All Mats???
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Singapore in 2034 World Cup. Can make it or not?
- Thread starter LITTLEREDDOT
- Start date
All Mats???
let them be all chinks or ah neh.
what would it change?
in what sports exactly are stinkies world beaters?
none.
you are a nation of coolies and peasants you are not going to be world's best in anything.
even ceca bangla paki afghan lanka aussies poms are at least world best or leading teams or players in cricket. some of the best, at least.
stinkypura got nothing whatsoever, just not good at it.
in effect admitting that chinks or ah nehs also can't make it.
btw it was malaysia m_UDs who defeated stinkypura m_uds. so what's the big deal?
you chinks better be used to playing esports and other girly ping pong sporting events.
brazilians italians or anglos haven't won a world cup in ages. you will only receive the third rate rejects from those countries, you should know your standing in the world.
your chinks can't even dominate asian games in anything. how to win world events?
They are needed in banking, medicine, IT and to work in white collar jobs. We can spare some muuds to play soccer.
these are turd world level jobs
CECA turd worlders can do them and do them cheaper better faster.
you pick any afro nigger they can also do these easy jobs.
nothing to be proud of.
low iq CRETINS like you are proud of doing lowly tasks.
intelligence isn't the preserve of you lowly heathen kafir faggot chinks
btw muuuds have sent people to space (first Muslim to pray in space), built at least two domestic car brands, built up silterra (IC fab) motorbike brands etc with only abt 10 million muuuuds.
stinkypura is just a money laundering hub and tax evasion hub today with zero invention or brands or talents or legends or scholars. expected of a nation of coolies peasants prostitutes whores harlots porters rickshaw pullers opium addicts night soil collectors errand boys etc
Forum: Everyone needs to pitch in to help Singapore football
June 23, 2023
Singapore football fans have lost their temper and their patience, but can you really blame them (Anger, frustration for S’pore football fans: Only 5,000 allowed for friendlies, no live broadcast, June 20)?
Their heated reactions are not a consequence of just the underwhelming recent results against Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. They have been brought about by the cumulation of incompetencies of various stakeholders in our football community over the years.
An example of a recent issue would be the appointment of the national coach. When Tatsuma Yoshida resigned as the Lions’ coach after guiding the team to an inspirational semi-final berth in the 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup, fans expected the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to ride on the momentum and find a good replacement to carry on the progress achieved by Yoshida.
However, not only did the FAS delay its announcement, but it also ended up appointing a relatively inexperienced coach in Takayuki Nishigaya when there were other better candidates on paper.
While Nishigaya has played his part and given some promising young players the chance to play in the national team, the team’s performances have not been up to par. Neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia managed to qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup, while we failed to impress against beatable opposition. We used to be one of Asean’s powerhouses.
Apart from the FAS, other stakeholders have to be singled out as well. With the Government taking over the management of the Singapore Sports Hub, why is the cost of holding a football match featuring our national team at the National Stadium still so high?
Surely a compromise of sorts could have been made to allow local fans to fill the stadium and support the Lions’ recent matches? It is heartbreaking to learn that the stadium is scheduled to hold six Coldplay concerts at full capacity next year, but only three sections were set aside for the Lions’ matches. Why even call it the “Sports Hub” if it is not going to be used to benefit local sports?
Money is understandably a significant factor, be it regarding stadium rentals or live broadcasts. However, it is my hope that everyone – FAS, Sport Singapore, telcos, broadcasters, sponsors – can pitch in and help Singapore football.
Henry Choong Kun Lin
Only lanjiao langs write to the Shitty Times forum. And the worst of their kind have their letters published (regularly).
Improve use of video assistant referee technology at SPL matches
FEB 23, 2023https://www.straitstimes.com/opinio...o-assistant-referee-technology-at-spl-matches
Everyone needs to pitch in to help Singapore football
JUN 23, 2023https://www.straitstimes.com/opinio...-needs-to-pitch-in-to-help-singapore-football
----
These were from some years ago. Henry Choong Kun Lin and Tang Li were mutually pleasuring each other on the Shitty Times forum.
Let us make football underdog fairy tale come true
MAY 4, 2016https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/...s-make-football-underdog-fairy-tale-come-true
Leicester's triumph shows how we can win in life
MAY 7, 2016https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/leicesters-triumph-shows-how-we-can-win-in-life
Late decision disrupted Young Lions’ preparation for SEA Games, say reports
Singapore captain Harhys Stewart challenging for the ball in the Group B games against Vietnam at the 2023 SEA Games. The Young Lions lost 3-1. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Deepanraj Ganesan and David Lee
July 2, 2023
SINGAPORE – Preparations for the 2023 SEA Games were in disarray before the Singapore Under-22 football team set foot in Phnom Penh, owing to a late attempt by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to reshuffle their backroom staff.
