Disappointingly, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore Sports Council and Football Association of Singapore have not responded to either denounce the cap and give their arguments, or agree such a cap is feasible and plan its implementation.

I am sure that the authorities see the dangers of too much foreign talent in national teams and the importance of promoting local sporting talent. I believe they are trying to strike a balance between local and foreign-born athletes in national teams. I have confidence in their professionalism and ability to ensure the balance, but what better way to formalise this balance than implement a cap? After all, this is Singapore, where most things are better written down in black and white.

Let's implement a cap before the entire Team Singapore is made up of foreign talent. We may become a sporting powerhouse, but we will also be made a laughing stock by other sporting countries. Any sense of pride in victories by foreign talent will be quashed by jibes we are bound to receive from other sporting countries.

Moreover, we have shown we do not need to be a sporting powerhouse to be a vibrant sporting nation. The fact that we have won the right to host the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix and the 2010 Youth Olympic Games without great sporting success is testament to this.

Ultimately, I believe Singaporeans feel prouder when they see local-born athletes win. The present national football team may be two-time defending Sout-east Asian champions, but they may not be as inspirational to and adored by Singaporeans as the teams led by Fandi Ahmad or Quah Kim Song, which were never kingpins of South-east Asian football. That is also why, during the most recent SEA Games, the victorious gymnastics twins generated more media attention and public affection than the equally successful women's table tennis team.

Calvin Ng