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'NEW FANDI' IN SCHOOLS FOOTBALL ROW
Did ITE register him in time?
January 23, 2009
ST FILE PICTURE
HE has been touted as the 'new Fandi Ahmad', so it's no wonder that Khairul Nizam, 17, is hot property in Singapore football.
So hot that his new school, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), didn't waste any time in fielding him in the SR Nathan Soccer Challenge Cup, a prestigious tournament for tertiary institutions.
He duly obliged by scoring a goal, helping ITE win a crunch match on Monday night to qualify for the semi-finals.
But Nizam, 17, the youngest player to be called up to the national Under-23 squad, has now found himself in the middle of a major controversy.
His joy in scoring in his debut match for the ITE and helping his team progress in the tournament may be short-lived.
The New Paper understands that he was ineligible to play because ITE had not registered him in time.
The tournament organiser, Republic Polytechnic (RP), was not aware he was playing in the tournament.
When asked, RP confirmed that the cut-off date for registration of players was 2Jan.
However, Nizam became an ITE student officially on 5 Jan, after he collected his N-level results last month.
ITE confirmed this to The New Paper.
Nevertheless, ITE fielded him in its last match of the tournament's group stage against Singapore Management University (SMU).
RP said that it is now working with the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) council to investigate the matter.
This was a match which ITE had to win to progress to the knock-out stage.
ITE did so by thrashing SMU 5-0.
When contacted, a spokesman for SMU declined to comment on whether Nizam's presence on the pitch had provided an unfair advantage for ITE.
It is understood that the IVP Council had yesterday issued a gag order on all teams on this issue.
Before the SMU match, ITE's record was a win, draw and loss, leaving it needing a win in the last match to advance.
At least one tertiary institution is unhappy that Nizam was fielded in that crunch match.
Its football coach, who requested not to be named, felt strongly that the victory was achieved unfairly.
'He made difference'
Said the coach: 'This year, the ITE team is very ordinary. They knew that a win was necessary to progress to the next round. And Khairul, who is very good, is making the difference for them.'
He added that Nizam's presence would also not be fair to the teams playing in the semi-finals.
Nizam was described by one Football Association of Singapore (FAS) official as 'the closest thing to Fandi that has emerged after all these years'.
Another official commented that this sort of talent is 'hard to come by these days.'
As far as the rules for registration were concerned, the coach said he was not aware of any agreement between the tertiary institutions to extend the deadline.
When The New Paper contacted ITE, the director of academic services (ITE College East), Mr Chong Leong Fatt, said it had followed the correct procedures.
He said that Nizam had been registered in time for Monday's game.
'Khairul Nizam is a new student at ITE. He was a January intake student and he is definitely registered to play in this tournament.
'To my knowledge, the registration for new players only closes this Friday, 23 Jan, just before the semi-finals start,' he added.
Mr Chong also confirmed that Nizam played in the game against SMU.
However, the tournament organiser, Mr Alexander Sarsito Sia, Republic Polytechnic's head for sports development, said he was unaware that Nizam had been in the game against SMU until told by The New Paper.
'I did not attend the game (on Monday night). Hence, I did not know he played,' he said.
He added that once a final list of 22 players is confirmed before the stipulated deadline, teams cannot add or remove players regardless of injuries or suspensions.
When The New Paper caught up with the player yesterday evening, Nizam was surprised.
He said: 'I was not aware that the registration has closed. I was told by the ITE soccer coach to play and I did.
'I played the full match and scored a goal.'
The general rules and regulations governing this year's IVP games have provisions for protests and appeals.
Teams who feel that they have been unfairly treated can submit a written appeal through a staff member of the tertiary institution within one working day.
The IVP council will subsequently set up a board of appeal comprising one representative from each tertiary institution to review the complaint.
Nizam's only wish is that the controversy will not put the brakes on his budding career.
Sing Keng Loon, newsroom intern
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Cup
THE S R Nathan Soccer Challenge Cup is an annual tournament held as part of the various sports offered in the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) games.
It was introduced by President S R Nathan in 2001/02 for polytechnic students. It has been extended to ITE, the three local universities and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).
The IVP games are managed by a council comprising representatives from all participating tertiary institutions.
The football tournament's host is rotated annually among the participating tertiary institutions. It is Republic Polytechnic's turn this year.
Ten teams are divided into two groups, and each plays four games in the group stages. The first and runner-up teams progress to the semi-finals.
They will be played tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE START
Discovered as a precocious 14-year-old when he was playing for Sengkang Punggol's Under-16 team.
GAMES, TEAMS
At 15: Top scorer in Schools National 'B' Division with nine goals, all from open play.
Went on to join Home United. Scored 15 goals in 20matches for the U-16 team.
At 16: Invited by Home United's head coach, PN Sivaji, to train with senior players after he grabbed six goals and five assists in 11starts for the U-18 team.
Called up by Singapore's Under-21 coach Terry Pathmanathan to play in the Youth Newspaper Cup in Vietnam.
Last October: Signed three-year boot deal with Adidas (Singapore), which will also help cover his school fees.
Currently playing for Singapore Young Lions.
'LIKE FANDI'
Known to be able to replicate Fandi's signature move - he 'hangs' in the air before powering his headers into goal.
Also similar off-pitch - he, too, is from less privileged background. Nizam's family has financial problems and during the festive season, he helps his mother make and sell cakes that help support family.
When utility bills went unpaid and electricity and water were cut off, he studied at void decks to prepare for exams.
