Personally, looking at the enthusiasm and support of the recent SEA games, I am pretty sure sport is still not the most important concerns for Singaporeans. The Singapore Sports Council is also very selective when it comes to financing NSAs. If you are performing, you are considered in the core or merit sport and the NSA(National Team) gets all the support required. If you are not performing, they will review your proposal whenever they like and maybe, they will give you some petty cash if they have excess.
Why is playing for the National team not as lucrative in Singapore?
Financial
- Players pay for their tickets, tournament fees, lodging, food, and many more? Why should I be training so hard, spending time gelling with my team mates and yet, I still need to fork out money to travel for a competition. Isn't this the job of the SSC or NSA? Going to Vancouver will cost at least $2500. Can our talented youths, whom some might be still studying afford this amount?
Recognition
- People ask what can I do for UPA(S)?
- I ask what can UPA(S) do for me?
- So what if we come back improving on the initial placing, say from 40 to 39 out of 40 teams!
- Are we given special recognition? Are the players appreciated in any way? I'm not saying we need to idolise these national players, but at least we appreciate them for the time, money and effort they have put in during the process
Ownership
- Who takes care of the National Team?
- Do people take control over the administrative of the team? Do people take time to learn and share their knowledge with the other players?
- Do they feel that they are part of the team? How about their clubs?
Competing priority
- Clubs vs National team training? Which one comes first?
- One cannot attend both or risk the possibility of burning out
Opportunity to play together as a team
- A quick fix would most likely be getting all the best players in Singapore and put them together to play as a team. You know this doesn't work. You cannot put Gerald and Lampard together. They get into each other's way!
- How many tournament can the national players commit and play together as a team?
These are some of the comments which one should consider before committing himself/herself to the national team. I agree that we are developing the structure and the situation is not perfect yet. I hope UPA can consider these suggestions when they are making their decisions. Personally, clubs is never as important as the National team. All players should work towards earning a place in the National Team. It is a motivation to play and train hard all year round. Right now, the clubs are aimless, going for overseas tournament with no recognition.
When certain clubs win, they broadcasted on website. When they lost, there is no news of them! This is such an irony!
No comments:
Post a Comment