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Bringing Singapore Football Forward Through Knowledge-Sharing and Conversation
Bringing Singapore Football Forward Through Knowledge-Sharing and Conversation
UTR! Coaches’ Convention
Written by
Unleash The Roar! Communications and Engagement team
A glimpse into the philosophy behind Japanese football's success. Insights from one of Europe's top-performing Under-17 teams. And an opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in youth football development.
These were among the valuable takeaways for more than 150 coaches who attended the inaugural Coaches' Convention 2026, organised by the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) national football project and supported by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
Held from 20 to 22 October at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, the three-day convention brought together coaches from across Singapore's football ecosystem, ranging from grassroots coaches to Singapore Premier League head coaches. UTR! took guidance and input from CoachSG colleagues when planning for the Coaches’ Convention. CoachSG colleagues were also present at the event.
Five international speakers took centre stage, sharing their expertise, experiences and best practices in player development, coaching methodologies and football systems.
They were:
Among the highlights was a presentation by Mr Ogura, Singapore's former national men's team head coach, who offered fascinating insights into Japan's extensive efforts to identify, nurture and expose young footballing talent.
He shared how Japan has expanded its talent identification efforts beyond its shores, including organising camps in the United States to identify promising players of Japanese heritage.
Mr Ogura also highlighted Japan's emphasis on exposing young players to elite-level environments, citing the involvement of its Under-19 players in preparations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup to provide valuable experience and opportunities to train alongside the senior national team.
The convention concluded with a practical coaching session conducted by Mr Vermeulen, giving participants the opportunity to observe how coaching concepts and methodologies could be applied on the training pitch.
For former Singapore national team coach Mr Vincent Subramanian, the convention represented an important step towards strengthening the local coaching community.
He said: “Over the years, I've attended many of such conferences overseas. But it is very important that we bring such an event to Singapore and provide a platform for our coaches to learn from international experts
“It's very important that we have this to bring the football population together. This is an important first step to take.”
UTR! hopes to establish the Coaches' Convention as a biennial event, providing a regular platform for local coaches to exchange ideas, gain fresh perspectives and build connections that could lead to further professional development opportunities.
The convention also complements UTR!'s ongoing efforts to develop local coaching expertise through its Coach Overseas Attachment programme, which has provided deserving Singapore coaches with opportunities to be embedded within coaching teams in Japan, Austria and Belgium.
Through these initiatives, UTR! aims to broaden the horizons of Singapore coaches and equip them with the knowledge, experience and networks to support the development of the next generation of footballers.
Written by
Unleash The Roar! Communications and Engagement team
Photo credit: Unleash The Roar!
These were among the valuable takeaways for more than 150 coaches who attended the inaugural Coaches' Convention 2026, organised by the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) national football project and supported by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
Held from 20 to 22 October at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, the three-day convention brought together coaches from across Singapore's football ecosystem, ranging from grassroots coaches to Singapore Premier League head coaches. UTR! took guidance and input from CoachSG colleagues when planning for the Coaches’ Convention. CoachSG colleagues were also present at the event.
Five international speakers took centre stage, sharing their expertise, experiences and best practices in player development, coaching methodologies and football systems.
They were:
- Mr Tom Vermeulen, Head of Academy Development at Belgian top-flight club Oud-Heverlee Leuven;
- Mr Masaki Morass, Technical Director at Austrian professional club SKN St. Pölten;
- Mr Bogdan Frisu, Sporting Director at the Austrian Football Association Women's Academy;
- Ms Nguyen Thi My Dung, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at PVF Football Academy, Vietnam; and
- Mr Tsutomu Ogura, Assistant Technical Director at the Japan Football Association.
Among the highlights was a presentation by Mr Ogura, Singapore's former national men's team head coach, who offered fascinating insights into Japan's extensive efforts to identify, nurture and expose young footballing talent.
He shared how Japan has expanded its talent identification efforts beyond its shores, including organising camps in the United States to identify promising players of Japanese heritage.
