Even as new Lions head coach V. Sundramoorthy’s backroom staff was unveiled at his first training session at Geylang Field yesterday, questions remained about a crucial missing piece – his assistant.

The Football Association of Singapore’s fitness coach Balder Berckmans and goalkeeper coach Frederic de Boever have been roped in, but even Sundram was tight-lipped about the identity of his assistant coach.

The presence of Fandi Ahmad did little to quell rumours. The former national captain was spotted attending the briefing prior to last night’s workout, but left soon after .

It is understood that Fandi, who was Bernd Stange’s assistant, will work alongside Sundram during next week’s AYA Bank Cup in Myanmar.

Sundram declined to speak about his former international team-mate and was forthcoming only about his player selection. He said: “It’s very positive, the boys are looking forward to representing their country… they are really raring to go.

“They pick themselves to be in the first XI. In training, in the tournament in Myanmar, you should carry yourself well in discipline as a national player, the same way you do for your club.”

New call-ups Home United’s Azhar Sairudin and Geylang International’s Amy Recha were eager to impress.

Midfielder Azhar, 30 said: “The pace is much faster than I thought, but I like it. It still feels a bit weird in a new environment, but hopefully I can fit in.”

Sundram might be a familiar figure to many in the squad but that will count for little when he picks his team, said Hafiz Sujad of his former coach at Tampines Rovers.

He added: “Knowing Sundram, he’ll give everybody a chance to fight for their spot. More experienced players can give more, and we respect that.

“But with youngsters coming in, you automatically know that in order to get into the first XI, you have to work really hard during training, that includes me.”

clntan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 29, 2016.
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Word has it that the night before the Singapore national football team was to play Japan at the cauldron that is Saitama Stadium last June, two men saw what was wrong with the head coach’s game plan and were brave enough to decide to tear it up.

It has been confirmed by players to The Sunday Times that Bernd Stange’s insistence on playing a short-passing style led to concerns that the team would suffer a heavy defeat by the technically superior Samurai Blue.

But on that June night, the two men – the German’s assistants, V. Sundramoorthy and Fandi Ahmad – gave the first XI a detailed blueprint of how to stop the Japan attack, and the Lions came away with an unforgettable 0-0 draw.

Yet on Friday, Sundram’s patriotism, professionalism and potential was recognised by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in a strange manner, by making him – wait for it – the country’s caretaker national coach after Stange’s departure. Fandi was also considered for the role.

Even on a day when it did something right, the FAS ended up sending the wrong signals.

It has been 16 years since a Singaporean last held the reins of the top coaching job in local football, and much as the association tried to assure that Sundram is the best man for the job, his job designation is a synonym for words like “temporary”, “interim”, “seat-warmer”, even “expendable”.

The FAS spoke highly of his tactical proficiency, his ability to fire up the local players and his desire to lead the Lions.

He ran the gauntlet of interviews by the executive committee. He impressed so much that he beat top-level applicants, including one who had won a championship in one of Europe’s top five leagues, to the coveted post.

His pay is even comparable to his foreign predecessors Stange and Raddy Avramovic.

So if Sundram really is their No. 1 choice, it is baffling that the FAS would want to hang a “P-Plate” around his neck.

The FAS pointed out that the 50-year-old’s only overseas coaching spell was for less than a year with Malaysian side Negri Sembilan in 2014, while Stange (ex-East Germany, Iraq and Belarus) and Avramovic (ex-Kuwait) had better resumes.

It added that it had added the “caretaker” term to Sundram’s title so as to protect the former national striker from the pressures faced by a national coach.

Yet, FAS vice-president Lim Kia Tong seemingly contradicted the association when, during Friday’s media conference to announce Sundram’s appointment, he added that the term “caretaker coach is just a form” and “the substance is that Sundram is indeed the national coach”.

If so, then why bother with the “caretaker” term?

Many of the FAS senior management never had prior experience heading a national football association. But you don’t see titles like caretaker president, caretaker vice-president or caretaker general secretary.

What the FAS failed to realise is that a title can mean a lot. As if his measly one-year contract – when his predecessors were given two – was not insulting enough, he will have to sit at pre-match conferences with the caretaker tag while the opposing coach could gloat at facing a seemingly lesser adversary.

Notch one up for the opponent in the pre-match psychological game.

Think it won’t matter to players? Well, if results don’t go Sundram’s way and if players decide they can afford not to play for a caretaker coach who is only on a year’s contract and hope for a fresh start under a new face, the FAS would have done their new coach a great disservice.

But if there is anyone who can thrill and perhaps bring back much-needed good vibes to local football, it is the man who led the LionsXII to a surprise Malaysian Super League title in 2013.

With the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship just six months away, the ex-National Football Academy and Young Lions coach has the killer app of knowing the national players from their formative years during his stints at the various developmental teams.

A solid tactician whose pragmatic approach delivers results, he could be just the man Singapore football needs right now after Stange’s unsuccessful spell, in which he promised much but delivered little.

The FAS could have sent out a strong signal that it truly believes in the local coaches it has groomed. Instead, Sundram’s coronation has been dominated by persistent questions on whether his crown is made of gold or paper.

Yet, knowing Sundram, he will be motivated to show his employers he deserves to have that C-word removed from his office door.

It is just sad though, that he must start the game of his life being 0-1 down right from the start.

From an own-goal.

meng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 29, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

For a coach whose style is steeped in pragmatism, V. Sundramoorthy’s outlook on football is unexpectedly ruled by superstitions.

