The Singapore Youth League (SYL) has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. It kicked off on 24 Feb 2024 with some touting it as a "game changer". The SYL is a national football project that will feature players from the Under-8 to Under-17 categories.
This initiative under the Unleash the Roar umbrella, is a massive project that has received praise as well as its fair share of criticism so far. I sat down with FAS' Head of Planning, Technical Division, Baihaki Khaizan, to dissect the project and posed some pertinent questions.
The biggest takeaway for me personally from the conversation - the willingness to accept criticism/feedback and to make changes if necessary to make the SYL a success moving forward.
A "game changer" it is not, but certainly a welcome addition to the Singapore football ecosystem.
The Singapore Youth League (SYL) has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. It kicked off on 24 Feb 2024 with some touting it as a "game changer". The SYL is a national football project that will feature players from the Under-8 to Under-17 categories.
This initiative under the Unleash the Roar umbrella, is a massive project that has received praise as well as its fair share of criticism so far. I sat down with FAS' Head of Planning, Technical Division, Baihaki Khaizan, to dissect the project and posed some pertinent questions.
The biggest takeaway for me personally from the conversation - the willingness to accept criticism/feedback and to make changes if necessary to make the SYL a success moving forward.
A "game changer" it is not, but certainly a welcome addition to the Singapore football ecosystem.
Hello and welcome to the Silver Fox Hustle Podcast. I'm Shasi and, by the way, we've been missing for a couple of months, but I'm back stronger and raring to go, so let's get this going and let's get this started. By the way, before we move on, if you are watching us on YouTube, please click on the follow and subscribe button. We are out on Spotify, apple Podcast and everywhere. You know every podcast platform, so just click on the follow and follow us and leave a comment as well, if you like the podcast.
Speaker 1:Now, today's podcast is the football talk episode and over the past couple of weeks, the SYL, which is the Singapore Youth League, has been the talk of the town. If you go on social media, we have parents, we have coaches, we have everyone under the sun who loves football going on about the SYL good, some bad, of course, some comments, but that is why we are here. We are going to talk about it. We're gonna try to dismantle some stuff about the Singapore Youth League. It kicked off, by the way, on the 24th of February I think it's about two weeks ago to fanfare, you know, and, of course, with many things new, there will be many questions, thieving, problems, and we are going to talk about that as well. Now, here to share details on the Singapore Youth League and to answer some of those tough questions is Bai Haki. He is, of course, you know, a famous person in Singapore. He is the head of planning technical division in FAS and, of course, a former national player and a former teammate of mine way back in 2003.
Speaker 1:I think Bai Haki welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1:So how has it been the past couple of weeks? Busy headaches.
Speaker 2:Busy good headaches. You know this. This was, I expected it all along but honestly it's satisfying. You know, at one point every weekend now you can see kids smiling, running and you know roaring for the game getting ready. So I mean these are these. These are the things where I mean almost one year of you know planning for accreditation and it leads on to the Singapore Youth League and it is something that you you just sit down there and then you I mean the satisfying level is really impressive.
Speaker 1:We will talk about that, the planning stage and all Bai, but I hear you went for your sea license as well a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2:Just last week. How was it?
Speaker 1:How was that experience?
Speaker 2:You got sea right.
Speaker 1:I saw the photos, by the way and what's the difference between a player and being a coach? No, no, it's totally different my friend is totally different.
Speaker 2:Now I can understand why our coaches and then shouted at us you know telling, giving us instructions and all that. But then yes, of course it's an eye-opener. Partly, the coaching course is part of the players concierge program. I think the players concierge itself it is an enhanced model of the players welfare program. So I mean, like we discussed before, I think this is where we can integrate, how we can give platforms to players, ex-players, international players, you know as sleep players, and so on right.
Speaker 1:Well, like I said now, we we go way back to 2003, when we played together and ironically, that was your first professional season, I think, in in professional football and that was my last. By the way, that was my last when we a couple of players retired from football, that that, that last year as well together with Eric.
Speaker 1:Francis Lim Tong Hai PJ as well, yeah, so yeah, so we go all the way back to 2003. You know, of course, along the way, we remain friends and of course, the rents separate ways in terms of professional careers. And you know, today is an opportunity for us to speak about the SYL and also, you know, to speak openly as well, to be candid as possible, because obviously there are things that been said in the local media, in social media. So let's, let's get that out of the way, but before that, let's talk about the start of the SYL, right? So you are one of the heads of the project and instrumental in the start. You know, for the for the start of this as well, how did this begin and why?
Speaker 2:okay, well, I'm so sorry, maybe this my my my my sound long winded just to go back on the day that I step into office. Why management? Why not coaching? Because, first of all, I don't really see myself being a coach. I mean, probably. I mean this is just, it's just your own right, right, choice, right. But lately, during my playing career, I mean, you know, playing, playing with, playing abroad with some of a few clubs abroad, you know it gives me that the impression of, oh, this is how a big team run their, their clubs and all that. So I, bits and pieces, I get to see a little bit of what's going on behind the bag, how they do planning and stuff like that. So I think that kind of like you know, give me that, oh, I think this is your kind of surrounding, this is your kind of area of work.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I explore into that and then you know I I put myself in a. You know people say that why you are too brief to do this.
