FAS must support Tardy and Sablon fully to change youth development
FAS must give foreign duo all the support to revolutionise youth football development
COMMENT
It was a damning indictment by a football coach who has only been here for a month, but Richard Tardy's assessment of the standard of Singapore's youngsters should actually be welcomed.
After watching the Singapore Under-16s and Under-15s at the Lion City Cup over the weekend, and observing their play, training and fitness levels, and also gauging their attitude over nearly 30 days, including a tournament in Cambodia, the Frenchman's conclusion is these boys are just not good enough.
For one of the top football minds of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to be so honest is refreshing and Tardy's comments suggest he is a serious coach.
By making his conclusions public, he is revealing what he needs to do to improve Singapore's young footballers, and if the next group of age-group sides fail to be better than what has come before, then the 65-year-old national youth teams head coach will be responsible.
It is vital the FAS gives him all the tools necessary to address these critical areas.
Right now, the teams of V Selvaraj and Robin Chitrakar are not where they should be at in terms of the basic level expected of national age-group sides, and Tardy's withering assessment of the squads from the National Football Academy (NFA) is a sobering thought when one considers the calibre of the Lions in 10 years' time, because many of these Under-16s and Under-15s players would have been expected to don Singapore colours by then.
It is the main reason the FAS set up the NFA, in the first place.
Tardy was technical director of the Rwanda Football Association, where he also led the U-20 and U-17 national teams, helping the latter to qualify for the U-17 Youth World Cup in 2011.
He was also assistant coach of the French national youth teams, and was assistant to Gerard Houllier when France won the 1996 European U-20 Championship.
QUALIFIED
His resume is impressive, like the one owned by Belgium's Michel Sablon, the FAS technical director.
The FAS must back them to the hilt if the mission to grow a proper pool of football hopefuls is to succeed.
Maybe complete support was not forthcoming, perhaps the eye was taken off the ball, but what is clear is that the FAS development system has not been operating as it should.
Sablon released his grassroots coaching manual last week in a bid to ensure more kids, starting from six years old, fall in love with the game and, crucially, develop the proper habits in terms of technique and motor skills which will stay with them forever.
The Cubs Programme launched recently, in partnership with the People's Association, will help do that and also grow the talent pool in the country.
I know it is one of the biggest priorities of FAS vice-president Bernard Tan, who spearheaded the initiative that aims to have 33 venues for the programme by the end of the year.
He is continuing to talk to the Ministry of Education and tweak the schools' annual football competition to ensure the young dreamers train and play the right way.
It is what Sablon and Tardy want, as well.
Working intimately with the likes of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Sport, the FAS must make it happen.
Fitness and mental strength were also highlighted by Tardy as weak elements among our young footballers and each discipline must be addressed urgently across the board.
It was the wrong signal to send when the FAS allowed national striker Sahil Suhaimi to move from S.League side the Courts Young Lions to Malaysian Super League outfit the LionsXII late last year after he failed the 2.4km test - a requirement to play in the domestic club competition - because fitness is a basic tool for any professional footballer and there cannot be a compromise.
The FAS has to work closely with the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) and map out a detailed programme for NFA footballers to adhere to.
Engage their sports psychologists, toughen up our young hopefuls physically and mentally; it will only make them better.
Attitudes must change in the local fraternity.
There will be many who will say there was little such support in the '60s and '70s and, yet, Singapore was a thriving football nation.
But these are different times, where there are many competing forces and distractions, and for a small nation striving to punch above its weight on the continent, it is necessary to map out such a blueprint.
The critics will say Sablon and Tardy are foreign mercenaries pulling the wool over our eyes. I know there will even be local coaches who will try to undermine them.
The FAS must nip this in the bud. The duo are also responsible for developing quality coaches and those under their tutorship must display 100 per cent commitment and trust.
Developing the game at the grassroots, instilling the correct basics among the young, this is regarded as the unfashionable part of a national programme.
But it is a fundamental requirement because it is the foundation on which the Beautiful Game is built.
There have been a number of false starts here, the FAS must give Tardy and Sablon every chance to make it work this time, and grow a big pool of youngsters who kick, pass, head, shoot, run and display the right attitude.
Only then, will Singapore football be on the right track for the long term.
For one of the top football minds of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to be so honest is refreshing and Tardy's comments suggest he is a serious coach.
— Leonard Thomas on national youth teams head coach Richard Tardy
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