What are the pros and cons of having foreign teams in a local league? Singapore boasts the only league in the world that have as many as 3 foreign teams in their league. This is not helped by the fact that our league only comprises a meagre 12 teams. Furthermore, it was increased from 10 two years ago! What's so good about foreign teams? Let's find out.
Having foreign teams boast our league's competitiveness. This is clearly one of the main benefits. However, from the matches till now, and the teams till now, I believe foreign teams are under-achieving, or they just doesn't have the required ability. Is it due to the weather in Singapore, or is it due to first-time jitters? Korean Super Reds have now lost another match, against Gombak United. However, they crumbled due to conceding three goals in the last 15 minutess. This could be due to the humid weather for the Koreans. Albirex has been, till now, the most successful team, with two 5th and 1 6th-placed finishes, and are likely to be the best of the foreign teams again. Liaoning's true ability has not yet surfaced.
Next, the foreign teams could boost our Foreign Talent Scheme. However, this point cannot stand. Look at players like Mustafic Fahrudin. They do not come from the foreign teams. Albirex and Liaoning are feeder teams, and their better players get to go back to the J-League. So, our scheme only selects players mainly from our local clubs.
Then, foreign teams can attract more fans. Again, this point can only be regarded a a half-point, since we local people usually support our local teams. For me, I do not have a supported team, but I would choose SAFFC. If not, this season, I would also support Geylang United.
On the other hand. foreign teams restict local players moving up to the level of the S-League. Foreign teams currently occupy a whopping 25% of our league, which means just 9 teams with local players. Furthermore, these local teams are allowed to have 4 foreign players in their teams. This further restricts it, since it is more likely these teams acquire players they are going to put in the first-team. Just look at Aleksander Duric, Therdsak Chaiman, Laakad Abelhadi, Park Tae Won. These are household names, or at least the better-known plaers, yet they are all foreigns.
On the whole, foreign teams are beneficial, yet only marginallly. Hence, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) should consider restricting the number of foreign teams to 2, or else they should expand the league to about 15 or 16 teams, with 3 foreign teams, and good foreign teams. They keep saying about the need for more Chinese and Indians. More local teams and more good prospects in the life after soccer could attract them to playing in the S-League. Now, only Shi Jiayi is the Chinese, and he is not even a local Chinese. We seriously need more people like Goh Tat Chuan. If expanding league size is not a good idea, why not have two divisions, with 12 teams in each division? So, the foreign teams can stay, but if they are not good enough, they would get demoted to the lower tier. And, the bottom two or three teams in the second tier can be replaced, and foreign teams will have to start from the lower tier and have to prove themselves before moving up.
I end this discussion, hoping FAS can get a hold of my humble opinions.
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