The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has released 10 recommendations following the Young Lions’ disastrous showing at the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.
The recommendations were presented to the Singapore media in a briefing session held on 7 July, about six weeks after the Interim President Bernard Tan convened a review committee to look into the debacle.
According to a report on CNA, the committee’s recommendations were formulated based on internal reports submitted by FAS departments after the tournament, “objective” analytics, “subjective” feedback from various personnel involved in the Games, and discussions with individuals including from other countries’ football associations, said FAS in a media statement.
“The objective in developing recommendations was to build a better future and not attribute blame,” the national football body said.
“This approach was crucial throughout the review to ensure that there was proper soul-searching amongst participants, and so that everyone could be honest and constructive in a safe space.”
FAS’ acting president Bernard Tan told CNA, “If we really want to win the SEA Games, it will take a lot more than this.
“It will take an entire generation of kids actually preparing and moving forward.”
“Hopefully, this will lead to players turning up at the SEA Games “in much better condition”, said Tan.
Singapore has not made the semi-finals of the SEA Games for 10 years, since 2013.
The 10 recommendations as follows:
- To move the men’s under-23 and under-22 (U23/22) sides under the national team, and headed by the national head coach.
- To approach the SEA Games as a two-year project to allow the coach and team to develop over a longer period.
- To relook at Singapore Premier League rules, to allow for an increase in playing time for key U23/22 players.
- A list of players in the U23/22 squad to be developed at the start of the two-year SEA Games project, and those on the list to have individual development plans.
- The U23/22 will focus on two “priority” tournaments: SEA Games and the Asian Football Confederation’s U23 tournament, which also serves as an Olympics qualifier.
- A minimum of two weeks’ preparation for these U23/22 priority tournaments, which comprise multiple matches in a single window.
- Mandatory mental preparation and team-building activities.
- Players’ diets will be planned when the FAS has control of meals.
- A comprehensive analyst team at the national level.
- All injured players during tournaments have to be verified and signed off by a medical doctor.
MAIN PHOTO: CNA