Football: Singapore fans bay for change after Suzuki Cup stumble
The Lions’ ignominious group-stage exit from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup after their 3-1 defeat to Malaysia on Saturday (Nov 29) has prompted fans and former national footballers to call for swift changes to local football and its management.
The brickbats came fast and furious after the defending champions’ poor showing, with some calling for national head coach Bernd Stange to resign.
Others pointed to issues within the sport that have seen Singapore’s world ranking slide to 158 this month as well as the S.League’s recent brouhaha with the decision to reduce the number of clubs and implement age restrictions for players.
Former national defender R Sasikumar has joined in the chorus for Mr Stange to quit.
Mr Sasikumar – who won the AFF Cup with the team in 1998 – also said the root of the Lions’ problems lies much deeper.
“There are fundamental issues that need to be addressed … It is time for us to take stock of how we play football and how we approach football and we need to fix it. The Germans also did it after they were kicked out of Euro 2000,” said Mr Sasikumar.
“After the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup loss, what was done was aesthetic and we didn’t make changes to the philosophy of football... If you are a private organisation, it’s natural that when you don’t give shareholders (what they want), they will look at the management. Football is no different, and that is accountability.”
Added local football fan Navin Nambiar: “I’m not calling for Bernd Stange to be sacked ... but looking at this, will a local coach do any worse? It would have been nice to see Fandi come up against Malaysian coach Dollah Salleh.”
While players such as Hariss Harun, Shahril Ishak and Shakir Hamzah drew praise for their performances on the field, others came under fire.
Former Lions player Rafi Ali attributed the poor performances to the lack of technical ability, saying: “What is most glaring (about Singapore) is the lack of basic technique, such as passing and movement. We have to look at it and stop giving excuses.”
Football: Stange says no big changes to team
National head coach Bernd Stange was clearly still reeling from the Lions’ 3-1 loss on Saturday (Nov 29) to Causeway rivals Malaysia.
However he insisted drastic changes will not be made to the team set-up.
“There is no reason to change the team, we believe in these players. We will use next year’s SEA Games to bring them to a higher level. We will play attacking football, and we will not change our style.”
Despite media reports that Stange had hinted this could be the last Suzuki Cup for veteran players such as Shahril Ishak, Hassan Sunny and Baihakki Khaizan, he told TODAY: “I hope all these players can continue to play. They can help football. They are not too old, and can be leaders of this team.”
The likes of Courts Young Lions hitman Sahil Suhaimi, Amirul Adli Azmi and LionsXII defender Shakir Hamzah are expected to feature strongly for the Under-23s at next year’s SEA Games.
Stange stressed that the “door is open” for promising players and asked for fans to keep faith with the national side.
Added Stange: “The SEA Games will be at home in Singapore, during its 50th anniversary. People will expect a top-class performance and we have to deliver. The fans were fantastic and we have to pay them back. We have to convince them with a top-class performance.”
The 2015 football calendar will see the national and Under-23 teams competing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, the SEA Games (June 5-16), and international friendlies against South-east Asian nations also on the cards.
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