How about aiming your gun at your boss, the culprit, for once, Raddy

It seem Raddy cannot go a week without me asking him why he does not aim for his boss; the culprit of the trouble.

Is Raddy that desperate to please his boss that no matter what, he will blamed everybody else 

First of all, let looked at an old Viewpoint article - Forcing clubs will do nobody any good - and asked if that problem had been solved.

Indeed our current FAS President promised to look at the problem yet looking at the date of the article, it has been over 18 months and FAS is still paying clubs only $100k for their centres of excellence (COEs).

Let break it down - $100k for both Under-18 and Under-16, meaning 40 players, and I am not including their coaches.

That is only $2500 per player and divided by month, it is $208.3 for the youth development of our players.

Can you produced a player on that amount and I do not need him to be as good as Hariss.

If you can, I will be generous and give an extra 10% so you get $230. 

So it has been the clubs who has been paying for all the youth development, as the amount FAS give is unlikely to cover any cost, yet until now FAS still do not respect that

That why we come to another point which has been raised by Balestier Khalsa vice-chairman Thavaneson Selvaratnam last year about the problem of how FAS is asking (in turth poaching) for their Under-23 players without any form of compensation.

Do you expect clubs to spend money to develop players just so that FAS can get them whenever they want.

Before going on, I will say clubs are developing players but it is at an older age so FAS will not poach those players for let looked at Balestier, they constantly rebuild and other clubs do come to look their players so it is clear they do produced players of a certain quality but without more security from FAS, do not expect much more.

Going onwards, how about let say you win the Suzuki Cup at the end of the year and yet people remind you deserve no credit because it is all Sundram credit, will you stand for it.

Maybe if you get a big fat contract and in the same situation, club management will not mind - After all FAS have been claiming such credits since forever - if they get some type of payment as there are bills to pay as let me remind you, $208.3 do not pay for anything.

After all that, let go into the role of an Football Association (FA) in youth development as honestly, youth development is one of the main role of an FA as pointed out in the first link which French Football Federation (FFF) played a major part in their.

However in Singapore, I would like to point out from Under-17 onwards until nearly Under 23, there is no development of any form.

Indeed, FAS is only focus on Under-15 and Under-16 because of the Lions City Cup but outside of that there is nothing for the rest of the youth group. 

People like to claim National Service (NS) is the hindrance but let remember people do not enlist until they are 18 and it is for 2 years but there is a gap of 6-7 years when youths have nothing to aim for.

It is worse than NS and all I see for the past few years is the media (SPH and MediaCorp) and FAS working together to boast they have a great development programme as they bring in some foreign expert who will always express what great development they have.

For me it is meaningless as one, those people are only here for a few hours to a few days so how can they assess anything and two, it is the same thing as for the now forgotten Strategic Plan which was praised to the sky by AFC to FIFA.

Yes, I save the best for last as your boss promised a National Training Centre (NTC) in Singapore by the end of his reign and with less than 6 months to go until his departure, not a single word about it from FAS or our dear SPH media.

It was to have been his crown jewel, remember, as he wanted to be known as the man for youth development but what has he done to get the land (Any land as I never wish for Farrer Road for I am a pragmatic man)

If it happen anywhere but in Singapore, people will be reminding our soon-to-depart FAS President of his failure for UK guardian has lambasted the English FA ex-chairman for over a decade for never fulfilling the promise of a Football Academy in their time.

However, like the SPH media, you seem to forget your boss is suppose to be the top man in charge of any youth development as that is what an FA do and as FAS President, what has he done.

So the next time you aim your gun, Raddy, please do not forget your boss, the man of broken promises, for let asked where is the NTC now.

P.S. If you can develop a player with only $208.3, please step forward to do the job as I can tell you all the clubs in the world will want you for they spend many times that amount.

Still scratching each other back

Yet to read the reactions of supporters after the 2-0 defeat against Philippines at Jurong West a few hours ago but yet one can easily image what it will be like.

