Scrapping Singapore team backed by clubs
Reuters - Thursday 13 January 2011, 04:22
SINGAPORE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Singaporean football clubs
have thrown their full support behind the city-state's
decision to disband its national team following a spate of
lacklustre performances.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) wiped the
slate clean last week, after Singapore had failed to qualify
for the AFF Cup knockout stages - the premier Asean football
tournament.
"We agree with the FAS president that this is the right
time for change and to rebuild and rejuvenate the squad to
compete at the Asian level," Balestier vice-chairman S.
Thavaneson told local media on Thursday.
A group of nine S.League chairmen also showed their faith
in coach Raddy Avaramovic amidst calls for him to step down.
Avaramovic led Singapore to the third round qualifiers for
last year's FIFA World Cup for the first time.
"He is probably the best coach we've ever had," said FAS
president Zainudin Nordin. "It is the players who have let him
down with their performances."
Singapore's FIFA world ranking fell last year by 30 places
to 140th.