Hanafi Akbar in action for Singapore last year in the Asian Youth Games. He is one of the more outstanding players on the YOG squad. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports Archive Photo)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, March 29, 2010 – The Football Association of Singapore has set a semi-final target for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) football team.
The National Football Academy Under-15 team will represent Singapore during the YOG. There are six teams in the football competition, including hosts Singapore. The other teams are Montenegro, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Vanuatu and Bolivia.
The six teams will be drawn into two groups of three teams. The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals. The draw for the groups will be conducted in May 2010.
“Our target is for the YOG team to qualify for the semi-finals,” said FAS president Zainudin Nordin.
The YOG squad is coached by ex-national player Kadir Yahaya and the squad will take part in this year’s COE Under-16 tournament to gain experience.
The FAS are also planning a training trip to Europe and will organise the Lion City Cup to give the YOG squad competitive games.
President Zainudin also highlighted the groundwork laid in the past year by the FAS to develop young football talent.
“Another significant milestone was achieved when FAS established the first Junior Centre of Excellence (JCOE) for boys U-8, U-10 and U-12 as part of the long term player development pathway.
“There was an overwhelming response during the trials and 800 boys were put through their paces. Eventually 97 players were identified by our technical team and were selected for the respective development squads,” said president Zainudin.
“The respective JCOE development squads train once a week at the Yio Chu Kang Primary School and FAS intends to increase the number of JCOEs to reach out to more young talents and to groom them from a young age as part of the long term player development pathway,” added the president.
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ZAINUDIN NORDIN SPEECH
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singapore must qualify 4 d next round.trash montenegro n zimbabwe.i noe u can do it.go singspore!
Montenegro will be the toughest to play followed by Zimbabwe in my opinion. Montenegro have produced star players like Vucinic( AS Roma) and Zimbabwe have produced EPL talents like Benjani(Man City (Not too sure))
hahh..mebbe sgp got chance to win gold
I’m not so sure 😉 Maybe these teams are very good! You never know.
mmm….only 6 teams?
@TimTeo: You read correctly. The Youth Olympic Games is more a global participation games. They are trying to get diversity into the games.
still dont get it!!! y only six teams?
is it becos other countries ‘belittle’ the
games that y they dont wanna waste time sending
representatives?!?!?
@vera: No lah. This is the Youth Olympic Games, not the Summer Olympic Games. It is not purely about competition. It’s meant to be inclusive, give everyone a chance to take part.