With a combined age of 75, Singapore Daniel Bennett and Fahrudin Mustafic joined forces against the likes of Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria over the closing stages of Tuesday night's friendly at the National Stadium.

Argentina would underline the 155 FIFA places between the two nations in a 6-0 demolition of the Southeast Asians. But the presence of two Euro-savvy veterans at the back -- English-born Bennett is 39 and Mustafic, from Serbia, is 36 -- was a reminder of how so-called foreign talent once helped Singapore football.

And it could serve the sport again at a time when the national team have reached their lowest ebb in recent memory.

There is no dressing up the fact that the Lions are going from bad to worse. Last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to minnows Chinese Taipei in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier came after Singapore's ignominious exit from the 2016 Suzuki Cup where they failed to win a game, scoring once in three matches.

In the 15 competitive outings under coach V. Sundarmoorthy, Singapore have managed only seven goals and just two victories.

Plain and simple, the Singaporeans are being left behind while former regional whipping boys work hard at improving.

Bennett, who started at centre-back against Argentina, and Mustafic, who came on as substitute, have five AFF Suzuki Cup titles and 221 international caps between them. They represent an era when Singapore consistently punched above their weight on the Asian stage.

Add the likes of Aleksandar Duric, Qui Li and John Wilkinson, and Singapore had a core of naturalised players who would help bring the best out of the locals. It should be noted, though, that Duric, who played into his 40s, pursued his own path to citizenship, outside the official Foreign Talent Scheme.

Well before winning the last of their then-record four Suzuki Cups in 2012, Singapore moved away from fast-tracking overseas-born recruits into the national squad. But after Lim Kia Tong was voted in as the new Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president on April 29, he spoke about revisiting the idea with Sundramoorthy.

Three stars of the S.League have been mentioned as possible new blood: Warriors FC's Canadian winger Jordan Webb, and the Home United pair of Sirina Camara (French, defender) and Song Ui-yong, (South Korean, midfielder).

They are all in their mid to late 20s, and have satisfied residency requirements of living here more than five years. They are already committed to Singapore, and would offer the national squad something different, so why not?

A year ago, the pacey and tricky Webb spoke to ESPN FC about his genuine excitement of playing for his adopted country at the Suzuki Cup after some impressive displays alongside former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant at Tampines Rovers. For the 2017 season, he moved to Warriors, and has shown more of the flair that the Lions desperately lack.

Part of Singapore's problem is a shallow talent pool for the national squad. Sundramoorthy's current batch know that even if they produce a mediocre performance, they are likely to retain their spot for the next match. They are all in their comfort zones because there's not enough competition for places.

When Singapore lost to the Taiwanese at Jalan Besar Stadium on June 10, it was Belgian-born Xavier Chan who did much of the damage, grabbing the first goal and creating more chances than the Singapore team put together.

As Singapore looked clueless in the second matchday of Asian Cup qualifying, English-born Phil Younghusband scored the opener and provided the creative spark as Philippines, containing a core of foreign-raised players, won a 4-3 thriller away to Tajikistan.

Even Malaysia have capped several mixed heritage players at senior and Under-22 level in the last three years, with the likes of Australians Matthew Davies and Brendan Gan, plus English-raised Junior Eldstal and Darren Lok, featuring for the national team.

The above-mentioned players were sourced and recruited, but the trio of Webb, Camara and Song are sitting on Singapore's doorstep. That's why it is a no-brainer to naturalise them while bringing back the Foreign Talent Scheme in some form.

Of course, it is always a sensitive subject when there is the possibility of local players being denied opportunities. New arrivals can be seen as mercenaries who pay lip service to the national anthem and stand under a flag for professional, rather than patriotic, reasons.

But the situation has become so dire for Singapore football that it desperately needs a shot in the arm.

Chinese Taipei have just beaten them, Cambodia toppled them last year and Myanmar came close to doing the same four days earlier in a friendly before conceding an added-time equaliser. The likes of Brunei, Macau and Timor-Leste will be next to lower Singapore's colours unless something is done soon.

This is just part of the puzzle for the incoming FAS president -- improving youth development and the S.League is obviously more important -- but something that could help Singapore's prospects for the 2019 Asian Cup and beyond.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by JASON DASEY

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