Will FAS give S-league it due credits this
time?
As Singapore reign supreme over ASEAN for the third time in 10
years, one must not only be delighted but also impress with that impressive stats
for 15 attempts, starting from 1971 SEAP Games, before 1998 had saw the Lions
finished empty handed each time.
Along with that,
However as one celebrate with the rest of the nation on this
remarkable occasion, the author wishes to raise a question which is whether FAS
will give the S-league it day in the limelight this time round unlike the 2005
victory when all FAS wanted was the whole of the Republic to know that the
victory was the result their work alone only.
No, the author is not exaggerating it for back in 2005 all FAS
wanted to talk about was their National Football Academy (NFA), which was
started in 1999, as the starting point in the building of the 2005 team and how
they make up 7 of the 22 member winner squad.
While not denying the importance of NFA as an important youth
development for Singapore future like most facts, a better and more accurate
picture is seem when peeking into the fine details for it was only 2 NFA
members, Shahril Ishak and Khairul Amri, who played a part in that Tiger Cup
victory and instead Geylang United and (the currently excluded ex-S-league)
Tanjong Pagar United may have played a bigger part in that victory.
The
2004/2005 competition MVP Lionel Lewis had a lot to thanks Geylang United for
back in the 1997 the Eagles had not spotted his talent but make the important
decision to hire a goalkeeper coach (a novel idea at that time which FAS have
not even done) to further develop the goalkeeper skill at the club.
Certainly
the result of that decision was bared out by the fact all 3 keepers – Lionel
Lewis, Hassan Sunny and Shahril Jantan
– in the 2004/2005 competition
had make their debut with the Bedok-based club.
If not
for the event back in 1997, would Singapore have in their disposal now a
custodian so good that he is well on his way to being one of Singapore great
for let not forget Rezal Hassan when under FAS charge in the Malaysian League
days.
Lionel
Lewis was not the only Eagles savior that year for in attack there was Indra
Sahdan, in midfield there was Hasrin Jailani and in defence there was Baihakki
Khaizan (A joint effort of NFA and Geylang United). Other than that, Noh Rahman
who is always a reliable substitute ready to come off the bench is afflicted to
Geylang United.
After
that come Tanjong Pagar United for Singapore famed backline has 2 players – Daniel
Bennett and S.Subramani – who are the product of the club youth development and
S.Subramani had won the 1998 Player of the Year while playing for his debutant
team.
Even
the so called ‘small’ clubs despised so much by SPH media and the neutral fans
played their part with Jurong giving us Goh Tat Chuan and Itmi Dickson and
Sembawang Rangers giving us Noh Alam Shah.
This
year one from the production line of the small’ clubs, Noh Alam Shah, played a
big part in Singapore retaining it ASEAN title and along the way it was 2-times
Champions Tampines Rovers who had further aided his development.
Tampines Rovers did not just further aid
Noh Alam Shah development, they also give
The midfielder did not disappoint as on
loan with Sengkang Marine (Now Sengkang Punggol) that year the Hougang club saw
their best ever finished of fourth in the
Yet for all that efforts by the S-league
and all it member clubs, FAS totally forgotten about them in 2005 while
celebrating that victory and the mainstream media aided FAS as they just
willing lap up FAS talk that NFA was the reason for
One would not blame the clubs if they have
given up and left
Still FAS must not take them for granted
as they did their part in the 3 ASEAN win
So this time around, do not forget the
S-league efforts FAS this time round for when Singapore failed it is the
S-league that take the blame but when time to celebrate it is you FAS who lab
up all the credits and that is bullshit.