Post by Rangers on Oct 26, 2003 20:00:30 GMT 8
source from totalfootball
So which teams will make up the 2004 S-League? Everybody must be anxious to know. But sources close to Total Football say that final decision will only be made and announced after SEA Games Vietnam 2003 (28 November to 12 December). The main reason will be whether the decision to field an Under-23 team, called the Young Lions Under-23 in this year's S-League produces results at the SEA Games.
In the S-League concluded a week and a half ago, Young Lions under coach PN Sivaji finished bottom of the 12-team league with 25 points, the same number as Balestier Khalsa FC, but had an inferior goal difference. In the Singapore Cup, they progressed until the quarter-final stage.
By this week, all S-League teams will have to submit their applications and budget for 2004 to the S-League office. From there, the teams will be assessed accordingly.
Two months before the current season ended, the media speculated that three clubs Tanjong Pagar United FC, Sembawang Rangers FC and Sengkang Marine FC might be asked to sit out for next season and that the league will be reduced to ten teams. All these caused unhappiness, low morale and concerns among the three clubs from management, coaches, players and not forgetting their diehard supporters. To replace the three clubs, will be a team from Japan, who will join the only foreign team Sinchi FC.
If what the media has reported so far are true, then, the likely teams to make up next season's S-League will be Albirex Niigata, Balestier Khalsa FC, Geylang United FC, Home United FC, Jurong FC, SAFFC, Sinchi FC, Tampines Rovers FC, Woodlands Wellington FC and Young Lions Under-23.
So which teams will make up the 2004 S-League? Everybody must be anxious to know. But sources close to Total Football say that final decision will only be made and announced after SEA Games Vietnam 2003 (28 November to 12 December). The main reason will be whether the decision to field an Under-23 team, called the Young Lions Under-23 in this year's S-League produces results at the SEA Games.
In the S-League concluded a week and a half ago, Young Lions under coach PN Sivaji finished bottom of the 12-team league with 25 points, the same number as Balestier Khalsa FC, but had an inferior goal difference. In the Singapore Cup, they progressed until the quarter-final stage.
By this week, all S-League teams will have to submit their applications and budget for 2004 to the S-League office. From there, the teams will be assessed accordingly.
Two months before the current season ended, the media speculated that three clubs Tanjong Pagar United FC, Sembawang Rangers FC and Sengkang Marine FC might be asked to sit out for next season and that the league will be reduced to ten teams. All these caused unhappiness, low morale and concerns among the three clubs from management, coaches, players and not forgetting their diehard supporters. To replace the three clubs, will be a team from Japan, who will join the only foreign team Sinchi FC.
If what the media has reported so far are true, then, the likely teams to make up next season's S-League will be Albirex Niigata, Balestier Khalsa FC, Geylang United FC, Home United FC, Jurong FC, SAFFC, Sinchi FC, Tampines Rovers FC, Woodlands Wellington FC and Young Lions Under-23.