I agree with former footballer Abbas Saad that Singapore’s draw against Guam was embarrassing and that “there have got to be changes”. (“Former Singapore Lions slam 2-2 draw with Guam”; April 1, online)
While I am glad that the Football Association of Singapore has strategic plans for local football, the current state of the national team is important too.
If the standards of the top S-League teams are supposed to be on a par with the Malaysia Super League, should not most of our national players be coming from those teams?
If the LionsXII were a top-three team in the Malaysian league and the Courts Young Lions were a mid-table S-League team, then most of the national players should be from these two teams.
The problem is that both teams are not, yet most of the players continued to be fielded, even after poor performances. In any sport, a winning mentality is important and infectious.
More local players from the top S-League clubs should be considered for the national team, especially if the LionsXII and the Courts Young Lions players are not performing. There should be no complacency that their positions are secure.
While I am glad that the Football Association of Singapore has strategic plans for local football, the current state of the national team is important too.
If the standards of the top S-League teams are supposed to be on a par with the Malaysia Super League, should not most of our national players be coming from those teams?
If the LionsXII were a top-three team in the Malaysian league and the Courts Young Lions were a mid-table S-League team, then most of the national players should be from these two teams.
The problem is that both teams are not, yet most of the players continued to be fielded, even after poor performances. In any sport, a winning mentality is important and infectious.
More local players from the top S-League clubs should be considered for the national team, especially if the LionsXII and the Courts Young Lions players are not performing. There should be no complacency that their positions are secure.
