Gavin Lee to stay as interim Lions coach for winners-take-all Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
(From left) Lions striker Shawal Anuar, interim head coach Gavin Lee, midfielder Jacob Mahler and striker Ikhsan Fandi in training ahead of their Oct 14 Asian Cup qualifier against India.
PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
Follow topic:
- Gavin Lee remains as interim Lions head coach for the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on Nov 18.
- Singapore are level on points with the Group C leaders and a win will lead to Asian Cup qualification.
- FAS is in advanced stages of its search for a permanent coach, with three candidates shortlisted.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – After helping Singapore stay unbeaten in their Asian Cup qualifiers, interim Lions head coach Gavin Lee will continue to be in charge for the crucial Nov 18 match against Hong Kong at Kai Tak Sports Park, where the winners will progress to the continental showpiece in Saudi Arabia.
Following the spirited 2-1 win over 134th-ranked India
“We have come to India and gotten a victory, but the job is not done yet. Thus, we rather not disturb the team with any news about any appointment,” he said.
“Although work continues in the background, it had been agreed quite early on that Gavin will continue to lead the national team for the away qualifier against Hong Kong.”
World No. 158 Singapore currently have eight points after 2-1 away wins in India and 184th-ranked Bangladesh and home draws against India (1-1) and world No. 146 Hong Kong (0-0) in Group C. Only the top team from each of the six groups will join 18 other sides who have qualified for the tournament proper in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
With two qualifiers to go, the Lions are level on points and goal difference with Hong Kong and trail the leaders only by goals scored. But with competition regulations stating that the head-to-head record will serve as the first tiebreak criterion for teams level on points, they could seal a historic Asian Cup qualification with another away win.
Lee had taken over the hot seat on an interim basis after Japanese coach Tsutomu Ogura resigned in June due to personal reasons, with the FAS embarking on a global search for a permanent replacement.
In August, Ong revealed that FAS has received 67 applications for the head coach role, with 16 candidates shortlisted and 10 selected for interviews.
He added that its key criteria include a proficient level of English, a history of coaching teams challenging for or who have won titles, helming sides in major games or competitions and an extended tenure at a club or federation.
ST had earlier reported that Italy’s World Cup-winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro, who coached in Saudi Arabia and China, and former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell, who coached in Japan, were on the shortlist,
In recent months, Montgomery has become assistant coach at Nottingham Forest, while Cannavaro took over at World Cup-bound Uzbekistan. Kewell has also been appointed head coach of Vietnamese club Hanoi FC.
ST understands that the FAS is in an advanced stage of the search, which has come down to three names, though the door is not shut on any suitable candidate.
Lee, who was national assistant coach under Ogura, said: “Coaching the national team is always a privilege, but with privilege comes responsibility.
“Right now, my role is to give the team the best support that’s necessary and hopefully bring us closer to overcoming the hurdle.”
After the victory in Goa – his first win in charge of the Lions after a 2-1 loss to Malaysia and 1-1 draws with Myanmar and India – the 35-year-old felt he has stayed in the same headspace, although he was “very happy” to see his players bounce back from the gut-wrenching home draw against India on Oct 9.
He said: “I witnessed how they suffered after the game because everybody felt very responsible for what happened. We had to suck it up... I’m very pleased for them because now we are back in contention for qualifying.
“As a group, we recognise the job is not done. It’s just taking a step back to the right direction, and hopefully to seal the job.”
He also addressed online criticism over his team selection and style of play which aims to translate possession into purposeful and attacking football but requires his players’ full concentration to last the whole match. Naysayers claim this is naive when protecting a slim lead, as a lapse could result in points dropped like in the recent draw with India.
“What I’ve realised in football is you can never please everybody and people are entitled to say what they want to say,” said Lee, who stepped down as BG Tampines Rovers coach in June.
“Ultimately, I have to make decisions which I stand by because everything we do is based on our evaluations. It’s more important that we have the buy-in of the players and staff, and that we trust ourselves and what we do.”
Singapore skipper Hariss Harun insists the team are happy to continue their work with Lee.
The 34-year-old said: “We were quite glad when Gavin was appointed because he’s been around the team for a while. We know what he expects and he knows the quality of the boys.
“He is trying to give us more confidence and belief. At times in the game, we can train for one situation and another thing happens, but it is up to the players to be ready and finish the game well. We have to share this responsibility.
“It’s about helping each other now. We are a team and we hope to create something for Singapore football.”