Speaker 2:I said but it's okay, let's, let's try. I mean, you know there's no, I will make mistakes, of course. Yeah, I mean it's a learning journey then goes into a phase. Spoke to general secretary Yazin. I mean thanks to him and thanks to all the people in FA that they accepted me, and then, you know, the journey starts. Then, after that, continue thinking about the players, concierge, you know how what can I enhance and all that. So, basically, after three months into the, into the job, you know I was given this space to create something and to show them. You know what's my version of thinking? That it's lacking in Singapore football. So there's no right, there's no wrong. I mean it's just me being me just trying to present. I think maybe we can do this, maybe we can do that, maybe this can work, maybe that can work, that cannot work and stuff like that. So youth league was one of them. Yeah, you know, having an app, having a you know, it's all.
Speaker 2:It's all those ideas coming into play and all that. So then fast forward into me going into the technical division so actually that was the plan.
Speaker 2:Okay, to go myself, to prepare myself to go into technical planning with the national teams international matches, fifa windows, fifa matches working closely with national coach Nishigaya, yeah, also women's coach TD in the same time. So here comes Michael Brown. Right. Then, somehow, when I came into the technical department, michael Brown was there. Then we, we traveled together, we watch the year FF under 16, we go to women's tournaments and so on, and slowly along the way we of course we discussed things. You know he wanted to find out more what the landscape of youth in.
Speaker 2:Singapore. So obviously a lot of discussion was was made. So then I kind of like you know, whatever that he's seeing, like I'm seeing the same thing. So there we go, we try to chart something and then we need to find a solution.
Speaker 2:I mean it could be a solution, it could be a new thing yeah. I didn't know. This is something that we want to implement, right? So Michael Brown himself, of course. I have 1001 questions to him. I mean being him. He's from Qatar. He came from Qatar Espy Academy. You know it's something which is huge and you know a lot of his players when he handled them back then made it to the World Cup score and you know these stories are nice to inspiration, right?
Speaker 2:so yeah, you take points here and there, you try to form up and then you try to see your local landscape and we try to create a model that probably could work for us yep, so yeah, then there it goes, come into planning, and then we introduce the academy accreditation system.
Speaker 2:Okay, which we will touch on later on fast forward into the SOL, which is one of the pillars of the accreditation. So these teams will get accredited and participate in the Singapore Youth League. Now, why SOL? Right, that's the question. Okay, first of all, again, if I can just throw back a little bit during my time traveling across the region, countries like Thailand, malaysia, indonesia, what are the similarities we have with them? Okay, they are huge, their numbers are big. This is a numbers game.
Speaker 2:So this, you and I probably could agree on this that we always have this, you know fantasy that we want, we want to have more talent right on the ground. You know, probably 50 hundred. It's not enough, right? You know, this has been always the composition on the ground, be it coaches, be it academy owners, be it, you know, national, whatever, you know coffee shops and all that. Yeah, we need more talent, we need more players and all that. So we try to find, we try to find a solution to that, we try to find the recipe to that. Okay, is it perfect? I don't think so. Can it can? Can it be better?
Speaker 2:yes, of course it can be better right you know things like I and I also believe that you know, before we even go into SOL, the how many teams are playing right now. We need to first understand that we are we geographically. We are Singapore. This is only so much that we can do. There's the certain, the certain numbers of facilities and we need to work with it, right. I mean, we have no choice. You and I yeah same in this room podcast, we are doing this as well.
Speaker 2:So in today's, while the whole goal is objective is take, we want to have a bigger pull-off, please on the ground now there goes From under 8, previously we go for trials Under 13, under 14, whatever we go for trials, maybe 5 of us, 6 of us, we go as friends together. Hey, let's go to Tanjung Pagar.
Speaker 1:Let's go.
Speaker 2:Let's go for trials and then 2 of us got selected and 3 of us not get selected, and then you have this like then. After that, if you can remember, 1 month later, 5 of you start splitting. Now the 2 of you have the same schedule. The 3 of you, the 3 of them become like ah, they have training, they have this, they have that and they end up playing with.
Speaker 2:They still play football, but they play with some unorganised you know kind of settings and all that. Then that's where you can feel that, hey, they are in the elite side, I'm on the different side, and then we start to compare. So for me, I want to change that. I feel that every kid, from 8 years old to 17 years old, they should be seeing the same thing and they are part of something which is the same. If you're playing for SOL, I'm playing for SOL as well. I don't want them to miss the boot, I don't want them to feel left out. So that's why the tagline of the game is tagline of the SOL is welcome to the game. Number one. Number two the COE. The COE used to have 6 teams, yep 6, 7 teams. To be fair, every club teams the youth teams, the COE we have under 15s, under 17s. Some of them closed those days and then they changed the age groups. Now, assuming 2 teams now 2 age categories, 6 teams times 20 per team, say 120, 120, 240.
