‘Drinking and smoking culture in Singapore football’
There is a drinking and smoking culture in Singapore football, revealed LionsXII assistant coach Kadir Yahaya in his column for The New Paper (TNP).
The latest revelation by the former Singapore international came in light of the ban meted out by the Football Association of Singapore on LionsXII midfielder Firdaus Kasman on Monday.
The 24-year-old was suspended indefinitely from all football activities for consuming alcohol during a night out at Clarke Quay, where he was also linked to a theft case.
Yahaya believes Firdaus is not the only Singapore footballer who has breached the FAS Code of Conduct & Professional Ethics.
Said the 43-year-old: "I dare say it is not only Firdaus (Kasman). There are other players who have lifestyles that are not becoming of footballers — partying, drinking, smoking etc."
"I believe there is a drinking culture in the local football fraternity.
"I feel the smoking culture has already gone out of hand, and soon, the drinking culture will become the norm if it is not nipped in the bud. Then what next? Gambling sessions?"
Despite pin-pointing the problem which he feels is threatening the future of Singapore football, Yahaya insists babysitting the players is not the solution.
He added: "It is a complex situation when players lead detrimental lifestyles because we cannot micro-manage. We cannot go into their rooms to see what they are doing because that us an intrusion of privacy.
"It all boils down to the players' professionalism, and we have not reached that professional level yet," he wrote in TNP.
While the FAS Code of Conduct & Professional Ethics specifically prohibits the consumption of alcohol at any time, most clubs in Europe do not implement such rules on their players.
But Yahaya dismissed the comparison, saying: "People can say what they want about European superstars also living messed up lives, and still managing to perform, but it has no place in Singapore football.
"And we must take steps to eradicate these bad habits."
Coach V. Sundramoorthy's right-hand man also believes coaches play a crucial role in instilling professionalism in the players.
"Coaches, who play a big part in a footballer's early development, must not hide their players' misconduct," he said.
"Reporting a wrongdoing is to save the players, even if it involves their best player or cost the team a title."
"Yes, you can hide the truth for now, but the worms will come out later. By then, it is too late," he added.
Local fans Yahoo! Singapore spoke to agreed that players should be responsible for their own career and the prohibition of alcohol is not the solution.
Joyce Lee, an English teacher who is a follower of local football, said: "I find that the rule banning drinking at all time is slightly overkill.
"Players are not monks and should be allowed to enjoy what they like in their personal time.
"Of course they have the duty to make sure they perform in the games and that is their own responsibility as a professional."
Clement Chen, a marketing communication executive, agreed saying: "Footballers are adults after all, and should be responsible for their own health. If they want to shorten their playing career (if it does), it's on them.
"What's the inherent issue if they smoke or drink? That they might under perform? So if they perform on the pitch, doesn't it negate the problem of drinking and smoking already?" he added.
Yahoo! user Acasia summed it up best when he commented, "How could a professional sportsman smoke and drink and expect to perform at the level best?"
