Will you support the LionsXII?

So, the FAS annouces the squad which will be taking part in the Malaysia League and Cup for the year 2012.
The representative club from Singapore will be called the LionsXII. I am not sure who coined up that name, apparently DDB designed the logo... but it certainly isn't the most memorable name. The XII is supposed to signify the fans as the 12th man on the team. I don't know if FAS in putting their intentions so obviously in the name is the right marketing strategy. The football should be the only thing that attracts the fans. Frankly, the Lions or plain ol' Singapore will do just fine. Maybe they are afraid it confuses the significance of the actual national team.

The squad looks quite good in my opinion, promising players, all of whom are local lads. Hariss Harun and Safuwan Bahrudin are the future of the Singapore national team, and they make up the core of the team. Alongside them is the experienced and current national team captain Sharil Ishak and also the tricky forward/winger Khairul Amri. There is also the inconsistent Agu Casmir who could provide the goals upfront for the team if he is in the mood.

Will the LionsXII provide more excitement for local fans next year? Surely, they must start to win matches and show the grit and passion their predecessors exhibited.

Sundram and Kadir Yahya are the new coaches, which will be ideal... considering there are few better candidates other than these two who clearly know what a Malaysia-Singapore rivalry stands for.

Sundram was a dazzler, lets hope he plays an attacking brand of football that will bring the fans in. Kadir is a no-nonsense defender in his playing years, he will bring the discipline and the tough love.

I hope the LionsXII will bring some cheer back to the local footballing scene, those who read my entries know quite clearly that I don't dig our S-League one bit, so its welcome relief that FAS decided to spare the local fans some misery and give us a sideshow, which could potentially become the main show. Its still too early to say if the fever could reach the dizzy heights of 1993 or 1994, but we could start somewhere.... I guess.