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Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Jalan Besar Stadium set to be fitted with natural grass pitch
The Singapore Cup final between BG Tampines Rovers (in black) and Lion City Sailors, at Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – The Jalan Besar Stadium's artificial turf will be removed to make way for a natural grass surface to meet the latest requirements set out by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Straits Times understands that work to returf the pitch is scheduled to commence in August and will be completed by January 2026. The 6,000-capacity venue, which originally had a grass surface, was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005. The change comes after the AFC banned the use of fully artificial pitches in its major national team and club competitions. In a June 11 memo to member associations, Asian football's governing body said the decision is in line with efforts to improve the quality of play, following feedback that the standard of pitches – in particular artificial ones – has varied over the past few seasons. The affected competitions are the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, the Women's Asian Cup and Olympic qualifiers, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) and the AFC Women's Champions League. The Jalan Besar Stadium hosted the Sailors and Tampines' ACL2 matches last season, with both teams having also qualified for the group stage of the second-tier continental club competition next season. After notifying its member associations of the ban on June 11, AFC sent letters the next day to those who are affected by the decision, asking them to nominate an alternative venue with natural grass or a hybrid surface for their home matches. These include Singapore, who have played some national team games at the Jalan Besar Stadium when the 55,000-capacity National Stadium was unavailable or deemed too big for requirements. During last season's ACL2, the Sailors played six home games at Jalan Besar, winning four times, drawing once and losing once as they qualified for a historic final. Their opponents, Emirati side Sharjah FC, complained that Jalan Besar was not a worthy venue for the final. The match was then moved to Bishan Stadium, where stands were added to make it a 10,000-seater venue in May, with Sharjah winning 2-1. The 2025-26 ACL 2 group stage, which involves Tampines and the Sailors, will kick off in September, but it is unlikely that Bishan will be ready to host home games then. Works have commenced to replace the rubber track at Bishan Stadium, which also hosts SPL matches, and that will require approximately 16 weeks to be completed. Lion City Sailors' Lennart Thy scoring the second goal in their 2-0 victory over Sydney FC in the AFC Champions League Two semi-final, first leg at Jalan Besar Stadium in April. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY To mitigate the situation, it is understood that FAS is in discussions with the AFC to allow both Tampines and Sailors' first ACL 2 group-stage games to be scheduled as away matches. ST understands that if work at the Bishan Stadium is completed by October, the facility will be able to host subsequent group-stage matches. But these games will be played at Jalan Besar once it becomes available as Bishan Stadium, which can accommodate up to 2,800 spectators, does not meet AFC's minimum requirement for capacity. The changes will also have an impact on the 2025-26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) – the season's curtain raiser, the Community Shield, is scheduled for Aug 16 at the Jurong East Stadium. When the SPL season kicks off a week later, matches will take place from Friday to Monday at Our Tampines Hub and the Jurong East Stadium, before Bishan and Jalan Besar's expected availability in October 2025 and January 2026 respectively. Since the Jalan Besar Stadium was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005, other venues, such as the Jurong East Stadium and Our Tampines Hub, have followed suit as the authorities deemed that such surfaces are easier to maintain than grass pitches in Singapore's humid climate. This has helped Singapore teams achieve some good results in international matches, as visiting teams have often found it hard to deal with the pace, bounce and trajectory of the ball on the Jalan Besar pitch, which was last relaid between July 2020 and January 2021, with costs borne by Fifa. In 2011, Brazil legend Zico, who was Iraq's coach then, condemned it as being unsuitable for a professional football game ahead of his team's 2014 World Cup third-round qualifier against Singapore, noting that 'this kind of pitch is for school kids'. Local players have also raised concerns about the injuries sustained while playing on the artificial turf at Jalan Besar, though there is currently no conclusive evidence to show a link between artificial pitches and injuries. Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi and former midfielder Adam Swandi both sustained knee injuries in the 3-1 friendly win over the Maldives at Jalan Besar in December 2022. Ikhsan's younger brother Ilhan then suffered a serious knee injury as well during the Asean Football Federation Championship game against Vietnam on Dec 30 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Selection's Park Tae-won attempting a header in an exhibition match against Thailand All Stars on Nov 13, 2005. This was the first official match at Jalan Besar Stadium since the natural grass surface was replaced with an artificial pitch that year. PHOTO: ST FILE Jalan Besar pitch timeline: 2005: Grass pitch is replaced with artificial turf to withstand wear and tear; first official match is played there featuring S-League Selection and Thai All-Stars in November 2005 2008: A $1 million renovation is completed featuring a new artificial pitch with enhanced cushioning compared to the previous surface, along with upgraded floodlights 2014: Facility is returfed with a new artificial pitch as part of maintenance 2021: Relaid with Fifa Quality Pro artificial turf as part of a Fifa Development Project 2025: Natural grass to return to comply with AFC regulations Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Imigresen FC Urged to Confirm New Home Venue Quickly
