February 2, 2004

Emgar Gonclaves is under attack after his announcement that he was leaving Singapore for good after the end of the season.

There were many who had voiced their disappointment at his decision.

Jita Singh was 1 of those was felt the biggest disappointment. As technical director for Police FC (now Home United) in 1995, he had talent-spotted Goncalves. In the 8 years in the S-league, Emgar Gonclaves had proven him right with his goal scoring record for Home United & was granted Singapore citizenship as a result.

However he is now anger by the facts that Emgar Gonclaves was leaving Singapore just 2 years after getting his citizenship making the Republic passport look cheap.

Outside of football, it had also given Netball Singapore president Ivy Singh-Lim, a main opponent Foreign Sports Talent Scheme, ammunition to attack the usefulness of such scheme.

She claimed that Singapore should not depend on instant trees for success as during a storm, the instant trees will fall on our heads as a result of no deep roots.

Still the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme will not suffer irreparable damage as there are still many out there who believed in the Scheme including Singapore Table Tennis Association president Choo Wee Khiang, whose sport has had the most success with foreign talent.

FAS push for foreign talent though will also continue as they are currently having trial with 4 Nigerian players of whom they hoped could join the Young Lions as foreign recruits.