The national players, many of whom trained under Sundram previously at the Young Lions and LionsXII, know not to cut their nails or their hair on game day to avoid incurring their coach’s wrath.

Off-field idiosyncrasies aside, Singapore’s new head coach made it clear he will not budge from his results-driven approach as he started his one-year tenure yesterday.

Pressed on his coaching philosophy, the 50-year-old told The Sunday Times: “The most important thing (to ask) is after 90 minutes when the referee blows the whistle, what’s the score? Everybody is looking at that, whether we play defensive or push out to attack. The bottom line is to get the result.

“You want to play beautiful football and let the players enjoy (it), but not at the expense of losing the game.”

His defensive tag was cemented as LionsXII coach, when the well-drilled outfit won the Malaysian Super League in 2013 with the best defensive record, conceding just 15 goals in 22 games.

Yet at Tampines, boosted by former English Premier League star Jermaine Pennant, the Stags played a more cavalier brand of football.

Explaining this switch, Sundram, who also coached the Young Lions in the S-League previously, said: “It depends on what you have. If you have the quality of Fandi (Ahmad) or Jermaine, you have no choice but to play to their strengths.”

This utilitarian approach was evident even from his days as player-coach at Jurong FC.

Former Jurong midfielder Fabio da Silva recalled the hours that Sundram, then still a rookie coach, spent drilling the team in set-pieces on the training ground.

“To him set-pieces are the shortest route to scoring goals so we worked on them a lot. And it’s true, you see it paying off in games. I learnt a lot from his set-piece preparation,” said the Brazilian, now a successful school football coach.

“Sundram is a very clever coach. He plays smart to win the game, based on killing the opponent’s strengths and playing to ours.”

This pragmatism extends to the sensitive issue of foreign players.

Sundram said it would be great if the national team can be bolstered by players including Jordan Webb (Canadian) and Sirina Camara (French). Both have met Fifa’s five-year residency rule.

“Hopefully we can get them. It will help our preparations,” he said.

Dream job in hand, Sundram said he relished the pressure that comes along with the hotseat, even if some previous national coaches have wilted in the spotlight.

Predecessor Bernd Stange, for instance, had clashed with local journalists on several occasions.

Sundram said: “With social media these days and the expectation of the fans, everybody has their views. It won’t be an easy role but it doesn’t scare me. As long as the criticism is not personal and is based on football I’m okay.”

His first assignment is the quadrangular AYA Bank Cup in Myanmar, which starts on Friday with a clash against the host nation. Less than six months later, he faces arguably his biggest coaching challenge – the ASEAN Football Federation Championship.

If it sounds daunting, the man is hardly cowed. He said: “The most important thing is I’m familiar with the players and they are familiar with me.

“I can get the best out of them.”

High-flying Thailand will start as overwhelming favourites to retain the Cup even before a ball is kicked. But if Singapore need a result, it seems they have the right man at the helm.

siangyee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 29, 2016.
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MILAN – Cristiano Ronaldo could not contain his pride after firing Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League success on Saturday with a decisive, and pre-planned, penalty in a 5-3 shoot-out over Atletico Madrid.

After two scoreless periods of extra time following a 1-1 draw, the city rivals were forced to spot-kicks.

And after Atletico defender Juanfran’s penalty came off the post, Ronaldo sparked wild celebrations at Milan’s San Siro stadium after stepping up to confidently sweep his effort past Jan Oblak.

With 16 goals in the competition, Ronaldo has finished the top scorer for the second time after his 17-goal haul in 2014.

Although he missed out on matching his previous record, his pride was plain to see.

“An unbelievable night, to win my third Champions League on penalties again, to be the top scorer in the competition again, I’m so proud,” said the Portuguese star, who won the trophy with Manchester United in 2008 – when he missed a penalty in the shoot-out – and with Real in 2014 when Atletico crashed to a 4-1 extra-time defeat.

“We work hard during the season to win this amazing trophy, so I’m so proud of my teammates, of the fans, families, of the coach.

“It’s my second year I scored more than 15 goals. The person with the season scoring record in this competition is me, with 17 goals (in 2014).

“And this year 16; or 17 with the penalty. What more can I ask for ?” Two years after reviving Real’s bid for a 10th title, Real captain Sergio Ramos bundled home a close-range opener after just 15 minutes only for Yannick Carrasco to force extra time when he came off the bench to level for Atletico 11 minutes from the end.

Real spurned chances to secure the trophy in both periods of extra time, but kept their composure throughout a tense penalty shoot-out that went their way when Juanfran hit the post.

Ronaldo, he appeared to suggest, was never likely to miss.

“To be honest, I was confident I would score, I said to Zidane before the penalties, ‘put me the last one because I feel I’m going to score the winning goal, and this is what happened,” he said.

“I’m so proud to score the winning goal and to win the Champions League again.” Ronaldo capped the celebrations with the trademark removal of his shirt, revealing a still muscular and toned physique, although after spurning a couple of real chances, the 31-year-old admitted his performance was far from perfect.

“It maybe wasn’t the best one, but who played unbelievable tonight? No one. It’s tough. It’s the end of the season, you don’t have power in your legs that you have at the beginning of the season.” Zidane becomes just the seventh footballer to win the trophy as coach and player. In 2002, the Frenchman’s stunning volley was the match-winner in a 2-1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.

“I’m so proud to be part of this great club. It’s the club of my life, the one that made me who I am,” said Zidane.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, says there’s plenty more to come.

“I’m always there, in the top level. I still feel good, I still feel fresh, not tonight though!” he said.

“I showed the team that I’m there. For the good moments and the bad. This is what makes me feel proud.”