 |
| What's next on Coach Stange's (right) plan? (file) |
If I am not wrong, this must be the biggest group of players embarked on an overseas training tour in local football history.
In a media released issued on 1st of July by the Football Association of Singapore, a total of 41 players from mainly the LionsXII and Courts Young Lions (based on one glance at the list since the name of the clubs of the selected players were omitted) are being grouped into the "Singapore National Team" (Lions) and "Under-23 National Team" (Cubs) for this Austrian trip from July 7-23.
According to the statement, the objective of this trip to central Europe is "part of their preparations for the year-end ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup and next year’s South East Asian Games."
On the look of things, it would be seen as "killing two birds with a stone" when several senior players will be readily to give a guiding hand to their junior peers (like how Warriors' Hassan Sunny was called up to help Courts Young Lions in their pre-season Turkish tour), although I would think there might be a confusion here and there given the composition of the two squads.
In a media released issued on 1st of July by the Football Association of Singapore, a total of 41 players from mainly the LionsXII and Courts Young Lions (based on one glance at the list since the name of the clubs of the selected players were omitted) are being grouped into the "Singapore National Team" (Lions) and "Under-23 National Team" (Cubs) for this Austrian trip from July 7-23.
According to the statement, the objective of this trip to central Europe is "part of their preparations for the year-end ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup and next year’s South East Asian Games."
On the look of things, it would be seen as "killing two birds with a stone" when several senior players will be readily to give a guiding hand to their junior peers (like how Warriors' Hassan Sunny was called up to help Courts Young Lions in their pre-season Turkish tour), although I would think there might be a confusion here and there given the composition of the two squads.
 |
| "Cub" eligible Sahil Suhaimi is a "Lion" (file) |
Another look at the squad that you will see out of 21 players on the "Lions" list, you have six players aged 22 and below, whereas the players from the age of 15 to 22 are filling up the slots on the Cubs roster.
It is never unheard of to combine two teams to head off to the training tour, and one can't help but ask if this is a delicate balancing act to juggle the interests of both "Lions" and "Cubs" at the same time?
Another question would be why six SEA Games-eligible players are placed under the "Lions" umbrella, and instead of staying with their peers in the Cubs, when it was stated that the preparation of the SEA Games is one of the objectives, shouldn't players be given a task to focus on?
Not to forget, Coach Stange stated one of his aims is to see Singapore play in the Incheon Asian Games in mid-September, as it is also an under-23 event, and further mystified the placement of those six players (i.e., Anumanthan Kumar, Sahil Suhaimi, Shakir Hamzah, Faris Ramli, Shahfiq Ghani and Al-Qaasimy Rahman) on the "Lions" list.
It is never unheard of to combine two teams to head off to the training tour, and one can't help but ask if this is a delicate balancing act to juggle the interests of both "Lions" and "Cubs" at the same time?
Another question would be why six SEA Games-eligible players are placed under the "Lions" umbrella, and instead of staying with their peers in the Cubs, when it was stated that the preparation of the SEA Games is one of the objectives, shouldn't players be given a task to focus on?
Not to forget, Coach Stange stated one of his aims is to see Singapore play in the Incheon Asian Games in mid-September, as it is also an under-23 event, and further mystified the placement of those six players (i.e., Anumanthan Kumar, Sahil Suhaimi, Shakir Hamzah, Faris Ramli, Shahfiq Ghani and Al-Qaasimy Rahman) on the "Lions" list.
 |
| 17-year-old Irfan Fandi (middle) is named as a "Cub" (file) |
Probably, both coaches Bernd Stange and Aide Iskandar might have some ideas on their minds to try out during the trip, and it has also been made known that the squad for the "Singapore Selection" in the match against Italian giants Juventus will be revealed after this tour.
Just in case you may be wondering who that 15-year-old is in the "Cubs" list - it's Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad, who, alongside his elder brother Irfan, is one of the youngest in the 20-man contingent.
* The match on 20th July will be announced at a later time.
Just in case you may be wondering who that 15-year-old is in the "Cubs" list - it's Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad, who, alongside his elder brother Irfan, is one of the youngest in the 20-man contingent.
Friendly Fixtures of Both Teams During Tour (via FAS)
| Date | Team | Opponent |
| 11 July | Under-23 National Team | FC Pribram (Cze) |
| 12 July | National Team | FC Brno (Cze) |
| 15 July | Under-23 National Team | Borussia Dortmund Under-23 (Ger) |
| 18 July | National Team | Torpedo Moscow (Rus) |
| 20 July | Under-23 National Team | TBC* |
| 21 July | National Team | Dinamo Moscow (Rus) |
Comments
Post a Comment
While I allow comment/feedback to be posted using Anonymous mode but comments containing discrimination of race, derogatory terms and seditious remarks will NOT be tolerated and will be deleted, if necessary, at the blog owner
Please do not abuse it, thanks
And the blog owner WILL not be responsible for comments by visitors except those of his own
All comments are subjected to moderation and publish upon determination, thanks
Thank You for your kind attention
Ko Po Hui