Football gets surprise Incheon nod

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Under-23 football team will go to next month’s Asian Games in Incheon after all.

In a release yesterday from the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), the Young Lions were among the late inclusions that brought to 227 the total number of athletes to represent Singapore at the continental Games.

Football’s inclusion is a remarkable turnaround from news last week when The New Paper quoted SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan as saying that football had not met SNOC’s qualifying benchmark for the Asiad, despite the U-23s beating Bahrain 3-2 in their latest outing.

The SNOC sets a sixth place at the previous Games as their qualifying mark. Explaining the U-turn, Chan told TODAY: “We have given them the nod to go to Incheon and I think they deserve it and their ticket is justified. It was their 3-2 win over Bahrain in Manama in the friendly last week which was decisive.”

Ranked 14th in Asia, Bahrain are the reigning U-23 Gulf Cup Champions, which featured Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and 2010 Asian Games silver medallist the United Arab Emirates.

Added Chan: “(The Football Association of Singapore) submitted a two-page letter to us stating the reasons they should go to the Asian Games, but in all honesty, the part about their trip to Austria where they played some friendly matches against top European clubs is irrelevant.

“It’s all about rankings for the SNOC when it comes to selecting the athletes to represent Singapore at major events. And frankly, when it comes to football at the Asian Games, which is a U-23 tournament, the rankings are quite unclear. But Singapore beat Bahrain … (and) Bahrain have beaten the UAE.”

For FAS, winning a ticket to the Asian Games after they were initially excluded was a decision for which they were grateful.

Said national head coach Bernd Stange: “Going to the Asian Games means we will playing against top-class opponents in Incheon and such competitive games will only help our young players raise their game. We already have seen some encouraging performances from the U-23 team this year and now we are raring to do the best for the country and will play with pride and passion at the Asian Games.”

Local football blogger Gary Koh was surprised at the turnaround decision but happy that the Young Lions are Incheon-bound. “It really shows the persistence of the FAS after all they went through,” said Koh. “It will be good for the team as they gear towards the 2015 SEA Games, it will be a big challenge and test.”

Another fan, Basil Yeo, felt letting the team through on appeal sets a bad example.

“I don’t think they should be allowed to go. They didn’t meet the requirements set by the SNOC,” Yeo pointed out. “With the SEA Games coming, it would make sense to let them go and try but rules are rules and they should not just be allowed to go on the basis of making a showing.

“Since they have been allowed to go, they should really go and play their best because they have to show that they deserve to be there.”

Said Chan: “I really don’t know whether the FAS is happy or are they under pressure to perform, now that football is going to the Asian Games. Whoever they get drawn with in the preliminary round, we at the SNOC hope they can deliver.

“We know that there will be some tough competition ahead with the likes of Japan, South Korea, China, Iran and teams from the former Russian Republic taking part.

“But we hope the Singapore U-23 team can lift themselves at the Games and do the country proud.”