Sembawang Utd to miss out on S-League

Source

SINGAPORE - They had their eyes set on taking the S-League by storm next year, with Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad in the backroom and big-name local players to feature on their roster.

Bankrolled by local businessman Ferdinand Robert, Sembawang United was part of a project - it includes the Sembawang Soccer Academy (SSA) - aimed at boosting Singapore football by developing young players.

They had applied to join the S-League next season, but sources have told Today that barring a complete turnaround, Sembawang United will not be one of the expected 14 clubs in the competition in 2012 because of their current spat with Italian outfit the Genova International School of Soccer (GISS).

"We still hope to play in the S-League, but as a club we can only do so much," Sembawang manager Alfred Loi told Today.

"With regard to the issues with the SSA, it is in the hands of our solicitors and we cannot comment."

GISS have filed a writ of summons against the SSA for unpaid fees amounting to €176,559 (S$308,750) for a trip that saw 25 Singapore players train in Italy.

Despite the wrangle with GISS, Sembawang had declared they did not require the Football Association of Singapore's subsidy of approximately S$850,000 for local clubs in the S-League.

Today understands that Sembawang are still looking to sign local players, some of whom are earmarked to represent the Singapore Lions side in Malaysian football domestic competitions starting next year.

The players have been told that Sembawang United could take part in other competitions, even overseas.

Loi declined to comment when quizzed, only saying: "We will continue our work helping to develop Singapore football."