The suspense over the identity of the new national football coach will linger for another three months, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said yesterday.
FAS general secretary Yazeen Buhari said: "We are at the tail end of the process. And we should be appointing one (national coach) before the next competition window (official Fifa match dates) in June."
The Lions have been without a coach since exiting the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in the group stage last December. Then, FAS' head of youth Fandi Ahmad led the team for six months.
Tatsuma Yoshida, a 44-year-old Japanese and former S-League player with Jurong FC and an ex-coach of J-League club Kashiwa Reysol and Albirex Niigata, has been mentioned as a possible front runner for the hot seat.
Yesterday, it was announced that former national captain Nazri Nasir will lead the Lions at the AirMarine Cup held in Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Jalil Stadium on March 20 and 23.
The other teams in the quadrangular are hosts Malaysia, Afghanistan and Oman.
The Lions will meet the Tigers of Malaysia in a Causeway battle on March 20 while Oman play Afghanistan on the same day. The winners will contest the final three days later while the losers will play in the third-place play-off.
LIONS SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Izwan Mahbud (Nongbua Pitchaya), Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers), Zaiful Nizam (Balestier Khalsa)
DEFENDERS
Amirul Adli, Irwan Shah (both Tampines), Emmeric Ong (Warriors FC), Faritz Hameed (Home United), Nazrul Nazari (Hougang United), Safuwan Baharudin (Pahang), Shakir Hamzah (Kedah)
MIDFIELDERSÂ
Izzdin Shafiq (Home), M. Anumanthan, Zulfahmi Arifin (both Hougang), Hariss Harun (Johor Darul Takzim), Huzaifah Aziz (Balestier), Shahdan Sulaiman, Yasir Hanapi (both Tampines)
FORWARDS
Faris Ramli, Iqbal Hussain (both Hougang), Gabriel Quak (Warriors), Khairul Amri (Tampines), Khairul Nizam (Warriors)
FAS vice-president Teo Hock Seng, who will be the head of the delegation for the Cup, said: "This is a great opportunity for Singapore football. Malaysia did pretty well in the Suzuki Cup (they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Vietnam in the two-legged final), but I don't think we are too far away from them.
"I will be going up to ensure that we play to win."
Calling the appointment "a privilege and honour", Nazri, 48, said: "It will be do or die, there are no friendlies against Malaysia.
"I am looking at a very attacking team. We want players who have pace, aggression and are explosive. I want to see midfielders coming into the box, taking on players and shooting from outside the box.
"We are all ready to go."
Picking a squad of 22, Nazri has opted for a youthful line-up and decided not to call up 35-year-old veterans Shahril Ishak (138 caps) and Baihakki Khaizan (134).
Home United forward Adam Swandi, 23, the Singapore Premier League Young Player of the Year, was also omitted while goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, 34, is injured.
Said Nazri: "Bai and Shahril had done a lot for the country over the years. They had also done their part in the Suzuki Cup supporting and guiding the younger players. But now is the time to select more younger players."
Baihakki announced his retirement from international football on social media last night, thanking former national coaches Raddy Avramovic and Bernd Stange, FAS coaches and staff, his family and fans for guiding and supporting him since he made his Lions debut against Hong Kong on Aug 4, 2003.
"I hope I have given my best during the 12,240 minutes (of playing for the Lions). I apologise for all my wrongdoing on any occasion as I'm not the most perfect of humans. I'll be joining you soon in the stands, doing the Kallang Roar together as one Singapore," he wrote on Instagram.
Dutch pair Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema are the first players from the same country to win PFA Player of the Year awards in the same year. Dutch duo Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema have won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year awards for 2018-19. Liverpool defender Van Dijk, 27, beat Raheem Sterling
Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling win PFA Player of the
CARDIFF, United Kingdom (REUTERS) - Tottenham moved back into second place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, after cruising to a 3-0 win at lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday
Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff - Football
May 01, 2019 · Jan Vertonghen will not play for Tottenham at Bournemouth on Saturday as the club continue to monitor him in the wake of the head injury he suffered in Tuesday night's Champions League defeat
Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen to visit neurologist over head
Son Heung-min is one of the most popular footballers in the world. A superstar in Asia and beloved in Europe, the 26-year-old Tottenham forward is at the top of his game right now with 16 goals on
No more tears for Son Heung-min as Spurs star eyes Champions
Football: Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash Liechtenstein The Straits Times Stefano Sensi, Marco Verratti and Leonardo Pavoletti also found the net.
Liechtenstein News, Stats, Fixtures and Results - Yahoo Sports
Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal as Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0 on Thursday to advance to the Europa League semi-finals 3-0 on aggregate.
Arsenal win in Napoli to reach Europa League semi-finals
Davinson Sanchez is confident Tottenham's squad is strong enough to mount a Premier League title challenge despite injuries to Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Spurs squad can cope without Kane and
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli - Sportstar
Cards 3 Reds 1. Paul DeJong hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer off Michael Lorenzen in the 8th inning and the Cardinals beat the Reds 3-1 Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium. It was another frustrating game with missed chances and mistakes for the Reds. It was another classic example of why they are what they are.
Messi makes Reds pay for missed chances - 5 talking points
Clock ticking on PA city manager search. 1 / 1. Back to Gallery Port Arthur has fewer than 30 days for a city manager candidate the City Council can agree on to emerge. Mayor Derrick Freeman said
The clock is ticking | Plant City Observer
'Serene' Quagliarella becomes Italy's oldest scorer at 36 PARMA • Fabio Quagliarella attributed his new-found inner peace, following years of being harassed by a stalker, to his stunning form for club and country after the 36-year-old became the oldest player to score for Italy on Tuesday.
Quagliarella becomes oldest Italy scorer - Daily Nation
Cristiano Ronaldo losing battle to be fit for Juventus' Champions League clash with Ajax, reveals boss Max Allegri The Portugal star pulled his hamstring on international duty and missed the
Cristiano Ronaldo fit for Juventus clash with Ajax, says
0 comments:
Post a Comment