Let’s lay the facts down about Tsutomu Ogura.
Since a 2-2 draw against China in his first match in charge, the Japanese has been at the helm for 12 matches.
Over the dirty dozen, he has tasted victory only three times – in matches against Myanmar (14 November), Cambodia (11 December) and Timor Leste (14 December).
There was also a draw against Malaysia (20 December).
The rest have ended in defeat, including the now embarrassing 0-1 loss to 175th ranked Nepal at the National Stadium on 21 March.
Even the most hardcore of Lions fans will surely concede that a loss against Nepal will mark as possibly one of the most ignominious results the Lions can ever achieve.
At the National Stadium, no less.
Ogura himself conceded at the post-match media conference that the result is a shocker, but in his own words.
“If we play like this, we cannot win against any team.
“In my one year here, this is the worst game we have played, more so than the 7-0 loss to South Korea.”
But how did we end up being so poor, with the Lions not showing shape and guile, and worse of all, toothless in front of goal.
“Nepal were much better.
“We were nothing, nothing, nothing.
“There was no fight, and we played individually and not as a team, unlike Nepal.
“They wanted to win, they wanted to protect their goal, they treated this friendly game like a competitive match.
If the performance against Nepal is anything to go by, Singapore will need to continue its wait to participate at the Asian Cup.
Hong Kong is next on 25 March, which opens the string of qualifiers.
Ranked higher than the Lions, it is going to be unlikely for Ogura and his assistant Gavin Lee to muster a result, considering the state of affairs as seen in the match against Nepal.
PHOTOS: FAS