Ten days before kick-off, head coach Philippe Aw was allegedly told by an FAS executive committee (exco) member that technical director Michael Browne would take over the training and selection of the squad.
The former was unhappy about ceding control and reportedly walked out – he eventually stayed in charge for the tournament.
The FAS exco comprises acting president Bernard Tan and vice-presidents S. Thavaneson, Teo Hock Seng, Razali Saad and Ben Teng.
Singapore went on to finish last in Group B, their disastrous campaign compounded by a 7-0 defeat by Malaysia as the Young Lions exited at the group stage for a fifth consecutive Games.
This sequence of events, as well as other issues in the build-up to the Games in May, were among the points raised in two reports – seen by The Straits Times – from members of the review panel that was formed after the SEA Games.
It is headed by former national coach Jita Singh and includes Razali and FAS council members Lim Tong Hai and Harman Ali.
The panel members have submitted their individual reports and the FAS council is set to meet and discuss the recommendations and findings before a press conference this week.
When contacted on Saturday, Tan declined to comment if he or any FAS committee member had instructed Browne to take over from Aw.
On the reports, Tan said: “Discussions in the FAS remain confidential. The public should wait for the FAS release, and to use the same release we make on the report.
“The observations in the reports are subject to fact-checking and corroboration, and this is still in the process of being done. The conclusions drawn from this (initial) report may not be accurate.”
Following the dismal showing in Cambodia, on May 18 – a day after the Games ended – Aw was granted a leave of absence from the Young Lions. He is also the FAS head of methodology and assistant technical director and is involved with the Singapore Football Academy under the Unleash the Roar! national project.
He was replaced by Fadzuhasny Juraimi and Koichiro Iizuka, who are overseeing the Young Lions in the Singapore Premier League.
After interviews with Aw, FAS general secretary Yazeen Buhari, senior head of department Visakan Subramanian, and players, the reports also raised another point on Singapore’s poor preparations for the March 24-26 Merlion Cup, a friendly tournament that served as a SEA Games tune-up.
The Young Lions lost to their U-22 counterparts from Hong Kong (1-0) and Cambodia (2-1).
The reports highlighted that while the visiting teams stayed in hotels, the Singapore squad did not, owing to alleged budget constraints.
This led to players arriving at different times at the Jalan Besar Stadium, a lack of team cohesion and a feeling among the players that no one was taking the Merlion Cup and SEA Games preparations seriously.
With Singapore football fans baying for blood, Tan vowed after the Games that “tough questions will be asked” as the FAS embarked on a review.
He also announced later that the Young Lions will not play in any international tournaments pending the review. This leaves their Asian Games participation in September in limbo and no coach has been appointed for the competition.
FAS to work on 10 areas for SEA Games teams after review, pledges to ‘build a better future’
Singapore’s Jordan Efa challenging Thailand's Phongsakon Trisat for the ball during their SEA Games clash in April. The Young Lions lost 3-1. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
David Lee
Sports Correspondent
JUL 8, 2023
SINGAPORE – The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on Friday pledged to “build a better future” for its South-east Asia (SEA) Games squads that are sent to the biennial competition, as it announced 10 key areas to work on in the next three to six months after the conclusion of its review of the Phnom Penh Games in May.
In the wake of the Young Lions’ disastrous campaign in Cambodia and a public backlash, the FAS appointed a panel comprising former Singapore coach Jita Singh and its council members Razali Sa’ad, Lim Tong Hai and Harman Ali, to conduct a review of the team’s performance in the regional Under-22 competition.
At a news conference at FAS headquarters at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday, the panel said it had discovered “major structural or procedural issues” affecting the Under-22 team.
The Republic, which has never won a SEA Games football gold, finished last in their group, suffering three defeats, including a 7-0 thrashing by fierce rivals Malaysia. Their last semi-final appearance at the Games was in 2013, and it has been 30 years since Singapore has reached the final.
The panel spent four weeks interviewing players, coaches, administrators and backroom staff before presenting their reports to the FAS. The governing body came up with the 10 recommendations based on this feedback, as well as from internal operation reports and discussions with other football associations.
Mr Singh, who led the Lions to four SEA Games when it was still a senior tournament, said: “I agreed to head this panel because I wanted to find out what really went wrong. Based on our findings, we need to make some structural changes based on the recommendations, and we believe these are achievable.”
One proposal is for the men’s U-23 and U-22 sides to be under the purview of men’s national teams and the national coach. This will accelerate the transition of players to the senior squad, and allows access to greater resources, noted FAS acting president Bernard Tan.
The status of SEA Games coach Philippe Aw, the FAS assistant technical director and head of methodology who was granted a leave of absence after the campaign, remains unclear. Mr Tan said a SEA Games coach for the 2025 edition in Thailand will be appointed after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September.
