Bill Ng hits back at controversial remarks

SINGAPORE – Hougang United chairman Bill Ng, one of two candidates expected to contest for the presidency of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has come out to rebut the remarks made by interim president Lim Kia Tong and former Tampines chairman Teo Hock Seng.

Lim, who is also expected to stand for election, and Teo had made the comments in a Straits Times video, which was posted on the national broadsheet’s Facebook page, last Sunday. In it, they had asked aloud if Ng had a “hidden agenda” in standing for the top post of Singapore’s biggest and richest sport. Lim also said in the video: “If for one moment, we turn our attention to Bill - we have to ask ourselves, is he of the same mould as all of us in this team, or is he in the mould of someone who is only interested to gain some mileage?”

The remarks drew criticism from some members of the fraternity, who felt that the duo had painted Ng in a negative light.

A new edited version of the video, lasting over three minutes, later replaced the first version. In it, some of the quotes by both men were trimmed.

Responding to the controversial comments in a press release on Wednesday (March 22), Ng insisted that his team will comprise members who possess integrity and credentials.

“There has been chatter in the last week about the integrity and intention of my team and I,” said Ng, who is a mergers and acquisitions specialist.

“We can assure you that our sole intention is to modernise the Singapore game from grassroots up, as well as from the administration and leadership levels.

“Integrity needs to be inherent in the credentials of any person who chooses to undertake this monumental task, and I expect that of both parties running for these Presidential elections.”

While Ng has yet to reveal his full team for the landmark April 29 elections, it is set to include Tampines Rover chairman Krishna Ramachandra, lawyer Lau Kok Keng, who is a former vice-chairman of S.League side Geylang International, veteran sports administrator and lawyer Annabel Pennefather, and Dr Teoh Chin Sim, who was Team Singapore’s chief medical officer for the 2015 SEA Games.

Ng has described his team as comprising senior professionals with leadership records in sporting administration locally and internationally, and that they are “highly qualified members in their fields whom we will work with to bring our game to the modern era”.

Ng had previously told TODAY that he wanted to bring back the Kallang Roar and revitalise local football. The 56-year-old also vowed to modernise and develop the sport, and enhance the eco-system around it.

Ng also stressed that there was no room for politics in local football, as he added: “Singapore’s game must be modernised and the politics must be removed. The focus must be on the credentials and who can do better for our game. And it cannot rely on one or two individuals in positions of power.”

The team’s plans to rejuvenate an ailing sport will also include development of young primary school children, implementing proper coaching, and utilising sports science and psychology.

“Our action plan incorporates firm milestones to revitalise our game,” said Ng.

“And I’m proud to say that my team has the credentials in both the local and international sporting arena to perform the task.”