FAS Review on Performance of Football Team at Southeast Asia Games 2023
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Yip Hon Weng's inquiry regarding the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) review of the 2023 Southeast Asia Games performance and the potential naturalisation of talented foreign players. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai stated that the review findings are expected in July and emphasized that developing a local talent pipeline remains the primary long-term strategy for Singapore football. He noted that the Government would still consider naturalising foreign athletes through the foreign sports talent scheme if they demonstrate exceptional ability and a commitment to integrating into society. However, the Minister clarified that the pace of such naturalisation must align with wider national sporting and citizenship policies and the fulfillment of citizenship duties. He cited past examples like Aleksander Duric to illustrate how naturalised players continue to contribute to the local footballing ecosystem both during and after their competitive careers.
Transcript
34 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the Ministry is able to provide any updates from the review by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on the performance of our football team at the Southeast Asia Games 2023; (b) in light of other countries naturalising foreign players, whether SportSG is planning to work with FAS to restart such a scheme to improve our performance; and (c) if so, will it consider implementing an accelerated process to citizenship for talented players to play for Singapore.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The work of the panel commissioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to review the football team’s performance is still ongoing. It expects to release its findings in July.
Growing our pipeline of local talent is the key thrust to our long-term strategy to uplift Singapore football. We will, however, not rule out continuing to work with FAS to assess and naturalise foreign players who have both the talent and the heart to represent Singapore.
In the past, these have included Daniel Bennett and Mustafic Fahrudin, Song Ui-young and Aleksander Duric. While Aleksander has since retired from competitive play, he continues to contribute to Singapore football in his capacity now as Principal of our ActiveSG Football Academy.
It is important that beyond sporting abilities, these players must demonstrate that they are prepared to take up the duties and responsibilities that come with citizenship and have shown their ability to integrate into our society.
Therefore, while we will tap on our foreign sports talent scheme to support our football objectives, we need to do so at a posture and pace that reflects the wider considerations of our sporting policies, as well as the granting of Singaporean citizenship.