<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=10 width=620><TBODY><TR><TD>The Electric New Paper :</TD></TR><TR><TD>EXCLUSIVE</TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12>Is he the new foreign Lion?</TD></TR><TR><TD>THE LIONS look set to receive a defensive boost, and yes, it will be another player to come through the Singapore Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=left><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12w>By David Lee</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12>16 April 2010</TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12>THE LIONS look set to receive a defensive boost, and yes, it will be another player to come through the Singapore Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.
According to reliable sources, 23-year-old Nigerian Gabriel Obadin Aikhena will be the 13th foreign-born player, and the 10th FST to feature for Singapore since the scheme was launched in 2000.
It is understood that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has already submitted Obadin's Permanent Residency application two months ago, and are seriously considering his selection.
Obadin has been plying his trade in Singapore since 2006 and would satisfy the five-year residency criteria required to play for the Lions early next year.
Touting his centre-back as his 'best and most under-rated player', Gombak United chairman John Yap recounted how Obadin first hit Singapore shores.
He said: 'Back in 2006, a good friend with reliable football contacts in Nigeria helped to source for this pool of genuinely talented players.
'There was Gabriel Obatola, Kingsley Njoku, but the best of them all is still Gabriel Obadin.'
Then, the 1.85-metre Obadin stood out despite his young age with mature displays at the heart of defence and after two seasons of consistent performances at Gombak, was recruited by the Young Lions.
Yap said: 'He was also pursued by the top local clubs and I was very reluctant to let my best player go.'
Obadin, who can also fill in at right-back or in central midfield, blossomed into a commanding and strong centre-back during his two-season stint with the Young Lions, and was even their captain and top-scorer last season with six goals out of the team's tally of 33.
His impressive exploits at both ends of the field continued after his return to the Bulls this season, as Gombak have conceded a miserly five goals in eight league games to climb to fourth out of 12 teams.
One highlight of his season so far was marking the league's second topscorer Etoile's Frederic Mendy, who is five centimetres taller than him, out of the game when both teams met last week.
Incredibly, Obadin then popped up at the other end to score the only goal of the game to inflict the French team's first defeat in Singapore.
Possibility
Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic would only say that 'it is a possibility' when asked about whether Obadin will be the Lions' latest foreign import, while adding that S-League Young Player of the Year Obatola - who was denied an extension to his Employment Pass earlier this year and later signed for US team Portland Timbers - 'was not part of our plans'.
However, Yap feels Obadin will be a welcome addition to the national team.
'He is one of the best-behaved footballers I've ever come across in all my years of football. Obadin will surely come in handy next year as Singapore's defenders are ageing.'
National midfielder and Young Lions skipper Hariss Harun also backs his former team-mate.
The 19-year-old said: 'Obadin has been one of the best foreign players in the S-League over the last few years and I think he can perform at the international level.
'With age also on his side, he will be a tremendous asset as he can give the Lions a great combination of hard tackling and fine reading of the game.'
<HR SIZE=1 width="97%">
ABOUT FST
THE SINGAPORE Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Scheme is a programme launched in 2000 by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to boost Singaporean football, with the aim of attracting foreign players in Singapore to change nationality and play for the Lions.
The first FSTs were inducted in January 2002.
List of Foreign Sports Talents:
Egmar Goncalves (2002), Brazil
Mirko Grabovac (2002), Croatia
Daniel Bennett (2002), England
Agu Casmir (2003), Nigeria
Itimi Dickson (2004), Nigeria
Shi Jiayi (2005), China
Precious Emuejeraye (2005), Nigeria
Mustafic Fahrudin (2005), Serbia
Qiu Li (2008), China Three foreign-born, non-FSTs have been called up to the national team, they include:
Bah Mamadou (2005), Mali
John Wilkinson (2007), England
Aleksandar Duric (2007), Bosnia and Herzegovina <HR SIZE=1 width="97%">
WORLD CUP 2010 57 DAYS TO GO
THE LEGENDARY Alfredo di Stefano of Argentina acquired Spanish citizenship and played four World Cup qualifying matches for Spain in 1957, but the team failed to qualify. Di Stefano is considered the greatest player never to have played at the World Cup.
