The duo, the current Singapore national head coach and assistant coach, respectively, have been put in charge of the Republic’s SEA Games under-23 side by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) following coach V Sundramoorthy’s decision to quit as head coach of the LionsXII to helm Malaysian Premier League side Negeri Sembilan next season.
Aide, 38, who also coaches S-League side Courts Young Lions, will handle the SEA Games squad, with Stange overseeing it. “For me, I am always ready to serve Singapore football, in whatever capacity. If the FAS has trust in me, I am ready to repay them,” said the former national captain.
Singapore have reached the SEA Games final on three occasions, but lost to Thailand in 1983 and 1985, and to Malaysia in 1989. This year’s SEA Games will be held in Myanmar from Dec 11-22.
According to Stange, friendlies against Timor-Leste and the Philippines are being lined up for the U-23 squad as part of their preparations for the Games. However, because the squad include several players who are already in the senior national team, these players will feature in Thursday’s senior international friendly against Laos, and next Tuesday’s 2015 Asian Cup group qualifier against Syria.
“Things are on track because the Myanmar SEA Games project is not an overnight one,” said Stange.
“Plans were made years ago and we are progressing well. When we played China and Hong Kong a couple of months ago, there were seven U-23 players in the team. Now, for the match against Syria on Oct 15, we have 13.”
Not surprisingly, Sundram’s decision to leave the LionsXII after two seasons was the main talking point during the Singapore national side’s training session at the Geylang Field yesterday.
“Sundram won the league title and reached the last eight of the Malaysia Cup, which is remarkable. But I believe his decision not to continue is something he has thought over carefully. It’s a professional decision,” said Aide.
LionsXII assistant coach K Balagumaran added: “I have never seen a man so obsessed with the team. He is so meticulous in his preparations and the team’s fortunes are his No 1 priority. The LionsXII will miss him and his coaching abilities.”