Speaker 2:You have 240 kids in your talent pool. Now, every Saturday and Sunday, we have 3,800 kids playing football. So this is another thing that we can look at now and we can say that, alright, this is the way to go. Okay, we check the box. Now. We got this Same as well, the same process of you want to build a house, you need to have your foundation before anything else goes on top of it. So we found that Moving forward. Of course, we understand.
Speaker 2:Now you have 200 teams you have 220 teams, you expect people to come to you. The next thing. Of course, it shouldn't be perfect for everybody, right? I mean, everybody has different problems. So this is where the challenge comes. This is where how can we keep those challenges? We know we are meeting them. We are meeting those challenges. We are going towards the challenges, the problems. So I feel that this is we are week 3. We are in week 3 right now coming week 3.
Speaker 2:So it's a new product altogether. I'm happy to be honest. A lot of parents I did my rounds Saturday and Sunday trying to get parents' feedbacks, coaches. Some of them say it's nice, it's good. I like the settings. We changed certain under 8. We put 5-5, instead of some leaks they put it 7-7.
Speaker 1:More touches on the ball, more time and all that If I answer your answer, of course you did, just catching on on whatever you said, probably the things that I picked up the most number one in terms of widening the talent pool, making it a bigger pool so that you can obviously choose more players for whatever reasons, national, team and whatever.
Speaker 1:So especially you're talking about the older age group, the COE levels, right. So obviously now, with more teams, with academies coming in to play in the COE, obviously it's a bigger pool. That is exactly what you said and you're right we need to pick players from a wider pool rather than a smaller one. So the COE part, that's a great move, obviously. Now, the reason why I just want to touch on the reason why there is a wider talent pool now is because all the other so-called smaller academies can then now join in the league. Last time it was only the club teams playing in the COE league, so that's one and we talked about because of the other academies joining the league. Obviously, like you said just now, you gave an example of me and you going for a trial and you don't get. Let's say, if I don't get a place in that academy, I go on to another academy. So it's a bigger pool.
Speaker 2:Everybody belongs to the same flag, exactly.
Speaker 1:So that's a great move. Exactly Now I just want to ask you and this is the elephant in the room I was talking about on social media as well this four letters JSSL. Now what is the difference between JSSL and the SYL, If you can just tell us?
Speaker 2:Well, to be honest, shaz, we can't hide about it. Jssl has been there for the past years. I even told Harvey. I even told them, told the staff as well. We cannot hide from the fact that they have been the one proactive on the ground. So here we are looking at, you know the difference. If I can say the difference, I mean the difference is not really difference-difference. It's still football, it's still mass football mass participation for the kids and all that.
Speaker 2:But why we set this is because we feel that this is more towards developing the kids. Well, I understand JSSL and other probably other leagues that's available in Singapore. I think it's more towards like a platform for them to play, but of course, a platform they come surprised at as well. So I think not everybody can afford those platforms. So then comes we need to ask ourselves right that actually we can. We should be proactive from day one.
Speaker 2:you know, setting up the grassroots and I feel we are responsible for that, and also now we have other components that come in play you know, your talent ID, the junior NDC, your NDC teams and your national age group teams. So you know, these are the elements that we kind of like, hey, these are places for the kids to go Now, before they get there, where do they play right? So this is where we need to get everybody now to come under the umbrella of the AAS.
Speaker 2:So to speak. It's like a membership of the FA, and then we can now say all right, we have the numbers now then we can now plot into to create pathway for them. This is more pathway centric versus if I can put it commercial or if I can put it maybe just fun, and you know fun and play for those normal platforms.
Speaker 1:Again, this is not to say anything is JSSL. I think JSSL if you're watching this, anyone from JSSL you've been doing a great job as well, and the fact that you guys are coexisting with the SYL, I think, speaks volumes. So you know, I think we've got to move on. I think we can't just speak about this for the longest of times and then nothing goes on. So we've got to move on and we've got to take it forward. Now, what are the challenges you faced when you were trying to set up the SYL, like from day one till now? Small little things, I'm sure. There's always going to be challenges, but what were the major challenges you faced? I think you spoke about one in terms of facilities, right? I mean, you got a thousand odd players or whatever, and then the number of facilities, and so that could be one of those major challenges you face, right, in terms of fixtures, correct?
Speaker 2:So, shaz, you said the SYL alone. You said the concept of it is inclusivity, yep. So we want to bring everybody on board, yep. Now, speaking of that, this is where we ourselves, as organizers, as stakeholders, we need to come together as well. Now, knowing that SYL is a national project I mean, it's part of UTR Sports SG, I mean and us FA coming together as one, I think I'm really happy and grateful to see that every individual organization is actually putting in and playing their role really.
Speaker 2:Sports SG, providing stadiums and all that and prioritizing yeah.
Speaker 1:Am I right to say yes?
Speaker 2:Prioritizing us SYL and other things. Well, we can also understand that there's other sports as well that need to use those facilities as well, True, but moving along fine Things. As long as we move, as long we kick off the SYL, we no problems will come Shaz, we can't find a perfect.
Speaker 1:Can I ask you something? Do you think that, because we need to start something right Of course Do you think that we started a little bit too soon? I don't know. Were you pushing for something like a deadline or something like that, Anything like that?
Speaker 2:Actually not really, though, to be honest. It is nice we work backwards, though.
