Lions' coach Bernd Stange has been keeping |
The usual grouses centred around those players who are constantly ignored by the establishment despite churning consistent performance in the S.League day in and out.
And not without questioning those selections they deemed dubious (based on my interpretation on some postings online).
In certain cases when preparing for any major overseas tournaments, it would see the inclusion of players having the "necessary experience" to cope with the higher intensity and competitiveness that are usually demanded by international level which is something not the local league can provide (as compared to Thailand's TPL).
Coach |
Coach Raddy's concern was evident when all these while Singapore was represented chiefly by powerhouses such as Tampines Rovers, Home United and Warriors FC (since they were known as SAFFC) in continental tournaments (i.e.: Asian Champions League and AFC Cup) and not forgetting those plying their living in MSL with Lions XII.
Singapore |
Of course, it would be too much to ask from the Toa Payoh-based Tigers to advance their way from the group stages where the key to allow their players to experience and expose to different football cultures (although some may argue the presence of foreign sides in S.League should be adequate).
Coach Marko - pragmatic approach in AFC Cup till date |
Apart from the beginner's jittery that saw them lost three-nil away to Kitchee SC in Hong Kong, the next two matches chalked a heartbreaking loss to Malaysia's Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) followed by an upset victory over Kingfisher East Bengal of India a week later.
That recent two home matches were credible enough to suggest these Balestier players, whom many are never within the radar range of the national selectors, have shown decency at that level.
Alongside the former Gombak United 'keeper, names like Jonathan Xu and Poh Yifeng (who was once selected by Coach Raddy back in 2012) had also proved their worth in matches against JDT and East Bengal.
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A compliment to Poh and BK after JDT game |
So why not give these guys a chance to earn a cap that would only benefit the whole like widening the pool of players for selection?
Unless, someone can convince me the current model is still feasible in spite the brickbats thrown at them.
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