'Long overdue': Having 10th Singapore Premier League club a good move, but stability important, say observers
The new club needs to be in it for the long haul, unlike clubs which have come and gone, Singapore's football fraternity says.
Tampines Rovers fans cheer for their side at Our Tampines Hub. (Photo: Facebook/Tampines Rovers)
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SINGAPORE: Observers have welcomed the possible inclusion of a 10th Singapore Premier League (SPL) club, but emphasised that the new team must be stable and in it for the long haul.
Earlier this week, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said it was searching for a 10th club to take part in the SPL. The aim is to "raise the level" of professional football in Singapore by attracting top football talent and garnering significant fan engagement, it said.
Their proposal must be aligned with the Asian Football Confederation's club licensing regulations and comply with SPL regulations, FAS added.
Speaking to CNA, football consultant Khairul Asyraf said that the move is "long overdue". Should the right infrastructure be in place, having 12 clubs in the league would be the ideal scenario, he added.
"It's a start to getting into the right direction (of having 12 clubs). So it's long overdue," said Mr Khairul. "We cannot (only) have a very small base of good players if we want to (have) a better national team."
Former footballer Rhysh Roshan Rai said that the addition of a new team could bring with it fresh ideas and a new style of play. It could also provide a platform for more local footballers to enter the league, he added.
This is a sentiment shared by Eddy Hirono, who is a member of the Crew, the fan club of SPL side the Lion City Sailors.
In a smaller league, teams could play as many as four games against opponents in a season, and that could get tiring for fans, Mr Hirono explained.
"From a numbers point of view, just having more spots for local players will perhaps have a longer-term effect of getting more people to see that professional football is viable," he added.
The SPL - formerly the S.League - was officially launched in 1996 with eight local teams.
Over the years, foreign teams have participated in the league, with the first team - Sinchi FC from China - joining in 2003.
Other foreign teams that have participated in the league include Sporting Afrique, the Super Reds from South Korea and Chinese teams Liaoning Guangyuan and Beijing Guoan.
A number of local sides have come and gone over the years including Sembawang Rangers, Gombak United and Jurong FC. Other clubs have undergone various mergers resulting in their present-day iterations.
"The important thing here is that it's a solid project overall ... We have throughout the history of Singapore football seen clubs come in and come out and come back in. So hopefully it's a stable project, and if it is then I feel it's a benefit to the league," said Mr Roshan, who is now a commentator and pundit.
"My immediate reaction is one of guarded optimism," added Mr Hirono. "A new club is always good ... I hope that the club is tenable. I don't want them to leave after two, three years."
Local football blogger Ko Po Hui said that he was surprised to hear the news of FAS' request for proposals, but remains a little bit sceptical, having seen clubs come and go.
"It is hard to tell what sort of benefit (whether) tangible or intangible it can bring until we have details from any of those interested parties," added Mr Ko, who has covered the league for more than a decade.
"I still think that for any club (that) wants to join the league, a reasonable time frame, maybe two (to) three years, should be set to allow proper groundwork to (be laid) and ensure sustainability."
LOCAL OR FOREIGN?
FAS said that the club's proposal must show the ownership and management structure of the club, and it must demonstrate that the club has a "sustainable revenue source".
The club will not be entitled to any financial support, said FAS. As such, it needs to provide a comprehensive budget and financial plan for its operations for its first three seasons.
Having such criteria shows that the project will not be a "fly-by-night" one, said Mr Roshan.
"It's good to have these criteria in place, and it also going to be important that ... however the selection is done, (it) is done properly and we get the right project in," he said.
"I've got no problem with the selection criteria, I think there needed to be some of that guidance in place."
While it is good to have such criteria, it will ultimately depend on FAS' interpretation of these rules, added Mr Hirono. "Proposal requirements are one thing, but how strict they interpret them is another," he said.
Those whom CNA spoke to say they have no preference for whether the new team is a local or foreign one.
Given Singapore's small footballing talent pool, Mr Khairul said that it would be difficult for a new local side to be immediately competitive. But savvy recruitment could help, he added.
"If we don't start now, when do we start to have this tenth team? So we must make sure we start now and then we need to bite the bullet also," he said.
This could mean bringing in promising young players, experienced heads and, in particular, good foreign signings.
Should a foreign club enter the league, what could work would be a "hybrid" model where the team is mandated to take in a number of local players, he added.
Mr Khairul said he has heard of interest from a few foreign clubs as well as Island Wide League side Tengah FC.
"If the people at the top have the will to keep the club going, and there is enough money - their revenue stream is being sorted out - then I don't care if they are local or foreign," added Mr Hirono. "Just stay and be stable."
Mr Roshan is hopeful that the team which joins will be competitive.
"That will be great because the more competitive the league is, the better it is for us watching on. It just helps everyone, it makes the product a lot more entertaining," he said.