Speaker 3:We have a proper timeline.
Speaker 1:We work from backwards.
Speaker 2:So our target was so we started discussing about this since February 2023. And our target is March.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this time 24.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we tried to kick off 24. Yeah, probably a lot of people can say anything and everything. Just I mean some. I hear parents, Coaches also telling me. I say bye, it's okay, it's good, I don't mind the players, because this is a new thing for us, Even in terms of challenges of the pitch Protocols administrations. Suddenly, from you have a simple and easy, flexible rules and you have now suddenly almost equivalent to SPL and AFC Kind of it's massive, it's massive, it's massive right.
Speaker 2:So, of course, do we actually leave them dry? No, come on, we need to guide them. Of course, this is where we feel that that's why the AES is there. Allow me to show you I mean.
Speaker 3:I will explain to you more of the components of the.
Speaker 2:AES. So one of those is also to guide them to form and structurally grow as an academy, as a local academy. Because knowing that, at the end of the day, it's us, I mean we need to grow our own talent pool. We need to understand that.
Speaker 3:Because why.
Speaker 2:For the past two weeks now and, trust me, you already start seeing it From other teams and it's like, hey, where did this boy come from? Exactly those things are happening, so that's really exciting, right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you mentioned you just mentioned it AES, right? Yes, so let's talk about that. Aes is the accreditation system of the academies. Yes, correct, okay, so let's talk about that Now. So this came about so that you can assess the academies that are in Singapore, and how do you assess them and what is the criteria? Okay, number one.
Speaker 2:When we did the accreditation we felt that, all right. The main reason here is layman term is for us to actually feel that all right, make sure they are a team an organization, right? I mean, we cannot be bringing somebody from the bus stop Okay come, come, boy, that team girl, let's play. Right, we can do it. Okay, I mean just for joking. But then, yes, the AES is there for them to actually apply. Okay, All right, what's in store for them? Okay, now we put three levels.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:Level one, level two, level three. Now, of course different levels have are various with different rules. And I mean not say rules, but then submission of the recommendations and all that Yep, yep. Then they enter into the accreditation and then they choose. I don't, I don't select for them. Let them choose, I allow them to to choose what exactly?
Speaker 1:To choose the levels Okay, okay Of the accreditation, okay.
Speaker 2:So basically, it's like your hawker center. Right, you have ABC right, you grade yourself right, so so we will then tear you accordingly with how many, how much? You. You have the documentation. Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. So let me get this straight.
Speaker 3:So let's say now I'm an owner of an academy. Yes, please.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you are coming to assess yes, correct. So, you, you, you are asking me how do I rate myself first? No, no, no, I will give you the application form. Right, okay.
Speaker 2:In the application form. There's three levels in. Okay, Then you look at yourself and you choose. Okay, Now how, how well you want to grade yourself? Okay, because at the end of the day, the accreditation also can be part of a marketing tool for academies as well.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Because this is where I, as a parent, now. All right If I come to your academy and say and now, suddenly, now I say, eh, chassis, academy, level three, solid lah, okay. So this is where organization, wise structure, wise parents feel All right.
Speaker 1:Okay. I have a question now. Let's say, if on the form I put a level, level one is the best, Level three, Level three, so level I put myself as level three, yeah, Okay. So when you come in and you assess, yeah, I'm a level one. So how you you? You are you no, no, no, To be honest.
Speaker 2:I haven't come across yet. Are you sure, really, really, really Like for me, for me, to be honest, I'm quite surprised, though. Really really, let's bring one or two names here Okay. And I apologize if I. This is for the right things Okay. Soaring dreams Okay, I've never heard of them before. Me too, but Are they soaring? Of course. Three of the players are in NDC, so is it working?
Speaker 3:Yes, it's working.
Speaker 2:Are they providing players? Are they grooming players. They are grooming players. They just sign Juma Jantan as their head of academy. Are they growing? They are growing. Are they showing form of they want to be involved? Yes, they are showing so. Another side, Flair Academy, Totally purely local. I know him, Ibrahim. But again, these are examples of they are academies out there.
Speaker 2:And they are academies that are potentially Now. They are actually doing things like Whatever you said just now the five guys. Sorry, whatever I mentioned just now the five guys that goes to trial together. So these are the guys that end up in a much proper organized team other than the COE teams. They get to be a part of something which is special, but not in the COE.
Speaker 1:Okay, just going back to the levels, right? So what are the criteria, as you want to share, right? So what are the criteria? That goes into assessing academy.
Speaker 2:Okay, they are Okay. We follow the AFC model.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Alright, so this is level 1, level. 2, level 3.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Academies also can have. I mean, they can also Not say jump ship, but then they can also progress.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:If they want to go for AFC. One star by all means. So what JDT did, what PVF Vietnam did, lion City Sailors I think they are on two stars now. So that's the accreditation. That is to show that how organized you are in terms of administrative and also on the facilities, the page and all that programs and all that. So we have 13 categories. If I'm not wrong 13 categories. You know your planning, your organization coaching staff, org chart and first, you know your. What do you call it?
Speaker 2:Child safeguarding and all that Yep, yep, yep. So these are important things which have been always updated through FIFA and also.
