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Football hopefuls queuing outside Bishan stadium for the First XI trials.
SINGAPORE: More than 900 people turned up for the First XI trials at Bishan Stadium on Saturday morning.
MediaCorp Channel 5's football reality series is back for a second season.
Football hopefuls lined the streets outside the stadium as early as 7.30am.
This season's trials adopted a different format, with the age limit for participants lowered to 16 years.
Passing and dribbling stations were also replaced by eight-a-side games.
In the series, selected players will go on a one-week training stint at Fundacion Real Madrid in Spain, before the final episode.
Ex-Liverpool player Steve McMahon and former Singapore international R Sasikumar remain as the show's two coaches.
The second season of First XI premieres on 28 August.
Mr McMahon said: "We're hoping to spot lots of talent obviously. I've touched on it. If the players that we can produce, the 16-18 players we eventually end up with, if we can gel as a team and make them a team, I always say and my motto is - to be a team, rather than individuals… I'll be happy with that. Then it's up to the individuals then to go on and be better."
Football programme launched to support underprivileged & at-risk youths
By Sara Grosse
POSTED: 18 May 2013 8:54 PM
SINGAPORE: Underprivileged and at-risk youths will get more support through a new football programme.
Called Saturday Night Lights, the initiative sees boys aged between 12 and 20 come together to play the sport from 7 to 11pm.
The youths are given coaching and are provided with meals and transport.
It is hoped that through football, values such as respect for team work and leadership are reinforced.
Over the past eight weeks, the youngsters have been participating in a pilot run of Saturday Night Lights.
Launching the programme on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the game has helped to boost their confidence.
He added the volunteers are critical in mentoring and motivating the youths.
Mr Tharman said: "You look at the kids, most of them in fact were not footballers before the programme. They played street soccer occasionally. Now they see themselves as serious footballers... They are a lot more disciplined now and in fact those who were not attending school as frequently as they should, are now all attending school."
