It is heartening that there are fans like Mr Jaspal Singh Sidhu (The real winners in 32-0 thrashing at National School Games football match, Jan 28) and Ms Lim Mei Ling (Referees and adults present could have intervened in 32-0 whipping, Jan 30) who are passionate about improving Singapore football. Their letters raise valid points.
There is discussion over whether a player who beats his opponent by a wide margin lacks true sportsmanship.
I believe the Singapore Sports School (SSP) would not be honouring their opponents by "giving chance" and going easy on them. Likewise, Assumption Pathway School (APS) would not want to be patronised by their opponents.
Had SSP, a specialist institution focused on developing elite sports talents, beaten run-of-the-mill APS by a narrow margin, it could very well have been viewed as an example of the relevant organisations not doing enough to raise the standards of football in Singapore - it's a case of damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
Former sprint champion and current 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt often beat his opponents by phenomenally wide margins.
Should he have slowed down for his opponents just so they wouldn't lose by too much and look bad?
As for the lessons learnt from hammering a team 32-0, I would suggest winning - and losing - with grace and honour and, for the losers, giving them the hunger to keep their chins up and win the next game.
Also, aren't we always talking about teaching our kids resilience? Yet, here we are in the same breath saying adults need to intervene when the children are losing - what kind of conflicting messages are we sending to the children?
At the end of the day, I'd be very surprised if anyone is genuinely mocking either SSP for their disproportionate thrashing of APS, or APS for their sub-par performance on the pitch.
That's how the game should be played, that is true sportsmanship and it is how the standard of football in Singapore can be raised.
Woon Wee Min
ST Forum, 31 Jan 2020
There is discussion over whether a player who beats his opponent by a wide margin lacks true sportsmanship.
I believe the Singapore Sports School (SSP) would not be honouring their opponents by "giving chance" and going easy on them. Likewise, Assumption Pathway School (APS) would not want to be patronised by their opponents.
Had SSP, a specialist institution focused on developing elite sports talents, beaten run-of-the-mill APS by a narrow margin, it could very well have been viewed as an example of the relevant organisations not doing enough to raise the standards of football in Singapore - it's a case of damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
Former sprint champion and current 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt often beat his opponents by phenomenally wide margins.
Should he have slowed down for his opponents just so they wouldn't lose by too much and look bad?
As for the lessons learnt from hammering a team 32-0, I would suggest winning - and losing - with grace and honour and, for the losers, giving them the hunger to keep their chins up and win the next game.
Also, aren't we always talking about teaching our kids resilience? Yet, here we are in the same breath saying adults need to intervene when the children are losing - what kind of conflicting messages are we sending to the children?
At the end of the day, I'd be very surprised if anyone is genuinely mocking either SSP for their disproportionate thrashing of APS, or APS for their sub-par performance on the pitch.
That's how the game should be played, that is true sportsmanship and it is how the standard of football in Singapore can be raised.
Woon Wee Min
ST Forum, 31 Jan 2020
School sports: 32-0 game 'played respectfully', say Sports School and Assumption Pathway
By Sazali Abdul Aziz, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 30 Jan 2020
The Singapore Sports School (SSP) and Assumption Pathway School (ASP), whose B Division boys' football teams played out a 32-0 National School Games match that sparked debate among the fraternity, said on Thursday (Jan 30) that the match was "played respectfully and the players displayed resilience and effort".
In a joint statement on Thursday, both schools said: "We thank the football fraternity for their concerns and hope that the commentaries on the game will recede so that our boys can be given space to play and enjoy their games going forward."
SSP had thrashed APS in a preliminary-round game on Jan 20. That meant that on average, a goal was scored every 2½ minutes in the 80-minute match. The scoreline, which was the highest in schools football in the last four years, ignited discussion about competitiveness and fair play in school sports, with some calling for tweaks in the format of competition to avoid repeats of such one-sided encounters.
The statement, which appeared on both schools' Facebook pages, thanked "concerned parties" for their feedback on the game.
"We wish to assure everyone that both teams agreed to play our best in the spirit of true sportsmanship," said Mohamed Tahir, ASP's head of department, co-curricular activities, and Tan Bee Lian, SSP's director of sports in the statement.
