Fifa president Infantino says proposed expansion will boost region’s hopes

No country from South-east Asia have qualified for the World Cup – Dutch East Indies’ participation in 1938 notwithstanding – but that could become a reality in the future.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has suggested an expansion of the World Cup from the current 32 teams to 40 or 48 teams in 2026, which will inevitably allow more teams from Asia to qualify.

Yesterday, in a meeting with the media at the Four Seasons Hotel, Infantino indicated his preference for a 48-team World Cup, increasing from the 40-team format he promised when he campaigned for the Fifa presidency which he won in February.

The 46-year-old Swiss-Italian is here for a three-day summit with Asian football nations.

When asked by The New Paper whether a spot could be catered to South-east Asia, Infantino did not dismiss the idea, and said: “I hope so.

“When I see the passion for football in these countries, I hope one from ASEAN will qualify.

“I see the enthusiasm in the past few days of the Suzuki Cup and it was an absolutely amazing semi-final which Indonesia won against Vietnam. We see the passion that exists here.

INFANTINO’S PREFERENCE

“To be able to increase the number of slots will increase the chances of seeing a team from this region participate in the World Cup…

It also depends on what kind of format the Asian Football Confederation will come up with.

“I believe in the expansion of the World Cup because it means more countries involved in top football competition and more football promotion.”

Before this week’s summit, Infantino had the world football governing body send out five proposed World Cup formats to members of the Fifa Council.

These include two 48-team team options, two 40-team options and sticking with the present 32-team format.

Yesterday, Infantino indicated his preference for a 48-team World Cup and narrowed it down to three options.

One possibility is 16 groups of three, with the top two from each group moving on to the knockout rounds.

Another idea features 16 teams qualifying direct for the group stages and 32 nations competing for the other 16 spots in the eight groups, which will then kick off like the current format.

The 40-team version will resemble the non-linear version that was employed in the 24-team World Cups from 1982 to 1994.

In this scenario, there will be 10 groups of four, from which 10 group winners and the six best runners-up will make the Round of 16.

Infantino revealed that member associations from Europe, Asian and Oceania, who are here for the Fifa summit this week, are all in favour of a World Cup expansion, with a big majority in favour of having 48 teams.

He added: “Just to be very clear, all these formats can be played in the same number of days as currently, with the same number of stadiums, currently 12, and that the two teams qualifying for the final will play seven games.

“There is no downside for players and clubs because the calendar is not affected, but there is a big upside for football because it allows more teams to participate in the World Cup.

“We have 10 years to work towards it. The timing is right.”

Dismissing criticism that an expansion would dilute the prestige of football’s marquee competition, Infantino highlighted how a relatively smaller team such as Costa Rica knocked traditional powerhouses Italy and England out of the group stages at the 2014 World Cup.

The Fifa supremo also raised hopes that footballing nations from ASEAN could hold a joint bid to bring the World Cup to the football-mad region with a fast-expanding population that currently stands at more than 623 million.

However, as Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup and Fifa has a policy of excluding confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments from applying, the earliest ASEAN can hope for the World Cup to arrive on its shores is 2034.

“I am very much in favour of the possibility of joint hosting,” said Infantino.

“A World Cup has become such a big event with a lot of requirements from Fifa.

“As we need to make sure our requirements are sustainable, we need to come down to earth to some extent in this aspect.

“If a country doesn’t need to have 12 stadiums which seats more than 50,000 spectators, and they have only four, why shouldn’t we allow three countries to join forces, which could fit more in the football development strategy of any country?

“More countries can then participate in the dream of hosting a part of the World Cup.

“Practical and logistical topics need to be sorted out before making the bid, such as where the opening match and final will be held.

“Taxation, currency and legal issues will also have to be sorted out, so that we can have a uniformed and standardised commission for the organisation of the World Cup. All these have to be clear  before awarding of the hosting rights.”

This article was first published on December 09, 2016.
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Sport Singapore (SportSG) will launch CoachSG in May 2017 as part of its efforts under Vision 2030 to boost the standards of coaching in Singapore.

It is already looking into possible courses for coaches of all levels, ranging from grassroots to elite.

At a media briefing yesterday, director of CoachSG, Troy Engle, 55, said: “Coaches play a vital role at all levels of the sport eco-system.

“They are one of the most important influencers for the next generation who are starting out in sport.

“This is a means to bring more coaches into our system so that we can offer them these development opportunities.”

COURSES

Besides theories of coaching, the programme will also include courses on first aid and basic sport science.

Deputy Director of CoachSG, Low Jiaren, 37, hopes this initiative can draw coaches to a common ground, in order to give the public a different idea of coaches.

He said: “There are very good coaches and there are coaches who deliver not as well.

“We want to level up these coaches to balance things out.

“When people see value, they will realise that coaching is a valuable and noble profession.”

Those interested can visit www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/CoachSG for more information.

