The boys were selected by Fandi Ahmad, the former Singapore star striker and now the technical director at the SSA, after trials were conducted in Singapore from February to June.
The thought of training under top coaches, with the possibility of linking up with professional European clubs, was a dream come true for the youngsters. However last week, it emerged that the Sembawang Soccer Academy (SSA) had failed to pay half of the total sum of 375,000 euros (S$658,000) due to GISS for the boys' training stint in Italy.
"I am at a loss for words," said Samuel Benjamin, an ITE student whose mother began to worry when she read about the controversy. "I did not know the problem was that big and we all were confident things would be resolved. Now I am really sad and disappointed because we have learnt and improved a lot under GISS."
Twins Nazirul Islam and Nurul Islam had hoped their Italian venture would open up more opportunities.
"Now I am worried this is not going to happen at all. I am really frustrated that the SSA have not live up to their promise. They also told us we would receive 800 euros a month and I wanted to get some souvenirs for my grandmother, but we don't have money to buy her anything now," said Nazirul, a Temasek Polytechnic student.
The SSA had promised the boys 800 euros a month as an allowance, but they have yet to receive their pocket money.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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