DAUNTING IN-TRAY
Working closely with Lions head coach Tsutomu Ogura will be at the bottom of Chew’s plan to improve the team’s riches.
Singapore has struggled in recent years to move beyond the Southeast Asia Games team step after failing to do so since 2013.
In their last group game, brutal rivals Malaysia defeated them 7-0 in their final encounter at the previous edition in 2023, which saw them fail to win a single match. Singapore suffered its heaviest loss at the Games since the opposition changed its focus to age groups in 2001.
Singapore even failed to qualify for any of its four 2026 World Cup matches, drawing 2-2 against China, losing twice to South Korea, and finishing third overall in their group, with only one victory to go.
However, FAS noted a number of goals that may have a positive impact on the Lions during Chew’s time with the Seafarers from 2020 to 2022.
The SPL outfit won their first league title , in 2021 and opened Singapore’s first integrated training football facility at Mattar Road a year later, with the state-of-the-art centre costing , S$ 10 million ( US$ 7.7 million ).
Chew said his time at the Seamen had given him a “deeper knowledge” of the local sports brotherhood, and that it was evident to him that sports holds a” unique place in the hearts of Singaporeans”.
Chew thanked Tan and the FAS ‘ executive council for giving him the ropes, adding,” I’m convinced that I will be able to relate to guiding the organization in the way that Bernard, the FAS committee, and Singaporeans want football to go in.”
” I will be building on a basis that Yazeen helped place, and I hope to carry on the good work in a way that will enable Singapore sport to develop even more in the years to come,” said Yazeen.