Speaker 3:AFC Okay.
Speaker 2:So which is important in today's world?
Speaker 1:Right and listen. I think this is a good move. Obviously and I said this on social media as well Academies have got to be accountable. Especially, you are dealing with kids, dealing with parents, you're dealing with emotions as well. You don't want to be killing a kid's dreams, and especially if you're running the academy poorly. So I think that's very important. I want to touch on this fact and let's get to some difficult questions, some tough tackling questions, and I'm sure you will be. I hope I can answer that, I'm sure you will. I just want to touch on the accreditation, especially with coaching. With respect to coaching, because I'm so passionate about that part of it. Sure, please, and I'm a coach as well, and I'm a coach developer as well. I want to touch on this as well. It's very, very important because of the product and the services that you are providing as an academy. It's very, very important, correct. So the product is obviously the football.
Speaker 2:Of course.
Speaker 1:And the service that you provide is the coaching Correct. So the coaching bit to me has got to be one of the most important aspects when you are, you know, assessing an academy Correct. I think that's very important and I also know that you are trying to push for most of these coaches from the academies who are not yet what would you call it?
Speaker 1:License, license yet to go on Exactly, to push them on to go for this license, because I think by it is very, very important that they are qualified Exactly. Just take teaching, for example. You don't send your son to a school without teachers who are qualified. It's the same thing here, correct? So is there any plans to really upgrade? Because I'm sure there are academies out there I'm sorry, academies, but I'm just stating the facts and if you are not happy with it, it's really the truth Some academies do not have coaches who are qualified. So are there any plans to go on and push them on? Because I think this cannot go on because it's the first season, no problems, correct?
Speaker 2:Keesha. That is why the A is the accreditation. It's very, very important. Since February 2023, I've met 52 academies individually.
Speaker 1:Not as a group Individually.
Speaker 2:Because I need to know all their back-end stories what's happening, what you have now, what is your plan, etc. Now, from there, I need their honesty, I need their objective, what is their goal, etc. So now, then you can somehow picture that, alright, we have things that can move. Now they need something obviously. Well, you and I know how long we have, how much we are trying to, and a lot of other people also trying to apply for coaching courses and all that.
Speaker 2:Now, this is where the accreditation comes in. One of the pillars is called the coaching development.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:Now it is my job to ensure that they have proper coaching licenses at every age group, that they are coaching Brilliant, alright. Having said that, we know they are honest to us, I say by some of my coaches apart from us, they don't have time to take the causes and all that Fine, all and all fine, no worries, we try to understand them. So now this is where the coaching causes comes in. Just for the accreditation, just for the accredited academies, those who don't have certs, they will start with grassroots. Those who have grassroots, they want to upgrade to ICC. Icc they will upgrade to C and so on, and so forth.
Speaker 2:Having said that, due to that, we are giving a two-year runway for all these academies, hopefully by 2026, they could now elevate their level or coaching qualifications same as the COE SPL clubs. That's the whole goal. That's the whole target.
Speaker 1:I hope, excellent, excellent. The reason why I'm asking you this and we need to clear the air as well, because there's people talking as well it is very important because, you said it at the beginning there's a difference between playing and coaching. Just imagine the difference between being a parent and coaching. There are differences. It's a good move, so you've got to really make this happen in the next two years or so.
Speaker 2:We are rolling. Actually just for discussion sake, we are rolling the coaching courses right after Herera. That will be our first AS sorry, icc, your grassroots coaching C license.
Speaker 1:We have two years to plan. Well, the next issue you want to talk about.
Speaker 2:I can see you about this.
Speaker 1:No, it's not from B, it's out in the open, my friend.
Speaker 2:It's okay, no worries.
Speaker 1:Fixtures kickoff timings. Okay, Obviously the fixtures kickoff from morning all the way till 4pm. Is the last kickoff timing, or something?
Speaker 2:like that.
Speaker 1:So the problem arises when I think one of the players in one of the academies got the heat stroke from playing on the 2pm kickoff, I understand. So the main concern was the heat stroke affecting the player. And just to digress, there are comments on social media and you actually take your time to actually answer them. Is it a plan thing that I'm going to answer all this in the best way possible, or is it just like an instinctive thing, because in a way it's good but in a way as well you might want to protect yourself.
Speaker 1:I don't know. So is it a plan thing that you want to answer?
Speaker 2:No, for me it's this I think we football players, we are as candid as we can In the changing room. We speak facts, we try to be straightforward and direct as we can. For me it's just my instinct that kicks in. It's not really emotional, because that's the difference between reading a comment and us talking now, because we know each other's tone, we know each other's impression, expression and all that.
Speaker 2:So for me, okay, probably how people will see it from an organisation perspective. Yes, of course people might take it and change it into something else. So for me, yes, I should be a bit careful, but my intention is clear.
Speaker 1:My intention is pretty clear, I think. To be fair, your comments and your answers were not rude or anything. You were just basically answering the question and that's it. Now just to answer that. 2pm kickoff. So is there anything been done? At the moment?
Speaker 2:Okay, speaking of 2pm, right? Yeah, I know I understand. To be honest, it has been hot lately.
