From the reason given, it is pretty obvious how Fandi felt about being used by FAS for their big wayang sideshow.
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/E...rom-parade-of-former-captains-raises-eyebrows
Fandi's absence from parade of former captains raises eyebrows
Jan 12, 2012
SINGAPORE - He is arguably the country's greatest footballer in the history of the Malaysia Cup, and skippered the Lions to victory to a M-League and Cup double in 1994.
But eyebrows were raised when Fandi Ahmad was missing when former captains of the Lions were sent out onto the Jalan Besar Stadium turf to salute the 7,209-crowd as part of the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) pre-match festivities before the LionsXII's opening 2012 Malaysian Super League (MSL) clash against Kelantan on Tuesday night.
While the likes of Samad Allapitchay, Seak Poh Leong, Terry Pathmanathan, Nazri Nasir and Razali Saad soaked in the adulation, there was a big hole in the line-up with Fandi's absence.
When contacted yesterday, the FAS said in a statement: "Fandi Ahmad was invited to be part of the pre-match festivities but he had to decline the offer due to his prior engagement with the H-TWO-O Ultimate Dream Team."
It is understood FAS deputy director (marketing and competitions) Ridzal Saat had spoken to Fandi personally, but the 49-year-old declined as he had to conduct a training session with the H-TWO-O team, who are preparing for a friendly against the Courts Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.
The team formed as part of a collaboration between the FAS, homegrown beverage brand Yeo's and the ITE, and the goal is to groom up to 30 players aged 17 to 21 years in an intensive six-month programme conducted by Fandi.
Some of the former captains felt Fandi's presence would have been the icing on the cake. "Of course, it would have been great if he was there, but he had other commitments already," said ex-Singapore star Malek Awab, 51, who skippered the Lions in the '80s.
Razali Saad, 47, who captained the Lions' "Dream Team" of 1993 that included Fandi, Abbas Saad, Malek and current LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy, said: "Fandi should have been there. After all, he still is the biggest name among all of us former captains, but we understand he had another engagement already." Tan Yo-Hinn
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/E...rom-parade-of-former-captains-raises-eyebrows
Fandi's absence from parade of former captains raises eyebrows
Jan 12, 2012
SINGAPORE - He is arguably the country's greatest footballer in the history of the Malaysia Cup, and skippered the Lions to victory to a M-League and Cup double in 1994.
But eyebrows were raised when Fandi Ahmad was missing when former captains of the Lions were sent out onto the Jalan Besar Stadium turf to salute the 7,209-crowd as part of the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) pre-match festivities before the LionsXII's opening 2012 Malaysian Super League (MSL) clash against Kelantan on Tuesday night.
While the likes of Samad Allapitchay, Seak Poh Leong, Terry Pathmanathan, Nazri Nasir and Razali Saad soaked in the adulation, there was a big hole in the line-up with Fandi's absence.
When contacted yesterday, the FAS said in a statement: "Fandi Ahmad was invited to be part of the pre-match festivities but he had to decline the offer due to his prior engagement with the H-TWO-O Ultimate Dream Team."
It is understood FAS deputy director (marketing and competitions) Ridzal Saat had spoken to Fandi personally, but the 49-year-old declined as he had to conduct a training session with the H-TWO-O team, who are preparing for a friendly against the Courts Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.
The team formed as part of a collaboration between the FAS, homegrown beverage brand Yeo's and the ITE, and the goal is to groom up to 30 players aged 17 to 21 years in an intensive six-month programme conducted by Fandi.
Some of the former captains felt Fandi's presence would have been the icing on the cake. "Of course, it would have been great if he was there, but he had other commitments already," said ex-Singapore star Malek Awab, 51, who skippered the Lions in the '80s.
Razali Saad, 47, who captained the Lions' "Dream Team" of 1993 that included Fandi, Abbas Saad, Malek and current LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy, said: "Fandi should have been there. After all, he still is the biggest name among all of us former captains, but we understand he had another engagement already." Tan Yo-Hinn