"The match was played respectfully and the players displayed resilience and effort. The boys from both teams enjoyed the game and drew valuable lessons from it. These include the mistakes and good moves made.
"They also knew that beyond the qualifying rounds, they will be playing with teams of comparable abilities, where they will need to continue playing their best."
Both teams also came together for a post-match debrief where players and coaches from SSP "praised the (APS) team for their great fighting spirit", added the statement.
"We are proud of the players for showing good friendship, teamwork and sportsmanship - values that the National School Games aim to promote."
The SSP's football programme has produced a number of national players since the school's inception in 2004, including Safuwan Baharudin and two of local football icon Fandi Ahmad's sons, Irfan and Ikhsan.
The SSP has won the Schools National B Division competition eight times since 2007.
APS is a specialised school that offers vocational programmes for students who are unable to access or complete secondary education.
In the current format of schools football, after the preliminary round, schools are sorted into five different tiers of 16 teams, where they are broken up into groups of four.
This has resulted in a number of lopsided scorelines between mismatched teams in recent years. Last year's schools competition saw SSP routing NUS High School of Mathematics and Science 29-0, while Marsiling Secondary beat APS 20-0.
By Sazali Abdul Aziz, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 30 Jan 2020
The Singapore Sports School (SSP) and Assumption Pathway School (ASP), whose B Division boys' football teams played out a 32-0 National School Games match that sparked debate among the fraternity, said on Thursday (Jan 30) that the match was "played respectfully and the players displayed resilience and effort".
In a joint statement on Thursday, both schools said: "We thank the football fraternity for their concerns and hope that the commentaries on the game will recede so that our boys can be given space to play and enjoy their games going forward."
SSP had thrashed APS in a preliminary-round game on Jan 20. That meant that on average, a goal was scored every 2½ minutes in the 80-minute match. The scoreline, which was the highest in schools football in the last four years, ignited discussion about competitiveness and fair play in school sports, with some calling for tweaks in the format of competition to avoid repeats of such one-sided encounters.
The statement, which appeared on both schools' Facebook pages, thanked "concerned parties" for their feedback on the game.
"We wish to assure everyone that both teams agreed to play our best in the spirit of true sportsmanship," said Mohamed Tahir, ASP's head of department, co-curricular activities, and Tan Bee Lian, SSP's director of sports in the statement.
"The match was played respectfully and the players displayed resilience and effort. The boys from both teams enjoyed the game and drew valuable lessons from it. These include the mistakes and good moves made.
"They also knew that beyond the qualifying rounds, they will be playing with teams of comparable abilities, where they will need to continue playing their best."
Both teams also came together for a post-match debrief where players and coaches from SSP "praised the (APS) team for their great fighting spirit", added the statement.
"We are proud of the players for showing good friendship, teamwork and sportsmanship - values that the National School Games aim to promote."
The SSP's football programme has produced a number of national players since the school's inception in 2004, including Safuwan Baharudin and two of local football icon Fandi Ahmad's sons, Irfan and Ikhsan.
The SSP has won the Schools National B Division competition eight times since 2007.
APS is a specialised school that offers vocational programmes for students who are unable to access or complete secondary education.
In the current format of schools football, after the preliminary round, schools are sorted into five different tiers of 16 teams, where they are broken up into groups of four.
This has resulted in a number of lopsided scorelines between mismatched teams in recent years. Last year's schools competition saw SSP routing NUS High School of Mathematics and Science 29-0, while Marsiling Secondary beat APS 20-0.
Lopsided 32-0 score in National School Games football match stirs debate
By Sazali Abdul Aziz, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 25 Jan 2020
A lopsided scoreline in a National School Games football match has sparked a debate about competitiveness and fair play in school sport.
The Singapore Sports School (SSP) thrashed Assumption Pathway School (APS) 32-0 in a preliminary-round B Division boys' football game on Monday. That meant that on average, a goal was scored every 2½ minutes in the 80-minute match.
Former national player Aleksandar Duric, who is now the principal of the ActiveSG football academy, was upset at seeing such a scoreline.
"This kind of scoreline should not happen," said the 49-year-old. "What can either team possibly learn from such a game?"