Speaker 3:It has been super hot.
Speaker 2:lately it has been raining in the evening and suddenly, okay, coming back to that, yes, we knew, like I said, we start the league, we learn as we go. Things happen along the way. Fine, we rectify it. There will be more things coming. Again, we try to rectify it. So this is the beauty of it, I think really, all of them giving feedbacks and all that yes, of course, we don't want things to happen, we try to avoid that, but also, sometimes this is an education for all of us, even from our side, even from the academy side. You know, shaz, we had our morning 7.30am or the piping hot, scorching hot, it goes run box to box run box to box.
Speaker 2:Macritchie, oh my gosh. Yes, we had that as well.
Speaker 2:But of course we will understand them. Again, the newer academies probably they are not exposed, you're right, probably they are so used to probably playing at 5pm to 7pm. So because, coming back to the facilities, how Singapore is such a size that we need to manage how I wish we can have other more bigger size of a country that we can actually plan and have more facilities and we can play all the games in the in the in the afternoon. But you know, having 220, 230 teams and you need to really segregate and and put accordingly, it is tough. Come on, let's be open with it, it's tough.
Speaker 2:Yeah so we try our best and, yes, okay, things happen for me. Time is time, but actually sometimes at 2 pm you have your your 31, 20, 30, 28 degrees as well, you know. So for me, if we can look at the Temperature, so it's a temperature thing now right now right. So I think this is where we have already tackle. We are tackling it. We are coming out with the heat management Policies as well. Yep, I'm trying to move games into, probably after 3, 30.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, we are moving towards that, okay really at the end of the day, such as, again, inclusivity, everybody, they give feedback. All right, we act, we act accordingly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's great, right, you know, I think it's worse when you Probably know that something is not right and then you just, you know, just go ahead with it, yeah, and, and, and. Now you, you're receiving feedback and you're trying to, you know, trying to accommodate as much as possible. It's actually trying to help out as well.
Speaker 1:So it's a good thing that You're trying to push, I think, the kickoff time to slightly later, so that that's one of the ways. And listen, I've been reading right and and I Think this is the protocols of the sport SG one. I think so sports organizers should refrain from having events from 10 30 am To 4 pm. And, and listen, these are just protocols as guidelines. Guidelines, and, trust me, there are League matches being played at 12 pm. You know my son plays every week weekend at 12 pm.
Speaker 1:So you know we need to take things or bring things into play as well, and there are things that you can do to mitigate this. You know, for example, sheltered areas for For for subs a more drinking. More break time more break times, those kind of things, and I notice one. I think you need to put out shelters for the subs.
Speaker 2:Yes, of course, you know.
Speaker 1:I think the subs are sitting In the shade sorry, not in the shade in the hot sun at the side as in at the sample Fred at. Stranglone stadium as well, yeah so I think that's one of the feedback I can give you at least. Sure, no problem, you know, I think that's that's important as we go on correct now. Next, next thing I want to talk about and this has been huge as well. It is as huge as the huge score lines. Okay, right, so let's let's tackle this, this, this question from whoever can be right, huge score lines.
Speaker 1:These are called the classification rounds, so you would expect huge score lines, right? So what do you have to say about this?
Speaker 2:Okay, when we plan for the league. Right we were. We were planning to straight away kick off with the first, second and third division straight away.
Speaker 2:Okay now, depending on the accreditation level we want, we want to use that as a guideline, as as as as something that we can take reference from Yep, but then, at the same time, we also knew that you know some, some would think that it's unfair. Hey, I too can play in first division. I can compete in second division as well. Why am I being so to avoid this? This is where we alright, let's be fair to everybody, let's give everybody a chance to actually see for themselves where they are actually, which level. Okay now, do you agree with that?
Speaker 1:You agree with that. I know I think the idea is good. Yeah, of course the idea is good because you are thinking that, okay, maybe this, the so-called smaller academies, might think they, why are they putting me in division three when?
Speaker 1:we can start at a level playing field right, but of course then is it becomes a problem because of the huge score lines, correct, correct. So you know that you got a balance both. Now I actually wanted to ask you, could you have done the, could you have done it better? And you already answered me by saying that. You know, at first you wanted to put the so-called established academies together in division one first.
Speaker 1:My thinking, my opinion is I think maybe you could have done that. Don't worry about what they think, because you are doing it for them. The reason why I'm telling you this is because you know what happens when teams lose by huge margins. We are not talking about the margins itself. It's kids will always want to win games. Of course Coaches will understand, of course I understand it. Players, even parents might think differently.
Speaker 2:Yes, I understand, come on, we can't get beat by 25-0.
Speaker 1:So the morale of the players get hit. Confidence, confidence as well. So I don't know. Okay, so yeah.
Speaker 2:There's two parts of it Right Now. Number one is the organization of it how you organize it. Now, like you said, like I mentioned just now, fair. We want to be fair to everybody, so we did a draw, we put everybody in different, different parts and all that. And it's nice. Really it's interesting really to see different parts, you know player teams are getting drawn into different groups, then from then on, just in their group, they will play between them. Then the top three of each group will form the division one.
