Now for the clubs to step up

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FAS' funding boost applauded by football fraternity, who hope KPIs set will be realistic markers

by Shamir Osman
Apr 06, 2011 SINGAPORE - The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) unveiled a five-year funding plan for clubs in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League on Monday that could see some of them receive nearly S$1 million per season for the next five campaigns.

Faced with an increasing wage bill and burgeoning operational costs, each of the nine local clubs in the S-League stand to receive the most help in terms of direct cash and money through performance-based grants.

The two foreign clubs - Japan's Albirex Niigata and France's Etoile FC - could receive just under S$600,000 each per season.

The 12th club in the 16-year-old league, the Courts Young Lions, are fully funded by the FAS.

The football fraternity welcomed the move by the FAS, and many now feel the clubs have to step up and improve the quality of their game.

Some critics, though, continue to question the national body's policies on football operation and development.

Speaking to MediaCorp yesterday, former Tampines Rovers assistant coach and team manager Syed Faruk, said: "Clubs have no excuse now (for poor performance), the money is being provided by the FAS and it's up to the clubs to work hard to get it.

"We have to be fair to the FAS who have finally given more money; maybe clubs should hire someone specifically to look into getting them to meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set to receive more money through the outcome-based funding system."

The FAS have yet to sign off with their sponsors on the exact amount that each club will receive and neither have they ratified what the KPIs will be.

Former Singapore international R Sasikumar called for clearer and more realistic KPIs.

"There must be an audit of what the real situation is, and working backwards from there, set realistic targets on what can be achieved with the amount of money available to clubs," the former defender said.

The S-League initiated the KPI-based funding system last year, with as much as S$215,000 available to a club if they achieved all the set markers.

Clubs did meet some of the KPIs but none managed to hit every marker.

"Obviously what was done in the past didn't really work, and maybe an independent body should be brought in to study our football and set KPIs," added Sasikumar.

The FAS have set S$110,000 aside for each of the nine local clubs to hire two quality young foreign players (aged 18-21). If successful, the initiative will help boost the standard of football and help FAS identify players for their Foreign Sports Talent scheme.

Faruk, a former Lion, applauded the move, but ex-Woodlands Wellington coach Shasi Kumar was disappointed.

"How good can that young foreigner be? More attention should be paid to developing local players; maybe FAS can monitor clubs to ensure the entire kitty for youth development is spent on that," said Shasi Kumar.

But Faruk countered: "The kind of money we can pay may not be good for a senior foreign player but will be attractive to a young boy. I think it will help clubs bring in better quality foreigners that way."