Mr Ogura also highlighted Japan's emphasis on exposing young players to elite-level environments, citing the involvement of its Under-19 players in preparations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup to provide valuable experience and opportunities to train alongside the senior national team.
The convention concluded with a practical coaching session conducted by Mr Vermeulen, giving participants the opportunity to observe how coaching concepts and methodologies could be applied on the training pitch.
For former Singapore national team coach Mr Vincent Subramanian, the convention represented an important step towards strengthening the local coaching community.
He said: “Over the years, I've attended many of such conferences overseas. But it is very important that we bring such an event to Singapore and provide a platform for our coaches to learn from international experts
“It's very important that we have this to bring the football population together. This is an important first step to take.”
UTR! hopes to establish the Coaches' Convention as a biennial event, providing a regular platform for local coaches to exchange ideas, gain fresh perspectives and build connections that could lead to further professional development opportunities.
The convention also complements UTR!'s ongoing efforts to develop local coaching expertise through its Coach Overseas Attachment programme, which has provided deserving Singapore coaches with opportunities to be embedded within coaching teams in Japan, Austria and Belgium.
Through these initiatives, UTR! aims to broaden the horizons of Singapore coaches and equip them with the knowledge, experience and networks to support the development of the next generation of footballers.
Football Conversation 2026 Draws Over 250 Participants
The exchange of ideas continued on the evening of 22 October at Football Conversation 2026, where three of the convention's speakers joined local football leaders for a panel discussion on the future of the game.
Titled Taking Football Forward in the 21st Century, the discussion featured Mr Ogura, Ms Dung and Mr Frisu, alongside FAS Deputy President Mr Desmond Ong and UTR! Executive Director Mr Lenard Pattiselanno.
An annual public engagement initiative organised by UTR!, Football Conversation provides a platform for members of Singapore's football community to come together, exchange perspectives and discuss issues shaping the future of the sport.
This year's event attracted a strong turnout of more than 250 participants, including parents, players, coaches and football administrators, reflecting the community's keen interest in contributing to the development of Singapore football.
Beyond the exchange of ideas, the event underscored the importance of bringing together different stakeholders, each with a role to play in strengthening Singapore's football ecosystem.
For Mr Pattiselanno, both events reinforced the importance of collaboration, continuous learning and a shared commitment to progress.
He said: “The journey to uplift Singapore football is one that involves the entire football ecosystem, from coaches to parents. Events like the Coaches' Convention and Football Conversation are important platforms to engage our stakeholders, share knowledge and find alignment on how we can move Singapore football forward, together.”
Together, the two events reflect UTR!'s commitment to creating more opportunities for learning, fostering stronger connections across the football community and building a shared understanding of what it will take to raise the standards of Singapore football.
Titled Taking Football Forward in the 21st Century, the discussion featured Mr Ogura, Ms Dung and Mr Frisu, alongside FAS Deputy President Mr Desmond Ong and UTR! Executive Director Mr Lenard Pattiselanno.
An annual public engagement initiative organised by UTR!, Football Conversation provides a platform for members of Singapore's football community to come together, exchange perspectives and discuss issues shaping the future of the sport.
This year's event attracted a strong turnout of more than 250 participants, including parents, players, coaches and football administrators, reflecting the community's keen interest in contributing to the development of Singapore football.
Beyond the exchange of ideas, the event underscored the importance of bringing together different stakeholders, each with a role to play in strengthening Singapore's football ecosystem.
For Mr Pattiselanno, both events reinforced the importance of collaboration, continuous learning and a shared commitment to progress.
He said: “The journey to uplift Singapore football is one that involves the entire football ecosystem, from coaches to parents. Events like the Coaches' Convention and Football Conversation are important platforms to engage our stakeholders, share knowledge and find alignment on how we can move Singapore football forward, together.”
Together, the two events reflect UTR!'s commitment to creating more opportunities for learning, fostering stronger connections across the football community and building a shared understanding of what it will take to raise the standards of Singapore football.
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