Speaker 1:Right Now, the classification will only happen once.
Speaker 2:It will never happen again. For the first round, second year, third year, fourth year, nothing. So any newcomer will straight away join the third division and then they will climb their way up. Now the score lines. I experienced something which I went to absolute football academy, I think in my post. I went to Jurong is some of the parents are already saying like what you're saying exactly the same.
Speaker 2:They felt that you know, why do we have to go through this and the kids this and that? So I went, I went down, I felt that it is. It is a duty for me to explain to them. You know, I think I took this initiative and from the start, you need to really keep on, you know, making people understand, because why? Number one, like I mentioned just now, it's a new, totally new game for them. On the pitch of the pitch, settings, everything is new. Yeah. Now, of course, expectations, right, yeah. So this is where I explain to the parents. I say, look, parents, okay, this is the classification now, why it happened because of so and so.
Speaker 2:Then comes into the football development part. Now, this is where, from eight years old to 10 years to 12. This is where we are focusing more. Okay, not on results, but then, of course, everybody wants to win. Yeah, now, but from from a technical point. Of course, you are trying to look at the technicalities of this place. You know, allow them, allow them game time, let them expose themselves. You know, let it out, try to find their ways and all that. From there, slowly they will grow.
Speaker 2:Parents were receptive, they were thankful, they kind of like you know, but you don't need to do this. I said no, no, I need to do this. I said I need to make all of you understand I wish I can, I can do something which is perfect, but no one have the perfect plan. At some point certain teams must, must, go through this. Now, that's one side of things. Now, the other side of things, I have teams and academies that says bye, it's okay, it's all right. My boys need to feel this, need to understand this, need to understand what is I mean, not say losing, they don't want to lose. But this call lines, yeah, again, just speaking of, of course, we understand now when we speak of school lines, with the existence of JDT Now, jdt is there I can, I can say for myself you know, teams are very happy.
Speaker 2:I said this is the only chance they can play against teams like teams like JDT, yeah, Of that level, of that you know organization you know, you and I, we can agree now. So I feel that you know, yes, it's painful, but then, at the same time, we also know that this is not going to be forever.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:Because once they get into their respective divisions, then they will have this same alignment of sims, sim standards and same level of play. Yeah, we, this is just once, just to segregate the things.
Speaker 1:Parents, coaches, academies, keyboard warriors, critics, commenters on FBs and IG. You heard it. This is only going to happen once and you know, just, just, just move on, because it's going to be happy. It's going to happen once the teams are going to be put in their respective divisions, based on levels. You know the quality of the teams and we got to move on. So, yeah, out of the way. Brilliant.
Speaker 1:The other thing that I touched on, or you touched on, actually is the good part, where you went on to explain to the academies and the parents as well. I think the academies, coaches and the people who are leading the academies have a very big role to play in this part as well, because all you need to do is explain to them, explain to the kids, explain to the parents this is the one off thing.
Speaker 1:You know. We got to move forward and learn as much as possible. You're going to get whacked ten-nil, Believe me. In the SPL, teams get wegged. Eight nail, seven nail as well. It happens in the EPL as well. So we got to push on and get over it, Exactly. The next one I want to talk about is the technical part the formats, the 11v11s and all. I've got one question, not a question, it's a feedback from a coach. They were saying that the under 13 starts off with the 11v11, I'm talking about coaches. They were saying that it's a little bit too big a pitch for them.
Speaker 2:Because they're playing at the main.
Speaker 1:I'm hearing something similar. Stadium feel right.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Normal stadium feel 11v11 under 13s. So I think I don't know, it's a big, big, it's big right, it's big. Again, guys, bai is here and he's agreeing. We are moving along, we are trying to pick out things, we are trying to learn from things and I'm sure there are going to be changes soon.
Speaker 2:Yes, correct, we spoke about that, I think we. Because when we go for matches and all that, we can see how much this place, at this age, they struggle to actually cover those spaces and because it's huge right. So then we look into the format of school games your C divisions. They are 13 years old as well. And then we get reference. Td is looking from our counterparts as well. What are the best choice moving forward? So, speaking of that as well, we are also looking at the ball size as well.
Speaker 2:We could also we could go from size 5 to size 4.
Speaker 1:I think the goal post size as well for the younger ones.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for the younger ones.
Speaker 1:Because I think it's a general guideline. I got it from a coach as well, an experienced coach that the goalkeepers at that younger age they must be able to touch the crossbar and.
Speaker 1:I think some shorties like me cannot touch the crossbar at that age. Then don't play with it. So that is something that you could look at as well. But listen to be fair. To be fair to SYL, I'm just looking at the England FA's model with the formats right. I think from under 13 onwards they playing 11v11. I'm just reading it here so I don't know whether it's true or not, but I got this from the website. So yeah, to be fair in terms of the numbers probably could be right, but I think the size, the pitch size, 11v11 is okay. I think it's the size Speech size Brilliant.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ball size as well, Ball size as well.
Speaker 2:We are looking at that as well Because you see I mean, at the end of the day, you need to monitor things. Of course, when you are on the ground, you start looking at differences. You have a 13 year old who is so sorry, he's short, and you have a 13 year old that's grown up right. So for this segment of kids, you can see that they are struggling.