This article was first published on December 09, 2016.
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Shakir bounces back to claim second silat world title, along with teen Farhan

His back was against the wall.

First, Singapore silat exponent Shakir Juanda was up against the hometown favourite, who was backed by almost 1,000 vociferous countrymen in the small Lila Bhuana Arena in Bali yesterday.

Then Shakir did not get off to the best start in his Class I (85-90kg) final at the World Pencak Silat Championships.

Within seconds of the starting gong, he found himself dumped to the mat by his Indonesia opponent Firdhana Wahyu Putra.

“From then on, I tried to keep my cool and composure, focus on breathing techniques, and try to keep up momentum… But I was behind on points almost all the way,” the 28-year-old told The New Paper over the phone.

Fired up by a pep talk by national coach Muhammad Fiqri, Shakir eventually overcame Firdhana to claim his second world title.

Another Singaporean, Sheik Farhan, also won his second Class J (90-95kg) world title after beating Vietnam’s Mach Quoc Hung.

Revealing what his coach told him, Shakir said: “Before the start of the final round, he reminded me how hard I trained for this, three times a day, enduring the intense in-camp training, and sacrificing so much.”

PSYCHE

“I was trailing on points, but the gold was within reach. So there was no way I was going to give up. So when the gong sounded, I was like a crazy man.

“And, with 45 seconds to go, I managed a scissors (takedown) on Firdhana and pulled to within a point of him.

“With time running out, I just tawakkal (kept faith) and tried another takedown, and I managed to drop him again.”

Three points ahead of his rival with just seconds to go, Shakir used his experience to see out the match.

He could not contain his emotions once the final gong sounded.

“Abang Sheik (Alau’ddin, Singapore Silat Federation CEO) was celebrating with the coaches, so I just ran and jumped on top of them,” said Shakir.

“The feeling was indescribable. I did feel a lump in my throat and almost teared up, but I managed to control myself.”

With their wins yesterday, Shakir and Farhan matched the achievement of silat great Sheik Alau’ddin, who won world titles in 1990 and 1994.

Farhan, Sheik’s third-youngest child, had triumphed in Phuket almost two years ago, while Shakir won his first world title in Chiang Rai in 2012.

This is the first time since 2004 – when the world championships were hosted by Singapore – that the Republic’s silat exponents have delivered more than one gold medal at the global meet, which features 41 countries this time round.

When asked how he felt, Farhan, who turns 20 next Friday, coolly replied: “Job done. Time to head home.

“To be honest, the previous win was sweeter because I was the only Singaporean left.

“It was my first senior competition and I had turned 17 just a month before.

PROUD

“But of course, I’m still very happy and proud to win this gold for my father, family, team and country… This time, it feels more natural.”

A jubilant Sheik said: “Overall, I’m very happy because of the performance of the athletes and the team behind them… Everyone has been excellent.”

This article was first published on December 09, 2016.
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Netball body prepared to wait for quality coaches as assistant coach Yeo takes the reins from Aitken

National netball coach Ruth Aitken returned to her native New Zealand yesterday morning and the national body will take its time to appoint her successor.

Netball Singapore (NS) chief executive Cyrus Medora told The New Paper yesterday that long-time assistant national coach Yeo Mee Hong will be the acting national coach until they appoint a new trainer, which could be as late as July next year.

Medora said: “The world’s top 20 coaches are all tied up in leagues in England, Australia and New Zealand, and there’s no point in looking at the next tier because our coaches are at that level.

“We want someone to give us that extra edge.”

Yesterday morning, Aitken managed to keep her emotions in check as about 15 players, NS staff and officials gathered at Changi Airport Terminal 3 to bid farewell to the 60-year-old.

But it will not be the last time that the netballers will see of the former Silver Ferns player and coach. Chief executive Medora revealed that the national team will head to New Zealand for a training trip in February, where they will be coached by Aitken and Yeo.

“I am looking forward to bringing the girls into my neck of the woods and showing them around,” said Aitken, who will become the performance manager for club side Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand.

Aitken and Yeo have already worked out a training programme for the team, whose main task next year will be the defence of their South-east Asia Games gold in Kuala Lumpur in August.

Medora said that he is also looking at bringing Aitken back on an ad hoc consultancy role before the new coach is appointed.

During Aitken’s three-year tenure as national coach and technical director, Singapore clinched the 2014 Asian championship, but finished third in this year’s edition.

The team also won the SEA Games gold in June last year on home ground, and finished 15th in the World Cup just two months later.

Under Aitken, the Republic also reached their highest world ranking of 15th. Singapore are now ranked 20th.

National co-vice-captain Charmaine Soh lauded Aitken’s talent for developing and motivating players.

The 26-year-old said: “Whenever any of us said, ‘I can’t do it’, she would go, ‘I can’t do it, yet’.

“So now, whenever I come across tough situations, I would think of her and her advice.”

This article was first published on December 09, 2016.
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