Strategic Player Selection Crucial for Singapore in Upcoming AFF Championship

Little time should be wasted now since the writings are already on the wall following the announcement of the draw for the groupings of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup (hereafter referred to as the AFF Championship) on 21st May.

Since the AFF Championship is a non-FIFA sanctioned tournament, clubs are under no obligation to release their players for matches, which could make Coach Ogura's task challenging if he persists with the same selection ratio as in his recent Lions call-up for the World Cup qualifiers, where nearly half of the 27 players selected came from both Sailors and the Stags.

Consider the possibility that overseas-based players might not be released by their clubs during the AFF Championship, the former Japanese national assistant coach will see his pool shrink even further.

Geylang International and Balestier Khalsa are free of external commitments

As previously mentioned, this could be an ideal opportunity for Coach Ogura to broaden his selection scope, if possible, when choosing his squad for the regional tournament.

By doing so, he can provide a platform for eligible players from clubs without ACL 2 commitments to showcase their worth and gain valuable exposure.

This is also the right thing to do if the regeneration of the national team is now the top priority. When could a better opportunity than the AFF Championship be offered?

IMPACT OF CLUB COMMITMENTS ON NATIONAL TEAM

By doing so, we will have to temporarily set aside our pride to allow these raw talents to experience the culture shock at a higher level. Always remember that the differences in all aspects between domestic and international football are significant, and players should be prepared for that impact.

Lion City Sailors will be playing in the Shopee Cup

Some may argue that the revival of the ASEAN Club Championship, also known as the Shopee Cup for sponsorship reasons, provides another platform for players to gain exposure at the club level without compromising national pride. However, with only one slot allocated to a Singaporean team (i.e., Lion City Sailors), where would the opportunity for those players to gain the experience we are looking for come from?

Given that the remaining FIFA window periods of the year before the AFF Championship (to be held from 23rd November to 21st December 2024) are scheduled during the months of September and October, a maximum of two matches can be arranged during each period.

7-0 loss to South Korea is just another "wake up" call

This will allow Coach Ogura to try out some new players, if any, at a time when the need for rejuvenation of the national team is at an all-time high, especially after the crushing defeat by South Korea in early June in front of 49,000 fans.

It is never too early, but we must not leave it too late as time is no longer on our side when we need the right catalyst to kick-start the regeneration of the Lions.