Fandi: NS issues harming LIONSXII
Legendary Singapore forward Fandi Ahmad believes the National Service (NS) issues currently plaguing LIONSXII could cost them in the Malaysia Super League this year.
The LIONSXII are currently fourth on the table after picking up nine points from their opening four games, and are only three points behind leaders Pahang.
While V. Sundramoorthy's side currently have a 100% record at the Jalan Besar Stadium with two wins from two, they haven't had as much joy on their travels, losing two of their three away games in the league and also falling to a 1-0 defeat to PKNS FC in the first round of the FA Cup.
A main problem that has plagued the Singaporean outfit all season long, as well as last year, has been their inability to field their strongest team in away games as many of their players are currently serving their mandatory NS stint, and are unable to leave the country without clearance.
And Fandi, who is currently coach of fellow Super League outfit Darul Takzim, believes a solution must be found to prevent NS from harming the development of Singaporean football.
"Even though they [LIONSXII] are together, they are not there [as a team] in a game," he told FOX Sports.
"I don't know how they [Football Association of Singapore] expect to develop because the first thing they must tackle is the issue of national service.
"They have to make sure these boys can travel to away games with peace of mind because, from what I've heard, some of them have to take leave in order to travel with the team. Where is the support?"
One spot below the LIONSXII are Fandi's side, who bounced back from an opening day defeat to Pahang and are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competition.
Nonetheless, given the momentum Darul Takzim are gradually building, the 50-year-old admits the current international break could not have come at a worst time.
"I think we've done considerably well," Fandi added. "We're picking up.
"You have to take into consideration the fact that our [Malaysia] national players only joined us a week before the season started [after the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup]. Now I think we're gelling well.
"We're trying to pick up points and this break actually doesn't do us any good because we were picking up."
Fandi will lock horns with his former Singapore team-mate Sundramoorthy for the first time on February 19 when Darul Takzim entertain LIONSXII at the Larkin Stadium.