Ben Davis has no intention of fulfilling NS duties: Mindef
SINGAPORE — Teenage Fulham footballer Ben Davis has no intention of returning to Singapore to fulfil his National Service duties, especially if his professional contract with his club is extended, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Wednesday (July 18) in response to media queries.
SINGAPORE — Teenage Fulham footballer Ben Davis has no intention of returning to Singapore to fulfil his National Service duties, especially if his professional contract with his club is extended, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Wednesday (July 18) in response to media queries.
And to allow the 17-year-old’s deferment would “severely undermine the ethos and sacrifice of Singaporeans who have all put aside their personal interests to complete their NS duties”, the ministry said in a strongly-worded statement.
“When asked during the deferment application process when Mr Davis intended to return and serve NS, Mr Davis’ father would not commit to a date and expressed that he would put Mr Davis’ professional career first,” Mindef said.
Ben went on to sign the contract “despite the rejection for deferment and his father has publicly stated that he would encourage Mr Davis to renounce his Singapore citizenship in order to pursue his career”, the ministry added.
“Mr Davis’ actions are meant to further his own professional career, not national interest. As his father openly admitted, he is looking out for his son’s future, not Singapore’s.”
In a separate statement, local sports governing body SportSG said "definitive commitment to return to serve NS at a specified date has to be paramount for deferment applications".
It added: "In this case, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and SportSG had earlier engaged the Davis family, where we had communicated to the family the importance of making that commitment. As they were unable to give the commitment, SportSG supports Mindef’s decision to reject the application."
Last month, Ben inked a two-year professional contract with newly-promoted English Premier League side Fulham FC. But the Singapore U-18 and U-19 footballer will have to return to Singapore in December to enlist for NS.
Mindef has rejected his deferment request as he does not meet the criteria for long-term deferment from Full-time NS.
The footballer’s situation has ignited a spirited public debate, with some criticising Mindef for being inflexible with its deferment policy, and potentially denying a Singaporean the once-in-a-lifetime chance of playing in a top European league. Others, however, defended Mindef’s stance and stressed the need for a consistent and fair policy.
In an earlier statement on Sunday, Mindef noted that all male Singaporeans liable for full-time NS “put aside personal pursuits to dutifully enlist and serve their NS”, and that “it would not be fair to approve applications for deferment for individuals to pursue their own careers and development”.
In sports, deferments are granted only to those who represent Singapore in international competitions such as the Olympic Games, and are potential medal winners for the country.
In the last 15 years, only three have met this criteria: Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen – both swimmers were granted deferment to compete at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games – and sailor Maximillian Soh. Soh was granted a year-long deferment ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has said it "strongly supported" the deferment request, and pointed out that the case "merits serious consideration" as this is the first time a Singaporean has been offered a professional contract by one of the top six football leagues in the world.
Acknowledging that NS is of "vital importance" to the nation, the FAS – which is assisting with Ben's appeal – also urged the ministry to take a "balanced approach" to Ben's case.
On Wednesday, Mindef said it recognises Ben’s achievement in securing a senior contract with Fulham FC.
However, deferment from NS is granted for exceptional sportsmen to represent Singapore’s national interest and not their own career development, the ministry stressed.
When granted, deferment is given for a defined period after which these sportsmen must return to fulfil their NS duties. Mr Davis’ application does not meet the deferment criteria and was therefore turned down, Mindef reiterated.
It pointed out that many talented sportsmen, including footballers, have “completed their NS dutifully first before pursuing their professional careers”.
Schemes are in place during full-time NS to enable them to “continue training to retain and improve their skills”.
“We also provide additional training opportunities in the lead-up to major games such as the Southeast Asian and Olympic Games where our sportsmen represent Singapore and do us proud,” Mindef said.
In a phone interview with TODAY on Monday, Ben's father, Mr Harvey Davis, said he remained hopeful that the FAS' appeal for Ben would allow his son to defer his NS. However, he added that the family is prepared to allow him to give up his citizenship to pursue his football career.
BEN SHOULD ‘FOLLOW HIS DREAMS’: SCHOOLING
National swimmer Joseph Schooling has urged Fulham footballer Ben Davis to “follow his dreams”, as the 23-year-old told media at the Singapore Sports Awards that he empathises with the teenager’s situation.
“It’s definitely a difficult situation for him. But my advice to him would be to follow his dreams, follow his heart, do what he needs to do,” said Schooling, who won a record fifth Sportsman of the Year award on Wednesday night.
“He should get together with his parents, decide what’s the best plan for himself and go from there.”
Olympic champion Schooling was one of three national athletes who was granted long-term NS deferment by Mindef. The other two are fellow swimmer Quah Zheng Wen, and sailor Maximillian Soh, who was granted NS deferment a year before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Schooling was given NS deferment to chase medal glory, and the swimmer was granted a second deferment in August 2016 – after he won gold in the men’s 100m butterfly – till the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Schooling admitted that the journey was not an easy one for him and his family. He added: “It was tough not only for me, but my family. For me, I was very happy to have had a good support system. People coming in to help my family so I could achieve my dreams, my goals. And I’m very fortunate to have Mindef, MCCY, Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) come back me up.
Ultimately I achieved my goal, so I’m very lucky in that aspect.”
Quah, who is based in the University of California, Berkeley, said he is grateful to Mindef for the support they have given him.
On Ben’s case, he said: “Each case is unique. I’m not in a position to comment on his (Ben Davis’) case…there are a lot of things to consider and I think that decision should be left to Mindef.
“Mindef has done a very good job with its policies and managing such cases. I wouldn’t be the athlete I am if not for their consideration and understanding.” LOW LIN FHOONG
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