Singapore’s long-frustrated football fans are daring to hope again after a landmark Asian Cup qualification win and the appointment of a home-grown coach they believe can restore pride to a national side long eclipsed at home by English Premier League fandom.
On Friday, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that Gavin Lee, the interim coach that secured the Lions’ qualification for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time, has been given the head coach job on an 18-month contract.
Singapore came from a goal down to beat Hong Kong 2-1 at Kai Tak Stadium on November 18, granting the city state a spot in Saudi Arabia in 2027 and a S$2 million (US$1.54 million) reward, which was announced by FAS President and Chief Executive of Sea Limited Forrest Li.
In the days following the loss, Englishman Ashley Westwood quit as Hong Kong head coach after severe backlash from fans and a public questioning of his tactics by the city’s sports minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui.
In Singapore, observers and fans alike lauded Lee’s appointment, with football consultant Richard Harcus calling the 35-year-old’s appointment a “long-needed change in Singaporean football”.
