Several officials from Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs have raised their concerns over a proposal by Unleash The Roar! (UTR) to take over the coaching duties and curriculum of the Centres of Excellence (COE) from the SPL clubs.
So far, and based on TMSG sources, only two clubs – seem to be in agreement with the proposed move mainly because they don’t seem to have any pride in how they manage the youth development.
TMSG will not name these clubs, as advised.
Clubs generally have U21, U17, U15 and U13s within their system, with a few having academies for younger players and there is an SPL U21 league while players from U17, U15 and U13s are participating in the Singapore Youth League.
A document circulated allegedly from the UTR team, which comes under government agency Sport Singapore, appears to confirm this move.
The document (see below) was leaked to TMSG by one of the SPL clubs.
The document in question addresses the queries which have been raised by several clubs in relation to the proposed move by UTR.
Further meetings between the clubs and UTR were scheduled to be held this week.
However, on 21 October past midnight, emails were sent by the Division Director of UTR Tan Tah Jiun (who signs off as TJ on his emails) to the clubs, saying that the meetings will now be “announced in due course” and that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) would need “more time to discuss the SFA-COE initiative internally”.
TMSG will not publish this email, as advised, so that the source of the information will not be compromised but we have provided the evidence above to show that we are in possession of the email which was sent to clubs.
We will come to who is TJ further in this TMSG article.
THIS IS NOT A FOOTBALL-FRIENDLY PROPOSAL
Officials TMSG have spoken to appear baffled by the proposed move by UTR, and in effect Sport Singapore.
“This move by UTR looks like a response to salvage the Schools Football Academies system and so it can justify their existence,” said a club official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
QUESTIONS GALORE
Shouldn’t the UTR team focus on bringing more schools under the SFA programme before they start dipping their hands and interest into the clubs administration of their own COE systems?
What has been the impact of the SFA programme and its success, or failure?
Why are there so few schools under the programme?
Why is Sport Singapore wanting to take over the work of the football clubs in Singapore?
Is this a move to compensate for the fact that the uptake of the SFA programme has not been dynamic enough?
Shouldn’t UTR and in effect Sport Singapore be enabling the eco-system instead of trying to take over the work of the football clubs which is an important element of grassroots development?
What has happened to the partnership with La Liga?
A club official told TMSG that the proposal to “hot-house” all club COE’s under a central system takes away the concept of building a club identity and playing concept.
Officials also lamented the move as a means to “deprive SPL clubs” of their core functions, which also threatens the future of clubs on a longer term basis.
“The Real Madrid way of playing will never be the same as the Chelsea way of playing,” said the senior official.
“The responsibility of youth development must also be the domain expertise of the clubs and not the government agency and youth development should be the domain of the professional football clubs.”
“Just because there are a few bad apples, that does not give the government agency any right to force its hands on SPL clubs, for its own objectives,” he added.
WHAT ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF THE AFC REQUIREMENTS?
Another issue raised was the potential contravention of the Asian Football Confederation licensing requirements.
Because it has been raised, it was addressed in the document which was shared.
Currently, clubs have to maintain at least three age group teams as part of licensing requirements by the Asian body.
According to the circular, the UTR’s response to this query was that the clubs would still maintain ownership of the teams but the coaching and curriculum would be managed by UTR.
A club official likened this to “gaming the system” and “goes against the spirit” of what youth development at club level is actually about.
FORCING THEIR HANDS? GOVERNMENT AGENCY INTERFERENCE?
Clubs have also relayed how there is a concern that UTR, which is a division under Sport Singapore, will use club funding as a lever to force clubs into compliance.
“What will happen if clubs decline to come under this new project? Will the funding for the clubs’ COEs be cut,” asked an official from one of the SPL clubs?
At this point, it does appear that there was a speedy timeline to implement this new proposition by UTR, which gives rise to the prospect of engagement sessions being mere perfunctory.
But the move will need to be endorsed by the Executive Committee of the FAS, with discussions with the SPL chairmen.
This has also raised a stink given that the Exco of the FAS is currently thin, with only four members – the President and only 3 vice presidents.
Ben Teng has taken a leave of absence while Razali Saad, who is a full-time staff of Sport Singapore, has a conflict of interest and should not be able to vote on this matter.
That would mean that only three Exco members would end up making the decision if the FAS chooses not to engage the greater football community, including the Council, the coaches and the parents of the children who are currently involved with club COEs.
TRANSPARENCY AT UTR
With the UTR programme seemingly a national project, there are also concerns being raised over the transparency over the people running the project.
Let’s have a clear understanding of the hierarchy and who’s actually in charge of its operations.
Based on details made available by clubs, TMSG has discovered that the UTR division is being driven by Tan Tiah Jun.
His details based on LinkedIn show he was a former freelance goalkeeper coach with the Lion City Sailors and also a former deputy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A previous news article in the Straits Times also confirms his role at MFA.
A club official who has been receiving emails from Tan argued that UTR should not be operating under a veil.
“This project is meant to be a national project, and there needs to be a face whom the public knows is driving it.
“It was first Edwin Tong, and then Eric Chua and then Marcus Tan. So who is really driving this and who is going to be responsible and be accountable?
“If you are the mastermind behind the operations, then it is only right that the public is aware of the face which is driving the changes in the sport which could impact it down the line,” said the official.
The UTR website is devoid of any information which shows clearly who is involved in the project.
MAIN PHOTO: GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL FC