That is another key part of the blueprint moving forward, with each SEA Games competition to be viewed as a two-year project, allowing the coach – who will also take charge of the Young Lions in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) club competition – and team a longer runway to develop. The players will be able to chalk up experience in the SPL, while eight to 10 “high-tempo, high-intensity” international matches will be arranged during that period.
Through his conversations with the players, Mr Tan noted that “they were not prepared for the high-tempo games played at the SEA Games... the tournament was played at an intensity beyond that of the SPL”.
At the start of each SEA Games cycle, a long list of eligible players will be drawn up, with individual developmental plans designed for each to aid in their progress as well as track their physical conditioning.
Another area to address will be to review SPL rules and increase playing minutes for key U-22/23 footballers. In 2018, most SPL clubs had to sign a minimum of six local U-23 players and field at least three of them for the entire first half of a game. In the 2022 season, this was reduced to one.
Only eight of the 20 players in the SEA Games squad were playing regularly – 50 per cent of the total game time – in the 2023 SPL season, noted the FAS. The majority had not completed a full season in the professional league yet.
Given the country’s small talent pool, and national service and school commitments, the FAS will also be more selective in sending the Young Lions for international competitions, with the SEA Games and AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, which serve as Olympic qualifiers, prioritised over other tournaments.
The FAS had withdrawn the team from the Asean Football Federation U-23 tournament in August and is likely to do the same for the Asian Games in late September, with a decision likely to be announced next week.
Mr Tan stressed the review exercise was not to attribute blame, and said: “The No. 1 thing from the recommendation is we want to put a majority of resources (into the SEA Games effort). The other steps are trying to make sure that players enter the tournament well-conditioned and competition-ready.
“We are very seriously looking into how we can change the ecosystem... a lot of things need to be done.”
The FAS’ 10 recommendations are below:
1. The Under-22s/23s will be categorised under the men’s national teams and fall under the purview of the Lions coach. This elevates the importance of the age-group team, accelerates the transition of these players to the senior squad, and allows access to greater resources ahead of major tournaments.
2. Every SEA Games will be run as a two-year project. This allows the head coach, who should also take charge of the Young Lions in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), and team to develop over a longer period. The team will play in eight to 10 international matches during each cycle. Of the 20 players in the 2023 Games squad, only seven had prior international experience before the Merlion Cup, a tune-up competition.
3. A long list of SEA Games eligible players to be curated at the start of the two-year cycle, and each to have individual development plans (IDP). The 2023 batch arrived for pre-tournament training with different levels of fitness and there was incomplete data regarding their physical conditioning. IDP will be in place three to six months before a tournament.
4. The U-22s/23s, which has to cope with national service and school commitments, will prioritise the SEA Games and AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, which serve as Olympic qualifiers. All other tournaments will be regarded as developmental opportunities. In 2023, the team has the SEA Games, the AFF U-23 Championship (which they have since withdrawn from), Asian Games and AFC qualifiers, plus the Merlion Cup.
5. Changes in SPL rules will be reviewed to increase playing minutes for key U-22/23 footballers. Currently, all clubs except Brunei DPMM and Young Lions must field a local U-23 player for the entire first half in their matches. Only eight of the 20 SEA Games players were playing regularly (50 per cent of the game time) in the 2023 SPL season.
6. The U-23s/U-22s will have a minimum of two weeks to prepare for priority tournaments; FAS to adjust SPL scheduling and/or enact rules changes for this. Due to NS and school commitments, the 2023 team had only the Merlion Cup in March and a friendly against Geylang International to prepare for the SEA Games.
7. Mental preparation and team-building activities will be compulsory. A trained sports psychologist will be involved in pre-tournament preparation. The 2023 Games campaign did not have a sports psychologist playing an active part in preparations.
8. Players’ diets will be planned when the FAS has control of meals. Currently, only hydration is monitored, while players are advised on healthy eating. In Cambodia, players ate whatever was on offer at the SEA Games hotel.
9. A comprehensive analyst team that provides pre-game opponent analysis, in-game analysis and recommendations, and post-game review and objective feedback, should be built at the national level. The SEA games team was supported by just one analyst.
10. All injuries during tournaments have to be verified and signed off by a medical doctor. Control of players, including those leaving early, should be cleared by the head coach. This protocol was not in place and there was a limited selection of players in the final group-game loss to Malaysia.
More needs to be done beyond FAS’ 10 recommendations, say local coaches
Singapore’s Jordan Emaviwe fighting for the ball with Cambodia goalkeeper Reth Lyheng during the 2023 Merlion Cup friendly tournament at the Jalan Besar Stadium. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Ervin Ang
JUL 8, 2023
SINGAPORE – While local coaches agree that Singapore’s youth football development is in dire need of a refresh, there were mixed feelings about the latest attempt to boost that pipeline after the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced the findings of its SEA Games review on Friday.
