SEA Games football debacle: FAS unveils 10 recommendations to improve

SINGAPORE — Nearly two months after Singapore suffered a 0-7 drubbing by arch-rivals Malaysia to complete a dreadful SEA Games campaign in Cambodia, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has come up with 10 recommendations on Friday (7 July) in a bid to revive the city-state's fortunes in the biennial tournament.

These include moving the men's Under-22/23 teams to be under the responsibility of the senior national head coach; running the SEA Games preparations as a two-year project; and enabling the SEA Games squad to have a minimum of two weeks' preparation prior to heading for the competition.

The recommendations were made following feedback from a SEA Games review committee commissioned by Acting FAS president Bernard Tan on behalf of the association's executive committee, as well as from internal operation reports and discussions with other football associations.

Tan insisted the recommendations are not to attribute blame, but to build for a better prospect at the Games, which he feels is still regarded by Singapore fans as an important competition despite its change from a senior to an age-group tournament back in 2001.

"The review has allowed the organisation to be introspective, it has allowed us to understand the necessary requirements to be competitive at these age-group competitions," he told journalists during a media briefing on Friday.

"These recommendations to improve tournament preparations, together with our long-term 'Unleash the Roar!' project to improve the entire football eco-system, show that the FAS recognises that there are a lot of things that need to be done to raise the level of Singapore football."

Changes to be implemented over the next 3 to 6 months

The SEA Game review committee - comprising former national head coach Jita Singh and FAS council members Razali Sa’ad, Lim Tong Hai and Harman Ali - spent four weeks to gather their findings before presenting them to the FAS.

Their individual reports were discussed and FAS will implement the following changes over the next three to six months to improve performances.

Here are the 10 recommendations:

1. The men's U-22/U-23 side will be moved under the men's national team. They headed by the national head coach, who will henceforth be accountable for both teams' performances. This will ensure that national-team resources are made available in support of the age-group squad, and accelerates the transition of U-23 players to the senior team.

2. The SEA Games should be run as a two-year project. This is to allow the team to develop over a longer period with the coach, allow the players to be more familiar with the high tempo and intensity of international football. The FAS will appoint a SEA Games coach for the project, who will also double up as coach of the Young Lions in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
   The review panel had observed that many among the SEA Games squad had limited SPL minutes, and only seven had prior international experience. The players had said they were not prepared for the high tempo of the SEA Games matches, which were beyond that of SPL league games.

3. A long list of U-22/U-23 players is to be developed at the start of the project. These players will have individual development plans to allow the SEA Games coach improve their abilities over the two years of preparation.
   The review panel observed that players arrived for pre-Games training with different levels of fitness and conditioning. This means more time is needed to ramp up their tournament conditioning.

4. The U-22/U-23 squad will henceforth focus only on two "priority" tournaments. They will be the SEA Games and the AFC U-23 tournament, which is an Olympic qualifier. All other tournaments will be regards as developmental opportunities.

5. SPL rules will be reviewed to allow for an increase in playing minutes for key U-22/U-23 players. This is to ensure they get enough match experience at a high level, especially in the period close to tournaments.

6. A minimum two weeks' preparation for the priority tournaments. A standard operating procedure will be drawn up to aim to deliver at least two warm-up matches prior to the tournaments. The FAS will also adjust the SPL scheduling to ensure the age-group players meet this requirement.

7. Mental preparation and team-building activities will no longer be discretionary. A trained sports psychologist will now be involved in pre-tournament preparations.

8. Players' diets will be planned when FAS has control of meals. Currently, only hydration is monitored.

9. An analyst team should be built at national level. The team provide pre-game opponent analysis, in-game analysis and post-game review. Currently, the U-22/U-23 squad has only one analyst.

10. Injured players during tournaments have to be verified and signed off by a medical doctor. Control of players, including those leaving early, should be cleared by the head coach.

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