Singapore football. My dream; world cup qualification and doing far better than our Asian neighbours, Japan and South Korea.
We were never far away until the late mid-90s where Japan and South Korea's football development took off to another platform altogether, leaving us to bite their dust of their trails. I see dedication, commitment, focus, motivation, goal driven mind-set in our neighbours. Do we have all that I have mentioned? Results force me to say a big fat no.
I have known players, friends, acquaintances throughout my primary and secondary school education, who are real talents. In poly and university, I see far less because most of the good ones have stopped playing. Those that are still playing are likely those that has always been casual players trying to play it seriously in a casual non competitive environment. Then these boys start "fights" wear expensive gear and try to live a dream of being able to play a football match
In primary school, even rosyth, a non-footballing school, I had known friends who if nurtured properly, can be at least a J-league player. In secondary school, I come from the north zone, where we have a very decent lot of schools with good football teams. I saw opponents, friends, acquaintances who are "damn good talents" If all of us had been properly schooled, I tell you, we would have placed Singapore not just on the global economic map but the football world map as well. We have that good talents but no culture and no drive for us to be nurtured to the next level
We only have fandi ahmad to shout about, named best 11 of the century for dutch first division club FC Groningen. All we need is one Ajax Football Academy equivalent and we are set! Eng Teck could have played for J league, Han Rong, Spanish league, Shawn Leow dutch/spanish league, Rudy J league, Chai Su J league, Marco Spanish league, Louis Spanish league, Rosli Spanish league, Siva Spanish league, Weiquan Spanish league, Dwayne Spanish league, kevin peeris Spanish league, Benjamin Spanish league, fengtai j league, sophian Spanish league, alfian j league, yi tian dutch league jin nan j league bakti Spanish league and many many more. These were real talents in primary and secondary school.
Why cant we spend to build Singapore's very own Ajax Football Academy? That will be the day.....
Monday, March 30, 2015
First Article 30/03/15
If I recall, this will be my very first article. I am penning my thoughts a day after my LKY had passed on. For so long, we have been or I have been clouded with the daily grind of fear and insecurities. Of what? Of my job, of not having enough money in the future. What I have realised after viewing some past history of LKY, he had been preaching to me about frugality and working hard for survival ever since the days of pre-independence. The gist was the same, never take for granted the things you have, rather appreciate and continue to strive.
But LKY, it is very stifling to keep going on and on, I come from a spoilt generation, I am 37 this year. If I feel I belong to a spoilt generation, then the generations after me, I dare not say further. I just want to say that amidst the daily grind. Your passing serves as a timely reminder for me, as a person, to refocus, to readjust, to realign my values in life. That is to raise my head up and continue the life journey to fight to be a Singaporean.
It is a bit different now, I feel that I am fighting for a place that is my home. I feel that if I do not fight, I will lose my place as a citizen. You said in the unions, no Singaporean who wants to help themselves will ever lose his her place in our country. Does it still hold true now in 2015? I see myself fearing for the worst. In the past, we fought to survive, to make ends meet, we fought to have jobs. In the present, we fight to survive....against foreign workers, to make ends meet....against foreign workers, we fight to have jobs.....against foreign workers. Top foreign workers to low level foreign workers, we are fighting, I am fighting. I will live with the spirit that you have encouraged us in your lifetime....to fight the good fight for I am Singaporean.
I hope my Singapore knows that and that Singapore will hold true to your spirit....no Singaporean will lose his her place in Singapore. Foreign investors have the right to hire whoever they want otherwise it may be goodbye Singapore, I will not invest here. But as a Singaporean, I must fight so that foreign investors will want to hire a Singaporean. Local investors will want to hire a Singaporean. I want to do my part to make that happen. Singaporeans have been branded as picky, asking for sky high salaries. I am not one of them and because I am not one of them, I hope my Singapore understands that and will encourage companies to hire Singaporean.
But LKY, it is very stifling to keep going on and on, I come from a spoilt generation, I am 37 this year. If I feel I belong to a spoilt generation, then the generations after me, I dare not say further. I just want to say that amidst the daily grind. Your passing serves as a timely reminder for me, as a person, to refocus, to readjust, to realign my values in life. That is to raise my head up and continue the life journey to fight to be a Singaporean.
It is a bit different now, I feel that I am fighting for a place that is my home. I feel that if I do not fight, I will lose my place as a citizen. You said in the unions, no Singaporean who wants to help themselves will ever lose his her place in our country. Does it still hold true now in 2015? I see myself fearing for the worst. In the past, we fought to survive, to make ends meet, we fought to have jobs. In the present, we fight to survive....against foreign workers, to make ends meet....against foreign workers, we fight to have jobs.....against foreign workers. Top foreign workers to low level foreign workers, we are fighting, I am fighting. I will live with the spirit that you have encouraged us in your lifetime....to fight the good fight for I am Singaporean.
I hope my Singapore knows that and that Singapore will hold true to your spirit....no Singaporean will lose his her place in Singapore. Foreign investors have the right to hire whoever they want otherwise it may be goodbye Singapore, I will not invest here. But as a Singaporean, I must fight so that foreign investors will want to hire a Singaporean. Local investors will want to hire a Singaporean. I want to do my part to make that happen. Singaporeans have been branded as picky, asking for sky high salaries. I am not one of them and because I am not one of them, I hope my Singapore understands that and will encourage companies to hire Singaporean.
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