The governing body pledged to put in place 10 recommendations, specifically targeted at strengthening the infrastructure around the Under-22 and 23 national teams. The Young Lions crashed out at the group stage of the Phnom Penh Games in May, losing three and drawing one of their four matches.
Veteran coach Clement Teo, who led Singapore Premier League (SPL) club Hougang United and is now in charge of Cambodian Premier League side Boeung Ket, said the FAS’ proposals were a step in the right direction and “necessary for progress”.
“The 10 points are crucial for improvement and naturally there should be more,” he said. “A good foundation is one of the keys to achieving success. We have been lacking in youth development over the past five to seven years and we struggled against other Asean countries. The general direction looks interesting and now the national youth teams need to compete on a regular basis.”
Teo, 56, also highlighted how some ideas like incorporating a sports psychologist in pre-tournament preparation was the right move but should be widened.
He noted: “The Young Lions should have a full-time sports psychologist from the start. There needs to be a relationship between both parties, or they will be strangers to each other. What help can a sports psychologist do during a short period of time?”
The FAS’ decision to have greater oversight of players’ diets was another positive step, but it needed to be accompanied by greater education on the value of a nutritional meal to get their buy-in.
Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the FAS, he added: “Everyone will have their own opinions and different perceptions, but the ultimate goal is to make headway to improve Singapore football.”
Some, like Tanjong Pagar team manager Noh Alam Shah, were more sceptical. The former Lions striker, 42, who won two AFF Championships with the Lions in 2004 and 2007, said he hopes that these changes will have a lasting impact on Singapore football’s future but also labelled the review as a “bare-minimum initiative”.
Another local coach, who trains one of the SPL’s Centre of Excellence (COE) youth teams and wanted to remain anonymous, was more scathing in his assessment.
“They (FAS) missed a big key point. They want to renovate and improve the housing infrastructure, but the occupants of the household (the local players) are still very poor,” he said. “The players have to look at themselves first. They want everything to be spoon-fed.”
One of his chief gripes is the SPL’s U-23 quota, implemented in 2018 and mandating all local clubs must field at least three U-23 players in the first half. That number was cut to one in 2022.
From Friday’s announcement, the FAS appears poised to increase this requirement in a bid to increase competition time for U-23 players.
“This quota gives them undeserved game time,” said the coach who declined to be named. “Fielding these players, who are not ready but thrown into the deep end, will bring down the intensity of an SPL game.”
While FAS acting president Bernard Tan said the 2029 SEA Games in Singapore will be a realistic timeframe to see some results, the COE youth coach was unconvinced.
“I look at our U-15 games, very poor. Our youth age-group teams are getting thrashed at every level right now. I don’t expect things to have a miraculous change when they get to 22-26 years old.”
Singapore will automatically qualify as co-host.
Fifa announced that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay hosting one match each. PHOTO: REUTERS
Oct 11, 2023
JAKARTA – Indonesia is in discussions with Australia about a possible joint-bid to host the 2034 World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore, the president of the country’s football federation (PSSI) said on Wednesday.
World football’s governing body Fifa invited member associations from Asia and Oceania to bid for the rights to the 2034 edition last week.
“We are discussing (a bid) with Australia,” PSSI president Erick Thohir, who is a government minister and former Inter Milan owner, was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“When I visited Malaysia and Singapore, both countries expressed interest to join Indonesia and Australia.”
He said on Tuesday he raised the issue with his Australian counterpart at the Fifa Congress in Rwanda in March and talks have continued since.
Thohir also said he had raised the prospect with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who he said responded positively.
When asked for comment on a possible joint-bid, Football Australia referred back to a statement last week that said it was “exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup and/or the Fifa World Cup 2034”. It did not mention a joint-bid with Indonesia last week.
However, Australian football officials had said in June they were investigating the possibility of a joint-bid with Indonesia.
The PSSI has not responded to a request for comment, while The Straits Times has reached out to Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth for comment.
This is not the first time that there is talk of the 2034 World Cup being hosted in South-east Asia. In 2019, 10 Asean nations, including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, had agreed to establish a technical working group, led by Thailand, to look into the feasibility of a joint-bid to host the 2034 showpiece.
Indonesian football has been mired in controversy over the past year.
A stadium stampede in Java a year ago killed 135 people and Indonesia lost the hosting rights to the Under-20 World Cup after protests in the Muslim-majority nation over Israel’s participation.
After announcing last week that Spain, Morocco and Portugal would host the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina staging the opening games, Fifa invited Asia and Oceania to bid for 2034.
Saudi Arabia quickly announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights and Fifa has set a deadline of Oct 31 for other interested parties to make their intentions known.
