Singapore football coach demands team improvements for qualifiers

Singapore's football team, known as the Lions, is preparing for the Asian Cup qualifiers starting next week. Head coach Tsutomu Ogura has made significant changes to the squad, including recalling striker Ilhan Fandi from Thailand. Their first match will be against Hong Kong on March 25 at the National Stadium. Ogura expressed dissatisfaction with the team's past performance, despite reaching the semi-finals of the ASEAN Championship last year. He stated the team must improve, emphasizing, "We are not satisfied." He believes the Lions can make history by qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time. The team will play a friendly against Nepal on March 21 to prepare. Ogura noted that the qualifiers will be challenging, with matches spread out over the year. Every game is crucial for earning points. Ilhan Fandi expressed eagerness to contribute after missing the previous tournament. He praised his teammates for their efforts and hopes to bring that momentum to the qualifiers. He aims to support the team, whether through goals or assists. Newcomer Akram Azman is excited about his first call-up and plans to focus solely on national duties. He is looking forward to learning from coach Ogura's tactics. In addition, Perry Ng, a defender from Cardiff City, is training with the team but is not yet eligible to play in the qualifiers. Ogura welcomed Ng's experience, believing it would benefit the team. The Lions are set for a busy year of matches and are focused on achieving their goals together.