June 21, 2004

The Young Lions who have been having a successful 2004 S-league season up-to-date will return to their root as FAS reveal plans that next season Young Lions squad will only have U23 players

The logic behind this return back to U23 status is because the SEA Games will return next year.

Other S-league coaches have voiced approval for the steps taken by FAS

A supporter of the move, Home United coach Steve Darby feel there was nothing wrong with the 2003 Young Lions & they were a great success even when they had the worst record of the league because league position was irrelevant when the main idea was developing young players.

He pointed out that players who were on the bench at other clubs got a chance to prove themselves & this was good for the future of the national team & the S-league.

For example he said Aliff Shafaein, who is with Tampines Rovers now, would never had the chance to play if he had remain in the Home United squad last season as the team was too strong for him to break in at his age. However having gone to the Young Lions, he did well & was noticed by the fans & other coaches even if he is not with the Protectors.

There was also another plan for the U18 squad to be the feeder squad of the Young Lions but this plan was voted by the clubs who also have players in the U18 teams as they feel it is would be unreasonable for the players they have discovered to benefit the Young Lions.