In an effort to grow domestic football, the Singaporean Government have announced the intended rollout of their ‘Unleash The Roar’ plan across the nation.
By aligning with the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) ultimate aspiration of qualifying for the 2034 World Cup, the Singaporean Government is seeking to create better opportunities for the country’s youths in order to undergo consistent and focused high-quality football development training.
As the most participated team sport in Singapore, football has the advantage of being engrained in Singaporean culture and interest.
Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong confirmed the plan in Singapore’s Parliament meeting on Monday, citing a need for unity in the pursuit of a plan to sustain the nation’s growth of football.
“It has to be all of us, working together, united, pulling in the same direction, for this project to have a chance,” Tong said.
The plan has been arranged by eight distinct pillars, each signifying a step towards building the foundations of an effective footballing infrastructure. Namely, Pillar One is entitled ‘Let Them Play’, desired to establish a football curriculum in schools throughout the country.
By developing a multitude of pathways towards elite football for the nation’s youth, the Singaporean Government’s introduction of the ‘Unleash The Roar’ plan is intended to be fundamentally holistic.
This announcement follows the appointment of former Singaporean international Stephen Ng Heng Seng as head coach of the country’s women’s national side.
Currently sitting at 158th in FIFA’s rankings, Singapore men’s national team have been relatively successful within their own province, winning a third of the ASEAN Football Federation Championships since the tournament’s inauguration in 1996.
By contrast, Singapore women’s national team are viewed as relative minnows in the region. With both sides having never qualified for a World Cup and the men’s side only reaching the group stage of the Asian Cup once, it is hoped by the Singaporean Government & the FAS that their ‘Unleash The Roar’ plan is a positive step that’s necessary to head in the right direction for football in the nation.
