As the local football campaign gets under way this weekend with the Community Shield, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced yesterday some new initiatives for the second season of the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
Apart from a slight increase in subsidies for the local clubs, the biggest change will be the stadium sharing plan.
From this year, four stadiums - Jalan Besar (Young Lions and Hougang United), Bishan (Home United and Balestier Khalsa), Jurong East (Albirex Niigata and Warriors FC) and Our Tampines Hub (Tampines Rovers and Geylang International), will be used to host the eight local clubs. DPMM FC will continue to play their home matches in Brunei.
This has led to concerns that fans of the affected clubs will feel displaced. For example, Hougang are known for their loyal fan base and this is acknowledged by FAS general secretary Yazeen Buhari, who said: "They are ever-present at Hougang Stadium and they have a certain connection with the place.
"But we have explained to them the investment... is to increase the match-day experience.
"Given the infrastructure that exists in Hougang Stadium, it is less attractive to upgrade Hougang as compared to doing it (sharing stadium) at Jalan Besar."
Gerard Christopher, the FAS' deputy director (general secretary's office), added: "While the clubs, like Hougang, play their home matches at a new stadium, it does not mean they will be uprooted in terms of community engagement. They still continue to reach out to the community there and engage with schools."
Infrastructure at the four SPL stadiums will be upgraded.
Although the costs were not disclosed, the shared stadiums will receive bigger LED scoreboards, better sound systems, bucket seats for all spectators, LED billboards and banners as well as renovated dressing rooms in club colours.
SPL IN NUMBERS
65
Number of footballers (excluding the Young Lions) younger than 23 last year, nearly double the 33 in 2017 before age regulations were imposed.126
All SPL games will be streamed live this year, compared to 98 last season.19.4
Average passing mark of the Yo-Yo test this year. The passing mark was raised from 18.4 to 19.1 this year. The test is a multi-stage shuttle run conducted to increase tempo to gauge players' anaerobic fitness and all players must pass before being registered. No player failed last year.
"It is a great venue, and it will give us opportunities to organise match-day activities, and promote the club on other days, because there are just so many people using the facility," Geylang's general manager Andrew Ang told The Straits Times earlier, when asked about playing their home games at Our Tampines Hub.
The FAS was keen to emphasise that the stadium sharing arrangement is not permanent.
As part of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Sports Facilities Master Plan, residents in Punggol can also look forward to a regional sports centre, similar to Our Tampines Hub. It is expected to be ready by 2021 and a northern-based club like Hougang could relocate to the new stadium.
The local SPL clubs, which received $1.01 million each in subsidies from the FAS last season, will enjoy an increase in funding this year.
Although no figures were disclosed, Yazeen said: "There's a slight increase this year that is proportionate to the fact that clubs can sign an extra foreign player."
For the new season, clubs will be allowed to increase their squad size from 25 to 28, with the additional three players not restricted by age.
Last year, the local clubs were limited to two foreign signings, but are now allowed to sign an additional foreigner under the age of 21.
Tampines Rovers chairman Desmond Ong welcomed the changes, and said: "Any additional subsidy is greatly welcomed given the fact that the clubs run on tight budgets.
"But it remains to be seen how the clubs playing in AFC (Asian Football Confederation) competitions will perform if they abide by the SPL rules and take to the field with three local Under-23 players and one foreign Under-21 player."
See All The Satellites And Space Junk Circling Earth In Real-Time. The U.S. could lose its measles elimination status. This week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced this
Pictures from Space - Satellite Images - Image of the Day | Space
Angel Di Maria scored a sumptuous free-kick and Kylian Mbappe was also on target as Paris Saint-Germain continued their relentless march towards another French title by hammering Montpellier 5-1 on Wednesday.
Di Maria & Mbappe Among Goals as PSG Win Big Again
I like him a lot as a player but he is nowhere near being the leader of the team after Cristiano Ronaldo left," Mijatovic told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. Bale hobbled off during Real Madrid
La Liga: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real Madrid's
City's recent run of three defeats in five games had raised questions over whether the champions had the durability to sustain a title challenge with a Liverpool side who have had an air of
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Sky Sports Premier League, Cardiff City Stadium He may not want to take that risk here as Chelsea look to bounce back from their defeat at Everton two weeks ago, which would keep them within
Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham handed top-four boost as
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday. Michy
Eden Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium
Home » News » Sports » Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic. Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic. On April 30, 2019 11:59 pm In Sports by adekunle Comments.
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic | Aaj News
This season, Lionel Messi seems to be on a mission to right all the wrongs from last season and silence his detractors and if he is to up the ante from his performance this year, it is hard to see
Man on a mission: Lionel Messi's genius reaches new levels at
Overstock.com | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic AFP April 30, 2019 AFP No Comments Barcelona (AFP) - Ivan Rakitic has said Lionel Messi's desire to win the Champions League is proving an inspiration for Barcelona ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool on Wednesday.
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic | Sport24
Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace Premier League / 22 December 2018, 7:20pm / Ian Whittell Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha and Mamadou Sakho celebrate after the match.
Football: Manchester City beat Crystal Palace in Premier
LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shot to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with two goals in Saturday's (Dec 22) 3-1 home win over struggling Burnley
Aubameyang brace gives Arsenal win over Burnley - Football
PARIS: Olympiakos dumped AC Milan out of the Europa League on Thursday (Dec 13) after beating the seven-time European champions 3-1 in a pulsating clash in Greece, while Eintracht Frankfurt fans
Rangers out of Europa League, Eintracht fans run riot at Lazio
0 comments:
Post a Comment