PATHUM MOU GIVES RISE TO TIE-UPS

BG side could join S’pore cup competitions; local players have chance to train in Thailand

- Lin Tianbao

Thailand-based Lions such as striker Ikhsan Fandi could be among those adding spice to the Singapore Cup when it kicks off in January 2025.

Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Yazeen Buhari told The Straits Times on June 14 that it is in talks with Ikhsan's club, Thai League 1 side BG Pathum, to take part in the 2024-25 season's cup competition.

Yazeen was speaking after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was inked between national agency Sport Singapore (SportSG), FAS and BG Sports, the company which owns Pathum, at the Kallang Football Hub.

"The last time we had a Pathum senior team in a competition was more than 10 years ago in Singapore," he said, referring to Bangkok Glass, who won the competition as an invited team in 2010.

"Now with this MOU, that is something that we're going to explore, given the fact that our Singapore Cup for the current domestic season is going to happen early next year. That's a conversation that we've already started, and Pathum would very much like to be part of (this)."