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It can be done. Japan has been the gold standard of football management, where a committed development of the J-League has worked in tandem with its national footballing goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their league, upon inception, was immediately adopted by corporations as a source of pride for companies, and consistent policies over the years to increase fan engagement kept the corporations committed as well.<\/p>\n
Today, Japan isn\u2019t just satisfied with qualifying for the World Cup finals: Their goal is to win it. Given their commitment and professional ecosystem, few would bet against them being the first Asian country to win the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Honda\u2019s and Whitmore\u2019s signings now present a window of opportunity for the FAS. It is a chance for the new leadership team to outline their vision for the league, how they can get fans and corporations interested, and how this connects to a broader national footballing ambition for Singapore as a country.<\/p>\n
Qualifying for the Asian Cup and a S$50 million injection from Sea Group founder and FAS President Forrest Li is great, but it\u2019s time for the FAS to move away from short-term public relations wins to really showing the country how they will build an ecosystem that can rival the best in Asia.<\/p>\n