Mr Duric said he had no issues with SSP racking up the goals, but took issue with the format of the schools competition.
"I don't see why the Sports School, which every year is one of the strongest teams, has to play in the preliminary round," he said.
"This is something that needs to be adjusted. I feel sorry for both the winning and losing players."
The SSP's football programme has produced a number of national players since the school's inception in 2004, including Safuwan Baharudin and two of local football icon Fandi Ahmad's sons, Irfan and Ikhsan.
The SSP has won the Schools National B Division competition eight times since 2007.
APS is a specialised school that offers vocational programmes for students who are unable to access or complete secondary education.
Former youth coach Khairul Asyraf, now a coaching consultant to clubs in the region, has coached five schools and has seen one of his teams win 15-1 and another lose 20-1.
Referencing his team's big defeat, Mr Khairul noted that the opposing team had resources to enjoy a training stint in Spain, but added that he was open about addressing the result and the imbalance of resources between the two schools with his players afterwards.
Noting that there were life lessons to be drawn from the loss, he said: "It was about empowering them to give what they could even if they fell short of the opponent.
"The biggest opponent in life is always ourselves. Environment and circumstances make up the rest."
One source, who was present at the 32-0 match but declined to be named, said the scoreline at half-time was 20-0.
The source commended the APS players for giving their all throughout the match, and said that he saw the SSP players go over to the losing team and give them a round of applause.
The SSP's B Division coach, former national player Isa Halim, also addressed the APS players after the game and praised their fighting spirit.
In the current format of schools football, after the preliminary round, schools are sorted into five different tiers of 16 teams, where they are broken up into groups of four.
Mr Khairul said he felt an overhaul of the current schools format was not necessary, but suggested tweaks.
He said previous results can be referenced to create several divisions of 14 teams, with a mid-season review where the bottom four teams of each division move down, with the top four of lower divisions being "promoted" to take their place.
"This will create a very fluid and competitive league structure where teams are more evenly matched," he noted.
One local coach, who has been involved in secondary school football for over a decade, said: "The schools format is organised by the Ministry of Education and not the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
"If the FAS or Sport Singapore has some say or organises the competition, I think we could see changes which mean scorelines like this will not happen."
Some have also suggested introducing a "mercy rule", like one that was previously applied in schools rugby, where matches were stopped when the goal difference reached 80 points.
But this coach disagreed, and said: "We should not cut games short. The only way for players to develop is to give them more playing time, and by giving their best at all times."
Mr Duric agreed, noting that he has seen some youth leagues require teams winning by big scorelines to take players off the pitch or allow the losing sides to add players. He asked: "Where do we draw the line? Eight goals? Ten goals? To me, such a rule is not good to have."
When my team lost by double digits
In 2016, I was left back during my school's first competitive football fixture of the year. I quickly lost count of the number of times I was left flat-footed by the opposing winger. As a team, we chased and harried our opponents and, despite our valiant efforts, left the pitch on the wrong end of an 11-0 scoreline.
Should our opponents have gone easy on us or adhered to a mercy rule to cap defeats? Of course not. It was a competitive fixture and they were entitled and obliged to give it their all.
Contrary to the notion that students on the wrong end of such defeats will experience "psychological adversity that may trigger a fear response if confronted with a similar scenario even years later" our NUS High team faced up to reality (School sports set-up needs fine-tuning, say observers, Feb 2).
Yes, we were humiliated on the pitch, but we accepted that the other team simply outclassed us on every front - physicality, pace, technique. It was a well-deserved victory for them. Furthermore, it would have been doubly humiliating had the opponents started taking it easy.
This is the crux of the problem: How the public reacted to it. As a nation, we need to accept that these scorelines happen, and instead of trying to bury the heads of youth in sand by avoiding these fixtures, we ought to embrace the result as a form of experiential learning.
Dayrius Tay Jiale, 18
Pre-university student
ST Forum, 10 Feb 2020
By Sazali Abdul Aziz, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 25 Jan 2020
A lopsided scoreline in a National School Games football match has sparked a debate about competitiveness and fair play in school sport.
The Singapore Sports School (SSP) thrashed Assumption Pathway School (APS) 32-0 in a preliminary-round B Division boys' football game on Monday. That meant that on average, a goal was scored every 2½ minutes in the 80-minute match.