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According to reliable sources, 23-year-old Nigerian Gabriel Obadin Aikhena will be the 13th foreign-born player, and the 10th FST to feature for Singapore since the scheme was launched in 2000.
It is understood that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has already submitted Obadin's Permanent Residency application two months ago, and are seriously considering his selection.
Obadin has been plying his trade in Singapore since 2006 and would satisfy the five-year residency criteria required to play for the Lions early next year.
Touting his centre-back as his 'best and most under-rated player', Gombak United chairman John Yap recounted how Obadin first hit Singapore shores.
He said: 'Back in 2006, a good friend with reliable football contacts in Nigeria helped to source for this pool of genuinely talented players.
'There was Gabriel Obatola, Kingsley Njoku, but the best of them all is still Gabriel Obadin.'
Then, the 1.85-metre Obadin stood out despite his young age with mature displays at the heart of defence and after two seasons of consistent performances at Gombak, was recruited by the Young Lions.
Yap said: 'He was also pursued by the top local clubs and I was very reluctant to let my best player go.'
Obadin, who can also fill in at right-back or in central midfield, blossomed into a commanding and strong centre-back during his two-season stint with the Young Lions, and was even their captain and top-scorer last season with six goals out of the team's tally of 33.
His impressive exploits at both ends of the field continued after his return to the Bulls this season, as Gombak have conceded a miserly five goals in eight league games to climb to fourth out of 12 teams.
One highlight of his season so far was marking the league's second topscorer Etoile's Frederic Mendy, who is five centimetres taller than him, out of the game when both teams met last week.
Incredibly, Obadin then popped up at the other end to score the only goal of the game to inflict the French team's first defeat in Singapore.
Possibility
Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic would only say that 'it is a possibility' when asked about whether Obadin will be the Lions' latest foreign import, while adding that S-League Young Player of the Year Obatola - who was denied an extension to his Employment Pass earlier this year and later signed for US team Portland Timbers - 'was not part of our plans'.
However, Yap feels Obadin will be a welcome addition to the national team.
'He is one of the best-behaved footballers I've ever come across in all my years of football. Obadin will surely come in handy next year as Singapore's defenders are ageing.'
National midfielder and Young Lions skipper Hariss Harun also backs his former team-mate.
The 19-year-old said: 'Obadin has been one of the best foreign players in the S-League over the last few years and I think he can perform at the international level.
'With age also on his side, he will be a tremendous asset as he can give the Lions a great combination of hard tackling and fine reading of the game.'
<HR SIZE=1 width="97%">
ABOUT FST
THE SINGAPORE Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Scheme is a programme launched in 2000 by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to boost Singaporean football, with the aim of attracting foreign players in Singapore to change nationality and play for the Lions.
The first FSTs were inducted in January 2002.
List of Foreign Sports Talents:
Egmar Goncalves (2002), Brazil
Mirko Grabovac (2002), Croatia
Daniel Bennett (2002), England
Agu Casmir (2003), Nigeria
Itimi Dickson (2004), Nigeria
Shi Jiayi (2005), China
Precious Emuejeraye (2005), Nigeria
Mustafic Fahrudin (2005), Serbia
Qiu Li (2008), China Three foreign-born, non-FSTs have been called up to the national team, they include:
Bah Mamadou (2005), Mali
John Wilkinson (2007), England
Aleksandar Duric (2007), Bosnia and Herzegovina <HR SIZE=1 width="97%">
WORLD CUP 2010 57 DAYS TO GO
THE LEGENDARY Alfredo di Stefano of Argentina acquired Spanish citizenship and played four World Cup qualifying matches for Spain in 1957, but the team failed to qualify. Di Stefano is considered the greatest player never to have played at the World Cup.
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