With Qatar having hosted the 2022 edition, Akmal Marhali of Indonesian watchdog Save Our Soccer told The Herald it might be too soon for the World Cup to return to the Middle East.
“We are quite strong,” he said. “I think Fifa will see that the Middle East area has been the host with Qatar last year. Japan and Korea have been host too. I am sure Fifa will try other countries.
“The potential to win if we join with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore is bigger too.”
However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) threw its support behind the Saudi bid for the 2034 World Cup shortly after it was announced last week.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said that once they declared their intention on Wednesday to bid for the tournament, “over 70 Fifa member associations from across different continents have publicly pledged their support for the Kingdom”.
The Guardian on Monday reported that Fifa’s relaxing of rules on the number of existing stadiums needed by bidders for 2034 also is a boon for the Saudi bid.
Meanwhile, “sources close to the corridors of power” told The Daily Mail that “A Saudi World Cup in 2034 isn’t just likely, it’s basically a done deal. Money has talked again, and the event will be worth billions in new cash for Fifa.”
Several other media outlets have also reported that the Saudi bid is the clear frontrunner for the 2034 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. REUTERS, AFP
Indonesia wants to co-host 2034 World Cup with Australia, Malaysia, Singapore
Fifa announced that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay hosting one match each. PHOTO: REUTERS
Oct 11, 2023
JAKARTA – Indonesia is in discussions with Australia about a possible joint-bid to host the 2034 World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore, the president of the country’s football federation (PSSI) said on Wednesday.
World football’s governing body Fifa invited member associations from Asia and Oceania to bid for the rights to the 2034 edition last week.
“We are discussing (a bid) with Australia,” PSSI president Erick Thohir, who is a government minister and former Inter Milan owner, was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“When I visited Malaysia and Singapore, both countries expressed interest to join Indonesia and Australia.”
He said on Tuesday he raised the issue with his Australian counterpart at the Fifa Congress in Rwanda in March and talks have continued since.
Thohir also said he had raised the prospect with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who he said responded positively.
When asked for comment on a possible joint-bid, Football Australia referred back to a statement last week that said it was “exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup and/or the Fifa World Cup 2034”. It did not mention a joint-bid with Indonesia last week.
However, Australian football officials had said in June they were investigating the possibility of a joint-bid with Indonesia.
The PSSI has not responded to a request for comment, while The Straits Times has reached out to Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth for comment.
This is not the first time that there is talk of the 2034 World Cup being hosted in South-east Asia. In 2019, 10 Asean nations, including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, had agreed to establish a technical working group, led by Thailand, to look into the feasibility of a joint-bid to host the 2034 showpiece.
Indonesian football has been mired in controversy over the past year.
A stadium stampede in Java a year ago killed 135 people and Indonesia lost the hosting rights to the Under-20 World Cup after protests in the Muslim-majority nation over Israel’s participation.
After announcing last week that Spain, Morocco and Portugal would host the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina staging the opening games, Fifa invited Asia and Oceania to bid for 2034.
Saudi Arabia quickly announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights and Fifa has set a deadline of Oct 31 for other interested parties to make their intentions known.
With Qatar having hosted the 2022 edition, Akmal Marhali of Indonesian watchdog Save Our Soccer told The Herald it might be too soon for the World Cup to return to the Middle East.
“We are quite strong,” he said. “I think Fifa will see that the Middle East area has been the host with Qatar last year. Japan and Korea have been host too. I am sure Fifa will try other countries.
“The potential to win if we join with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore is bigger too.”
However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) threw its support behind the Saudi bid for the 2034 World Cup shortly after it was announced last week.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said that once they declared their intention on Wednesday to bid for the tournament, “over 70 Fifa member associations from across different continents have publicly pledged their support for the Kingdom”.
The Guardian on Monday reported that Fifa’s relaxing of rules on the number of existing stadiums needed by bidders for 2034 also is a boon for the Saudi bid.
Meanwhile, “sources close to the corridors of power” told The Daily Mail that “A Saudi World Cup in 2034 isn’t just likely, it’s basically a done deal. Money has talked again, and the event will be worth billions in new cash for Fifa.”
Several other media outlets have also reported that the Saudi bid is the clear frontrunner for the 2034 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. REUTERS, AFP
Singapore will automatically qualify as co-host.
Indonesia wants to co-host 2034 World Cup with Australia, Malaysia, Singapore
Fifa announced that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay hosting one match each. PHOTO: REUTERS
Oct 11, 2023
JAKARTA – Indonesia is in discussions with Australia about a possible joint-bid to host the 2034 World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore, the president of the country’s football federation (PSSI) said on Wednesday.
World football’s governing body Fifa invited member associations from Asia and Oceania to bid for the rights to the 2034 edition last week.
