Local football legend and Lion’s XII head coach Fandi Ahmad plans to field a women’s team at next year’s SEA Games held in Singapore.
Fandi and his F-17 Academy have formed a team, the F-17 FC, to compete in the new season of the Football Association of Singapore’s Women’s Premier League (FAS WPL), which commenced yesterday. The FAS WPL was inaugurated in 2004.
F-17 FC is coached by ex-international Steven Tan, and overseen by Fandi, who plays an advisory role. The aim is for most of the team to be good enough to represent Singapore in the SEA Games.
The team comprises of 21 experienced players from around the FAS WPL, and new players hand-picked from schools and the F-17 Academy. Captain Ernie Sulastri herself, who previously played for league side H-TWO-O Dream Team, got a personal invitation from Fandi.
With F-17 FC spearheading the long-term plan for developing women’s football in Singapore, Fandi and his F-17 team, including daughter Iman Fandi Ahmad, will conduct coaching clinics and talks at various girls’ schools later this year to promote the sport and encourage talented players to join the academy.
The first talk was held at CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Singapore last won a medal for women’s football at the Bangkok SEA Games back in 1985, when they took silver, but interest in the sport waned when players were not given enough support.
Source: Today
Photo: F-17 Academy Facebook page
