Time for local football leaders to shape up or ship out

I refer to the commentary “Don’t blame Sundram. Problems in local football run deeper” (Nov 28).

Fans may be calling for national head coach V Sundramoorthy to be removed, but Singapore’s exit at the group stage of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup is a reflection of a systemic failure instead.

Many small, misguided changes of direction in the past, when viewed retrospectively now, were symptomatic of a system decaying gradually.

In 2003, the Young Lions were formed to compete in the S.League, with the intention of capturing the South East Asian Games gold medal and acting as a supply line for the national team.

Unfortunately, these aims have not been achieved. Players are not breaking through in sufficient numbers and quality for the national team.

Our squad’s average age in our successful 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup was about 26 years.

It decreased to 25 years in the unsuccessful 2014 campaign and increased to 27.5 this year.

In the seven SEA Games since the Young Lions were formed, we achieved three bronze finishes, whereas Thailand continued to dominate despite not having a similar youth team.

An effective way of learning is modelling: Young players train alongside seasoned professionals, watch them to learn the tricks of the trade, gradually improve and eventually break into the first team.

The Young Lions concept lacks this element; players are starting games based on their age, rather than on their ability and on whether they are ready for senior football.

Furthermore, the S.League has been on life support for the past few years. While it did relatively well initially, complacency set in; it became uncompetitive and was unable to attract regional stars.

To worsen matters, indifference replaced complacency when the LionsXII were set up in 2011.

Resources and the best players were diverted from the league, eroding interest and standards further.

More recently, Sundram’s appointment as caretaker coach on a one-year contract suggests a lack of confidence in his abilities. Despite being handed a poisoned chalice, he has performed admirably.

Previous coach Bernd Stange had lofty ideals of a quick passing style that ultimately proved unsuitable, as our players had not reached the necessary level of physical fitness, technical skills and tactical awareness.

Sundram introduced a defensive, physical style of play, but the Suzuki Cup proved too early for him to make his mark on the team.

Football has continuously received among the largest amounts of public sports funding despite underachievement and malaise — probably perpetuated by the myth that it is the only sport that can unite all Singaporeans.

Our Olympic and Paralympic successes have shattered this myth. It is time for local football leaders to shape up or ship out. Our Suzuki Cup exit and lowest-ever Fifa ranking of 171 suggest that we have hit rock bottom.

As the cliche goes, the only way is up. I hope that the coming Football Association of Singapore election will act as the catalyst for recovery.