Before returning to England after a solitary season with Tampines Rovers, the winger created a stir when he said that not even superstar Lionel Messi could save Singapore's flagging league.
Back in town for the StarHub Football Festival on April 20 and 21, the 41-year-old is sticking to his guns, telling The Sunday Times he meant well and stands by what he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event at Our Tampines Hub, he said: "You look at all the big leagues - there is a lot of investment in the leagues to improve the squads, management, pitches, facilities, marketing and other services and products.
"These things cost money but it's like a business - if you don't invest in it, the business won't grow." Pennant admitted he knew nothing about Singapore, the S-League - now known as the Singapore Premier League and Tampines Rovers before he became one of biggest names in the league.
This story is from the April 21, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the April 21, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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