As for me, I have not changed any of my stance since the last POV article - You scratch my back and I scratch yours - and that is the national team need to play more international games than what we experienced in recent years since our Toa Poyah-Bishan GRC man took charge.

However I want to expand on my last POV article as I noted a debate in Kallangroar about S-league vs Malaysia Super League (MSL) back in June and it remind me of a long-gone Raddy who, in the past, had always seek for his side to play ever more international games.

The reason was he believed, with no disrespect to East Asian second-tier league (which include S-league and MSL), East Asian second-tier league do not provide enough games to test the national players.

I have never disagree with that point as I noted in the past that only the games involving the S-league Big 3 - SAFFC, Home United and Tampines Rovers - themselves provide a test to the players and the quality stay out from the rest.

Even with the three round format of last year, it was only 9 games per year and it is not enough.

At the same time, the old Raddy also noted the gulf in standard between the West and East for the second-tiers and games against most of the clubs (it does not need to be their national team) from West Asia was as good as an international against an East Asian national team from the second tier.

Indeed, the AFC Cup barred out such facts as it grouped all the second tier leagues in Asia.

West Asia have not just dominated they have murder the East as all eight champions are from the West and if that is not embarrassing enough, this is also the same for all the finalists.

If that is not enough proof, the I-league (Indian football league for those who do not know) who have played in both region showcased that ever more clearly.

The two times I-league saw their teams reached the knockout stage they were grouped in the East while in the West, they will be delighted to get any win against their foes and is certainly not thinking that far ahead.

Yet such matters no longer seem to concern Raddy as he seem more interested to scratch his boss back at every opportunity based on the indication of the pre-match press conference.

"I am happy that the LionsXII campaign in the Malaysia Cup will (also) bring about some positive results in that a vast number of the players are also in the national side.

After eight months of playing together, I am sure they will gel as a unit, which will make my job easier."

Surely, an experienced coach like Raddy can spot the difference, not just in standard, but also play between Philippines and the MSL sides as PKNS and the two Johor teams do not even send a player to the Malaysia national team while Philippines reach the last Suzuki Cup semi-final and have included players who play in Europe.

So was it any surprise he back-tracked later on after the game.

“We just need to practice more together and for this game, we did not have the opportunity to do that,” added Raddy.

First, he tell us, in the first quote, the benefit of gelling thanks to the Malaysia Super League Project (MSLP) (the pet project of our GRC FAS President) then later on, in the second quote, the story is we still do not have enough gelling yet so we need more practice.

Raddy, do you even see what you are talking about in your eagerness to praise your boss.

Even a layman know ASEAN national teams are not that weak that playing like in the MSL with 10 men behind the ball and playing long ball from setpiece or from the halfway line will buy us a win easily.

The higher standard and the different variety in play of international play mean playing the same way will be suicidal as our defence already give chances to MSL teams and while they lacked the quality to finish those chances, ASEAN national teams is unlikely to be as generous.

However your concern with praising your boss (and not the national team) is not the only thing that bug me.

There is also the S$3million budget of the MSLP as reported by a TNP interview with our GRC FAS President a while back.

Before going on, I like to note our GRC FAS President had indicated last year he will keep the budget to S$2million so an increase in S$1million is shocking as where does the money come from and is it already affecting us.

The fact, our youth teams (Even the once beloved YOG team, but now forgotten ,which our FAS man has promised more games) are only playing games on our shore and against each others seem to indicate so.

This is not surprising as S$3million is doubled Singapore Sport Council (SSC) allocation of money to FAS(I wonder if any of it is going to FAM) and 1/3 FAS budget.

After the deduction of salaries, rental and utilities bills etc I wonder what is left and if your generous levy to FAM is why the Malaysia side have the extra cash to send their Under-23 boys overseas next year to prepare for the SEA Games while ours will, like always, stay at home.

$3million can do a lot of things and one thing is plan an oversea tour of West Asia which in the old days, in Ho Peng Kee era, Raddy would have demanded as he seek to develop our national team and youth but now (I have to say it one more time) it seem more important to scratch the boss back.

