It is a huge privilege in my opinion to be able to attend the Unleash The Roar: Football Conversation.

I now have a complete understanding of what UTR is really about, the real objectives and how it explains everything that is happening right now in the local football scene.

UTR have one main objective (my own interpretation): it is to have a powerful national team for Singapore for the long run, that will be entirely unaffected by whatever politics happening with the FAS.

From my point of view, UTR will succeed with or without FAS. And in fact, I can’t tell much of FAS involvement per se in this national project.

It was a massive reality shock for me, to discover the “truth” with the current direction and plans for Singapore football that I literally wasn’t able to sleep that night…

This is not a project that will revamp the singapore football culture at the adult level. It’s just not. And it’s not entirely within Govt control too anyway. That’s FAS domain.

This is a project that the govt do to make sure we can win football medals and compete at a higher level, in spite of the failings of FAS.

In fact, I would go further to say, UTR is a direct result of govt giving up on FAS to get its house in order and do what it’s needed to keep football relevant in Singapore, because FAS is failing to do it’s job.

I am sorry for those people involved in higher level football, especially the professional players or those aspires to play professionally in Singapore. UTR isnt for you, your destiny lies in the hands of FAS… but from my exchange with the FAS President, I can only quote him, “if you cannot make it, qutting isnt a bad idea”.

FAS only focus on national team results. Everyone else is just a dispensable tool to get there. Don’t expect changes to the general ecosystem. It will stay elitist and exclusive.

For now, I have to just force myself to stop thinking about this. It’s just mentally and emotionally draining, to think and talk about local football.