Singapore National Football Team: Triumphs and Generational Debates

Aide Iskandar lifted the AFF championship trophy (as credited)

I initially planned to post this blog entry immediately after the Lions' successful run in the ASEAN Football Championship. However, I decided to wait and gauge the reactions before proceeding.

MEDIA CELEBRATES, BUT CRITICS REMAIN

While the media and fans are celebrating the national team’s triumph in retaining their regional supremacy, there remains a group of sceptics who dismiss this as a significant achievement.

“They just got lucky. Look at the midfield - they couldn’t handle the Thais,” remarked one critic I overheard.

Another chimed in, “Is this the standard of football we’re paying $4,000 for?”

And, of course, the perennial comment surfaced: “They’re not as good as the players from the past national teams.”

If the first two criticisms hold some weight for certain people, fair enough. However, I do have thoughts on the last statement.

Just a few days before the second leg of the semi-final between Malaysia and Singapore, one of my colleagues made a similar comparison.

“Just look at the players from the ’70s - Dollah Kassim, S. Rajagopal, Quah Kim Song, and the defence led by Allapitchay, which was rock solid,” he said.

To that, I responded, “If Uncle Choo Seng Quee, arguably our best coach, was around then, why didn’t we qualify for the Asia Cup?”

Silence followed. My question was met with no reply, as this group of colleagues continued to criticise the Lions who had made us proud.

THE DANGERS OF ERA COMPARISONS

Comparisons can be harmful, often undermining players’ achievements.

In the ’90s, people used to claim that Fandi Ahmad and his peers couldn’t compare to the likes of Quah Kim Song, Dollah Kassim, and others from the ’70s. And yet, even now, following the Lions’ recent success, similar remarks have resurfaced.

“They played terribly,” said one individual.

“If they keep this up, they’ll be in big trouble. To think these players earn thousands of dollars a month! Compare that to Fandi’s time—they were all part-timers,” he added.

(In truth, Fandi’s generation marked the beginning of professional footballers in Singapore.)

CAN WE JUDGE TEAMS BY FAIR CRITERIA?

This takes me back to the early ’90s when Fandi and his team were relentlessly criticised for failing to reach the status of the ’70s squad.

The term “one-half team” was often used to describe that star-studded lineup because fans believed they only played well in the first half and faded after the break.

Still, after clinching the league and cup double in 1994, that team’s legacy was cemented, even as the squad was disbanded following Singapore’s withdrawal from the Malaysian League. Their contributions are now celebrated in local football folklore.

Noh Alam Shah - top scorer & best player (as credited)

Each team and player has their own merits and shortcomings, but comparing teams across different eras is, in my view, unreasonable.

Firstly, teams from different generations never had the opportunity to compete against each other. So, what criteria are these “experts” using to make such judgments?

Without meaning to offend, I must ask: aside from winning domestic tournaments, what major achievements did the class of the ’70s accomplish? If Uncle Choo was around, shouldn’t they have qualified for the Asia Cup or another significant competition?

RESULTS SPEAK LOUDER THAN COMPARISONS

Results are what ultimately matter.

The post-Malaysia Cup national teams have demonstrated their worth by clinching regional titles not once, but three times—something their predecessors never achieved.

Critics may claim these victories were down to luck, but the fact remains—they won.

Football is a ruthless game. Winning comes down to scoring more goals than your opponents, not just playing better. If playing style determined winners, the “Magic Magyars” would have lifted the World Cup in 1954, and the Dutch “Total Football” team would have triumphed in 1974.

VICTORIES WON AGAINST ALL ODDS

It’s also worth noting the challenges faced during our Tiger Cup (now the ASEAN Football Championship) victories.

In 1998, we won in Hanoi against the Vietnamese, spurred on by their passionate home crowd.

In 2004, we secured a vital two-goal advantage in the intimidating atmosphere of Senayan Stadium in Jakarta.

And most recently, we defeated Thailand amidst a sea of yellow-shirted fans to lift the trophy once more.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the belief instilled by Coach Raddy, who deserves immense credit for his leadership and tactical acumen.

COACH RADDY: THE MAN BEHIND THE SUCCESS

Unlike his predecessors who made promises to “drop underperforming players” but rarely followed through, Coach Raddy delivered on his commitments. Aware that his team’s skills were sometimes outmatched, his motivational abilities and tactical planning consistently produced remarkable results.

So, let’s not discredit these players. They are one of us and have made us proud.

(P.S 1: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited, should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible and I will remove them upon request.)

PS: This article was first published on 2nd June 2007 and is being refurbished with additional details in line with the content repurposing of this blog on 29th November 2024.