Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: Singapore is aiming a repeat of its participation in the 2010 AFC Champions League as it renewed its interest to take part in the next edition of the top club championship by receiving an AFC Special Mission Team on Tuesday.
The seven-man delegation led by AFC Club Competitions Director Stuart Ramalingam started their five-day assessment visit with a meeting with representatives of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and S.League.
The clubs that will be visited are Courts Young Lions, Home United, Balestier Khalsa, Hougang United, Geylang United, Tanjong Pagar United, Tampines Rovers, Gombak United, Singapore Armed Forces FC and Woodlands Wellington United.
FAS General Secretary Winton Lee, S. League CEO Lim Chin and FAS Operations Director Kok Wai Leong were among those present during the kick-off meeting.
Lim said Singapore football stakeholders are pleased to have an ACL inspection team as they are always hoping to take part in the ACL.
“We are ready to learn from the AFC inspection team, so please feel free to tell us anything that we need to improve to participate in the championship in the near future,” he said.
Ramalingam said the team is glad to be back in Singapore after its last visit a few years ago and outlined the SMT’s mission.
“We are not here just to assess and inspect but also, regardless of the result of this inspection, we are here to help you to improve,” he said.
“Whether you play in the ACL or not, the AFC’s direction will be trying to bring you into this competition, not to push you out from the competition.
“We will try to help you while you also have to try yourself to improve,” he concluded.
In the 2009 ACL edition, a Singapore representative, Singapore Armed Forces FC (SAF FC), finished at the bottom below Japan’s Kashima Antlers, Suwon Samsung Bluewings of Korea Republic and China’s Shanghai Shenhua, in the group stage.
In the Singaporeans' last ACL appearance in 2010, SAF FC performed better by finishing third above China's Henan Jianye and below Gamba Osaka of Japan and again Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who were the Group G leaders.
A club workshop will be held at the end of the exercise to present the SMT’s findings and recommendations to help the clubs meet the 2013 ACL participation criteria.