A young footballer from the Star Soccer Academy U17 side is alleged to have suffered a heatstroke during the U-17 Singapore Youth League (SYL) Classification Group B match held on 25 February at Clementi Stadium during a match against ActiveSG Football Academy.
TMSG understands that the player almost collapsed during the match and that the medics on standby at the venue then declared to the academy coaches that the player – Irham Zufar – suffered a possible minor heat stroke, and his parents have been made aware of the incident.
TMSG reader James Lim has also pointed out that according to Sport Singapore’s very own heat stress management plan, organisations are advised to refrain from organising strenuous activities between 1030am to 4pm.
So FAS and Unleash the Roar are going against Sport Singapore’s own heat stress management protocols?
The match commissioner Shafiq Thair also allegedly informed officials from Star Soccer Academy that he would address it in his match commissioner’s report.
As a result of the incident, several football academies are now questioning the 2pm start timing for matches being played in the SYL.
“A child could have died because of what happened,” a coach who spoke to TMSG on condition of anonymity said.
“This is a serious issue which needs to be addressed and we are doing it in the interest of safety.”
“If schools under Ministry of Education only allow kids to play from 3pm onwards, then shouldn’t this same rule apply to the SYL,” he asked.
TMSG also reached out to Star Soccer Academy coach Fazli Hisham.
TMSG understands that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has been alerted to the issue.
What is shocking is that in response to queries by a coach on what is being done to mitigate the risk of heat stroke due to the 2pm matches, an FAS executive responded by saying that there will be an additional water break – during the 15th and 30th minute of the half.
And to a question of doing away with the 2pm matches, the FAS executive said that a variety of factors influenced their scheduling decisions which included fixtures congestion and availability of suitable playing facilities and that removing the 2pm fixtures was not possible.
He added that the FAS “will endeavour” to avoid 2pm kickoffs after the Classification Stage, wherever possible.
“Are they waiting for a child to die of heatstroke?” an academy coach asked.
“We are the ones who have to answer to the parents of the children, we are responsible for their safety,” he said.
“Not all these children who are playing are used to such intensity or playing under harsh weather conditions.
“Where is the Risk Assessment Management System for the SYL?
RAMADAN WALKOVERS EXPECTED
Several coaches TMSG spoke to have shared that they will be conceding walkovers for the upcoming month.
Muslims will be fasting during the holy month of Ramadan which means that they will not be able to consume food or water from dawn to dusk.
The holy month of Ramadan begins on 10 March and yet there are matches which start early in the morning at 8.30am and there are also matches at 10.30am, 2pm and 4.30pm.
“They don’t really care and this look like a rushed job without much thought into the planning,” another academy senior coach said.
He added that he will be conceding walkovers for all the matches his teams are involved in during Ramadan, given the risks involved.
The SYL was officially declared opened the weekend of 24 February by Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
MAIN PHOTO: TMSG SOURCE