SINGAPORE — After having foreign coaches at the helm of the Singapore national football team for the last 16 years, it is high time that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) starts putting its faith in local talent and gives a Singaporean coach the chance to take charge of the Lions again.

This was the unanimous opinion of several former Singapore internationals TODAY spoke with recently.

The position of Singapore national football coach has been vacant since Bernd Stange left last month after three years at the helm. The race for the German’s successor is heating up with a decision expected to be ­announced in the next few weeks.

TODAY reported in March that Tampines Rovers head coach V Sundramoorthy could be appointed the first local national coach since Vincent Subramaniam (1998-2000), but only on a caretaker basis for an international quadrangular next month.

The friendly tournament, which will see Singapore playing against Association of South-east Asian ­Nations (Asean) rivals Myanmar and Vietnam, is part of the Lions’ preparations for November’s Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

TODAY understands that while the FAS’ initial six-man shortlist had included Sundram and Fandi Ahmad, the final two candidates that the list has been whittled down to are both foreigners.

However, former Singapore ­national team stalwarts strongly ­believe that a local can get down to work and improve the fortunes of Singapore football straight away. 

As former Malaysia Cup-winning midfielder Malek Awab, 55, ­explained: “If a foreign coach is ­appointed, he will need time to understand the ­national team set-up as well as the whole Singapore football scene.

“Personally, I feel Fandi should be the next national coach because of his contribution to Singapore football. He understands the local players well.

“If not him, then we should have Sundram or even Kadir (Yahaya). If any one of them is appointed, then there is a future for Singapore football.”

Former Lions winger Steven Tan agreed: “A foreign coach would bring in a wealth of knowledge and a different style of football, but he will need time to adapt to the culture here and get to know the players very well, which is not something that can be done in haste. 

“A local coach understands Singapore football from the grassroots level and knows how the national team can progress.” 

Former Singapore captain Razali Saad said the local coaches now have the knowledge and experience to make the step up to the top coaching position in Singapore football. 

Noting that Sundram and Fandi are both Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Pro Licence holders, the highest coaching qualifications on the continent, and have more than 15 years of coaching experience each under their belts, the 51-year-old said: “The local coaches we have are qualified and experienced enough to take charge of the national team.

“People like Fandi and Sundram have learnt a lot from being assistant coaches (to Stange). Why not give them a chance for maybe three or five years?”

In an interview with TODAY last month, Sundram admitted that it would be “a dream” come true for him to be appointed as national coach and he would grab the opportunity if the FAS are willing to hand him the reins. The 50-year-old insisted that it is time local coaches should be given a chance and he would “support any local coach who gets the job”.

When TODAY approached Fandi at last weekend’s Sultan of Selangor’s Cup in Shah Alam, Malaysia, to ask if he is interested in the job, the 53-year-old declined to comment. “The subject is too sensitive,” he said.

Former Lions midfielder Rafi Ali believes the FAS appointing a Singaporean would be a vindication of sorts for local coaches.

“We work really hard, attend courses and work beyond our job scope to sincerely help Singapore football improve,” said the 43-year-old, who had a stint as Tampines’ head coach in 2014. 

“I would like to see our hard work rewarded because I believe it’s the dream of every Singapore coach to become national coach one day. I hope whatever decision the FAS makes has the best interests of Singapore football at heart.”