Singapore national head coach Takayuki Nishigaya said in a pre-friendly match interview that he wanted to make the Singapore football community happy again.
Unfortunately, after a 2-2 draw at home against Papua New Guinea, a team ranked lower than Singapore in the FIFA rankings, for me, the calls for him to step down have now become louder.
The latest group to post “Nishigaya Out” was Singapore’s very own SingaBrigade fan group, Singapore’s version of the Ultras.
The group put up a post on social media a day after Nishigaya could only manage a draw against the islanders at the National Stadium, where events outside of the pitch also gained a significant amount of online traction.
No broadcast. No live streaming.
No post-match footage until almost a day later.
No tickets on sale on match-day at the venue.
Only a section of the 55,000-seater of the National Stadium open for fans.
These were just some of the issues posted by fans before, during and after the match.
That the Lions struggled to a 2-2 draw against Papua New Guinea at home, at the National Stadium, just exacerbated the matter.
Never mind that the visitors only arrived less than 24 hours before the match.
Nishigaya said that he understood the fans frustrations, and acknowledged that a section of fans within the venue had called for his sacking.
“I fully understand their feelings,” he told The Straits Times.
“We know that we need to do more.
“We want to make our fans happy again.”
Singapore’s goals were scored by Adam Swandi and Shawal Anuar.
Recognising that he is not cut out for the job and stepping down for someone else to help lift the Lions, could well be the elixir towards helping to make this happen.
And the sooner Singapore recognises that Nishigaya is not cut out to be a national coach yet, the better it will be for the Lions.
The Singapore Lions will face off against Solomon Islands on 18 June at the National Stadium.
MAIN PHOTO: FAS