The problems a datasheet do not show

I would agree with Straits Times headline that pulling the Young Lions would be a mistake but as noted before the direction of the Cubs are wrong and Football Association of Singapore (FAS)  have to face up to it.

As expected of FAS, whenever they want to prove they're right, they pull out a datasheet to prove their point.

What they failed to note is what use are the minutes if the players are learning nothing.

Afterall, if they have gone to watch the games the Cubs are playing in, they'll have noted the Cubs are putting so many players behind the ball that I wonder how can any attacking midfielders or strikers learn from that.

Is it any wonder then those players have to resort to long ball to attack as they have no other way to attack as their players are always in their own half.

That is why in the 2015 SEA Games, even against a Philippines second team make of college players playing together for the first time, the Cubs had to resort to long balls and was more comfortable playing long stretch of the game as a defensive unit.

We're outplayed throughout the entire competition so what use was those minutes on the field.

That is why I want the Young Lions to be a team for fringes players like in 2003 as those players are older thus likely to be more mature and understand that is their last chance to become a footballer.

FAS Technical director Michel Sablon also talked about other points like mindset and he is right about them but he ignored the mindset of his paymaster, FAS.

A big part of the problem youth development sucks in Singapore is FAS demanded all credits must go to them.

Have he seem their interview in the past, it is always (National Football Academy) NFA this or NFA that and they do not want to involved others in their work as they fear credits will be directed elsewhere.

I have said this before; no nation in the world have only one source for their players yet FAS can demand all their players from NFA to Young Lions must go onto become national players.

That is unrealistic and it is holding us back.

Even the world best youth development developed no more than 5-6 players, if they're lucky for most of the time it is only 1-2 players, every generation.

Keeping Young Lions as it is keep that mindset alive as they've to produce players to national side or face criticisms about their 'failures'.

That is why there are some quarters wondering why certain players were promoted even when they were underserved of their places in the Cubs and national team.

Isn't it better to change that mindset as well?

And the excuse of SEA Games preparation is lame.

Why do every SEA Games squad have to be formed several years beforehand as SEA Games winner Thailand do not need to do that and is fine with that.

The fact is if you've a good youth development with many sources, good players will develop with or without a SEA Games gold medal.

SEA Games XXVII (Under-23)

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Malaysia	4	3	1	0	9	3	+6	10
Singapore	4	2	2	0	5	2	+3	8
Vietnam	4	2	0	2	13	3	+10	6
Laos	4	1	1	2	5	12	−7	4
Brunei	4	0	0	4	2	14	−12	0

• Singapore U23 1-1 Laos U23
• Singapore U23 1-0 Vietnam U23
• Singapore U23 2-0 Brunei U23
• Singapore U23 1-1 Malaysia U23

Semi-final

• Thailand U23 1-0 Singapore U23
• Indonesia U23 (4) 1-1 (3) Malaysia U23

Bronze medal

• Singapore U23 2-1 Malaysia U23

Gold/Sliver Medal

• Thailand U23 1-0 Indonesia U23

Singapore Under23 to play against Indonesia Under-23 and Philippines Under-23

Singapore Under 23 will play against Indonesia Under-23 and Philippines Under-23 on June 8 and 13.

The match against Indonesia will be away while the Philippines match will be in Singapore.

There will be another arranged match on July 15 against Indonesia Under-23 which will be in Singapore.

These games are in response to SNOC demands that Singapore Under-23 must play international games to prove they are ready for the SEA Games.

The squad called up for the games

Goalkeepers
Khairulhin Khalid (LionsXII)
Neezam Aziz (LionsXII)
Syazwan Buhari (LionsXII)

Defenders
Shannon Stephen (Tampines Rovers)
Shakir Hamzah (LionsXII)
Faris Azienuddin (LionsXII)
Madhu Mohana (LionsXII)
Al-Qaasimy Rahman (Courts Young Lions)
Sheikh Abdul Hadi (Courts Young Lions)
Afiq Yunos (Courts Young Lions)

Midfielders
Nazrul Nazari (LionsXII)
Fazli Ayob (LionsXII)
Aqhari Abdullah (LionsXII)
Izzdin Shafiq (LionsXII)
Safirul Sulaiman (LionsXII)
Faris Ramli (LionsXII)
Shamil Sharif (Courts Young Lions)
Stanley Ng (Courts Young Lions)
Raihan Rahman (Courts Young Lions)
Anumanthan Mohan Kumar (Courts Young Lions)

