SINGAPORE — Their appeal to play in the upcoming Asian Youth Games (AYG) may have been successful but Singapore’s National Football Academy (NFA) Under-14 football squad is set to make the trip without assistant coach Abdullah Noor.

TODAY has learnt that the former Singapore international is stepping down as the Singapore Sports School (SSP) Under-14 side’s head coach — many of the AYG squad are from there — possibly to take up a coaching role in Australia.

It also means the 52-year-old is no longer assistant coach of the NFA Under-14s, with the SSP’s age-group coaches designated as assistant coaches in the corresponding NFA sides.

When contacted, Abdullah declined to comment, but it is understood that former Singapore goalkeeper Stephen Ng has been brought in as an interim assistant to the AYG squad’s head coach Takuma Koga while a replacement is being sought.

Last night, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said Abdullah’s departure will not affect the NFA Under-14 side’s preparations for the AYG in Nanjing from Aug 16-24.

“The FAS has in place appropriate measures and has appointed an interim coach, who has been working closely with Abdullah Noor since February,” said an FAS spokesperson yesterday. “The transition has been smooth and the new interim coach has stepped into this role seamlessly.”

SSP Director of Sports Irwin Seet said Abdullah, who could now join a handful of Singaporeans to have coached overseas, will be missed.

“We’re happy he is embarking on a new challenge, and we’re proud that a Singaporean can contribute to the development of football overseas,” said Seet.

“Although a former national player, Abdullah has always been very humble, a team player and a very good role model for our students, and is extremely popular with his players. We wish him all the best.”

Singapore Under-14 player Ikhsan Fandi, son of Fandi Ahmad, used to train under Abdullah at the SSP, and he said: “What I remember most about him (Abdullah) was that he was always cracking funny jokes and making us laugh, and helped us to bond as a team.

“He made me a better striker, and was always advising me how to improve my movement off the ball. He also helped me stay humble and grounded despite the expectations people have of me.”

In an international career from 1981 to 1991, Abdullah was capped 63 times by the Lions and scored 43 times in a side that included the likes of David Lee, Terry Pathmanathan, Salim Moin and Fandi Ahmad.

Nicknamed “Super Sub”, Abdullah had a knack of coming off the bench to score vital goals, and was part of the Singapore side that lost to Kedah in the 1990 Malaysia Cup final, and the SEA Games bronze medal sides in 1981 and 1991.

In 1995, he had a year-long professional stint with Melbourne side Sunshine George Cross, where he scored 12 times to help them finish third in the Victorian Premier League.

Turning to coaching, the Asian Football Confederation “A” Licence holder helmed S-League side Balestier Khalsa before joining the SSP in 2005. He was also head coach for the national Under-16 side that reached the 2008 AFC Finals in Uzbekistan, and assistant coach to the Singapore Under-16s that won the bronze at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games three years ago.