Four days after amateur club side Tengah FC announced on social media that they had received in-principle approval to participate in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have responded to state that it has yet to complete the selection exercise to induct another team into the league.
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As TMSG had already been pointing out repeatedly over the last few days since the club made its proud proclamation, it is so far from what is actually the reality.
In essence, Tengah FC jumped the gun and gave a false impression that it had already received the approval to play, given the way in which it structured its social media post.
“The FAS can confirm that it has yet to complete this exercise and will confirm changes to the clubs participating in the SPL only when this exercise is completed,” a spokesperson of the national football body told CNA.
It added that in the course of discussions with interested clubs, FAS may be required to offer an in-principle acceptance to a club.
This will allow the club to take further steps with sponsors and other agencies to allow it meet “certain stringent prerequisites” before an unconditional approval to join the SPL is given.
“In the course of discussions, the FAS may be required to offer an in-principle acceptance to a club, to allow the club to take further steps with sponsors and other agencies to allow it (to) meet certain stringent prerequisites before an unconditional approval to join the SPL is given.”
For now, Tengah has not met any of the criteria set, which also called for it to have its own stadium.
On 17 February, Tengah FC said in a social media post that “We’re proud to announce that Tengah FC has received the in-principle approval by FAS to compete in the Singapore Premier League 2024/25 season!”
“Get ready to witness our team’s passion, dedication, and skill as we take on some of the best teams in the league!”
However, Tengah President Louis Amalorpavanathan now told The Straits Times (ST) that its social media post was just “to engage our fans and giving them some hope and excitement.”
“We are still in discussions and clarifying matters with FAS with regards to our participation and it would be premature to say much at the moment.”
What a farce.
So why did Tengah FC feel the need to make a public announcement about being the newest addition to the SPL?
He also told ST that he had “written to FAS and we are waiting to hear back from them” about showing the proof of funds.
“We have submitted necessary documentation and asked for an extension for the deadline of Feb 28,” he told ST.
It is not known if they have shown the proof of funds, or how much funds the club has since raised.
This also does not tally with what the club has since done on a public front.
It has put up job postings on JobStreet for a General Manager stating that Tengah Football Club “is the newest addition to the Singapore Premier League 2024/2025 season.”
TENGAH WHO?
Tengah FC was formed in 2017, and played in the Island Wide League (IWL) in 2023.
But since 2017, they have had two other names prior to becoming known as Tengah FC.
They were first seen as Kallang Sportif Huskies FC, and then rebranded to Woodlands United.
It is not known when they took on Tengah FC when they took part in the IWL in 2023, with all the information available on its social media history.
The IWL is the fourth-tier league, after the SPL and Singapore Football League (SFL) Divisions 1 and 2.
MAIN PHOTOS: TENGAH, FAS
