
The best example is the past 2 years, for no matter how much the pro-Malaysia Cup media and FAS put it, the fact is the Jalan Besar ground were sold out only 4 times out of 30 games (counting only Malaysian Super League and Malaysia Cup) and that was near the end of 2013 regular season when LionsXII were on the verge of winning a trophy.<br />
<br />
Even the 'popular' Malaysia Cup also only saw attendances go up in knockout stage with no record of a sold out group match game in 3 years.<br />
<br />
With ticket sales the main source of income, as sponsorship deals are in the low figures and do not help out much, how is possible to make a profit especially as <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.com/2012/03/10-levy-and-hidden-cost-shock.html" target="_blank">FAM also take a cut of it</a>.<br />
<br />
Yet wages are high and fixed expenses like rental to utilities will only keep going up making the situation worse.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
If FAS can claimed they can make a profit (which they have never done speaking volume that LionsXII is bleeding rather than helping Singapore football) under such circumstances then the financial team should be hot commodities and every clubs in the world want them.<br />
<br />
Now onto what I mean by the 'fake' figures of $130k as the media report mentioned most of it is in cash; which is always a good indication that clubs will never see all of it.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Lee has always defended the high salaries for his government by telling us it is above board as it is simple and all of it in cash; unlike others with their add-on that tend to boast salaries beyond comprehension.<br />
<br />
Just like add-on can boast money terms, it can be used in reverse to deny them thus talks of terms and condition, when allocating the subsidies, it tell us most of the money will always end up back in the hand of FAS.<br />
<br />
The now-renamed Sport Singapore (SSG) seeing all the action by FAS have also come in for a piece of the action.<br />
<br />
After all, a new name does not mean sports is now their core when it has always been money.<br />
<br />
Once again we see SSG coming in to inform us it is time to raise the rent again.<br />
<br />
4 years back, <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.com/2011/02/headline-numbers-do-not-matter-if-it-is.html" target="_blank">SSG gobbled up a big share of the subsidies the clubs did get their hands on </a>and this is mattering once again.<br />
<br />
Rent will go up an amazing 20%-25% and no doubt they'll tell us they had 'actually' give out more subsidies but like in the link, it is meaningless then, it is meaningless now.<br />
<br />
Maybe Mr Teo Ser Luck will once again defend the actions of SSG but they're hurting the interest of Singapore sports industry with their relentless increments of rent as they're a monopoly and sporting teams cannot turn to anybody else.<br />
<br />
So what's the use of this revamp as the money end up going back to FAS and SSG!<br />
<br />
Indeed S-league CEO Mr Lim Chin talks of the 'big picture' and for our 'own good' is hollow now as this revamp is really for FAS and SSG, not S-league nor Singapore football.<br />
<br />
Singapore football industry can never grow as FAS and SSG is gobbling it cash whenever they have a chance under talks of revamp for 'our own good'. ( It is really their own good)<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-79827689728368984232014-12-10T17:31:00.002+08:002014-12-10T17:43:59.589+08:00Our future's (not) brightSince the Suzuki Cup group stage exit, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has gone on a charm offensive with our local media giant Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) as articles appearing in their papers are telling us of a 'bright future' ahead.<br />
<br />
First on the Monday, after Singapore exit, the worthless one, Zainduin Nordin defended the LionsXII claiming it is on the verge of 'producing players' ready to conquer.<br />
<br />
Then FAS general manager of Youth Development (JCOE) S. Varapha Rajan tell us the National Football Academy (NFA) is as '<a href="https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/mentality-system-fault-present-challenges-fas-developing-youths-174200638--spt.html" target="_blank">good as any in the world' and the problem is just the outflow is worse than elsewhere so not totally their fault.</a><br />
<br />
After that, former national coach P.N.Sivaji step in telling us of <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/football-singapore/1512510.html?cid=FBSG" target="_blank">'the talents Singapore has at hand'</a> thus the future is positive, not negative.<br />
<br />
Yet is it so as events does not showcased FAS 'Confidence'.<br />
<br />
