Speaking separately but on the same Talking Point special, Bernard Tan, president of the Football Association of Singapore ( FAS ), said the past had demonstrated that naturalization alone was not a sustainable strategy, and that the pause in the movement demonstrated a lack of attention on domestic youth development.
The success of Singapore on the ground likely obscured the need to create a youth creation system, he added, which other nations in the area gave particular attention to.
” We are now in a position where we have to really concentrate and develop this up,” said Mr. Tan.
To that end, national project , Unleash the Roar , ( UTR ) was announced in 2021.
The project aims to raise the standards of nearby football across all levels and also aims to establish a planned development system that can inspire young people ‘ aspirations.
Describing UTR as a “passion job” for Singapore, Mr Tong said improvement had not happen , in a” immediately range”.
Which group has never experienced a drop? You look at the top foreign clubs, look at the top clubs”, he said. ” It’s not so much the fall that is the fear per si, it’s how you respond that is critical”.
Efforts under UTR include the creation of school sports academies, international scholarships, and an island-wide Singapore Youth League.
The academy helps to “marshal” skills into one area, according to Mr. Tong, and the league provides children with a platform to play regularly to expand the base.