Friday, May 15, 2009
Singapore League Cup
June 1 sees the start of the Singapore League Cup (SLC) with the 12 members of the SLeague facing off against each other for the chance of some silverware.
Woodlands Wellington won the first edition of this trophy in 2007 while last year Gombak United collected it.
This season sees some changes with the competition beginning with a group format, replacing the knock out manner of earlier years. Four groups of three teams battle it out with the top two going through to the quarter finals.
Yet more games for teams with already very slender squads.
Really, is it necessary? The SLeague has 12 teams, playing each other three times, tat's 33 games spread over the season. Add in the Singapore Cup and the SLC and what you have s a pretty congested fixture schedule. And with salary capping, as well as the natural limitations brought about by small talent pool, it's quite a workload for clubs with limited resources and limited squads.
Then add in the likes of SAF and Home United with their continental excursions.
Then there's the old familiarity breeds contempt malarchy. The Singapore Cup is excellent 'cos it brings together sides not just from Singapore but also from ASEAN like Bangkok Glass and Pelita Jaya. New faces freshen the mix.
With the SLC we have more of the same old, same old.
If we must have this competition then why not invite the top four NFL sides to join in? It would give the Singapore football public a chance to see different faces and it would also allow players from there to put themselves in the shop window.
Oh yeah, the groups
Group A: SAFFC, DPMM FC, Albirex Niigata
Group B: Tampines, Geylang, Young Lions
Group C: Super Reds, Gombak, Balestier
Group D: Home, Sengkang Punggol, Woodlands
Woodlands Wellington won the first edition of this trophy in 2007 while last year Gombak United collected it.
This season sees some changes with the competition beginning with a group format, replacing the knock out manner of earlier years. Four groups of three teams battle it out with the top two going through to the quarter finals.
Yet more games for teams with already very slender squads.
Really, is it necessary? The SLeague has 12 teams, playing each other three times, tat's 33 games spread over the season. Add in the Singapore Cup and the SLC and what you have s a pretty congested fixture schedule. And with salary capping, as well as the natural limitations brought about by small talent pool, it's quite a workload for clubs with limited resources and limited squads.
Then add in the likes of SAF and Home United with their continental excursions.
Then there's the old familiarity breeds contempt malarchy. The Singapore Cup is excellent 'cos it brings together sides not just from Singapore but also from ASEAN like Bangkok Glass and Pelita Jaya. New faces freshen the mix.
With the SLC we have more of the same old, same old.
If we must have this competition then why not invite the top four NFL sides to join in? It would give the Singapore football public a chance to see different faces and it would also allow players from there to put themselves in the shop window.
Oh yeah, the groups
Group A: SAFFC, DPMM FC, Albirex Niigata
Group B: Tampines, Geylang, Young Lions
Group C: Super Reds, Gombak, Balestier
Group D: Home, Sengkang Punggol, Woodlands
# posted by Me @ 7:32 AM 