First on point one with <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/football-boost-lionsxii?page=0%2C1" target="_blank">FAS releasing their players list for their LionsXII</a>, which showcased as many as 10 players who are not Under-23 next year, so how is that emerging talents as the likes of Firdaus Kasman and Shahdan Sulaiman, signed from Tampines, are internationals, not rookies.<br />
<br />
Here's the real reason why youngsters are not emerging; players who are 24-29 and are internationals are playing in an Under-23 team.<br />
<br />
So national coach Bernard Stange should not be 'shocked' with his players lacked of steel in the Suzuki Cup games for nowhere in the world do one see internationals, who are way overage, still fighting for spots with youngsters in so called 'youth development team'.<br />
<br />
If the worthless one has 'confidence' in LionsXII abilities to produce players', why sign established internationals.<br />
<br />
Then down to the next point and Mr S Varapha Rajan, I can accept your point on the outflow of youngsters but not about not needing more clubs to have Centre of Excellence (COEs).<br />
<br />
For those who do not know, the article in SPH Straits Times, unlike Yahoo, mentioned foreign experts telling FAS they need to work harder to encourage clubs to have COEs for Singapore football sake but our FAS man rebut that.<br />
<br />
And that's where the problem lie!<br />
<br />
FAS clearly believed they do not need others involved.<br />
<br />
Before going on, let talked about FAS boast that their NFA is a matched for anyone youth development in the world earlier in the article.<br />
<br />
If FAS truly believed so, why is Adam Swandi in France as we can save the $200k but of course, we know the answer is if he is in Singapore, he will never realized his potential.<br />
<br />
So stop telling us how good NFA is when the only persons who believed are associated with FAS.<br />
<br />
Therefore, without a capable youth development, we must catch every youngsters available.<br />
<br />
Especially as even world-class youth development are unable to produce everybody they need.<br />
<br />
Looked at Barcelona, considered to have best development for a club side, they still lacked players in several areas and have gone into the transfer market to buy players.<br />
<br />
So stop dreaming it must be all your credits as nobody in the world have only one youth development to produce all the players their nation need.<br />
<br />
Or maybe FAS is hoping the 3 remaining COEs (Balestier, Home and Warriors) can plug any shortfall.<br />
<br />
It's unlikely as I mentioned before, there's no motivation as everything good is FAS credits while everything bad is clubs' faults.<br />
<br />
Who want to work under such circumstances.<br />
<br />
People need to be motivated and in this era and time, it is money which work the best as asked Prime Minister Lee for he noted in an interview with China media that in the current peaceful time, people need to be paid well or else nobody will come forward.<br />
<br />
Clubs are only involved if the rewards are there, not punishment (Like 2004 Geylang experience and for those who do not know, Geylang went from runner-up to become bottom 3 material after FAS took 7 of their players in the name of national interest for the Courts Young Lions)<br />
<br />
So Mr S Varapha Rajan, you have much to do especially as your boss, the worthless one, can justified spending $180k on a 30-year-old player for the Lions XII while closing down youth development all over the place at the same time. (This year, not only COEs were closed but also the Lions City Cup due to funding reason and it may be gone for good as<a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2014/11/whose-pocket-will-it-end-up-in.html" target="_blank"> FAS need cash for LionsXII</a>)<br />
<br />
Thus Mr P N Sivaji, how can one see a 'bright future'!<br />
<br />
For people may be even more put off by a football career, not just with FAS closing down clubs as they liked, but also the fact the salary cap can stay stagnant for 7 years. (FAS tell us there's no extra money but when LionsXII need it, they can find it)<br />
<br />
Inflation is wiping out all increases in the salary cap in Ho's era but FAS will only repeat the same story of how 'poor' they are.<br />
<br />
As for the emerging players, they're going to the graveyard know as LionsXII; many youngsters have gone there only to sit on the bench with the team overstuffed with seniors.<br />
<br />
Danny Wellbeck had left Manchester United as he needed games to improve himself and if a club like United cannot offered him that; when most seasons they played 50-60 games, what more LionsXII who play at most 30 plus games.<br />
<br />
