FOCUS ON PRIDE OF LIONS

Ogura wants his team to feel proud of playing for Singapore at Asean C'ship

- David Lee

Given how regional rivals have made big strides in youth development and talent recruitment via naturalisation, few would put money on the Lions going far in the 2024 Asean Championship.

But Singapore national football coach Tsutomu Ogura, who announced his 26-man squad on Dec 6, is hopeful that his depleted side can pull off a surprise. Eleven players, including Japan-born midfielder Kyoga Nakamura, received their maiden tournament call-up.

The 58-year-old Japanese told The Straits Times: "We can win or lose, but I want our players to feel proud that they are playing for Singapore, and be able to feel proud of the football that we play, that it will be something that people will want to watch again at the stadium or through the television."

While the squad have been boosted by Selangor's release of defender Safuwan Baharudin who has 115 caps and 13 goals there are still six key absentees for the Dec 8-Jan 5 tournament, also known as the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, which falls outside Fifa's international window.

Singapore face Group A opponents Cambodia at home on Dec 11, followed by Timor-Leste away on Dec 14, Thailand (home, Dec 17) and Malaysia (away, Dec 20).

Missing from the line-up are goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, who retired from international football in August, midfielders Jacob Mahler (injured) and Song Ui-young (family issue), defender Irfan Fandi and his brothers Ikhsan and Ilhan (not released by clubs).