Compared to when Japan launched its J. It began its 30-year plan with ten clubs and a 1993 league club league league with the goal of bringing the total number of clubs to 60 in three expert divisions. That objective was realized in 2024. Along the way, Japan made investments in league licensing, training facilities, youth organizations, and long-term development plans.
Singapore lacks a likewise strong template. Short-term changes, such as introducing foreign clubs and changing membership numbers, have not had the desired effects.
A full-fledged professional league with more aggressive matches, more lucrative contracts, and a more clear development path for aspiring players is what we need to aim for.
VIABLE Jobs
The idea that playing soccer in Singapore is certainly a viable career is perhaps the most destructive belief. The stories of players who work two jobs or make small wages reinforce the idea that football is not a major profession.
However, the data provides a more complex picture. Between S$ 4, 000 and S$ 5, 000 per month, the average salary for completely skilled Level people. Regular national team players have previously earned up to S$ 20,000. These numbers are in line with Japan’s J2, higher than J3, and above some next- and third-tier teams in Eastern Europe and Africa.
The difficulty is not just pay but also security. Players and coaches who are unable to secure international treaties frequently lack work security and promising careers for the long run.
Singapore must establish a framework in which football careers are just as planned and safe as those in other industries. Better wages and robust development pathways are also attained as a result.
Players in Japan commonly know by the age of 24 whether they can secure expert contracts. those who frequently transition into college football, which is extremely competitive.
These pathways remain dark in Singapore. This is because of our little group and the lack of funding, which prevent clubs from providing secure opportunities.