Forwards
Syafiq Zainal (LionsXII)
Randy Pay (LionsXII)
Khairul Nizam (LionsXII)
Sahil Suhaimi (Courts Young Lions)
Fareez Farhan (Courts Young Lions)  

Others act, FAS talk

After Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) threaten to throw the Under-23 team out of the SEA Games to be staged in Myanmar and a debate started on what Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is doing, FAS have finally revealed they do have Under-23 internationals lined up as well as even a training tour.

But of course, if one looked at the details it is not confirmed as yet for FAS noted they have to be 'firmed up first'.

This may be the reason why SNOC want to throw football team out of the SEA Games as FAS is clearly treating the preparation as a joke if they are even treating it seriously.

Let looked at some of the ASEAN FAs who have already got into the act like even messy and disorganised PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia).

• Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced their friendly games back in March and they are confirmed already unlike FAS ones.
• Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) team is in Europe for their training tour and have already played their fifth match unlike FAS who claimed they are only planning to and have not indicate any place.
• For messy and disorganised PSSI, they have approved a budget of US$1.4million so that they can assembled a team unlike FAS who has no team as yet.
• The funny thing (or not) is even Philippine Football Federation (PFF) who has not send a team to SEA Games for two of the last three editions are preparing better than FAS as they are already looking for players.

The only ASEAN FA in the same shoe as FAS is Football Association of Thailand (FAT) because like our own FAS president, Mr Worawi Makudi focus is clearly elsewhere.

If the TODAY article was what FAS had send to SNOC telling them what FAS is doing (Take note: Any sports seeking SEA Games slot must send a report by June to SNOC on their progress) then do not blame SNOC.

This is the 21th century and in this era, teams are preparing better than ever for it is not like the famous 1950 World Cup match between England and USA where it was noted both team were drinking the night before the match.

Nowadays no teams does that and no matter how much the media claimed that the team is worthy of a gold so they must go, one must note SNOC is not just responsible to football and it has other sports to take into account as well.

Especially when one looked at how other sports are preparing and yet FAS can sit on it buttock and claimed it will lead to a gold is a joke.

One can tell you, other nations media are likely as confident that it is their year and if history is any guide it is the teams who have prepared best that do well.

In World Cup 2006, Italy and France were not favourite and were at best judged to reach the knockout stage yet they went all the way to Final for they had prepared well while big favourite and defending champions Brazil, who had all the stars the media go crazy over, went home in the quarter-final.

It is simple to explain as Brazil treated their training sessions as parties for they invited the public and media to watch them and the Brazilians players then play around to catch media attention instead of training.

As for Italy and France, they went into recluse and prepared for the competition seriously.

So once again do not blame SNOC for if FAS was 'indeed serious' then by now, which is already MAY 2013, they will have a detail plan on what they are doing and not a plan which need to be 'firmed up first'.

SNOC to FAS: No SEA Games

SPH TNP has reported Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) will reject FAS application for the Under-23 team to go to the SEA Games.

Reason is LionsXII is not Under-23 as half the starting team is overage and one cannot form any consensus from that.

SNOC chief Chris Chan noted one cannot say if one take half a team here and half a team there and combined them together, the results will come as this is not realistic for no such team exist and the team has never played together to prove it.

They want results to be based on international games the Under-23 play and at this point FAS has not played a single Under-23 game.

So there is no Under-23 team.

SNOC also reminded the public it was not a new rule and previous Under-23 teams had followed it with no sports exempted.

SEA Games XXVI results (Group Stage)

Singapore U23 0-0 Malaysia U23
Singapore U23 2-1 Cambodia U23
Singapore U23 0-2 Indonesia U23
Singapore U23 2-0 Thailand U23

SEA Games XXVI Draw

Group A
Singapore U23
Indonesia U23 (Host)
Malaysia U23 (Champions)
Thailand U23
Cambodia U23

Group B
Vietnam U23
Myanmar U23
Timor Leste U23
Brunei U23
Philippines U23
Laos U23

Time to replicate 2009 SEA Games

With Singapore youngest ever football side achieving an impressive feat of bronze in the SEA Games, it is now time to look beyond that and I am not talking about the next SEA Games but beyond that as well (Unless one believed the Mayan calendar and the world is ending in 2012 so no need to think)

The truth is in Asia, there are hardly any competitive tournament like the European U21 championship qualifiers etc to develop the lads in the crucial years in the U18-U23 age bracket.

