Press Releases ● Jun 05, 2013
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Football Association of Singapore and Japan Professional Football League
SINGAPORE, 5th June 2013: The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan Professional Football League in a ceremony that was held on 5 June, 2013 at 6pm at Jalan Besar Stadium. A delegation from J. League led by its chairman Mr Kazumi Ohigashi represented J. League for the signing ceremony with Mr Zainudin Nordin representing FAS.
The signing ceremony was graced by representatives from J.League, FAS’ upper management and S.League Club Chairmen, and attended by members of both local and the Japanese media for whom news of the signing has attracted substantial interest in the Japanese football fraternity.
Witnessed by Mr Winston Lee, General Secretary of FAS and Mr Daisuke Nakanishi, Board Member of J.League, the ceremony was completed and followed by a presentation of the National Team and the Courts Young Lions jerseys to Mr Ohigashi and Mr Nakanishi respectively. The Memorandum is a strong indication and reminder of FAS’ dedication towards improving on the standards of the local football league with special focus on the following areas:
- Youth development
- Increase international exposure for local players by arranging for friendly games between Japanese and Singapore clubs
- Raise and enhance clubs’ profiles through extensive cooperatives, partnerships and CSR activities
- Facilitate cultural understanding between the two countries through exchange and attachment programs
- Extensive promotion of J.League and S.League games on social media
The J. League was formally founded on 1st November, 1991 with the primary goal of raising the standards of the Japanese game and achieving international competitiveness. The J. League kicked off on 15th May, 1993 with the major objectives of providing cutting edge sports facilities, building better training systems for players and cultivating a strong sporting culture in the country by encouraging the Japanese people to partake actively in sports.
The J. League champions are among the other top teams from regional leagues that regularly participate in the AFC Champions League (ACL), the winners of which represent the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the FIFA Club World Cup. The J. League is not only Japan’s premier league, it serves a gateway for Japanese clubs to compete in top-level Asian football and for their national football teams to leave their marks on the international stage.
The quality of football, the progress made by the J.League on the regional stage and the admirable exploits of their national teams on the international stage especially that of the Women’s team that won the FIFA 2011 Women’s World Cup in sensational fashion by beating the formidable U.S.A Women’s team, is impressive to say the least.
We are very excited to sign a memorandum with the J.League and work closely in tandem with the strongest football league in Asia whose success is built on the tenets of discipline, diligence, intelligence, humility, creativity and enterprise – a viewpoint that was reiterated by Mr Zainudin Nordin, President of FAS who stated: “The signing of this MOU is in line with our Strategic Plan, to develop and enhance the capacities and capabilities of our players, coaches, administrators and referees, among others, by sending them for overseas attachments among other footballing programmes and initiatives. In this regard, we believe we can tap on the expertise of the J.League to bring Singapore football to the next level.”
Mr Kazumi Ohigashi, Chairman of J.League was equally upbeat and he concurred: “We hope that the signing of MOU today with FAS will lead us to foster a holistic partnership, which will enhance bilateral cooperation in various aspects of football, including the actual matches, management as well as business. We strongly aspire to facilitate exchange between Singapore and Japan through football, and set out to contribute to further growth of both leagues. Thank you very much for your kind attention.”
Information and details of initiatives from this MOU will be announced at a later date.
