January 20 2004

The Young Lions will faced their 1^st test when they meet FC Basle U21 in a friendly on February 11 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

FC Balse U21 who will meet SAFFC (February 6) & Woodlands Wellington (February 9) has also arranged a friendly with the Young Lions.

The Young Lions had finished bottom in the league last season but has since undergone a complete transformation. During the off season, they secured the services of 12 new players from the S-league clubs which included 2 foreigners Precious Emuejeraye & Itimi Dickson & 1 overage player Fadzuhasny Juraimi. It had lead to an uproar among the clubs that FAS was competing in the transfer market but was brushed aside as FAS counter that it was for the benefit of building a strong national team for Singapore future.

5 of the players from the NFA U18 team were also promoted after a good string of performance by the NFA U18 team in the competition they compete in. The NFA U18 team had finished 3^rd in the ASEAN U18 competition & was among the top half of the Prime League despite playing older players from the clubs sides.

It is also a test for the Kim Polusen (coach) & Fandi Ahmad (assistant coach) coaching partnership. Both coaches have proven records in the local football scene.

Under Kim Polusen the NFA U18 team has grown by leap & bound since he took over the project back in 2002 while Fandi Ahmad had leaded the Warriors to 2 league titles during his 4 years with the club.