Latest news with #SingaporeNationalTeam
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
'We plan to hit these targets in the years ahead' — FAS President Forrest Li shares plans for a stronger Singapore National Team
SINGAPORE: In an event that marks the Council's 100 days of taking office since Apr 29, 2025, Football Association of Singapore (FAS) President Mr Forest Li expressed that strengthening and improving the Singapore National Team is the primary focus of his team during their four-year term. The event is titled FAS Media Day 2025: The First 100 Days , and it took place at Shangri-La, Singapore, with a total of 80 guests, including the local and international media. During the event, the President addressed the four key areas on how they will achieve their goal for the team: 1) National Team preparations and operations, 2) competitiveness and attractiveness of the Singapore Premier League (SPL), 3) youth development, and 4) infrastructure. The Council believes that with these key areas, the national team will grow on the international stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAS (@fasingapore) With this, Mr Li expressed: 'We know that football is woven into the fabric of Singapore society, and because of that, we must be open about our aims, how we plan to hit these targets in the years ahead, and how we are working with our stakeholders to get there faster.' He added: 'We spent our first 100 days as the FAS Council tightening the logic of our approach and putting in place structures that will lay the foundations for sustainable success in the future.' On the national team's preparations and operations In line with this key focus, the Council recently started a broad-reaching recruitment process for the new National Team Head Coach–the one who will be charged with leading the squad into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Finals in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the Council will also ensure new SOPs for the adoption of best practices for the team's success, and an incentive structure will also be incorporated to motivate the team to do their best. As for the team travels, there would be a dedicated Head of Delegation appointed to oversee the National Team's administration and operations. About the Singapore Premier League There would be revisions to the SPL rules and regulations before the 2025/26 season mark. Changes will revolve around structural improvements to elevate the competition standards and to enhance player quality. With this, SPL will continue to become a reliable platform for athletes to develop their capabilities and skills until they are ready to join the National Team. An example of the regulation change would be the increase in the foreign talent quota. This change believes that top local athletes will be challenged in a more competitive environment in their respective clubs if there is an increase in foreign players. This results in a high-performing competition standard at the SPL. Furthermore, another change for the structural fine-tuning of the SPL is the introduction of the Singapore Premier League 2 (SPL2). The SPL2 will replace the Centre of Excellence (COE) Under-21 competition, and will offer a more advanced developmental platform for each club's senior team. On SPL's digital presence, their website will also be revamped and will include statistical data powered by Hudl, the world-renowned football analysis company. The prize money for the league has also been doubled–from S$290,000 to S$600,000. On youth development For the benefit of the young people, the Council had strategic hires and coaching staff appointments to improve talent pathways. In partnership with the Unleash The Roar! national football programme, they aim to ensure the consistency and quality throughout the developmental stages of each young athlete. They will venture into UTR!'s projects over the last few years, including providing a broad-based platform in the Singapore Youth League, starting with the National Development Centre and the Overseas Football Scholarships, among others. On infrastructure As part of UTR!, FAS has partnered up with Sport Singapore and is also key on the infrastructure front. This is to ensure that FAS continues to build on its infrastructure network. Part of this improvement is the ongoing exploration into the feasibility of new venues such as the Toa Payoh Integrated Development, which is expected to be completed by 2030. With everything that the President discussed, he declared: 'The achievements of our first 100 days represent just the beginning of the transformational journey of Singapore football. 'We invite all stakeholders – clubs, players, fans, and partners – to actively join us as we work together to reignite passion and put in place structures that will set Singapore football up for sustainable success in the future.'
CNA
26-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Why does it seem challenging for Singapore football to hold on to a head coach?
CNA938 Rewind Play Tsutomu Ogura has resigned as head coach of the Singapore national football team due to personal reasons. This leaves Singapore looking for its fourth national coach in six years. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Yazeen Buhari, FIFA consultant and former General Secretary of the Football Association of Singapore.