Such oversea trip are important as one always see the excuse that good teams do not want to play against us but why was it we can play such teams just 5 years ago.

Same reason as why Asian powerhouses like Japan, Korea and Australia play a number of their games in Europe per year, it is because the good teams are there and to expect them to travel for you is crazy when it should be the other way around.

If our national team and youth team had such a generous budget, think of what could be done yet it seem much of the money is going across the causeway to fund them while our FAS general-secretary Winston Lee keep shouting no money for whatever project other than MSLP.

So much to ponder yet nobody among the office holders seem to bother other than their itchy back which is why, two months after my last POV article, one can still see they are still scratching each other.

Split not that bad

There have been much discussion on the plan by FAS to have a split system for the S-league next season.

To be honest, I have no problem with the split system as it bring the number of games in the league to 34-36 (depending on system) for the teams.

Of course, why I like the league to have a minimum of 30 games have been written before so I will say it briefly, it is for the good of the local league as it is next to impossible for a professional league to run for a season with too few games and what we see this season, with so many break, is a problem we should avoid.    

Indeed Duric must be wondering why we are taking a break yet again (As he spoke about it to the media a while ago) when the league just resume 2 weeks ago and this is the fourth time it is happening so how can the league build any momentum under such a situation.

Also a number of league have a form of split and it is not just Scottish Premier League but also the likes of Belgium Pro League and Greece Super League etc so they have their supporters.

As for those who given up on their split like Swiss Super League and Austrian Football Bundesliga etc they have still ensure they have 3-4 rounds system of games so as to have a reasonable of games.

So no matter what system one can think of, it is clear a need for a minimum of 30 games is unavoidable. 

Yet I do not believe in bringing teams into the league just for the sake of making up the number to 16-18.

A number of European (especially Eastern Europe) league do just that yet the problem they are encountering is directly linked to that; There are just too many weak teams plagued by weak management that will not survived in the dog eat dog environment.

Weak management is worse than any type of split system or even the previous three-rounds system and it can be seem in our current FAS president. (He is a weak president who I think have done nothing but is always around to claim credit and never around when there are problem to solve )

Just looking at some of the defunct S-league sides like Sembawang Rangers and Jurong FC - Sembawang management time saw them more busy fighting among themselves while Jurong management was noted as being unwilling to change or listen - showed us the problems ahead.

Where are we going to get the manpower to fill up the number we need if we want to bring the National Football League into the equation like some are suggesting.

Example: National Football League (NFL) Division Two club Admiralty FCis showing ambition by seeking S-league membership and they have the aid of one-time Woodlands Wellington mentor R Vengadasalam.

This is good and nothing against R Vengadasalam but my Viewpoint article - They will be remembered in time - will explain everything.

Father clock is not on their side and the problems Geylang United faced this season with new management (whom their fans are accusing of lacked of ambitions) showed the problems of getting the right persons (It can no longer be a one-man team anymore) at the right age as well. (It is a long process so they need decades on their clock) 

Like any plans there will be pros and cons and I have read many cons so here are the pros 

Pro of a split

• Top teams get more creditable games as they will be playing against stronger side (It is not just number of games like I say in the POV article - You scratch my back and I scratch yours - but also the quality)
• Bottom sides will also come out to play football more as unlike strong vs weak they will be more willing to come out against teams of their own strength so they will be learning more
• It does not affect the bottom half as much as talked about for even without a split the likes of Geylang and Woodlands will have little to play by the halfway stage for they cannot challenge consistently
• A Plate trophy can be created like some are suggesting although some will ask if it is fair a middle table team get a trophy when second do not have it

In the end, the Scottish Premier League also show us  that the split is not as bad as suggested for the Scots had the chance to ditch the system last year but in the end, they did not as they admitted there was no better plan for a 16-team league just have more weaker teams and will it help.

So the Split System has it own advantages for a country that cannot support too many teams at this point.

S-League sticks to 13 teams

The local media have reported next season S-league will remain as 13-teams so FAS are not admitting any new members.

This is despite interest from National Football League (NFL) Division Two club Admiralty FC.

