Developing our own talents

In 1998, France won the World Cup. The team comprised of many players from the former French colonies in Africa.

This event prompted Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to raise the possibility of Singapore entering the World Cup using "foreign talents". The Football Association of Singapore took up the challenge and set the target of Goal 2010 for Singapore to win the World Cup (but thge goal was later clarified as participation in the Finals). This goal was subsequently dropped as the task was deemed to be impossible.

During this period, Germany went about in its own way to develop its youth squad and soccer training program. The result can be seen in the spectacular performance of the Germany team, the product of its youth development program,  in World Cup 2010.

We can contrast the approach taken by the two countries. One decided to rely on "foreign talents". The other decided to train and develop its own people.

This is a lesson for Singapore.

Tan Kin Lian