Thursday, September 10, 2009
Opportunity knocks
Fortune favours the brave. Rather than sitting down and licking its paws in impotent rage as one by one the star names leave Singapore football, surely this is an opportunity for clubs there to re-evaluate themselves and think afresh.
And that means not just whinging because some players are leaving. It means checking your own backyard and finding out what is out there, bringing that talent in and giving it a go.
The second tier of Indonesian football, the Premier League, is relatively unknown outside, and indeed inside, Indonesia. But that doesn't mean there are no gems to be found down there.
The top clubs in Indonesia are as conservative as in most other countries. They prefer to go for the tried and trusted and are reluctant to take a punt on the unknown.
Two young talents did turn heads though last season. Mostafa Aji started the season with a Persikota side that was doing nothing and getting there pretty slowly. However Persitara saw enough to take him on for the second half of the season and he became part of the most entertaining team in the league. Now he is with Sriwijaya.
Syamsul Arief caught people's attention when his side Persibo went on an impressive Copa Indonesia run, defeating the likes of Arema and Pelita Jaya along the way. Syamsul ended up joint top scorer and earned himself a deal with Persela.
Perhaps SLeague clubs should be looking at the IPL. Get to a few games, pick up a few youngsters and let them show what they can do in Singapore. Salaries will be low but the rewards high.
And that means not just whinging because some players are leaving. It means checking your own backyard and finding out what is out there, bringing that talent in and giving it a go.
The second tier of Indonesian football, the Premier League, is relatively unknown outside, and indeed inside, Indonesia. But that doesn't mean there are no gems to be found down there.
The top clubs in Indonesia are as conservative as in most other countries. They prefer to go for the tried and trusted and are reluctant to take a punt on the unknown.
Two young talents did turn heads though last season. Mostafa Aji started the season with a Persikota side that was doing nothing and getting there pretty slowly. However Persitara saw enough to take him on for the second half of the season and he became part of the most entertaining team in the league. Now he is with Sriwijaya.
Syamsul Arief caught people's attention when his side Persibo went on an impressive Copa Indonesia run, defeating the likes of Arema and Pelita Jaya along the way. Syamsul ended up joint top scorer and earned himself a deal with Persela.
Perhaps SLeague clubs should be looking at the IPL. Get to a few games, pick up a few youngsters and let them show what they can do in Singapore. Salaries will be low but the rewards high.
# posted by Me @ 9:32 AM 
