The 2000s

The 2000s brought both challenges and achievements for Singapore football. The S.League continued to develop, though it faced competition from overseas leagues for viewer attention as satellite television brought world football into Singaporean homes.

Despite these challenges, the national team achieved notable success. Singapore won the ASEAN Football Championship (AFF Suzuki Cup) in 2004, a historic achievement that united the nation in celebration. The victory was particularly sweet as it came on home soil, with Singapore defeating Indonesia in a dramatic final.

The team's success continued with another AFF Championship triumph in 2007, confirming Singapore's status as one of Southeast Asia's football powerhouses. These victories created unforgettable memories for fans who packed stadiums to support the Lions.

The decade saw the continued development of local players who had come through the youth system established in the 1990s. These players combined technical skill with tactical awareness, representing the fruits of long-term investment in football development.

The Goals 2010 project, later extended to Goals 2018, set ambitious targets for Singapore football, including qualification for the FIFA World Cup. While the ultimate goal proved elusive, the project drove improvements in coaching, facilities, and player development.

The S.League also saw changes, with efforts to improve attendances and create a more sustainable model for professional football in Singapore. Various initiatives were tried to connect clubs more closely with communities and build loyal fan bases.

Bibliography

The 2000s

Committee on Sporting Singapore (CoSS)

1) Ministry of Community, Youth & Sports. Committee Sporting Singapore Report 2001. Retrieved from https://www.mccy.gov.sg/Topics/Sports/Articles/~/media/1E003B9BD39341B2B658916962DD7F4F.ashx on 4/1/2019.

2) National Archives Singapore. "Keynote Address By Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong At The Release Of The Sporting Singapore Report Cum Opening Of The Choa Chu Kang Sports And Fitness Centre". Retrieved from http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/view-html?filename=2001070102.htm on 4/1/2019.

Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS)

1) Remember Singapore. "Generations of Local Football Heroes". Retrieved from https://remembersingapore.org/2011/06/14/generations-of-local-football-heroes/ on 23/8/2018.

2) Fourfourtwo.com. "Imports Singapore called upon under the Foreign Talent Scheme". Retrieved from https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/imports-singapore-called-upon-under-foreign-talent-scheme on 16/11/2018.

3) Football Association of Singapore. "Review Of Fas Foreign Sports Talent (FST) Scheme". Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20080423011343/http://www.fas.org.sg/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=2237 on 10/1/2019.

4) The Straits Times. "Football: Foreign talent hunt back on the table for FAS". Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/foreign-talent-hunt-back-on-the-table on 10/1/2019.

National Football Academy, now known FAS Football Academy (FFA)

1) Football Association of Singapore. "National Football Academy". Retrieved from http://www.fas.org.sg/youth/national-football-academy/ on 10/1/2019.

Notable events

2000

1) Howlingpixel.com. "Warriors FC". Retrieved from https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/Warriors_FC on 3/4/2019.

2) Football Association of Singapore. "Women". Retrieved from http://www.fas.org.sg/women/ on 18/4/2019.

January 2005

1) The Straits Times. "10 memorable games that gave birth to the Kallang Roar at the old National Stadium". Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/10-memorable-games-at-the-national-stadium on 26/10/2018.

January 2007

1) The Straits Times. "10 memorable games that gave birth to the Kallang Roar at the old National Stadium". Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/10-memorable-games-at-the-national-stadium on 26/10/2018.

2) Singapore Book of Records. "Singapore Book of Records. Sports". Retrieved from http://singaporerecords.com/sports/ on 30/10/2018.

December 2007

1) Fourfourtwo.com. "2007 SEA Games bronze medallists: Where are they now?". Retrieved from https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/2007-sea-games-bronze-medallists-where-are-they-now on 15/1/2019.

October 2008

1) Singapore Book of Records. "Singapore Book of Records. Sports". Retrieved from http://singaporerecords.com/sports/ on 30/10/2018.