Singapore Foreign Talent Scheme
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Scheme is a program run by the Football Association of Singapore
(FAS) to boost Singaporean football. Its goal is to attract foreign players in Singapore to change nationality and thus play for the Singapore national football team
. The scheme is described as the second key pillar of the FAS football excellence plans.
Launched in the year 2000, its objective was to complement the FAS Youth Development programme by identifying the playing positions in the National Teams that were lacking, especially from its youth development output and to fill these gaps with FSTs. The first FSTs were inducted in Jan 2002.
In 2002, the national team welcomed Croatian-born Mirko Grabovac
, Brazilian-born Egmar Goncalves
and English defender Daniel Bennett to strengthen the national team. While the Nigerian-born pair of Agu Casmir
and Itimi Dickson
received their Singapore citizenship in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The FAS, with the help of the clubs, has identified several other talented U-21 foreign players under this scheme. Their performances are being closely monitored in the S.League
.
When the FAS first launched the FST scheme in 2000, the intention was to offer citizenship to about 2 to 3 foreign players a year.
However, due to the stringent selection process and early success to the youth development programme, to-date, only nine foreign-born players have been granted Singapore citizenship. All of them have played for the National Team and continue to play and contribute to the S.League.
List of FSTs: Egmar Goncalves
(Granted SC in 2002) Mirko Grabovac
(Granted SC in 2002) Daniel Bennett (Granted SC in 2002) Agu Casmir
(Granted SC in 2003) Itimi Dickson
(Granted SC in 2004) Shi Jiayi
(Granted SC in 2005) Precious Emuejeraye
(Granted SC in 2005) Mustafic Fahrudin
(Granted SC in 2005) Qiu Li
(Granted SC in 2008)
Three foreign-born, non-FSTs have been called up to the national team, they include: Bah Mamadou
(Became SC in 2005) John Wilkinson
(Became SC in 2007) Aleksandar Đurić (Became SC in 2007)
Football Association of Singapore
The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...
(FAS) to boost Singaporean football. Its goal is to attract foreign players in Singapore to change nationality and thus play for the Singapore national football team
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
. The scheme is described as the second key pillar of the FAS football excellence plans.
Launched in the year 2000, its objective was to complement the FAS Youth Development programme by identifying the playing positions in the National Teams that were lacking, especially from its youth development output and to fill these gaps with FSTs. The first FSTs were inducted in Jan 2002.
In 2002, the national team welcomed Croatian-born Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac is a Croatian-born Singaporean former professional football player and coach. He had changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2002 in order to play for the Singapore national football team....
, Brazilian-born Egmar Goncalves
Egmar Goncalves
Egmar Goncalves was a professional soccer player. He was born in Brazil, but changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2002 in order to play for the Singapore national football team.-Career:...
and English defender Daniel Bennett to strengthen the national team. While the Nigerian-born pair of Agu Casmir
Agu Casmir
Agu Casmir , is a professional soccer player who plays for the Persija Jakarta in the Indonesia Super League and the Singapore national football team.He took up Singapore citizenship in 2004....
and Itimi Dickson
Itimi Dickson
Itimi Dickson Edherefe is a Singapore international football player who last played for Geylang United.-Club career:Previously, he played for Jurong FC, Woodlands Wellington FC, Young Lions and Persitara Jakarta Utara....
received their Singapore citizenship in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The FAS, with the help of the clubs, has identified several other talented U-21 foreign players under this scheme. Their performances are being closely monitored in the S.League
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
.
When the FAS first launched the FST scheme in 2000, the intention was to offer citizenship to about 2 to 3 foreign players a year.
However, due to the stringent selection process and early success to the youth development programme, to-date, only nine foreign-born players have been granted Singapore citizenship. All of them have played for the National Team and continue to play and contribute to the S.League.
List of FSTs: Egmar Goncalves
Egmar Goncalves
Egmar Goncalves was a professional soccer player. He was born in Brazil, but changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2002 in order to play for the Singapore national football team.-Career:...
(Granted SC in 2002) Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac
Mirko Grabovac is a Croatian-born Singaporean former professional football player and coach. He had changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2002 in order to play for the Singapore national football team....
(Granted SC in 2002) Daniel Bennett (Granted SC in 2002) Agu Casmir
Agu Casmir
Agu Casmir , is a professional soccer player who plays for the Persija Jakarta in the Indonesia Super League and the Singapore national football team.He took up Singapore citizenship in 2004....
(Granted SC in 2003) Itimi Dickson
Itimi Dickson
Itimi Dickson Edherefe is a Singapore international football player who last played for Geylang United.-Club career:Previously, he played for Jurong FC, Woodlands Wellington FC, Young Lions and Persitara Jakarta Utara....
(Granted SC in 2004) Shi Jiayi
Shi Jiayi
Shi Jiayi is a naturalized Singaporean football midfielder. He currently plays for Home United.-Club career:Shi started his career at Shanghai state's Football Academy. He moved to Singapore's Sinchi FC in 2003....
(Granted SC in 2005) Precious Emuejeraye
Precious Emuejeraye
Precious Emuejeraye, in Nigeria, is a Nigerian/Singaporean footballer.- Career :Precious came to Singapore in 2002 from Nigeria after being signed by the now-defunct S-League side Jurong FC...
(Granted SC in 2005) Mustafic Fahrudin
Mustafic Fahrudin
Fahrudin Mustafić is a Singapore footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for S-League side, Tampines Rovers FC. He obtained his Singapore citizenship after two years and plays for the Singapore national football team....
(Granted SC in 2005) Qiu Li
Qiu Li
Qiu Li is a naturalised Chinese-Singaporean professional association football player. He currently plays as a midfielder/striker for the Home United FC in the S. League.- Football career :...
(Granted SC in 2008)
Three foreign-born, non-FSTs have been called up to the national team, they include: Bah Mamadou
Bah Mamadou
Bah Mamadou is a Singapore international football player who plays for Gombak United. He is born in Republic of Guinea and obtain citizenship after married a Singaporean wife.-Club career:...
(Became SC in 2005) John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson (Singaporean footballer)
John Wilkinson is a professional footballer who plays for Insee Police United and the Singapore national football team.-Club career:...
(Became SC in 2007) Aleksandar Đurić (Became SC in 2007)
See also
- Foreign Sports Talent SchemeForeign Sports Talent SchemeThe Foreign Sports Talent Scheme is a scheme used by sports officials and organisations in Singapore to scout and facilitate the migration of non-Singaporeans deemed to possess sports talent to play in Singapore colours in sporting events. Introduced in 1993 by the Singapore Table Tennis...
- List of Asian footballers with foreign heritage