SUPER LEAGUE newcomer, Imigresen FC, have been asked to expedite their search for an official venue for the Malaysia League (M-League) competition next season, after their application to use the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar, Kedah was rejected yesterday. Acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the Malaysia Football League (MFL), Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd said the matter is important to make it easier for them to complete the competition schedule. 'Imigresen FC needs to inform MFL of other venues they can use for next season. 'It should be as soon as possible because we are in the final process of preparing the league schedule,' he said when met by reporters after attending the LALIGA EXTRATIME programme here today. Earlier, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor informed Imigresen FC that they were not allowed to register the Darul Aman Stadium as the team's official home ground. Instead, he suggested that Imigresen FC register the Bandaraya Stadium in Penang as their home ground. Meanwhile, Mohd Shazli said the M-League competition schedule is currently in the final phase and is currently awaiting the date of the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) competition and the results of the draw for the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) and AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) involving two teams, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Selangor FC. 'We are waiting for the date from the AFF (Asean Football Federation). For now, we already have the dates for the ACLE and ACL 2 tournaments. 'We just don't know the date and where JDT and Selangor will play since the draw is scheduled to be held on August 15,' he said.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Fully artificial pitches to be banned in Asian Football Confederation competitions from August
Lion City Sailors striker Lennart Thy scores in a 2-0 win over Sydney FC at Jalan Besar Stadium in April. Artificial surfaces such as this will not be allowed in Asian Football Confederation competitions from next season. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Lion City Sailors and runners-up BG Tampines Rovers will lose their unique home-ground advantage of playing continental matches on the Jalan Besar Stadium astroturf, after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) banned the use of fully artificial pitches in major national team and club competitions under its sanctioning from August. In a June 11 memo to AFC member associations seen by The Straits Times, Asian football's governing body said the decision is in line with efforts to improve the quality of play, following feedback that the standard of pitches, in particular artificial ones, has varied over the past few seasons. Tampines coach Gavin Lee noted that, with the exception of a handful of clubs like Norwegian champions and Europa League semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, most teams around the world play on natural grass. Lee, also national assistant coach, said: 'I'll be lying if I said the astroturf was not an advantage for Singapore teams when we host opponents at Jalan Besar. And I can understand why there are more artificial pitches in our region because maintenance is much easier in our climate. 'But it's understandable why the AFC is heading in this direction because globally, almost all the major tournaments are played on grass. The affected competitions are the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, the Women's Asian Cup and Olympic qualifiers, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) and the AFC Women's Champions League. After notifying its member associations of the ban on June 11, AFC sent letters the next day to those who are affected by the decision, asking them to nominate an alternative venue with natural grass or a hybrid surface for their home matches. These include Singapore, who have played some national team games at the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium, when the 55,000-capacity National Stadium is unavailable or deemed too big for requirements. The Jalan Besar Stadium also hosted the Sailors and Tampines' ACL2 matches last season, with both teams having also qualified for the group stage of the second-tier continental club competition next season. A Football Association of Singapore spokesman confirmed the official correspondence and said it is working with AFC and national agency Sport Singapore 'to ensure that there will not be any disruptions to AFC matches for the 2025-26 season'. ST has also reached out to AFC and SportSG for comment. Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi welcomed the move to natural grass. He and midfielder Adam Swandi both sustained knee injuries in the 3-1 friendly win over the Maldives at Jalan Besar in December 2022, ruling them out of that year's Asean Championship. The 26-year-old came off worse as he ruptured his right patella tendon and was out for 11 months. Ikhsan, who has joined Ratchaburi FC on loan from fellow Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United, told ST: 'I've had an unfortunate injury on an artificial pitch, so I can relate to some of the concerns around them. I understand AFC's decision and trust that it's been made with the players' safety and the quality of the game in mind. 