Is it any surprise a number of emerging players go there only to come out worse as they need the full games, and not the mere minutes, at their age but they will never get it.<br />
<br />
So do not be surprised, Mr Sivaji for we are setting ourselves up to fail our next generation.<br />
<br />
Especially as FAS men keep coming out to tell they're on the right path but we can't see it yet and only 'more time is needed'. (Like real as our worthless one can walk away in September so how much more time as he has had 7 years already)<br />
<br />
Our future's not bright no matter how many positive stories FAS come out with SPH help.<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-7234965314897872862014-12-02T07:25:00.000+08:002014-12-10T17:34:11.474+08:00Some may not considered Suzuki cup exit importantAt this moment in time all the talk is on the Suzuki Cup exit by Singapore, which is not surprising, but I want to focus on something else.<br />
<br />
For even if Singapore reach the semi-finals what direction are we heading - 'elitism' or S-league.<br />
<br />
Until we answer that we will never progress much anyway.<br />
<br />
Indeed, there may be some who interest will be furthest away from the Suzuki Cup and I am talking about the over-30s group; who were hurt by the FAS age ban - even with it rescinded now.<br />
<br />
The problem have not been solved.<br />
<br />
And FAS is once again reacting disappointingly as they had caused the problem but all they had done is just send letters to players telling them their options ahead.<br />
<br />
This is bureaucracy talking.<br />
<br />
Not good especially as they are headed by a former labour union head and even if it is the worthless one Zainudin Nordin.<br />
<br />
Is this what Prime Minister Lee meant by People's Action Party (PAP) taking care of it people.<br />
<br />
For the worthless one was imposed on Singapore football for 'our own good' by the Ministry of culture, community and youth (MCCY).<br />
<br />
Yet it was his decision that lead to the hazy future the players face now; no matter what Sunday Times reported. (For those who do not know they claimed that it was all the club chairmen faults and Balestier Khalsa S.Thavaneson has accepted all the blame)<br />
<br />
The worthless one cannot wash his hands off it and this is not me looking for faults but if theBishan-Toa Poyah GRC man knew nothing of the plans, which was in place since October, what kind of leadership is this.<br />
<br />
Worse as I noted earlier his man is a former labour union leader who PAP claimed to represent the average man on the ground. (Before GE 2011, Straits Times ran an article on this man and his 'hard work' at NTUC 'aiding' the average man)<br />
<br />
However, he has avoided the average man like the plague now for since the incident, nearly a month ago, he hasn't met with the players for their side of the story.<br />
<br />
Of course, it is no surprise as this is a man who always vanished in troubled times and the reaction of S-league CEO should have been reserved for him had he shown up.<br />
<br />
So the worthless one is also the gutless one.<br />
<br />
Indeed, he has shown he is never as 'busy' as claimed as he had time to spend with President Tony Tan and high-five with Minister at the Myanmar game.<br />
<br />
Is spending time with the elites more important than the players!<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister can speak of how much PAP Work for the people but man like the worthless one show otherwise and this is why PAP are considered to represent the elites now.<br />
<br />
Or else that age ban decision will have never come-to-be as it is the average man who pay the price for the elites decision.<br />
<br />
And that is why some may not considered Suzuki cup exit important as they themselves have been abandoned.<br />
<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-22381118239322484142014-11-05T07:19:00.000+08:002014-12-02T05:53:51.730+08:00Whose pocket will it end up inWith Tanjong Pagar not participating next year and Hougang merging with Woodlands, FAS has seek to defend the changes by claiming it will strengthen the S-league.<br />
<br />
They claim there will be more resources for the remaining clubs but to be honest, I have my suspicion for among the changes announced there was no indication of increases in subsidies or salary cap.<br />
<br />
After all, two clubs can potentially fetched around $2 million in subsidies so that money should have been shared by the 6 clubs in the S-league, which is an extra $330k, and allow an increase in the $85k salary cap.<br />
<br />
Yet this important detail is missing from announcement by the S-league CEO MR Lim Chin.<br />
<br />
So is the money really going back to S-league or has it sucked away elsewhere?<br />
<br />
For history have indicated after an FAS revamp, the sums do not add up.<br />
<br />
