Football: Lion City Cup returns with top clubs and new sponsor

SINGAPORE: The 34-year-old Lion City Cup tournament, a competition which unearthed local football stars like Fandi Ahmad, V Sundramoorthy and Indra Sahdan Daud, is making a comeback after a two-year break.

The Singapore Youth Olympic football team got the country behind them last year, finishing with a bronze medal. More importantly, some of the players showed that Singapore football had a bright future.

Organisers of the Lion City Cup are hoping to recreate that atmosphere at the Jalan Besar Stadium, when the tournament kicks off over nine days in June.

Football fans are in for a treat as youth teams from Everton, Juventus, Benfica and Brazilian side Flamengo, are taking part. Hosts Singapore will field two sides, the YOG and Under-15 teams.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is hoping that the boys will benefit from the high-level competition and lift the title. There are also plans to bring in a Japanese coach to lead the Youth Olympics team.

Zainudin Nordin, President of the FAS, said: "We want to go as far as we can and this is the Canon Lion City Cup, its our own tournament. I want our boys to win the tournament, that naturally should be the aim, but if we know the teams are tough, we should accept the reality. Even though we aim high, we can also lose."

The tournament has already scored a victory, with title sponsor Canon.

Aside from pumping in close to S$1 million over two years to support the event, the sponsor is also involving the community.

Andrew Koh, Senior Director and General Manager of Canon Singapore, said: "At our end, we will get the schools involved from a photographic point of view. We will allow students the chance to shoot football matches up close, which they (usually) will never have a chance to."

This year's competition could get another boost, as the organisers are looking at inviting Brazilian super-star Ronaldinho. Looking ahead to next year's event, organisers are also hoping to invite the youth teams from bigger clubs like Manchester United and Barcelona.

-CNA/ac