THERE’S, very, very sadly, a sense of lost nostalgia when you glance at the football draw at the upcoming Asian Games.
Starting this week, in Jakarta and Palembang, seven Asean countries made it among the 24 with Singapore (FIFA rank 169 out of 211 nations) sadly missing in action.
Laos (FIFA ranked 178), Timor Leste (190), Myanmar (138), Malaysia (171), Vietnam (102), Thailand (122) and hosts Indonesia (164) got the thumbs-up to play at continental level, while the Lions continue to suck thumbs, literally ordered to stay home because they appear not to be up to the mark.
I felt the Asian Games was always a timely opportunity for international exposure as all nations field their Under 23 squads, with three over-aged players.
POOR FORM
But the Lions failed to impress the SNOC (Singapore National Olympic Council) selectors simply because they’re not up to scratch – recent form and reputation of the FAS have not been inspiring, too.
Pray tell me: Were there serious fears that Fandi Ahmad’s prodigies would be whipped…or shouldn’t the Lions be given another chance to garner more badly-needed experience?
Yes, I know past reputation is nothing to show as the Lions didn’t make it past the group stages of the previous Asian Games, finishing third in their group behind Palestine and Tajikistan.
Another slap in the face came when they failed to advance from the group stages at last year’s SEA (South-east Asia) Games, losing to Malaysia and Myanmar.
DECENT CRITERIAS
The SNOC’s qualification criterias for the Asian Games are decently high, for individual athletes or teams to match the top-six result from the previous Games or to beat opponents ranked as least sixth in the region.
Damn it, we don’t come to the basic marks and you wonder where, when, why, what or how to point the accusing fingers to this sloppy state of affairs.
Sometimes there’s a twinge of sincere sadness for the future prodigies like Fandi’s two older sons Irfan and Ikhsan as well as Adam Swandi and Hami Shahib, who’re really on their bended knees and crying for exposure.
Yes, let me make it absolutely clear: I’m of the positive school of thought that sparring against top quality Asian rivals is the right key for the Lions to further enhance competitiveness and development.
That’s why seven Asean nations (even Timor Leste at FIFA No 190) are banking on as they will nicely use the Asian Games as crucial stepping stones for the 2019 SEA Games and the 2020 AFC Under 23 series, which are qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
SUCK THUMBS, AGAIN?
Poor Lions, who will continue to play in the SPL (Singapore Professional League, previously known as the S-League) and just suck thumbs for the glaring loss of international exposure, which money cannot buy.
Yes, time for a serious re-think, FAS, to quickly build up failing public confidence in football, otherwise the Lions will continue to be sloppy frogs in the Asean well, without the chance to learn more of the international ropes.
With this latest Asian Games exclusion, somebody at FAS has to wake up and accept honest responsibility why the Lions continue to be in the football doldrums.
Pray, tell me again, does anyone at the FAS headquarters at Jalan Besar Stadium have an answer or a clue how to climb up the “bola” ladder? – BY SURESH NAIR
- Suresh Nair is a Singapore-based journalist who has covered regional football for four decades.
