Wednesday, October 06, 2010
No Longer Top 10
The Football Association of Singapore’s much trumpeted Strategic Plan has taken another kicking with news that the city state would rather keep foreign teams in its 12 team SLeague than enter the Asian Football Confederation’s Champions League.
The already uncompetitive league, where 25% of the teams, three foreign and Young Lions, would get no tangible reward, Asian club football, were they to win the league prefers to keep inviting the likes of Beijing Guoan and Albirex Niigata reasoning that different styles of football keeps things interesting.
AFC regulations state that national leagues must not have foreign teams taking part if the title winner is to be allowed to enter the ACL the following season. Regulations also state that league games must attract an average of 5,000 and Singapore falls down on that as well.
This season saw SAFFC win its first ever group stage game at the ACL yet the progress they have made over the last season, playing against the cream of Japan and South Korea, has been for naught as the FA slams the door on future participation.
But despite this being the 15th year of the SLeague this decision is evidence that, for all the high faluting hype emanating from FAS corridors, Singapore football is a long way from achieving its dream of being a major playing in Asia, strategic plan or not.
It remains to be seen whether or not the champions will be allowed to enter the AFC Cup.
To be considered for Asia’s top competition the domestic game needs a complete overhaul and at the moment no-one seems willing to go down that path.
The already uncompetitive league, where 25% of the teams, three foreign and Young Lions, would get no tangible reward, Asian club football, were they to win the league prefers to keep inviting the likes of Beijing Guoan and Albirex Niigata reasoning that different styles of football keeps things interesting.
Foreign teams are needed to make up the numbers in Singapore because there aren't enough people willing to invest in clubs and there aren't enough players to fill a competitive set up with promotion and relegation
AFC regulations state that national leagues must not have foreign teams taking part if the title winner is to be allowed to enter the ACL the following season. Regulations also state that league games must attract an average of 5,000 and Singapore falls down on that as well.
This season saw SAFFC win its first ever group stage game at the ACL yet the progress they have made over the last season, playing against the cream of Japan and South Korea, has been for naught as the FA slams the door on future participation.
But despite this being the 15th year of the SLeague this decision is evidence that, for all the high faluting hype emanating from FAS corridors, Singapore football is a long way from achieving its dream of being a major playing in Asia, strategic plan or not.
It remains to be seen whether or not the champions will be allowed to enter the AFC Cup.
To be considered for Asia’s top competition the domestic game needs a complete overhaul and at the moment no-one seems willing to go down that path.
# posted by Me @ 12:35 PM 
