SINGAPORE – Football fans will have to wait for at least another season to welcome a 10th football club to the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, talk among the fraternity was that a new side, Tengah FC, were set to join the league, particularly after they announced on social media in February that the team had received in-principle approval from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
However, in a media statement on April 3, the FAS said it has finished evaluating potential clubs for the coming SPL season and while one club were given in-principle approval to participate in the upcoming campaign, the shortlisted club were entered into a “a due diligence process, which took longer than expected”.
It added: “Given the tight deadline prior to the commencement of the SPL in May 2024, the club have decided not to contest the 2024-25 season. Instead, it will focus on getting a team ready for the 2025-26 season.”
Tengah FC chairman Louis Amalorpavanathan told The Straits Times that it was a “difficult decision to take”.
He added: “The process... took longer than expected. It’s been a while since a new club were admitted into the SPL so I think both us and the FAS learnt a lot from the exercise.
“But rather than rush to kick off only a month away, we felt it would be the more responsible thing to do to compete in 2025-26.”
The 2024-25 season will kick off on May 4 with the Community Shield match, followed by the league a week later and concluding in May 2025.
The FAS also said that it remains committed to improving the SPL and will continue to explore opportunities to enhance Singapore’s top domestic football competition.
Last December, the football governing body put up a request for clubs to submit their proposals to be the 10th team in the SPL – a first for the league since 2015.
Four proposals were submitted, with Tengah FC the only side to have advanced talks with the FAS. But to gain the full unconditional approval, the club need to meet certain stringent prerequisites, which include fulfilling Asian Football Confederation club licensing requirements, fielding a competitive team and, crucially, ensuring that they are able to cover all costs for the season, including players’ and officials’ salaries. The club may also need to provide financial guarantees, especially as a new joiner will not receive subsidies.
Formed in 2017, Tengah were runners-up in the fourth-tier Island Wide League in 2023. Helming their SPL bid is Louis, who played in the FAS Premier League and National Football League during the 1980s and 1990s.
The 52-year-old, who owns security and investigation firm Acestes, said that they will now focus on competing in the Singapore Football League Division 2, fielding young, aspiring footballers who are already turning out for the club.
The club will also engage sponsors and partners in their preparation for next season’s SPL.
Thanking the club’s supporters, Louis remains confident for the 2025 season, urging others to “come on board this project and mission”.
When asked if the club would be able to meet the financial requirements, he said: “We have a number of sponsors lined up for the new season and also are hopeful that a few of our ideas can yield good revenue streams. But as the criteria for the 2025-26 season is not out yet, we will wait for the criteria and work with the FAS to put a team in next year’s SPL season.
“Our commitment and mission remain: to create a legacy for the youths and aspiring footballers we have in our midst, providing them an opportunity, a platform for them to realise their football dreams.”
