FAS ● Nov 11, 2023
FAS President’s Deepavali 2023 Message
Dear members of the FAS football fraternity,
The joyous occasion of Deepavali is upon us. The Festival of Lights is a time when
Hindus come together to celebrate the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil. It is a time to be with family and friends, to smile and be happy, and to reflect on the many blessings that we have received. Let me begin by wishing all in the football fraternity, a warm and joyous Deepavali.
We have also much to be grateful for in football.
The recent FIFA World Cup Round 1 qualifier saw our Singapore Men’s Team overcome Guam over two legs. In Round 2 of the competition, we face the big boys. We eagerly await the upcoming matches against formidable opponents Korea Republic and Thailand this November, and China later in 2024. We know we are up against very strong teams. But this represents the chance to test ourselves against some of the best Asian teams, and to play in stadiums, home and away, that will be filled with fans. We wish our team the best in the November window and wish them a performance that we can all be proud of.
The ongoing 2023 Singapore Cup has brought back the magic of cup competitions. We see the likes of Brunei DPMM display outstanding form to top their group despite their recent league standings. The final group matches will be completed on the 25th and 26th of November, after which we will know the final four teams to contest the Singapore Cup trophy.
We also celebrate the many other achievements in football given the year is coming to an end. Tanjong Pagar United, Geylang International and Singapore Sports School’s won the recently concluded COE U-21, U-17 and U-15 competitions respectively. The Lion City Sailors also secured back-to-back league titles in the Women’s Premier League while in the Women’s National League, Royal Arion FC clinched their first ever title after winning all of their games. Our amateur footballing community will also have the upcoming FA Cup final as Singapore Khalsa Association and Yishun Sentek Mariners go head-to-head in what promises to be a thrilling Final.
The FAS is spending the closing weeks of the year to deliver on crucial initiatives for the new year. These include work on the Academy Accreditation System, an initiative that started early this year as well as the upcoming Singapore Youth League in 2024, which aims to nurture and develop the next generation of football talent in Singapore. There are also other initiatives that we will speak about when the time is right.
It leaves me, on behalf of the FAS Council and staff, to wish all of you and your loved ones a blessed Deepavali! Let us continue to illuminate our path, overcome challenges, and emerge stronger together.
Happy Deepavali!
Sincerely,
𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗻
President