Former national player Aleksandar Duric, who is now the principal of the ActiveSG football academy, was upset at seeing such a scoreline.
"This kind of scoreline should not happen," said the 49-year-old. "What can either team possibly learn from such a game?"
Mr Duric said he had no issues with SSP racking up the goals, but took issue with the format of the schools competition.
"I don't see why the Sports School, which every year is one of the strongest teams, has to play in the preliminary round," he said.
"This is something that needs to be adjusted. I feel sorry for both the winning and losing players."
The SSP's football programme has produced a number of national players since the school's inception in 2004, including Safuwan Baharudin and two of local football icon Fandi Ahmad's sons, Irfan and Ikhsan.
The SSP has won the Schools National B Division competition eight times since 2007.
APS is a specialised school that offers vocational programmes for students who are unable to access or complete secondary education.
Former youth coach Khairul Asyraf, now a coaching consultant to clubs in the region, has coached five schools and has seen one of his teams win 15-1 and another lose 20-1.
Referencing his team's big defeat, Mr Khairul noted that the opposing team had resources to enjoy a training stint in Spain, but added that he was open about addressing the result and the imbalance of resources between the two schools with his players afterwards.
Noting that there were life lessons to be drawn from the loss, he said: "It was about empowering them to give what they could even if they fell short of the opponent.
"The biggest opponent in life is always ourselves. Environment and circumstances make up the rest."
One source, who was present at the 32-0 match but declined to be named, said the scoreline at half-time was 20-0.
The source commended the APS players for giving their all throughout the match, and said that he saw the SSP players go over to the losing team and give them a round of applause.
The SSP's B Division coach, former national player Isa Halim, also addressed the APS players after the game and praised their fighting spirit.
In the current format of schools football, after the preliminary round, schools are sorted into five different tiers of 16 teams, where they are broken up into groups of four.
Mr Khairul said he felt an overhaul of the current schools format was not necessary, but suggested tweaks.
He said previous results can be referenced to create several divisions of 14 teams, with a mid-season review where the bottom four teams of each division move down, with the top four of lower divisions being "promoted" to take their place.
"This will create a very fluid and competitive league structure where teams are more evenly matched," he noted.
One local coach, who has been involved in secondary school football for over a decade, said: "The schools format is organised by the Ministry of Education and not the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
"If the FAS or Sport Singapore has some say or organises the competition, I think we could see changes which mean scorelines like this will not happen."
Some have also suggested introducing a "mercy rule", like one that was previously applied in schools rugby, where matches were stopped when the goal difference reached 80 points.
But this coach disagreed, and said: "We should not cut games short. The only way for players to develop is to give them more playing time, and by giving their best at all times."
Mr Duric agreed, noting that he has seen some youth leagues require teams winning by big scorelines to take players off the pitch or allow the losing sides to add players. He asked: "Where do we draw the line? Eight goals? Ten goals? To me, such a rule is not good to have."
When my team lost by double digits
In 2016, I was left back during my school's first competitive football fixture of the year. I quickly lost count of the number of times I was left flat-footed by the opposing winger. As a team, we chased and harried our opponents and, despite our valiant efforts, left the pitch on the wrong end of an 11-0 scoreline.
Should our opponents have gone easy on us or adhered to a mercy rule to cap defeats? Of course not. It was a competitive fixture and they were entitled and obliged to give it their all.
Contrary to the notion that students on the wrong end of such defeats will experience "psychological adversity that may trigger a fear response if confronted with a similar scenario even years later" our NUS High team faced up to reality (School sports set-up needs fine-tuning, say observers, Feb 2).
Yes, we were humiliated on the pitch, but we accepted that the other team simply outclassed us on every front - physicality, pace, technique. It was a well-deserved victory for them. Furthermore, it would have been doubly humiliating had the opponents started taking it easy.
This is the crux of the problem: How the public reacted to it. As a nation, we need to accept that these scorelines happen, and instead of trying to bury the heads of youth in sand by avoiding these fixtures, we ought to embrace the result as a form of experiential learning.
Dayrius Tay Jiale, 18
Pre-university student
ST Forum, 10 Feb 2020
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