‘Kallang Roar’ to return to the National Stadium

SINGAPORE — Local football fans will see the permanent return of the “Kallang Roar” at the National Stadium, as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced a partnership with the Singapore Sports Hub on Thursday (Nov 16) to make the S$1.33 billion Sports Hub the “Home of the Lions”.

A memorandum of understanding to be signed for 2018 to 2020 will see the 55,000-seater stadium hosting between seven to 10 matches per calendar year, with 2018 to see fixtures such as the Community Shield, League Cup, Merlion Cup, Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup and Women’s Challenge Cup.

Stadium tours, which will include a players’ village with a changing room lined up with jerseys of the Lions, Lions’ fan club and engagement, and a football festival will be held to build on its brand as the home of Singapore football.

Mr Oon Jin Teik, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sports Hub Pte Ltd (SHPL) said: “When I was growing up, my father brought me to local matches at Farrer Park during the weekends, and occasionally the Malaysia Cup matches at the old National Stadium.

“Today, the state of Singapore football is not so positive. This is not a profit-driven initiative. SHPL believes in Singapore football, and we made a decision to help Singapore football and FAS … at a time when they most need it.”

FAS president Lim Kia Tong was delighted that the Lions will be able to call the Sports Hub their home: “When we have a stadium devoted to the national team, when younger players look at the Lions treated in that way, in the home of football, it will give them inspiration to want to be in the Lions one day,” said Mr Lim at a media conference after the FAS Annual Congress on Thursday.

“When we are successful in building up our fans, the crowd will come and they will be there to cheer on the Lions in its own den.”