That was why national coach Raddy wanted the SEA Games to become an U21 competition two years ago so the younger players have something to look forward to but it is a near-impossible task considering how FIFA, despite it powers, is also having problems changing the Olympic from U23 to U21.

The glory that awaits a number of FAs, who have a tough time in the senior level, is just too tempting and who can blame them.

Left with no choice then and the SEA Games as the only meaningful age-group competition for the U18-U23 age bracket for us - we cannot wait forever for Asian U21 championship qualifiers to develop - we need to replicate 2009 for future SEA Games as well.

By that, I mean a majority of this team can go on until 2014 SEA Games but it does not mean it has to be the case and instead, I believed the lifespan of most of this SEA Games team be ended by the 2011.

Why?

It is for Singapore own good as a new generation will need competitive competition by then and we can only fit in 22 players and out of that, less than 18 players will get any meaningful time on the pitch.

So the only way to expose more players to competitive matches at the U23 level will be to replicate 2009 and send younger team than any of our rivals thus restricting our players to a maximum of two SEA Games no matter how talented they are.

Afterall, we are not playing at the U23 level but at times even at the international level for we saw at this and past SEA Games, a number of teams are a near-replicate of their national team like the bronze medal match where the host team, Laos U23, has 13 of their players from the National Team.

It will then be a good expose for our U23 players; who need the experience of playing international games and we cannot get enough of them at the U23 level for the Olympic Games qualifiers is the only alternative but it happen only every 4 years and it is too long a wait.

It may not get us the gold on the platform at the SEA Games but if we do not do it for for an ASEAN age-group competition then where else.

For it could be worth gold for Singapore Lions future and we have to make a tough and right decision for the development of our players.

SEA Games XXV: Singapore U23 3-1 Laos U23

The Singapore U23 has won bronze in the 25th SEA Games after they defeated host Laos 3-1 in the bronze medal match.

This meant the current Singapore U23 side has matched the previous batch results and this is a credit to the current U23 side as they are younger and most are in their debut year in professional football.

SEA Games XXV

S'pore U23 3-1 Laos U23

Scorer: Khariul Nizam, Fazli Ayob, Fadhil Noh

Shaiful Eash out of SEA Games Bronze medal game

Singapore international and SAFFC defender Shaiful Eash is out of the SEA Games Bronze medal game as a result of the injury he suffered in the semi-final game against Vietnam U23

But, more worrying for Singapore is that the Asian Cup qualifier against Iran is early next month and from the S-league twitter, it appeared Shaiful Eash injury is quite serious and he may be a doubt for that game in Singapore at the National Stadium.

It will then be a terrible loss as the 23-year-old is the Lions set-piece specialist and his importance was highlighted in the last Asian Cup qualifier when it was his corner that found the head of Duric to secure the Lions first victory against Thailand in Bangkok in 34 years.

SEA Games XXV: Singapore U23 1-4 Vietnam U23

Singapore U23 crashed out of the SEA Games XXV semi-final with a 1-4 defeat against Vietnam U23 side.

They will now played in the bronze medal game against Laos U23 side who lost to Malaysia U23 in the semi-final.

SEA Games XXV

S'pore U23 1-4 Vietnam U23

Scorer: Khariul Nizam

SEA Games semi-final fixture

SEA Games fixtures are out as Vietnam U23 finished top of Group A and Malaysia U23 is second as they shocked Champions Thailand U23 2-1 to knock them out.

Semi-final on December 14

• Vietnam U23 vs Singapore U23
• Laos U23 vs Malaysia U23
  

SEA Games XXV: Singapore U23 0-0 Laos U23

Singapore U23 drew 0-0 with the host and progress to the semi-final along with the host U23 side.

The semi-final will be held next Monday, December 14, and no doubt it should be important enough for MediaCorp to broadcast it LIVE.

Singapore will play in the first semi-final at 4pm Singapore time.

