Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: The AFC Special Mission Team (SMT) recently completed its visit to Singapore with a meeting and workshop with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and S.League.
The SMT’s visit purpose is, among other things, to help Singapore clubs qualify for the next edition of the AFC Champions League, where the last time they managed to do so was through Singapore Armed Forces FC who managed to finish third in the group stage in the 2010 edition.
During the meeting, the seven-man delegation led by AFC Club Competition Director Stuart Ramalingam discussed several areas such as the AFC Champions League participation criteria, professional football, competition, media, marketing, legal, finance/audit and technical matters.
Following the meeting, a workshop was conducted attended by officials from the 10 clubs inspected during the SMT’s visit as well as S.League CEO Lim Chin and FAS Operations Director Kok Wai Leong.
During the workshop, AFC Marketing Director Satoshi Saito touched on the marketing, branding and game operation issues, AFC Media Manager Lee Seunghun presented on media operation and facilities while AFC Competitions Officer Pavel Luzanov talked about match operation and stadium facilities.
A ceremony then followed for SMT assessment findings documents signing between Ramalingam and Lim Chin to conclude the SMT’s activities in Singapore.
The clubs that were visited were 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.