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SINGAPORE - Back in the day, in his pomp as a footballer, he had to weave his way past the waiting media horde and throngs of fans hoping to talk to him, and even catch a glimpse of him, after every game. Yesterday at the Jalan Besar Stadium, it must have felt like the old days for V Sundramoorthy.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) unveiled the first Singapore team that will take part in Malaysian domestic football competitions since the Republic won the League and Cup double in 1994, and Sundram was officially named head coach of the 28-man squad, which will be known as the LionsX11.
There were TV crews with cameras, video cameras, flashbulbs busily popped and around 40 journalists all wanting a piece of him.
Said Sundram: "This is a tough assignment, but I'd like to thank the FAS for this opportunity. I'm confident that I can get the job done.
"I excelled as a player in Malaysian competitions, and it'll be absolutely perfect if I could reach similar heights as a coach."
Nicknamed "The Dazzler" during his playing days, Sundram was a hugely gifted attacking force who terrorised opposition defenders in the M-League and the Malaysia Cup in the 1980s and 90s.
He played professionally for Swiss club FC Basel briefly from 1987 to '88, and won one Malaysia Cup, in 1990, when he scored the first goal for Kedah in their 3-1 win over Singapore in the final at Merdeka Stadium.
He has been tasked to guide the LionsX11 to a top-five finish in the Malaysian Super League, and qualify for one final, either the Malaysia Cup or Malaysia FA Cup.
"Fans want us to win things, and I want exactly the same, after 18 years, we have to come back with a bang," said Sundram, 46.
"But this is a new team ... and we only have four weeks for preparation, still I believe that this team can perform and achieve the target."
The season will kick off on Jan 10 and the Football Association of Malaysia will announce the fixtures on Dec 13.
With a budget of around S$2 million, the team that includes the likes of national skipper Shahril Ishak, Hariss Harun, Khairul Amri and Agu Casmir will come together for the first time tomorrow.
Former Lion Kadir Yahaya, who played alongside Sundram for Singapore, was named as assistant coach, with the FAS yet to name the team manager and the rest of the backroom staff.
Said Sundram: "Kadir and I go a long way back. We were team-mates and room-mates. I chose him because he's a very knowledgeable coach who can give all the support that I need."
Sundram and Kadir will lead the LionsX11, a team so named for their fans - the proverbial 12th man.
Sundram believes a return to the giddy heights when the whole nation swayed to the football beat during the 1970s and 80s is possible.
"When I was a player, I couldn't leave the stadium after games without facing reporters and fans who wanted autographs and to shake my hand - I couldn't get to my car", he said.
"That was a great feeling and a great atmosphere, and I'm sure the magic will come back. If the players put in the dedication I want and work for each other, I'm confident things will be the same."
Lions X11 squad
Goalkeepers:
Izwan Mahbud, Hyrulnizam Juma'at, Al-Faiz Ishak
Defenders:
Safuwan Baharudin, Juma'at Jantan, Shaiful Esah, Irwan Shah, Sevki Sha'ban, Shakir Hamzah, Shahir Hamzah, Madhu Mohana
Midfielders:
Shahril Ishak (capt), Hariss Harun (vice-capt), Safirul Sulaiman, Izzdin Shafiq, Isa Halim, Taufiq Rahmat, Raihan Rahman, Shahdan Sulaiman, Yasir Hanapi, Firdaus Kasman, Pravin Guanasagaran
Forwards:
Khairul Amri, Agu Casmir, Khairul Nizam, Fazli Ayob, Sufian Anuar, Gabriel Quak
Head coach:
V Sundramoorthy
Assistant coach:
Kadir Yahaya
Manager, goalkeeping coach and backroom staff: TBA
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