SEA Games XXV

S'pore U23 0-0 Laos U23

MediaCorp stab Singapore football in the back

Singapore football have been stabbed in the back again by MediaCorp as they broke their promise to bring you, Singaporean, LIVE action from Laos.

The match will now be shown as DELAYED TELECAST at 11 pm

So much for the called of support from MediaCorp TODAY editor and writer Leonard Thomas about the SEA Games football Gold being the most precious one.

Maybe he should be telling his own organisation about that as this is the second stabbing in consecutive month and MediaCorp is showing us, it is indeed Singapore national broadcaster by not broadcasting it as only a Singaporean company will do that.

SEA Games XXV: Singapore U23 2-1 Myanmar U23

Singapore U23 have taken a big step towards making the semi-final after defeating Myanmar U23 2-1 with goals from Safuwan Baharudin and Hariss Harun.

However, once again, it was SAFFC defender and set-piece specialist Shaiful Esah who was the hero as he created both goals with 2 corners swing in that met the head of the scorers.

The 23-year-old is showing himself to be an asset to all the teams he served - Singapore National Team, Singapore U23 and SAFFC - with his freekicks and corners and only has to learn to defend his wing better to be the complete player for Singapore.

Laos U23 beat Indonesia U23 2-0 to be joint-top with Singapore U23 with four points.

SEA Games XXV

S'pore U23 2-1 Myanmar U23

Scorer: Safuwan Baharudin, Hariss Harun

SEA Games XXV: Singapore U23 2-2 Indonesia U23

Singapore U23 draw with Indonesia U23 in their opening SEA Games match. The Cubs have taken a two-goal lead with goals from Muhammad Safuwan Baharuddin in the sixth minute and Shaiful Esah in the 24th before Indonesia replied through Stevie Bonsapia in the 42nd minute and Rendy in the 65th minute.

Laos U23 and Myanmar, the other two teams in the group, have also drawn their match 1-1 so all four teams are on 1 point.

SEA Games XXV

S'pore U23 2-2 Indonesia U23

Scorer: Muhammad Safuwan, Shaiful Esah

MediaCorp will boardcast LIVE Singapore U23 journey at SEA Games

Unlike the senior National team battles at the Asian Cup qualifiers, the Singapore U23 journey at the SEA Games will be broadcast LIVE

This may have to do with the fact the charges of SEA Games is free as well as the timing which do not clashed with prime time.

MediaCorp will be showing LIVE

S'pore U23 vs Indonesia U23 at 4pm on 5/12
S'pore U23 vs Myanmar U23 at 4pm on 7/12
(Host) Laos U23 vs S'pore U23 at 6.45pm on 10/12

Final Singapore U23 squad for SEA GAMES

Goalkeepers
Hyrulnizam Juma'at (14 Nov 1986) - Young Lions
Jasper Chan (07 Nov 1988) - Young Lions

Defenders
Shaiful Esah (12 May 1986) - SAFFC
Afiq Yunos (10 Dec 1990) - Young Lions
Eddie Chang (10 May 1990) - Young Lions
Faritz Abdul Hameed (16 Jan 1990) - Young Lions
Irwan Shah (02 Nov 1988) - Young Lions
Madhu Mohana (06 Mar 1991) - Young Lions
Safuwan Baharudin (22 Sep 1991) - Young Lions

Midfielders
Firdaus Idros (12 Aug 1986) - Home United
Isa Halim (15 May 1986) - Home United
Shahdan Sulaiman (09 May 1988) - Home United
Yasir Hanapi (21 Jun 1989) - Geylang United
Gabriel Quak (22 Dec 1990) - Young Lions
Hariss Harun (19 Nov 1990) - Young Lions
Raihan Abdul Rahman (07 Feb 1991) - NFA Under-18

Forwards
Fadhil Noh (04 Mar 1989) - Young Lions
Fazli Ayob (24 Jan 1990) - Young Lions
Khairul Nizam (25 Jun 1991) - NFA Under-18
Shahfiq Ghani (17 Mar 1992) - NFA Under-17

Singapore SEA Games squad

GK
Hyrulnizam Juma'at
Jasper Chan
Izwan Mahbud

DF
Faritz Abdul Hameed
Raihan Abdul Rahman
Saiful Esah (SAFFC)
Irwan Shah
Eddie Chang
Afiq Yunos
Madhu Mohana
Safuwan Baharudin