'NEW FANDI' IN SCHOOLS FOOTBALL ROW
Did ITE register him in time?
January 23, 2009
ST FILE PICTURE
HE has been touted as the 'new Fandi Ahmad', so it's no wonder that Khairul Nizam, 17, is hot property in Singapore football.
So hot that his new school, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), didn't waste any time in fielding him in the SR Nathan Soccer Challenge Cup, a prestigious tournament for tertiary institutions.
He duly obliged by scoring a goal, helping ITE win a crunch match on Monday night to qualify for the semi-finals.
But Nizam, 17, the youngest player to be called up to the national Under-23 squad, has now found himself in the middle of a major controversy.
His joy in scoring in his debut match for the ITE and helping his team progress in the tournament may be short-lived.
The New Paper understands that he was ineligible to play because ITE had not registered him in time.
The tournament organiser, Republic Polytechnic (RP), was not aware he was playing in the tournament.
When asked, RP confirmed that the cut-off date for registration of players was 2Jan.
However, Nizam became an ITE student officially on 5 Jan, after he collected his N-level results last month.
ITE confirmed this to The New Paper.
Nevertheless, ITE fielded him in its last match of the tournament's group stage against Singapore Management University (SMU).
RP said that it is now working with the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) council to investigate the matter.
This was a match which ITE had to win to progress to the knock-out stage.
ITE did so by thrashing SMU 5-0.
When contacted, a spokesman for SMU declined to comment on whether Nizam's presence on the pitch had provided an unfair advantage for ITE.
It is understood that the IVP Council had yesterday issued a gag order on all teams on this issue.
Before the SMU match, ITE's record was a win, draw and loss, leaving it needing a win in the last match to advance.
At least one tertiary institution is unhappy that Nizam was fielded in that crunch match.
Its football coach, who requested not to be named, felt strongly that the victory was achieved unfairly.
'He made difference'
Said the coach: 'This year, the ITE team is very ordinary. They knew that a win was necessary to progress to the next round. And Khairul, who is very good, is making the difference for them.'
He added that Nizam's presence would also not be fair to the teams playing in the semi-finals.
Nizam was described by one Football Association of Singapore (FAS) official as 'the closest thing to Fandi that has emerged after all these years'.
Another official commented that this sort of talent is 'hard to come by these days.'
As far as the rules for registration were concerned, the coach said he was not aware of any agreement between the tertiary institutions to extend the deadline.
When The New Paper contacted ITE, the director of academic services (ITE College East), Mr Chong Leong Fatt, said it had followed the correct procedures.
He said that Nizam had been registered in time for Monday's game.
'Khairul Nizam is a new student at ITE. He was a January intake student and he is definitely registered to play in this tournament.
'To my knowledge, the registration for new players only closes this Friday, 23 Jan, just before the semi-finals start,' he added.
Mr Chong also confirmed that Nizam played in the game against SMU.
However, the tournament organiser, Mr Alexander Sarsito Sia, Republic Polytechnic's head for sports development, said he was unaware that Nizam had been in the game against SMU until told by The New Paper.
'I did not attend the game (on Monday night). Hence, I did not know he played,' he said.
He added that once a final list of 22 players is confirmed before the stipulated deadline, teams cannot add or remove players regardless of injuries or suspensions.
When The New Paper caught up with the player yesterday evening, Nizam was surprised.
He said: 'I was not aware that the registration has closed. I was told by the ITE soccer coach to play and I did.
'I played the full match and scored a goal.'
The general rules and regulations governing this year's IVP games have provisions for protests and appeals.
Teams who feel that they have been unfairly treated can submit a written appeal through a staff member of the tertiary institution within one working day.
The IVP council will subsequently set up a board of appeal comprising one representative from each tertiary institution to review the complaint.
Nizam's only wish is that the controversy will not put the brakes on his budding career.
Sing Keng Loon, newsroom intern
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Cup
THE S R Nathan Soccer Challenge Cup is an annual tournament held as part of the various sports offered in the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) games.
It was introduced by President S R Nathan in 2001/02 for polytechnic students. It has been extended to ITE, the three local universities and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).
The IVP games are managed by a council comprising representatives from all participating tertiary institutions.
The football tournament's host is rotated annually among the participating tertiary institutions. It is Republic Polytechnic's turn this year.
Ten teams are divided into two groups, and each plays four games in the group stages. The first and runner-up teams progress to the semi-finals.
They will be played tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE START
Discovered as a precocious 14-year-old when he was playing for Sengkang Punggol's Under-16 team.
GAMES, TEAMS
At 15: Top scorer in Schools National 'B' Division with nine goals, all from open play.
Went on to join Home United. Scored 15 goals in 20matches for the U-16 team.
At 16: Invited by Home United's head coach, PN Sivaji, to train with senior players after he grabbed six goals and five assists in 11starts for the U-18 team.
Called up by Singapore's Under-21 coach Terry Pathmanathan to play in the Youth Newspaper Cup in Vietnam.
Last October: Signed three-year boot deal with Adidas (Singapore), which will also help cover his school fees.
Currently playing for Singapore Young Lions.
'LIKE FANDI'
Known to be able to replicate Fandi's signature move - he 'hangs' in the air before powering his headers into goal.
Also similar off-pitch - he, too, is from less privileged background. Nizam's family has financial problems and during the festive season, he helps his mother make and sell cakes that help support family.
When utility bills went unpaid and electricity and water were cut off, he studied at void decks to prepare for exams.
