SINGAPORE: Singapore Premier League (SPL) football club Lion City Sailors on Saturday (Apr 19) called for the AFC Champions League Two final to be held at Jalan Besar Stadium, following an official request by their opponents to play the match at what they deemed a more suitable venue.
United Arab Emirates club Sharjah FC had expressed reservations about the stadium for the May 18 final, claiming it "does not meet the aspirations of the fans and stakeholders" and citing its size and artificial pitch as the reasons.
But the Sailors issued a statement on Saturday in response, saying: "This final must be played in Singapore. This is our home, and as the club that has earned the right to host the final, we believe it is only fair and proper that it takes place on Singaporean soil."
In a Facebook post on Thursday that was published in Arabic, Sharjah FC said it had officially submitted a letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), via the UAE Football Association, requesting the "allocation of an appropriate stadium" to host the showpiece game.
Sharjah claimed that the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium with an artificial pitch is "not suitable" in terms of capacity and facilities.
It also stressed its organisational and hosting capabilities, as well as readiness to stage the final in a "manner befitting the importance of the competition".
In response, the Sailors said: "Jalan Besar Stadium has been a certified AFC Champions League Two venue that meets AFC’s regulations and requirements throughout the competition, successfully hosting six home matches in this tournament alone."
The club added that the ground has a "proud history" of staging major football matches and has "more than proven itself as a capable and reliable venue".
On Wednesday, the Sailors made history after beating Australian side Sydney FC 2-1 on aggregate to become the first Singaporean football team to reach the final of a continental competition.
According to AFC competition rules, the sequence of hosting the AFC Champions League Two final is determined on a "rotational basis between the West Region and East Region" on a yearly basis. That means the final is slated to be held in Singapore, but the exact venue has yet to be officially announced.
But having claimed the scalps of more fancied opponents en route to the final, including Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the Sailors said the club had proven themselves worthy of holding the match on home soil.
"Hosting the final in Singapore would not only be a just conclusion to our Champions League Two campaign, but a proud moment for Singapore football on the continental stage," said the Sailors.
The Sailors urged the AFC, in the "spirit of fairness and consistency", to give the club the right to host the game, which can "serve as a much-needed catalyst to uplift the local football scene and reignite national pride in the sport".
The club also vowed to deliver a "memorable and professionally run final that reflects the passion and potential of our football community" if granted hosting rights.
It said that it is working closely with the regional confederation, Sport Singapore and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on the venue arrangements for the final.
"We are grateful for the strong backing of Sport Singapore and FAS, who have shown clear intent and commitment to bringing this final to life here in Singapore," added the Sailors.
"Together, we have a shared ambition to showcase our nation’s ability to stage world-class football events."
Previously known as the AFC Cup, the AFC Champions League Two is the second-tier Asian club football tournament with a revamped format.
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United Arab Emirates club Sharjah FC had expressed reservations about the stadium for the May 18 final, claiming it "does not meet the aspirations of the fans and stakeholders" and citing its size and artificial pitch as the reasons.
But the Sailors issued a statement on Saturday in response, saying: "This final must be played in Singapore. This is our home, and as the club that has earned the right to host the final, we believe it is only fair and proper that it takes place on Singaporean soil."
In a Facebook post on Thursday that was published in Arabic, Sharjah FC said it had officially submitted a letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), via the UAE Football Association, requesting the "allocation of an appropriate stadium" to host the showpiece game.
Sharjah claimed that the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium with an artificial pitch is "not suitable" in terms of capacity and facilities.
It also stressed its organisational and hosting capabilities, as well as readiness to stage the final in a "manner befitting the importance of the competition".
In response, the Sailors said: "Jalan Besar Stadium has been a certified AFC Champions League Two venue that meets AFC’s regulations and requirements throughout the competition, successfully hosting six home matches in this tournament alone."
The club added that the ground has a "proud history" of staging major football matches and has "more than proven itself as a capable and reliable venue".
On Wednesday, the Sailors made history after beating Australian side Sydney FC 2-1 on aggregate to become the first Singaporean football team to reach the final of a continental competition.
According to AFC competition rules, the sequence of hosting the AFC Champions League Two final is determined on a "rotational basis between the West Region and East Region" on a yearly basis. That means the final is slated to be held in Singapore, but the exact venue has yet to be officially announced.
But having claimed the scalps of more fancied opponents en route to the final, including Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the Sailors said the club had proven themselves worthy of holding the match on home soil.
"Hosting the final in Singapore would not only be a just conclusion to our Champions League Two campaign, but a proud moment for Singapore football on the continental stage," said the Sailors.
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The Sailors urged the AFC, in the "spirit of fairness and consistency", to give the club the right to host the game, which can "serve as a much-needed catalyst to uplift the local football scene and reignite national pride in the sport".
The club also vowed to deliver a "memorable and professionally run final that reflects the passion and potential of our football community" if granted hosting rights.
It said that it is working closely with the regional confederation, Sport Singapore and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on the venue arrangements for the final.
"We are grateful for the strong backing of Sport Singapore and FAS, who have shown clear intent and commitment to bringing this final to life here in Singapore," added the Sailors.
"Together, we have a shared ambition to showcase our nation’s ability to stage world-class football events."
Previously known as the AFC Cup, the AFC Champions League Two is the second-tier Asian club football tournament with a revamped format.
Continue reading...