The club, who have secured promotion to the NFL Division One next season after a dominant season, had expressed interest in joining the S-League.

It is understood that Admiralty's team manager R Vengadasalam had been in discussions with S-League CEO Lim Chin on the matter, since March but the chances they will be admitted look low.

AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 Draw

Group A (Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok)
1. Thailand [host]
2. Vietnam
3. Philippines
4. Winners of the Qualifying Round

Group B (National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur)
1. Malaysia [host]
2. Indonesia
3. Singapore
4. Runners up of the Qualifying Round

StarHub League Cup 2012 Draw

Group A
SAFFC, TPUFC, Brunei DPMM

Group B
Albirex Niigata (S), Balestier Khalsa, Geylang United

Group C
Home United, Courts Young Lions, Hougang United

Group D
Tampines Rovers, Woodlands Wellington, Gombak United

Home and Tampines go down in final round of AFC Cup games

Both Home United and Tampines Rovers lost their final group game.

For Tampines, it did not matter much other than the fact it was their fourth game without a goal and it cost them yet another defeat as they went down 3-0 to Song Lam in Vietnam.

For Home United, it cost them a shot at first spot with Chonburi walking away with all 3 points as the Thai side won 1-0 at Bishan.

The Protectors will now have to face a tough away tie in West Asia against Syrian side Al Shorta.

Tampines Rovers

Sasa Dreven (GK); Anaz Hadee, Benoit Croissant, Jufri Taha; Ismadi Mukhtar, Fahrudin Mustafic (Aleksandar Duric 46’), Sazali Salleh, Ali Hudzaifi (Imran Sahib 46’); Davor Piskor, Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin, Ahmed Fahmie (Syaiful Iskandar 68’)

-----

Home United

Lionel Lewis (GK); Masrezwan Masturi (Indra Sahdan Daud 69’), Rosman Sulaiman, Franklin Anzite, Jeremy Chiang; Shi Jiayi, Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, John Wilkinson, Firdaus Idros (Frederic Mendy 31’); Shotaro Ihata (Hafiz Nor 55’), Qiu Li.

Third comeback secured Home their spot in last 16

Once again, Home United went into the break behind but once again they showed their prowess in the second period to secure a precious win.

All 3 of their win in Asia this season was thanks to their second period comeback and this one secured their spot in the last 16 with 1 game to spare in the group.

The goals came from regular scorer Frederic Mendy and defender Franklin Anzite,

Their next game in Bishan will still be of importance as it will decide the group winner which come with home advantage in the 1-tie game in the last 16 knockout stage.

In the other game in the group, Chonburi defeated Yangon 2-0.

Home United

Lionel Lewis (GK); Nor Azli Yusoff, Franklin Anzite, Kenji Arai, Jeremy Chiang; Firdaus Idros (Indra Sahdan), Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, Shi Jiayi (Masrezwan Masturi), Qiu Li; Frederic Mendy, Shotaro Ihata (Rosman Sulaiman)

Stags AFC Cup dream over

If Tampines Rovers management were to conduct a review of their failure in the AFC Cup, it will not be any surprise to know the answer is their attack.

It was the third time in 5 games that they failed to find the net and without goals you cannot win.

They can claim they created chances but in the end the only stats that matter is whether those chances were converted into goals for if they are not then it is worthless in the end.

Like in this game which they had to win but could only play out to a 0-0 draw.

In the other game in the group, Song Lam chances were also ended as they fell to Terengganu 6-2.

Tampines Rovers

Sasa Dreven (GK); Anaz Hadee, Benoit Croissant, Jufri Taha; Imran Sahib, Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin, Sazali Salleh (Ali Hudzaifi), Ismadi Mukhtar (Hairulnazri Hanafi); Jamil Ali (Davor Piskor), Aleksandar Duric, Ahmed Fahmie.

Home get their win with second comeback

It seem Home United have to go into half-time losing to win games in Asia.

For the second time in 4 games, they went into the break behind but no problem as they Protectors came back in the second period to win it all.

