THESIS PROPOSAL

Critical Analysis of Singapore Football and Its Growth since the Intervention of Football Association of Singapore (FAS)



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

This chapter of the research will help the reader to develop an understanding of the role played by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in promoting game in Singapore. This chapter will help the researcher to identify the limits or extend to which the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has been successful. The chapter in the context of the research holds the primary importance since it will inject the fundamental understanding of the subject into the sub-conscious of the reader. Moreover, the nomenclature of this chapter tends to stand on the bricks of Background, Intention, Research Question and the proposed structure of the thesis.

Background

Football has always been the favourite game of Singapore; unfortunately the authorities have failed to nourish this national binding factor into something fruitful. Despite of the widespread interest for the game, Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has not been able to take charge of this nursery. However, football has been laid on some solid foundations due to the minimal efforts put in by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Before moving forward in the context of this paper, it is important to render the roots of the game in view.

In this regard before 1996, the local football tournaments were not the main attraction for fans of Singapore. From 1921 to 1996, the Singapore participated with a representative team (nicknamed the "Lions") to the Malaysia Cup, and later the Malaysian football league. Together with Selangor, Singapore was one of the most successful teams in Malaysia for over 70 years. Thousands of fans filled the stadium to see the Lions face the best teams in Malaysia. In 1994 the Singapore Malay won both the Championship and the Cup in Malaysia. But this was the last year of tournaments in Singapore Malays. In 1995 in fact, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) decided to retire from racing in Malaysia and to create their own league.

Thus, this paved the way for the first championship match to be held in Singapore. This first league within the nomenclature of the Singapore league was divided into eight teams and two groups. Football became the favourite sport in Singapore after World War II; it allowed both the professional and recreational athletes to inculcate with the game itself (James & Ridinger, 2002, p. 260-278). The love and passion for the game grew from different international football competitions, especially with other Asian nations. As the competitive level grew, it attracted the masses towards the game and more young people started playing it.

Intention

Football in Singapore has always been rendered as a popular sport; however, it failed to emerge as the leading sport in the country. It was not due to the lack of interest but due to the irrespectful practices by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). The reason behind such criminal activity rests on various factors which intend to be highlighted in the course of the ...