MSL: Look to Australia, Alistair Edwards tells LionsXII players

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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/football-look-to/778324.html

In the past 12 months, a number of national footballers have been linked with moves to overseas clubs.

Defender Baihakki Khaizan and striker Shahril Ishak were courted by Thai side Bangkok Glass before the start of this year's Malaysian Super League (MSL) campaign, while TODAY reported in May that acclaimed international football agent Jorge Mendes is arranging for midfielder Hariss Harun and defender Safuwan Baharudin to play in Portugal after this year's Malaysia Cup.

However, Alistair Edwards, who plundered goals for Singapore in the Malaysia Cup in 1990 and 1993, and is now head coach of Australian League (A-League) club Perth Glory, feels the A-League could be a more suitable platform for local footballers.

Said the 45-year-old, who was in Johor with his team earlier this week for a friendly with MSL side Johor Darul Takzim: "Australia, like Singapore and Malaysia, is a multicultural society and, as such, players would feel very much at home. The standard of the league is high and still improving. While I have not seen any of the LionsXII players in action, I reckon that, if they are good enough to represent the country, there is no reason why they cannot succeed in Australia."

The A-League is a more suitable platform, and its 10 teams are allowed to sign up to five foreigners.

"So, to someone who is 23 or 24 now, I'd say come to Australia, play two seasons and then you will be ready for the next giant leap into Europe," Edwards added.