Qiu Li and Frederic (2) got the goals for the Protectors.

In the other game in the group, Chonburi played to a 3-3 draw with Citizen in Hong Kong. 

Home United

Lionel Lewis (GK), Nor Azli Yusoff, Franklin Anzite, Kenji Arai, Jeremy Chiang (Indra Sahdan), Firdaus Idros, Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, Shi Jiayi, Qiu Li; Shotaro Ihata, Frederic Mendy.

Duric score to give Stags their first win

Aleksandar Duric found his scoring touch to give Tampines Rovers their first win the group.

His brace gave Tampines Rovers a 2-0 win in Malaysia.

It gave Tampines Rovers 4 points in the group and renew their chance of winning second spot.

Another win in their next game against leader Kitchee will be of utmost importance.

In the other game in the group, Song Lam also got their first win with a 1-0 win against leader Kitchee. 

Tampines Rovers

Sasa Dreven (GK); Anaz Hadee, Benoit Croissant, Jufri Taha; Imran Sahib (Ali Hudzaifi), Fahrudin Mustafic, Sazali Salleh (Fazil Zailani), Ismadi Mukhtar; Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin, Aleksandar Duric, Davor Piskor (Ahmed Fahmie)

Home win point at Yangon

Home United won a precious point at Yangon to continue to hold second spot.

The Protectors have 4 points from their 3 games thus far

In the other game in the group, Chionburi defeated Citizen 2-0 to cement their place at the top. 

Home United
Lionel Lewis (GK); Nor Azli Yusoff ((Hafiz Nor) Kairuldin Ishak), Franklin Anzite, Kenji Arai, Jeremy Chiang; Indra Sahdan Daud, Shi Jiayi, John Wilkinson (Firdaus Idros), Qiu Li; Shotaro Ihata, Frederic Mendy

Same old story for Stags

Once again, Tampines Rovers had the chances to win the game but once again they failed.

The reason was their failure to find the net yet again as Duric and his fellow teammates misses a few glint-edged chances while Terengganu took their to win 1-0.

Duric has always been the Stags best route to goal but now as he aged, he need help and the sooner the Stags give it to him the better for the team.

In the other game in the group, Hong Kong champions Kitchee defeated Song Lam 2-0. 

Tampines Rovers

Sasa Dreven (GK), Anaz Hadee, Benoit Croissant, Jufri Taha; Imran Sahib (Ali Hudzaifi), Fahrudin Mustafic, Sazali Salleh (Fazil Zailani), Ismadi Mukhtar; Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin, Aleksandar Duric, Davor Piskor (Ahmed Fahmie)

S-league could get ACL spot for 2013 after amendments

According to goal website, S-league is set to get a spot for the 2013 AFC Champions League (ACL) after amendments to it rules on entry to the competition.

Instead of having their slots taken away completely, Member Associations (MAs) who do not meet the criteria of participating in the ACL, will be handed points deduction instead.
 
A minimum number of 600 points out of a possible 1000 is, however, required for the MAs to qualify for participation.

And further news from Chinese based sites show S-league will be placed 8th thus occupying the last slot for the ACL playof.

Still it will be a tough job to get into the ACL group phrase as it may well be seeded so the S-league champion will be handed a tie against either a Chinese Super League, A-league or, best situation of difficult games, a Thai Premier League side.

Here is the table according to the Chinese media where the AFC Conference decided, before any checks, the East Asian slots.

Country	Group Stage	Qualifier
Japan	4	-
Korea	4	-
China	3	1
Australia	2	1
Thailand	1	1
Indonesia	-	1
Vietnam	-	1
Singapore	-	1

Aussies set to join EAFF

The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) is set to join the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) family according to news from Hong Kong.

They will be playing in the EAFF Cup although they have to start from the qualifiers.

Australia will be grouped alongside North Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and the preliminary round winner (Guam, Macau or Northern Mariana Islands).