When FAS revamped their COEs which saw 8 reduced to only 3, there was a saving of over 1/2 a million yet the funding to the 3 remaining ones did not increased by that.<br />
<br />
So have the money been diverted to LionsXII or even the ASEAN super League (ASL) project?<br />
<br />
For LionsXII have clearly lost big with SilkPro contract ended and no other sponsorship bringing in as much cash. (Take note the worthless one FAS President Zainduin Nordin tell us STARHUB contract should not be viewed in monetary figures; which usually mean no cash despite the big figures)<br />
<br />
And with poor attendances bleeding their paymasters FAS even more, who will pay for the black hole!<br />
<br />
As for the ASL, to get it off the ground FAS need to spend big first as they have volunteered to operate the office for AFF and the so-called backers WSG or AFF have not come forward with cash so how much of the upfront payment have come from FAS!<br />
<br />
Do not blamed me for asking such questions especially when one see FAS come out with nearly $180k for the 6 months loan of Baihakki in weeks while always crying poor to the public.<br />
<br />
It even worse as FAS Budget on LionsXII is a mystery for they refused to open the book about their funding on this team.<br />
<br />
Indeed it was initially claimed only $2million but in an interview a year later, the budget was revealed by the worthless one to be $3 million.<br />
<br />
So tell me what the figures is now 2 years down the road!<br />
<br />
Thus is the folding of 2 clubs really to strengthen S-league or because FAS is looking for cash for their black hole of LionsXII and ASL.<br />
<br />
Whose pocket will the money go to, Mr Lim (the puppet) for you have not tell us what is the new subsidies figures or even the new salary cap.<br />
<br />
For without it, we know where the cash is really going to.<br />
<br />happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-23629149102371759132014-10-13T19:05:00.000+08:002014-12-02T07:57:03.936+08:00I have no faith in MCCY choice anymore (edited)It is clear now who Ministry of Culture, community and youth (MCCY) want as the new President of Football Association of Singapore (FAS) after FAS vice-President Bernard Tan headed a PR campaign over the weekend to showcase his vision.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-soccer/fas-vice-president-tan-wants-revolutionise-primary-school-football" target="_blank">This article</a> was even given front page treatment by the Sunday Times.<br />
<br />
This caught me by surprise on three account as (1) FAS had always been helmed by a People Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MPs) and (2) the next FAS President had never been given so much coverage while the current one was still in charge along with the fact (3) he is never even indirectly named as a successor until the last moment.<br />
<br />
On closer inspection, it should be no surprise instead as the current reign of the 'HOPELESS ONE' Zainudin Nordin had been a disaster and time will be needed to repair the damages so why have a PAP man at this moment; for Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) have replaced their former strongman Loh for a good part of a decade and is still plagued by problems.<br />
<br />
There is also no better time to unveil him to the public as the Suzuki Cup is coming up and if the campaign is a disaster, he will be tainted by it so it is better to do so as ASEAN champions.<br />
<br />
Although one can claimed he is already tainted by it as he is elected by the same MCCY that saw fit to give the 'Hopeless One' 3 terms in office.<br />
<br />
Due to no faults of the man, I already have negative thoughts on Bernard Tan thanks to what I have seems of MSF choice - Zainudin Nordin.<br />
<br />
When that PAP man came into power, he also claimed he will focus on youth development (May I add that plan by Bernard Tan to get more Primary School children to play football was already part of the long forgotten FAS strategic Plans) but what have FAS done up to now!<br />
<br />
The fact, at the same time, the Lions City Cup, which is for Under 15 and Under-16, was facing cancellation this year, FAS chose to focus their efforts and money to sign Baikkahi, a 30-year-old player, for their LionsXII team tell us how much efforts and money FAS put into youths.<br />
<br />
So having a plan or a vision is no big deal as the 'Hopeless One' have enough plans and visions to fill an entire cupboard but he has achieved nothing.<br />
<br />
Why should Bernard Tan be any different as he came into power due to MCCY and not because Singapore football believe he is the white knight.<br />
<br />
Indeed, there will be significant section of fans who will not accept any choice from MSF after going through the 6 years of Zainudin Nordin.<br />
<br />
