Singapore can afford to bring in some foreign players who have a connection with Singapore and Singaporeans, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong told CNA’s “Talking Point”. His comments followed Cardiff City’s Perry Ng being invited to train with the Singapore national team in a “familiarisation stint”. Ng is eligible to play for Singapore under FIFA rules, as his late paternal grandfather was born here but later moved to Liverpool. Tong emphasised the importance of players who can relate to Singapore and Singaporeans, both as footballers and individuals.
Background
Tong highlighted that the most sustainable way for Singapore to grow its football scene is to build a pool of its own youth players rather than relying on foreign talent. He pointed out that in the early 2000s, Singapore relied heavily on naturalised players, which masked a deeper problem. “We did win a couple of ASEAN champion titles in that period. And I think this, in some ways, papered over the cracks,” Tong said. “The real fundamental problem was we weren’t building a pipeline of young players. And then the moment we stopped having naturalised players, that got exposed.”
Perry Ng’s eligibility
According to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Ng is eligible to play for the Lions through his late paternal grandfather, who was born in Singapore. If successful, he will be the first heritage athlete to gain Singapore citizenship. The FAS also invited Tampines Rovers’ Kyoga Nakamura to join the training. Nakamura recently became a permanent resident and aspires to eventually obtain Singaporean citizenship. Ng previously shared with Fathership his hopes of representing Singapore as a way to honour his late grandfather. “I always felt like I needed to honour my grandfather and make him proud,” said Ng.
Relatable players
Tong told CNA that he does not want a team made up of people who wear the Singapore jersey and bear the flag but are not known to the community. “Occasionally, we might supplement with a few who’ve been here, who not just as a footballer, but as a person can relate to Singapore and Singaporeans. I think that’s important,” he said. He cited the Indonesian football team, whose lineup largely comprised people of mixed heritage, as an example. The Indonesian national team recently drew against Australia 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier, despite the Australians taking 19 shots against Indonesia and forcing 15 corners. During the Asian Cup in January, Australia beat Indonesia 4-0. “They are Indonesian by birth or descent but may not necessarily be culturally connected to Indonesia in the same way. I want to build a Singapore team that is Singaporean by culture and Singaporean in identity.”
“Naturalisation” not sustainable strategy
FAS president Bernard Tan also agreed that naturalisation in the past was not a sustainable strategy. He shared with CNA that the movement’s pause exposed the lack of focus on domestic youth development. “We think that looking after the youth spectrum, building a strong pipeline, having a big base of players is the most sustainable way to rebuild football in Singapore,” said Tong. “We want kids who are interested in football to see a career in football. We want them to realise their aspirations. We want them not to have to choose so much between the academic path and the sporting path.”
Future implications
The focus on developing local talent is expected to have long-term benefits for Singapore football. By nurturing homegrown players, Singapore aims to create a more relatable and culturally connected team. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for a stronger football pipeline but also ensures that the sport remains an integral part of the national identity. As Singapore continues to invest in its youth, the hope is that future generations will see football as a viable career path, contributing to the overall growth and success of the sport in the country.