'That said, as players, our job is to adapt and give our best no matter the surface. At the end of the day, it's not our decision. We respect whatever regulations that are in place and focus on performing at the highest level wherever we play. ' Since the Jalan Besar Stadium was first fitted with an artificial pitch in 2005, other SPL venues, such as the Jurong East Stadium and Our Tampines Hub, have followed suit as the authorities feel that such surfaces are easier to maintain than grass pitches in Singapore's humid climate. Along the way, this has helped Singapore teams achieve some good results in international matches as visiting teams have often found it hard to deal with the pace, bounce and trajectory of the ball on the Jalan Besar pitch. During last season's ACL Two, the Sailors played six home games at Jalan Besar, winning four times, drawing once and losing once as they qualified for a historic final. Their opponents in the showpiece match, Emirati side Sharjah FC, complained that Jalan Besar was not worthy of the final. The match was then moved to Bishan Stadium, which was upgraded to a 10,000-seater venue in May, with Sharjah winning 2-1. The AFC is not the only football organisation to ban artificial pitches. Scottish Premiership clubs also voted in 2024 for a similar ban from 2026. Lee added: 'I don't think we can definitively say that playing on artificial pitches causes injuries because there is no conclusive evidence of causation. But from some players' feedback, it does impact them harder, and I believe those responses were taken into consideration. 'This is the decision the AFC has taken and we have to align and find the best solutions. It's not just about the game-day pitch, but also where we train at in the lead-up, and we will have to look at how we can breach the gap.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Bangladesh squad for Singapore clash — Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul included in AFC Asian Cup qualifier
Bangladesh will look to build on its strong start to 2025 when it faces Singapore in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifier at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. The Bengal Tigers held top-seed India to a draw in Shillong earlier this year and edged Bhutan 1-0 in a recent friendly. Coach Javier Cabrera has recalled Fahamedul Islam, who missed the India matchday squad. FULL BANGLADESH SQUAD Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon Defenders: Shakil Ahad Topu, Jahid Hasan Shanto, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Taj Uddin, Tariq Kazi, Topu Barman, Saad Uddin Midfielders: Mohammad Ridoy, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, Sohel Rana, Mujibur Rahman Jony, Sheikh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuiyan, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome Forwards: Fahamedul Islam, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rakib Hossain, Emon Shahriar, Mohammad Ibrahim, Al Amin, Sumon Reza All eyes remain on Hamza Choudhury, who made his Bangladesh debut this year after switching nationalities. He scored his first international goal against Bhutan and continues to draw attention after a strong season with Sheffield United. 'From what I've seen, Bangladesh have been getting good results over the past few games,' Singapore defender Amirul Adli told reporters. 'However, our focus will not solely be on Choudhury, as the whole Bangladesh side are a good team.' 'Some of our players have already played against a lot of good teams in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) and the Singapore Premier League (SPL) — so we will stick to our preparations and give them a good fight tomorrow.' Related Topics Bangladesh / Hamza Choudhury
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor FC were not scammed, just unlucky, says club official
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor FC's underperforming imports during the 2024-25 M-League season have triggered accusations from fans that the club had fallen victim to scammers. However, technical committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar has dismissed the claims, insisting the Red Giants were simply "unlucky". "We didn't get scammed, but we were unlucky. Other clubs have gone through the same thing. The players had good profiles, but when they came here, they failed to live up to expectations," he said. "We are now targeting younger foreign signings for the new season." Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, Selangor are planning a major squad overhaul, having released a long list of local and foreign players, along with several members of the coaching staff, following the end of the league last month. Confirmed departures include Ronnie Fernandez, Ali Olwan, captain Safuwan Baharudin, Khairulazhan Khalid and Khuzaimie Piee. "We believe these players can't take Selangor any further. "We failed to win any major cups or make an impact in the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) last season. "It's time for a big change, especially with the foreigners. We need to find better imports," said Shahril. "We're looking for new foreign players, but we won't be filling the full quota of 15. That's for sure, as we need to assess our financial capabilities." Shahril admitted the upcoming season will be a monumental challenge. Besides the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup, the Red Giants will also play in the ACL2 and the Asean Club Championship (ACC). Despite a congested fixture list, Selangor will not be appealing to the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for additional player registrations, with the current cap set at 34. "The number of players remains unchanged, so we just have to find better-quality players," he said. "This time, we're hoping luck is on our side. "Last season, we were unfortunate with so many injuries. I hope we can overcome that moving forward," Shahril added. Selangor finished runners-up in both the Super League and FA Cup, losing out to Johor Darul Ta'zim on both occasions last season. They crashed out in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 and failed to progress beyond the ACL2 group stage.