“We are discussing (a bid) with Australia,” PSSI president Erick Thohir, who is a government minister and former Inter Milan owner, was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“When I visited Malaysia and Singapore, both countries expressed interest to join Indonesia and Australia.”
He said on Tuesday he raised the issue with his Australian counterpart at the Fifa Congress in Rwanda in March and talks have continued since.
Thohir also said he had raised the prospect with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who he said responded positively.
When asked for comment on a possible joint-bid, Football Australia referred back to a statement last week that said it was “exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup and/or the Fifa World Cup 2034”. It did not mention a joint-bid with Indonesia last week.
However, Australian football officials had said in June they were investigating the possibility of a joint-bid with Indonesia.
The PSSI has not responded to a request for comment, while The Straits Times has reached out to Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth for comment.
This is not the first time that there is talk of the 2034 World Cup being hosted in South-east Asia. In 2019, 10 Asean nations, including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, had agreed to establish a technical working group, led by Thailand, to look into the feasibility of a joint-bid to host the 2034 showpiece.
Indonesian football has been mired in controversy over the past year.
A stadium stampede in Java a year ago killed 135 people and Indonesia lost the hosting rights to the Under-20 World Cup after protests in the Muslim-majority nation over Israel’s participation.
After announcing last week that Spain, Morocco and Portugal would host the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina staging the opening games, Fifa invited Asia and Oceania to bid for 2034.
Saudi Arabia quickly announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights and Fifa has set a deadline of Oct 31 for other interested parties to make their intentions known.
With Qatar having hosted the 2022 edition, Akmal Marhali of Indonesian watchdog Save Our Soccer told The Herald it might be too soon for the World Cup to return to the Middle East.
“We are quite strong,” he said. “I think Fifa will see that the Middle East area has been the host with Qatar last year. Japan and Korea have been host too. I am sure Fifa will try other countries.
“The potential to win if we join with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore is bigger too.”
However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) threw its support behind the Saudi bid for the 2034 World Cup shortly after it was announced last week.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said that once they declared their intention on Wednesday to bid for the tournament, “over 70 Fifa member associations from across different continents have publicly pledged their support for the Kingdom”.
The Guardian on Monday reported that Fifa’s relaxing of rules on the number of existing stadiums needed by bidders for 2034 also is a boon for the Saudi bid.
Meanwhile, “sources close to the corridors of power” told The Daily Mail that “A Saudi World Cup in 2034 isn’t just likely, it’s basically a done deal. Money has talked again, and the event will be worth billions in new cash for Fifa.”
Several other media outlets have also reported that the Saudi bid is the clear frontrunner for the 2034 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. REUTERS, AFP
Forget about it. Saudi Arabia will most likely win.
Good luck with the shitty tropical weather, unless you are wealthy enough like the Arabs to build fully aircon football pitches.
Forum: More foreign players in SPL means fewer opportunities for local players
DEC 29, 2023
I read with concern about the move to increase the quota for foreign players in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) from next season (Changes afoot for new Singapore Premier League season with more foreigners involved, Dec 27).
This goes against the objective of the Unleash the Roar movement, which aims to raise the levels of Singapore football and rally the nation behind a shared dream.
Increasing foreigners in the league will result in reduced playing time for local players. How can players improve if they are not given enough game time?
I believe most teams given an increased quota for foreigners will bring in more forwards and midfielders as such players ultimately score the goals and win matches.
This would result in fewer opportunities for local players in those positions.
While the move may improve the quality in the league and perhaps make it more attractive to private investors, it will be bad for the development of local football.
I hope that the Football Association of Singapore will not look at the SPL as a profit-generating entity but one that focuses on helping to Unleash the Roar for local football.
Leong Kok Seng
Forum: Import of foreign football players must be carefully calibrated
DEC 29, 2023It is heartening that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is implementing initiatives to try to improve the state of local football, to uplift standards and make the Singapore Premier League (SPL) more exciting for fans and more attractive for private investors (Changes afoot for new Singapore Premier League season with more foreigners involved, Dec 27).
The disappointing reality is that, indeed, the local football talent produced so far have not delivered. However, importing foreign players needs to be carefully calibrated.
These foreign players need to be above a certain calibre. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of the entire exercise. To import such quality foreign players requires financial resources which not all SPL clubs may have without taking on debt, or exponentially expanding their fan base.
Perhaps one avenue to explore is that eligible SPL clubs could be provided interest-free loans specifically to bring in foreign players. Importing foreign players is hence a path that we need to tread carefully.
At the same time, we should also be mindful that importing foreign football players is not the panacea for Singapore’s football woes. Ultimately, we still need to stay focused on the long-term goal which is to develop local football talent, and put in place the infrastructure needed to create a sustainable pipeline of local football talent and a conducive and harmonious football ecosystem, to bring back Singapore football’s glory days.