Speaker 3:Obviously.
Speaker 2:So do we now say that, ah, you got no choice, but you have to do it? No, of course we try to get everybody. Because why? Because we want them to potentially give their true potential by playing the game. So we will have adjustments.
Speaker 1:For sure we will have. Yeah, I think that that is good, that you guys are actually taking in feedback and, of course, with the technical side of things, then you can look at all the technical people at your department to look at things and I think things will go on right from there. But anything you want to say, any changes, any changes specifically that I haven't mentioned in terms of problems that you face, that you are probably going to change, I don't know, you know just off the top of your head, any changes you're going to make, okay, any positive changes, okay.
Speaker 2:Ramadan coming? We will. We are touching on Ramadan as well. We know that. You know the certain kickoff timing is not according to their some favours as well. So we we are adjusting also for Ramadan. We are pushing the games more towards nearing the fasting break of time, so we are actually doing that. That's number one. So we are now trying to form the SYL girls category for next year.
Speaker 2:So, together with UTR and also the FES, women's, women's Football Department. So now we are trying to get all the teams now. So the work starts now by how I meet them one year ago meet all the academies and all that. So the same process will start. We will try to gather the girls team and then we will come up with a plan, with a timeline and hopefully we can start off with an age group of between 12 to 13 to 14. And we can have 10 teams, then we go.
Speaker 1:Maybe we'll go again.
Speaker 2:So this is the next plan right now. Secondly, thirdly, we are hoping I'm hearing. I'm hearing feedback from the ground as well that by. It is also healthy that if you can have every age group, you can grow age groups. So, under 7, under 8, under 9, under 10, under 11, under 12.
Speaker 1:Where are we going to play, man? Of course, open up the voidex Brother school pictures. What have you? So it's good, it's good.
Speaker 3:People are talking about it. People are giving ideas, People are giving suggestions. It's all and fine At the end of the day it is healthy.
Speaker 2:People are talking. We are now working together For the longest time. Suddenly, we are trying to work towards something and I feel that everybody has the same it's connected in one way or another. So I really hope, man, this is the start for the greatest awareness and positivity for Singapore football.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice. One last question by where does the SYL go from here, man? Where do you envision this SYL to go in? Probably the next 2, 3, 4 years For me.
Speaker 2:I think this is going to be the league to stay on for the next, I think, 5, 10 years. I want it to be forever, if I can say, because I think this is where it creates so much hype and awareness for kids. You know, shaz, we can speak about all the external factors that probably we adults talk about, but the kids never question anything. The kids put their heart and soul and their fun and their enjoyment onto the pitch. It's just us adults talking about the external factors and matters and all that, but it's all and fine. Now, every morning sorry to all parents Every morning now have to prepare their Damn the jersey is tomorrow.
Speaker 3:You know, my son was 8 years old.
Speaker 2:Friday night, daddy, tomorrow my jersey Mummy, please. So you see, it's a new family thing. It becomes a routine right now. So I'm looking, I really look forward for more.
Speaker 1:Looking at that right, I have a feedback right.
Speaker 3:A suggestion what are you facing?
Speaker 1:Open up some curry pub stall at the stadium man. For the parents for drinks and drink, stall or whatever.
Speaker 2:Brother, you're speaking of this really. It really crossed my mind. It crosses my mind. I feel like proposing to them now, because when I look at the layout, obviously people start thinking now, right, hey, why can't we have like a push?
Speaker 1:card.
Speaker 2:It's just like a sports day right, exactly, you know the Milo van and whatever Milo van, and all that, yes, yes yes, that could be something for the near future man. Thank you, thank you. Obviously, that is something that we will want to push forward Nice.
Speaker 1:Hopefully Bye. Thanks for being here. I know you.
Speaker 2:Do I answer all your questions?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know and actually those questions you answered not only for me, for everyone who's watching who's listening to this and obviously, for those of you who are watching and listening to this, if you have more things, more questions to ask, you can go through me and I can ask, ask by direct and, as you can see from today's episode, he's more than willing to answer any questions, be it good, be it bad, you know, and take in some suggestions as well, and that has been great. So bye. Thank you very much for being here.
Speaker 2:Brother, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:It has been a wonderful episode and I hope that the SYL move forward and grow to be bigger, widen the talent pool and hopefully, from starting from this year, the place that you see, maybe the under eights, maybe 10s, 12s. You could see some of them playing for the national team in the near future. That is exactly what.
Speaker 2:But I have one happy problem. One happy problem Some now teams are signing up more new teams.
Speaker 1:For what For? The next year? Ah nice, because they've seen what's going on?
Speaker 2:Correct, correct, correct. So accreditation as well.
Speaker 3:So they start asking, and then now yeah, we are going into that now.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. Bye, and this has been the football talk episode of the Silver Fox Hustle podcast. Do not forget to follow us on Instagram, facebook and click on the subscribe button on YouTube, spotify and Apple podcasts. Till we meet again. The Hustlebeats. Talent when talent doesn't hustle Tigers, oh my God. Thank you, go you.