Independent Singapore
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Lions head coach Tsutoma Ogura quits his role in the national team, Gavin Lee steps in
SINGAPORE: For the fourth time in just six years, the Singapore national football team is in search of a new head coach. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) confirmed on Tuesday (June 24) that Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down from his role as national team coach, citing personal reasons that require his return to Japan, similar to his predecessor. Ogura's departure comes 16 months after his appointment in February 2024, during which he was tasked with leading not only the senior squad but also the U-23 and U-22 teams, in a bid to ensure better synergy between age groups and the potential for promotion of budding youth. A tenure of mixed results The 61-year-old Japanese coach brought with him experience as a former assistant with the Japan national team and sporting director of J-League 1 Yokohama F. Marinos. Despite his relatively short stint as a head coach, his only previous managerial role being a short stint with J-League 2 team Omiya Ardija, Ogura's arrival sparked cautious optimism following the underwhelming tenure of predecessor Takayuki Nishigaya. See also Can Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day Make You More Successful? Ogura's first game in charge saw a spirited 2-2 draw against China in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, momentum shifted quickly when the Lions were battered 7-0 by South Korea. The team did manage to reach the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Championship, defeating Cambodia and Timor-Leste, but results were often narrower than expected, and fans remained unconvinced. Friendly match losses to lower-ranked nations like Chinese Taipei and Nepal further frustrated supporters hoping for visible progress. While Singapore currently sits joint-top in Group C of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after edging Bangladesh 2-1 in Dhaka, questions remain over the consistency of the team's performances under Ogura. Gavin Lee steps up Taking over on an interim basis is Gavin Lee, one of Singapore's most promising young coaches. The 34-year-old recently left his role at BG Tampines Rovers and had already been serving as an assistant under Ogura. Known for his data-based approach, analytics and tactical awareness, Lee is regarded by many online as a potential long-term solution. Whether Lee remains at the helm beyond the upcoming doubleheader against India in October will likely depend on both his performance and FAS' broader strategic direction. Foreign or local coach Speculation is already swirling over who could replace Ogura permanently. Names like Kadir Yahaya and Noor Ali have emerged as credible local contenders, while the FAS may also consider foreign coaches with regional experience, following in the footsteps of successful appointments like Vietnam's Park Hang-seo and Indonesia's Patrick Kluivert. Whoever takes over will face a pivotal challenge, capitalising on Singapore's current position in the Asian Cup qualifiers and building a team that can finally return to the continental stage after more than four decades. For now, as the Lions prepare for crunch fixtures in October and November, all eyes will be on whether Gavin Lee can steady the ship or if FAS will make yet another turn in its coaching carousel.
Malay Mail
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Tsutomu Ogura steps down as Singapore Lions coach for personal reasons
SINGAPORE, June 25 — Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down as head coach of the Singapore national team for personal reasons, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced yesterday. The Japanese coach took charge in February last year, guiding Singapore to the semi-finals of the Asean Championship. 'Mr Ogura informed the FAS of his decision several weeks ago, citing the need to return to his home country to attend to pressing personal matters,' it said in a statement. 'The FAS respects Mr Ogura's decision and extends its sincere appreciation for his professionalism, commitment, and contribution to Singapore football during his time at the helm.' Following Ogura's departure, former Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee will step in as the country's interim manager. — Reuters
Reuters
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ogura steps down as Singapore coach for personal reasons
June 24 (Reuters) - Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down as head coach of the Singapore national team for personal reasons, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Tuesday. The Japanese coach took charge in February last year, guiding Singapore to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Championship. "Mr. Ogura informed the FAS of his decision several weeks ago, citing the need to return to his home country to attend to pressing personal matters," it said in a statement. "The FAS respects Mr. Ogura's decision and extends its sincere appreciation for his professionalism, commitment, and contribution to Singapore football during his time at the helm." Following Ogura's departure, former Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee will step in as the country's interim manager.
