<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>5 reasons Noh Alam Shah is right in criticising S-League
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest the recent comments about the S-League by Noh Alam Shah and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president's reply asking him to back his claims.
A keen sportsman myself, I was tired of watching very rich and spoiled English Premier League players, so I turned to the S-League four years ago hoping to see good competition and sportsmanship. Never mind that the standard would be lower, but at least it was a league that I hoped was going somewhere.
Unfortunately, I grew more disillusioned as time went by. I am no fan of Alam Shah but frankly, he is absolutely right, and good on him for having the courage to speak out. It is a shame that the FAS president and management seem to be too arrogant or blind to the stagnation of the S-League.
Poor attendance is the result of several factors:
1) Non-competitive teams: The disparity between top and bottom teams is too wide. Tangible support needs to go to the lower teams or their disillusioned supporters will never return.
2) Low standard of players: This is to be expected in a young league in a small country. It can improve only if Singapore is willing to spend money and manage the league professionally. Foreign players and coaches should be of a much higher skill level (and paid accordingly) to bring up the local talent. Second-rate foreign players and coaches are a waste of time.
3) Lack of other entertainment: It need not be fancy, but at least have something pre-match and at half-time. I would rather listen to aspiring Singapore Idols and local musicians than twiddle my thumbs at the break and I'm sure these artists would do it free for the exposure.
4) Poor refereeing: Referees do try their best and one good thing about the S-League is that it's relatively corruption-free. Unfortunately, these brave men need to have better training and stints overseas to improve. Stamp out the excessive time wasting and fake injuries that delay play and frustrate the fans.
5) Marketing: Perhaps, the FAS can engage some professional sports marketers to think a little more out of the box to create an appealing package and attract more sponsors.
At the end of the day what is lacking is vision, leadership and money.
I hope the Government and FAS can take on the challenge to turn around a league that is not in the Top 10 of Asia right now, but deserves to be, before it's too late.
Kenneth Ling
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest the recent comments about the S-League by Noh Alam Shah and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president's reply asking him to back his claims.
A keen sportsman myself, I was tired of watching very rich and spoiled English Premier League players, so I turned to the S-League four years ago hoping to see good competition and sportsmanship. Never mind that the standard would be lower, but at least it was a league that I hoped was going somewhere.
Unfortunately, I grew more disillusioned as time went by. I am no fan of Alam Shah but frankly, he is absolutely right, and good on him for having the courage to speak out. It is a shame that the FAS president and management seem to be too arrogant or blind to the stagnation of the S-League.
Poor attendance is the result of several factors:
1) Non-competitive teams: The disparity between top and bottom teams is too wide. Tangible support needs to go to the lower teams or their disillusioned supporters will never return.
2) Low standard of players: This is to be expected in a young league in a small country. It can improve only if Singapore is willing to spend money and manage the league professionally. Foreign players and coaches should be of a much higher skill level (and paid accordingly) to bring up the local talent. Second-rate foreign players and coaches are a waste of time.
3) Lack of other entertainment: It need not be fancy, but at least have something pre-match and at half-time. I would rather listen to aspiring Singapore Idols and local musicians than twiddle my thumbs at the break and I'm sure these artists would do it free for the exposure.
4) Poor refereeing: Referees do try their best and one good thing about the S-League is that it's relatively corruption-free. Unfortunately, these brave men need to have better training and stints overseas to improve. Stamp out the excessive time wasting and fake injuries that delay play and frustrate the fans.
5) Marketing: Perhaps, the FAS can engage some professional sports marketers to think a little more out of the box to create an appealing package and attract more sponsors.
At the end of the day what is lacking is vision, leadership and money.
I hope the Government and FAS can take on the challenge to turn around a league that is not in the Top 10 of Asia right now, but deserves to be, before it's too late.
Kenneth Ling