This is disappointing news for me as I had hoped FFA will join the AFF family instead as the benefits will not just be good for ASEAN football on the field but also off it as let be honest ASEAN FAs have much to learn commercially (Suzuki Cup is a success as the rights are held by WSG and not because ASEAN FAs run it well) 

ASEAN had it chance but it is just too scared to lose their only chance of a trophy.

Looked like ASEAN will be struck as Asia weakest region, alongside South Asia, for a lon.......g time to come whether we want to argue about it or not.

You scratch my back and I scratch your

The 1-0 defeat against Hong Kong is sure to result in a number of emotions.

Like this one at Kallangroar Forum from civotarum 

Before you start thinking we are superior to hong kong, maybe you should take a look at past head to head records between the 2 teams. From fifa.com, 6 matches played since 2000, Singapore has won 2, drawn 3, lost 1, not exactly superior..

I feel that hong kong are decent opposition, not great, but decent. Recent results include thrashing chinese taipei 5-1 and 6-0. And this was a chinese taipei team, we struggled to beat 3-2 at jalan besar barely a year ago.

I guess we should be satisfied that there are decent opposition for our national team to play, as compared to none at all. It is a good chance to test out some younger players who have little or no international experience. I am not even confident if we can get a victory against hong kong.

I do not disagree with it but that is not the crux of the problem for me.

It is the fact we no longer play any decent international football team on a regular basis anymore to improve ourselves in the long run from any such experience.

So whatever positives like the fact it give our youngsters good experience will be useless the next time they need it as they will have forgotten about it.

No matter how people want to look at this result, we cannot run away from the fact this is only our 3rd international this year that is including our World Cup Qualifiers.

Half a year is gone and during this time who had we played of international class (even by Asia second tier standard)

So what can anybody learn from just 3 games let alone one game.

The good results of the TRUE LIONS of the mid 2000s under then FAS President Ho Peng Kee came because we played as many as 20 internationals a year for a number of years.

But now!

This is thus what give inspiration to my header as national coach Raddy and our current FAS President (Yes that man from Bishan-Toa Poyah GRC) is  more concern about scratching each other back.

For each has been praising the other to sky to the SPH & MediaCorp Media in the last few months since the end of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Raddy told us that man Malaysia Super League project (MSLP) was a 'success' and it has given Singapore football a platform to success as he claimed playing the likes of Selangor or Kelantan is as good as international football already. 

If that the case, let look at this match report from footballopod and look at Raddy comments for he can tell us now that for many it was their first true international and so they had no experience.

And the main problem was they played too much long ball football which was not not how he expected them to play. 

So where is the experience of your so-called gelling and the 'tough' teams they are playing now.

My view is Raddy should look at the MSLP and tell us the football which we had dished out last night is in any way different from the way many of his youngsters played once there.

Because the long ball is effective in the Malaysia Super League (and I have noted that many times even before this project came to life) so what do you expect.

The reason is simple because defending there is nothing like international standard so if teams pump the ball often enough into the danger area they will get a chance or two.

That is why Singapore forwards find it impossible to score in international football regularly as even Hong Kong are not that generous.  

And let not go into the tough teams who are, by international football standard, not even considered so for if they are that good they will be in Asian Champions League and be like J-league; which was able to send 3 of it 4 representatives to the knockout stages. 

But of course Raddy has to back that GRC man as he backed Raddy to the tills.

Remember Raddy is that GRC man Arsene Wenger and helping to develop the beautiful football (or in turth the ugly British long ball method as he is turning a blind eye to it)

So is what Raddy and our GRC FAS president saying a myth or the turth - one can think for oneself.

The fact is anybody who believed we will improve by playing as few internationals as in recent times under our Bishan-Toa  Poyah GRC President and still improve by just playing most of our national players in the MSLP is crazy.

The Hong Kong result, if nothing else, has already tell us preparing for Suzuki Cup and SEA Games through MSLP is a joke for we all know the players will go back and play in the Malaysia Super League the same way as before and nothing has change.

More like back to the past and getting out of group stage will be celebrated in this age and time (It is not 70s or 80s anymore)

There is nothing like international football but the men in charge of the national team is just too busy scratching each other back.