Singapore FA likely to sack Avramovich after poor results

Posted on March 3, 2012 by SoccerPunter

Singapore‘s football association is set to review the national team’s dismal 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign as questions swirl over the coach’s future, media reports said Friday.

The team lost all six games in the third round of the qualifiers, conceding 20 goals and scoring just two.

On Wednesday they were drubbed 7-1 by Iraq in Doha, leaving them rooted to the bottom of Group A which is completed by China and Jordan.

In a rare move, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) publicly expressed disappointment at the team’s performances and ordered a review of their efforts.

A report in the local newspapers said the review “hints at repercussions” for the team and their Serbian coach Radojko Avramovic.

“The FAS executive committee and council will subsequently review the post-tournament report and assess the team and coach’s performance… before considering what actions need to be taken,” FAS president Zainudin Nordin said in a statement.

“Like our fans, we are disappointed with the results and we agree that there is much room for improvement in the team’s performances,” he said.

Zainudin last year disbanded the national team after its disappointing performance in the Suzuki Cup, but left Avramovic in charge as the team underwent a major overhaul.

A similar facelift of the current team is unlikely, the local newspapers said, but added that “question marks still hang over the future of Avramovich”, who is Singapore’s longest-serving national football coach.

The latest results has seen local football fans calling for Avramovic’s removal. The Serbian joined the FAS in 2003.

“Still don’t understand why Raddy is still around… it’s time to change (to) a new coach. A local breed suits the job best,” wrote John Han on Yahoo! Singapore’s Facebook page.

Other fans urged support for their team, which is nicknamed the Lions.

“Before the Lions succeed, they have to fail many times… they need encouragement and support now,” a post from Hunter Runner said on the Facebook page.