It was ironic that when Forrest Li and his leadership team were explaining what they were going to focus on over the next few years as part of their football development plan, news broke that the Singapore men’s football team did not make the provisional selection list for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
To some, it was a hammer blow. A slap in the face by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).
To others, it was almost expected, given how the men’s SEA Games team to be made up of players under the age of 22, had not played a match together against any kind of opponent over the last 18 months, at the very least.
In fact, there was a chance to show where they stood just weeks ago with the ASEAN Football Federation’s own U23 tournament, a precursor to the SEA Games proper.
But the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) pulled out of the tournament, with newly appointed coach Firdaus Kassim taking the team to Thailand for a pre-season tournament instead.
Knowing that the SNOC used a selection criteria which among others, illustrates that teams and athletes are medal-ready with at least a chance of a bronze medal, the decision of the FAS was baffling.
And now, they will need to prove why they deserve the nod, with a lot more scrutiny by all quarters.
So some four years after Unleash The Roar was born, and with the former CEO of Sport Singapore Lim Teck Yin’s proclamation that there was an exception of a gold medal at the 2027 or 2029 SEA Games, Singapore may not even have a team at the biennial Games in 2025.
FAS President Li said at the FAS Media Day that they will appeal, as they are expected to.
“There is a selection process and certain criteria, and it’s not just for football, there are a lot of sports and we understand that.
“What we can do now is to try our best to meet the selection criteria, and I think we still have a very decent chance (of the team competing at the SEA Games).”
Li himself is a co-opted member of the SNOC committee and is also a sitting member of the games selection committee.
“We are working very closely with all the stakeholders… (who) understand it is important for our fans to see our football teams at the SEA Games, and this provides a tremendous opportunity for our young footballers.”
This will be the first time since 1969 that Singapore’s may not have a men’s team at the SEA Games.
But knowing the SNOC, it will be rather surprising if men’s football team does not make the final list in the end.
MAIN PHOTO: SNOC/2023