MF
Fazli Ayob
Firdoas Idros (Home United)
Nazrul Ahmad Nazari
Gabriel Quak Jun Yi
Hariss Harun
Isa Halim (Home United)
Shahfiq Ghani
Shahdan Sulaiman (Home United)
Hafiz Abu Sujad
Izzdin Shafiq

FW
Fairoz Hasan
Khairul Nizam
Fadhil Noh
Khalili D'Cruz

Singapore SEA Games Fixtures

5 December

Singapore vs Indonesia
3.00pm*
National Sports Complex

7 December

Myanmar vs Singapore
3.00pm*
Chao Anu-vong stadium

10 December

Laos vs Singapore
5.45pm*
Chao Anu-vong stadium

14 December

Semi Final 1
3.00pm*
Chao Anu-vong stadium

Semi Final 2
6.00pm*
Chao Anu-vong stadium

17 December

Bronze Medal Match
3.00pm*
Chao Anu-vong stadium

Gold Medal Match
5.00pm*
National Sports Complex

*Singapore is one hour ahead of Laos

XXV SEA Games Draw

Group A:
Thailand U23,
Vietnam U23
Malaysia U23
Cambodia U23
Timor Leste U23

Group B
Myanmar U23
Indonesia U23
Singapore U23
Laos U23 (Host)

Point of View – Importance of league

After the failure of the Singapore U23 team to advance from the ‘Group of Death’ at the SEA Games at Manila, the media (or one should say SPH) laid the blame either on the Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS) or the S-league.

On the contrary, the importance of the S-league to the Republic had never been more emphasized.

No, the author is not defending the S-league just because he had always written that the S-league has not been given it due respect for since its debut in 1996, Singapore had won 2 regional international competitions - Tiger Cup 98 and Tiger Cup 04 - which 73 years of Malaysia domestic football had failed to achieve.

Rather, the author will bear out the facts to showcase his defence.

There are several factors to point out and the history of the Republic youth development should be the starting point with the question of what one can remember or know about Singapore 'great history on youth development’ and the answer to that would well turn out a blank.

It is not surprising as the Lions City Cup, Singapore greatest youth competition according to FAS, was not held for 16 years with the result that an entire generation of footballers were never nurtured to their full potential and not a single voice was raised by FAS, the public or the media on how such a situation could have arise.

This showed the low priority placed on youth development and even now, one questioned if all 3 parties (FAS, public and media) are really interested in ensuring the continue of youth developments that finally took off in 1999.

Even with youth development starting to take shape, one must acknowledged the evolution of Singapore society over the time lost meant that for every single dollar spend, the impact would not be as dearly felt as it would have been 1 or 2 decades ago.

The game of football is still popular but it may no longer be on the field that the younger generation would find this joy thanks to the advanced in FIFA games on Xbox and PS as well as being the coach on the crouch.

This is an important factor especially in the case of Singapore as the Republic is an island of no more than 700 sqm and the whole of the general public is living in an urbanized surrounding.

Unless an impossible scenario see the Republic turn the clock back an entire generation, which nobody want, youth development in the Republic will have a tough time establishing itself as a part of society.

At the same time though, countries like Laos and Myanmar who have a head start at youth level - as their society have not developed to the Republic current stage – have never been able to ensure the same success at the senior level.

They lacked the structure of a league like the S-league which aided the Republic at the next level.

Their leagues - Laos and Myanmar - are devoid of foreign players and their established local players are not regularly exposed to international football which is a double blow to the development of their youth players.

That is not the case for the S-league and at this stage; it is where the Republic young players play catch up on the rest of the ASEAN region as apart from just serving up domestic fare the S-league is able to serve up international menu as well with clubs participating in the AFC Cup and ASEAN club championship.

One other reason would be the age cheating that plagued Asia but this accusation would not be swallow down without a bitter argument even if it had been more or less proved in Thailand Asian Games team of 1998 and 2002 so it would end here.

This numbers of reasons are why successes have been found at the senior level with 2 Tiger Cup victories, although it does not mean we give up on youths as youth development should not be about results but progress, for the S-league have been the ground which the Republic play catch up.