Replies to Media ● Apr 11, 2013
FAS’ reply to media queries on National Training Centre
“The National Training Centre (NTC) will be a key step towards raising the level of professionalism in football in Singapore. The concept of an NTC is in line with the FAS’ Strategic Plan 2010-2015, as football facilities is one of the nine key strategic areas outlined in the Strategic Plan. The facilities proposed, not only encompass the requirements for training and top-level competitions, but also recognise the needs of the community and grassroots football.
The NTC will incorporate sports facilities and support services to develop the next generation of footballers in Singapore, as well as to position Singapore as an international training hub for world-renowned teams.
The NTC will cater to these requirements, especially those pertaining to the training needs of the various national age-group squads including the National Football Academy (NFA) Under-13, U-14. U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams. Apart from serving as a platform to fulfil the training requirements of the national age-group teams, the NTC will attract many foreign football teams to use the city-state as their pre-season/tournament training base. Singapore’s strategic location, warm and sunny climate, reputation for organisational excellence and its safe and secure environment are our selling points.
Going forward, we believe the NTC, with an extensive range of facilities and services, will further enhance our ability to attract top football teams to train and play in Singapore. This will in turn boost our sports and tourism industries and will play a key role in attracting visitors to the Sports Hub, when completed in 2014.
To enhance the status of the NTC as an integrated sports facility, FAS intends to include a sports medicine centre, which will aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries. It shall also include allied-medical facilities like a physiotherapy facility. FAS intends to open up this sports medicine centre not only to its players but also to other National Sports Associations and the general public, who are injured in sports-related activities.
The development of youth talent is at the heart of our long-term strategy of bringing Singapore football to the next level. The opportunity to build a world class National Training Centre, supported by our comprehensive youth development structure and programmes, will hence be a significant step in the realisation of that strategy.”