Woon Wee Min
To hell with the local players, let the professionals (not cronies) set up a footballing academy here with zero meddling by the PAP jiakliaobees. Scout and develop children as young as 4 years old.
This is something like agriculture or R&D, patience is required. However, this place is a totalitarian shithole regime now, which means meddling is inevitable and even if a footballing academy is set up here, nothing will come out of it.
This is something like agriculture or R&D, patience is required. However, this place is a totalitarian shithole regime now, which means meddling is inevitable and even if a footballing academy is set up here, nothing will come out of it.
Thailand and Indonesia are now in the Round of 16 in this month Asian Cup.
Singapore are streets behind in the Southeast Asia region.
Singapore are streets behind in the Southeast Asia region.
Unleash the Roar football project is ‘on the right track’, say senior Singapore sports officials
Singapore’s Jordan Emaviwe tussling for the ball with Thailand's Phongsakon Trisat against Thailand in Cambodia in 2023. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Deepanraj Ganesan
JAN 24, 2024
SINGAPORE – It may seem unthinkable, but in 1990, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had been on the brink of getting the sack at Old Trafford after a string of bad results and no silverware for three years. Ultimately, the Scot would lead the Red Devils to an FA Cup triumph that year before adding 37 more trophies.
Similarly, Singapore football finds itself in the doldrums and Sport Singapore chief executive Alan Goh is hoping national project Unleash the Roar! (UTR) will get the same patience that Ferguson was given to find success.
In an interview with The Straits Times on the Hard Tackle podcast published on Jan 24, Goh and Singapore Sport Institute (SSI) chief Su Chun Wei both said the UTR project was moving in the right direction.
Citing the early struggles of Ferguson, Goh said: “Not to say that I am going to promise Alex Ferguson type of success but actually, that’s the level of patience that we hope, we minimally give UTR and FAS (Football Association of Singapore).
“Of course, we’re not going to abdicate accountability. Hopefully we can compete at a higher level than the results we have seen in recent times. We’ve been there before in our history. And our aim collectively as one Team Singapore is hopefully to replicate conditions to get back there again.”
While a long-term ambition under UTR is for the Lions to qualify for the 2034 World Cup, results in the interim have not made for good reading. Fans have also grown disillusioned with poor results and a lack of identity in the various national teams.
The Republic lost 4-1 to Malaysia at the Asean Football Federation Championship in January 2023 and suffered an early exit from the tournament. Later in May, the Under-22 team were thrashed 7-0 by their Causeway rivals in a disastrous Cambodia SEA Games campaign which then led to the squad being withdrawn from the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Among other criticisms of UTR has been the project’s slow start. It was announced in March 2021 and the first significant move was in July 2022 when the School Football Academy programme was launched with 10 schools.
A year later, the inaugural batch of eight teenage footballers were awarded overseas scholarships shortly after the Junior Development (ages eight to 12) and National Development Centres (13 to 16) for promising youths were set up.
Goh said: “These are the pieces. And hopefully in a few years, we start to see more support and more interests, and it will then translate into more success on the pitch.”
Su insisted UTR “is on track” and said: “It is a long-term plan... Of course, it takes a longer time for the entire fruits to come to bear.”
He added: “Everyone wants to see winning teams. Everyone wants our senior Lions or Young Lions to be competitive. If we are going on this long journey and we are seeing signs of improvement, we have got to support our Lions...
“We cannot be giving them wet blankets and demoralise them. We need to be together. And as I said, in another three to five years, if we do this collectively as one… I’m pretty sure that everyone will share the collective fruits of this journey.”
Singapore Sport Institute chief Su Chun Wei (from left) and Sport Singapore chief executive Alan Goh shared their thoughts with journalist Deepanraj Ganesan on ST’s Hard Tackle podcast. PHOTO: ST PODCASTS
Only 10 years left for Sinkiepore to make it to the World Cup.
But, looking at the state of Sinkie football, might as well be 100 years.
Makes no difference.
Takayuki Nishigaya's tenure as Lions coach ends with eighth wins, eight losses and five draws in 21 matches. PHOTO: REUTERS
Deepanraj Ganesan
Jan 29, 2024
SINGAPORE – Takayuki Nishigaya has left his position as Singapore national team head coach, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Jan 29.
In a media statement, FAS said its decision to part ways with Nishigaya was “reached after careful consideration” and thanked him for his work here.
The national body said a successor will be announced in due course and added: “The recent performances and results of the national team have been below expectation, and the FAS believes an early transition to a fresh successor would re-energise the team and allow a longer runway for the national team to prepare for important matches in the next few months and the year-end AFF tournament.”
Nishigaya, 50, was the Lions’ second Japanese manager and was hired on a two-year contract in April 2022 as the replacement for Tatsuma Yoshida, who resigned and left his post in Dec 2021, a year before his contract was up.
