Taking Pulse Of The Roar

In 2021, the "Unleash The Roar!" (UTR) project was launched to transform Singapore football. The collaboration between the Government and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) came on the back of a goal outlined by the sports body, which then set the Lions' sights on qualifying for the 2034 World Cup. Over three years into its launch, and with the countdown clock ticking, The Sunday Times talks to football officials, players and the community about the project's progress. How close are the Lions to achieving this ambitious goal, or does UTR's mission extend beyond World Cup qualification?

- Deepanraj Ganesan

National skipper Hariss Harun boasts a career that is the envy of many – the 34-year-old Singaporean has over 130 international caps, a continental trophy, multiple league titles on both sides of the Causeway and an Asean Championship winner's medal.

Yet he cannot help but wish that he had access to the opportunities now available to young footballers here.

"The amount of resources and support being put in for football now, it makes me wish I was a young player today," he said. "In general, there is greater support from the Government, from schools, parents and the football community to pursue one's dream of being a professional footballer."

He was referring to Unleash the Roar! (UTR), a project launched by the Government in 2021 to improve and transform Singapore football.

Through UTR, aspiring young players get support and development opportunities through various avenues, such as overseas scholarships, the Singapore Youth League (SYL) and the School Football Academy (SFA), to set them up for success.

IMPETUS TO UNLEASH THE ROAR

Once record champions in the region with four Asean titles, Singapore football has been in the doldrums in the last decade. The Lions' Fifa ranking dipped to an all-time low of 173 in 2017 and while they are currently ranked 160th, they are behind regional rivals such as the Philippines (150), Malaysia (132), Indonesia (127), Vietnam (114) and Thailand (97).

To reinvigorate the community and raise football standards, in 2021, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong announced in Parliament the launch of the UTR project.