So what the next FAS President-in-waiting need is not a plan or vision.<br />
<br />
Rather he need to know promises make are not to be treated lightly and have an iron will.<br />
<br />
The current FAS President is the perfect example of a man who think nothing of his promises as he had make a promise that LionsXII will be an Under-23 team. Until now, he has never fulfilled it and continue to shift the goalpost on that promise so why should anybody believed such a man for he can break one promise and there is nothing to stop him breaking another.<br />
<br />
Secondly, he try to cover it by claiming it was difficult to achieve so he had no choice but to break it but that is a terrible reason for it show he does not have the will to keep a promise and such a man cannot be trusted as a leader.<br />
<br />
All the wrong choices was ticked and yet MCCY still choose the 'Hopeless One' time and time again so I have to ask once again why will it be different this time round!<br />
<br />
Bernard Tan may prove me wrong but I have no faith in him at this moment in time.happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-85861858136092391672014-08-22T12:25:00.001+08:002014-08-22T18:12:14.745+08:00Singapore football is not 'FAS elites' aloneThe disaster of the <a href="http://s-leaguefootball.blogspot.sg/2014/08/iv-hassanal-bolkiah-trophy-disaster.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Hassanal</span> <span style="color: purple;">Bolkiah</span> <span style="color: blue;">Trophy</span> </a><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Also known as ASEAN Under-21 championship) have fans asking about the direction of Singapore football; for this is not the first time the republic has been thrashed in youth competitions by our ASEAN (Note it's not Asia) rivals.<br />
<br />
Of course, FAS will tell us results do not matter at this stage and I do not argue with that; noting many times it is worth it if good players are developed in the process.<br />
<br />
But that is where the problem lie as we are not doing that for can FAS claimed good players, even compared to the lower standard of ASEAN,</span> have come out of their production line from all those thrashings.<br />
<br />
Indeed, who is lining up to sign Singapore youngsters if FAS wished to debate that point and I can hear a silence for nobody is the answer.<br />
<br />
So what did those thrashing achieved?<br />
<br />
Nothing other than adding to the already bad reputation of Singapore football; which can never produced any players of quality in the eyes of ASEAN if not the world.<br />
<br />
And all these thanks to FAS wish to protect their National Football Academy (NFA).<br />
<br />
It is incredible that the national setup is totally make up of players from FAS-run-teams with even the national team excluding everybody else not with them.<br />
<br />
How does this help Singapore football!<br />
<br />
From what we have, it is only hurting us even more as the Under-21 coach Richard Bok admitted he cannot choose his own players - with Home United Prime League players excluded despite the fact they are top of the Prime League.<br />
<br />
It is clear FAS is seeking a policy of elites much like where our FAS President, Zainduin Nordin, seem to come from.<br />
<br />
Anybody want to bet on the ASIAN GAMES team setup as it is not the first time <a href="http://theindependent.sg/blog/2013/11/15/mystery-of-missing-national-player/" target="_blank">a player good enough is not chosen for reasons which FAS can never explained</a>.<br />
<br />
No wonder, Singapore football is not producing players now since our current FAS President took over 5 years despite the talks of 'improving' (As quoted by our national press who keep telling us what a good job ourFAS President is doing and he just need more time)<br />
<br />
Singapore football, a place where you have to have a famous father as former footballers or sportsman before you are chosen.<br />
<br />
So no matter how talented you are, prepared to be excluded if you are not 'FAS elites'<br />
<br />
That why we are in trouble unless FAS Change for Singapore football is not their elites alone. (Judging from results, not good elites as well)happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371634195521963314.post-34775337856412245272014-08-22T12:16:00.002+08:002014-08-22T12:19:00.890+08:00IV HASSANAL BOLKIAH TROPHY DISASTER (ASEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP)Group B<br />
Singapore Under-21 0-4 Vietnam Under-21 (it's Under-19 side)<br />
Singapore Under-21 1-3 Cambodia Under-21<br />
Singapore Under-21 0-3 Malaysia Under-21<br />
Singapore Under-21 1-3 Brunei Under-21<br />
Singapore Under 21 0-6 Indonesia Under-21 (Also a Indonesia Under-19)happyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13972606460410432213noreply@blogger.com0