The Lions’ next match will be back to back World Cup qualifiers against China on March 21 and 26. The first match will be played in Singapore, while the second will be an away fixture.
Nishigaya was appointed following a hiring process that took more than four months. He was recommended to FAS by the Japan Football Association technical committee, and appointed by a panel comprising then FAS president Lim Kia Tong, current president Bernard Tan, vice-president Teo Hock Seng, council member Goh Tat Chuan and general secretary Yazeen Buhari.
This was Nishigaya’s first international gig after spells in charge of J2 side Mito Hollyhock and Japan’s third-division club SC Sagamihara.
His tenure ends with eighth wins, eight losses and five draws in 21 matches as Lions coach. A particular low point of his spell in charge came in January 2023, when the Lions were trounced 4-1 by Malaysia before a meek exit at the group stage of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship.
While there were three straight wins – over Guam, in a two-legged World Cup qualifier, and Chinese Taipei – last September and October, the Lions have largely looked dismal under Nishigaya.
His departure does not come as a surprise, given the discontent amongst fans and some players.
Sections of Lions supporters chanted for Nishigaya to be sacked after Thailand’s 3-1 win over Singapore in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Nov 21, with the sentiments spilling over to social media.
The Straits Times reported a few days after the defeat by the Thais, that the FAS had sounded out potential candidates to replace Nishigaya, with compatriot Tsutomu Ogura understood to be the front runner for the job.
Ogura, 57, was an assistant coach at Tokyo Verdy, who gained promotion to the Japanese top tier last season. Verdy announced on Jan 12 that Ogura had left the club.
Ogura was Japan’s assistant coach from 2006 to 2010 and was part of the Samurai Blue’s 2010 World Cup team who lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 16. He was then appointed assistant coach of Japan’s Olympic team from 2010 to 2012, when they finished fourth in London.
But, looking at the state of Sinkie football, might as well be 100 years.
Makes no difference.
Singapore national football coach Takayuki Nishigaya leaves role
Takayuki Nishigaya's tenure as Lions coach ends with eighth wins, eight losses and five draws in 21 matches. PHOTO: REUTERS
Deepanraj Ganesan
Jan 29, 2024
SINGAPORE – Takayuki Nishigaya has left his position as Singapore national team head coach, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Jan 29.
In a media statement, FAS said its decision to part ways with Nishigaya was “reached after careful consideration” and thanked him for his work here.
The national body said a successor will be announced in due course and added: “The recent performances and results of the national team have been below expectation, and the FAS believes an early transition to a fresh successor would re-energise the team and allow a longer runway for the national team to prepare for important matches in the next few months and the year-end AFF tournament.”
Nishigaya, 50, was the Lions’ second Japanese manager and was hired on a two-year contract in April 2022 as the replacement for Tatsuma Yoshida, who resigned and left his post in Dec 2021, a year before his contract was up.
The Lions’ next match will be back to back World Cup qualifiers against China on March 21 and 26. The first match will be played in Singapore, while the second will be an away fixture.
Nishigaya was appointed following a hiring process that took more than four months. He was recommended to FAS by the Japan Football Association technical committee, and appointed by a panel comprising then FAS president Lim Kia Tong, current president Bernard Tan, vice-president Teo Hock Seng, council member Goh Tat Chuan and general secretary Yazeen Buhari.
This was Nishigaya’s first international gig after spells in charge of J2 side Mito Hollyhock and Japan’s third-division club SC Sagamihara.
His tenure ends with eighth wins, eight losses and five draws in 21 matches as Lions coach. A particular low point of his spell in charge came in January 2023, when the Lions were trounced 4-1 by Malaysia before a meek exit at the group stage of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship.
While there were three straight wins – over Guam, in a two-legged World Cup qualifier, and Chinese Taipei – last September and October, the Lions have largely looked dismal under Nishigaya.
His departure does not come as a surprise, given the discontent amongst fans and some players.
Sections of Lions supporters chanted for Nishigaya to be sacked after Thailand’s 3-1 win over Singapore in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Nov 21, with the sentiments spilling over to social media.
The Straits Times reported a few days after the defeat by the Thais, that the FAS had sounded out potential candidates to replace Nishigaya, with compatriot Tsutomu Ogura understood to be the front runner for the job.
Ogura, 57, was an assistant coach at Tokyo Verdy, who gained promotion to the Japanese top tier last season. Verdy announced on Jan 12 that Ogura had left the club.
Ogura was Japan’s assistant coach from 2006 to 2010 and was part of the Samurai Blue’s 2010 World Cup team who lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 16. He was then appointed assistant coach of Japan’s Olympic team from 2010 to 2012, when they finished fourth in London.
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