January 9 - 15, 2006


January 15

Note 1 – S-league 2006 Beep Test

The first S-league 2006 Beep Test is to be conducted from 16 January (Monday) to 19 January 2006 (Thursday).

S-League and Prime League players must achieve Levels 12:8 and 12:2 respectively to participate in the S-League and Singapore Cup 2006

Note 2 – AFC Cup update on oppositions

Malaysian teams – Perlis (Super League Champions) and Selangor (FA Cup Champions)

www.geocities.com/slfootballnews/News59.htm

January 14

Note 1 – Agu Casmir signed for Persija Jakarta

Singapore striker Agu Casmir, without a club since departing from the Young Lions, has found a club but it is not in the S-league as Indonesian club Persija Jakarta snapped up the player

It will be a 1 year deal and the player will be getting his desired salary of US$8000 (S$13000) a month.

Both player and club have expressed delight with the deal.

Agu stated he is happy to be in Indonesia and looking forward to his new career here.

Persija Jakarta have also wasted no time in putting the news on its website as soon as they signed the player.

This deal mean that this year there are 3 Singaporean - Singapore captain & defender Aide Iskandar, midfielder Ahmad Latiff and striker Agu Casmir - playing oversea in 2 ASEAN league – Malaysia and Indonesia.

Note 2 – Raddy banned motorcycles for National Team and Young Lions

National coach Raddy has banned all National Team players from riding motorcycles and extended it to include the Young Lions squad.

Any players who break the rule will be fined heavily & a repeat will mean the axe from the team.

It happened as 2 youth players - Shariff Samad and Jumaat Jantan - met with accidents over the last fortnight.

Last week, Jumaat suffered bruises to his back and legs after an accident and has been ruled out for two weeks while this week, Shariff lost control of his motorcycle and suffered bruises and a hairline fracture on his right toe. He is expected to be out of action for at least a month.

Raddy expect his player to support his view as it was a decision they themselves would make if they valued their careers.

He stated they are still young and they should not be risking their lives as even if they are careful, there could be drivers out there who are careless or sometimes, road conditions bad, so motorcyclists are always at risk. It is just a risk not worth taking and no footballers should endanger their lives.

January 12

Note 1 – Johor FA reached agreement with FAS on Aide

While a clash between club commitments in Malaysia and Lions' centralised training means Singapore skipper Aide Iskandar will miss the two friendly matches against Oman and Qatar next month, there were still excellent news for Singapore as the skipper was released by Johor FA for Singapore's other tune-up matches against Denmark here on January 26 and Kuwait in Kuwait City on February 3.

Also Aide will be able to join his team-mates for centralised training a week before the Lions' first Asian Cup 2007 qualifier against Iraq at the National Stadium on Feb 22.

While his skipper will miss more than half of the team's build-up for the Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Radojko Avramovic said he was satisfied with Johor's compromise.

The Serbo-Montenegrin note it is a good gesture on Johor's part to let Aide join us as they could have refused and one can't ask for any more as Johor too have their own commitments and we have to respect that.

Aide was also delighted that both the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and his club were able to reach a compromise as he stated as long as it is a win-win situation for both parties, he is happy.

Note 2 – Dickson was told to send in written letter on his AWOL

In another development to the Dickson saga, Raddy revealed he had spoken to Itimi Dickson, after the midfielder failed to show up for training.

Raddy said "I have informed him to write officially to the FAS to explain his absence and we will see if these reasons are acceptable. Any player who is absent from training without satisfactory reasons will be out of the team."

Note 3 – Iraq barred all players transfer

To prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers, Iraq have barred transfer for players on the Asian Cup qualifiers list.

Iraqi Football Association President Hussain Saeed stated all request for transfer of Iraqi players would be rejected and would only be considered after the Asian Cup qualifiers was over.

January 11

Note 1 – Deadline of Sunday for Dickson to explain his action

Itimi Dickson has been given until the upcoming Sunday to provide team officials with a satisfactory reason for his absence or he could quickly find himself facing the axe with the Lions.

It is certainly no lame threat as Avramovic has previously dropped players for a lack of commitment, most notably talented midfielder Ahmad Latiff who now facing exile from the international squad after missing a string of training sessions before a World Cup qualifier against Oman.

Note 2 – Media report that Dickson is on holiday instead of trial 

Media reports have indicated that Itimi Dickson was not in Italy for a trial with a club but on holiday with his family.

It seem he had brought his family along for the ‘trial’ while not providing any evidences of a club in Italy giving him a trial.

Adding to that speculation was the fact despite assurance from FAS officials that they will not leaked out the information, Dickson still was unwilling to provide the name of the club

If indeed this was the case then Dickson could be facing the axe from the National Team as it is unlike Raddy or FAS would stand such indiscipline

January 10

Note 1 – Dickson failed to report for National Team training 

As the Lions linked up for the first time in 2006 for training for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers, Itimi Dickson spring up a surprise as he informed team officials before training via telephone that he was in Italy seeking a club.

Raddy was not pleased with the midfielder action but was giving the player a chance to explain his action before deciding on any disciplinary action.

The Serbo-Montenegrin said “We will wait and see why he is not here. When the time comes we will make a decision, he is a national player and he will be treated like any other national player.”

Note 2 – Singapore lined up 3 games for West Asia stint

Media reports are indicating during Singapore West Asia training stint, the Republic have lined up 3 international friendlies against Kuwait, Oman & Qatar to spar against.

However it is not known if they will 'A' internationals but it will be good enough as Singapore need West Asian teams to play against with Singapore facing Iraq on February 22 and the Palestine on March 1 in the Asian Cup

January 9

Note 1 – FAS announce strategic staff changes

There are changes to S-league managemnet as FAS Chief Marketing Officer, Winston Lee, take over as Chief Executive Officer of the S.League when the incumbent S.League CEO How Seen Yong steps down from his post on March 6, 2006.

Seen Yong will continue his association with the S.League as a Consultant for the 2006 season

Also announcements are changes in coaching staffs - Former FAS Director (Administration & Finance), P Sivakumar, will head the new Development and Planning Division, while former Singapore national captain Terry Pathmanathan has been appointed Senior Staff Coach

 

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