I REFER to last Saturday's letter by Mr Vernon Sim, 'Punish disloyal foreign sports talent'.

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I agree that S'pore's Foreign Sports Talent scheme is needed, since we have such a tiny population. Even a major soccer power like Germany - which has a population of 82 million - relies heavily on imported talent to strengthen their national team. Their 2 most lethal strikers are Miroslav Klose & Lukas Podolski, who were born in Poland.

During the World Cup of 2002 in Japan & South Korea, half of Germany's 14 goals were scored by their foreign-born players.

At the 2006 World Cup, a whopping 9 of their 11 goals came from players not born in Germany.

If even the powerful Germans rely on foreign-born players to bolster their team, foreign talent is an absolute must for most of their opponents, if they want to compete.

It is no wonder that ex-England player Gary Lineker, once remarked: "Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes & at the end, the Germans win."

I would like to add: "..............with the help of their foreign talent."

Even Japan, with its huge population, recruited the services of Brazilian-born players such as Ruy Ramos, Wagner Lopes & Alessandro Santos for its national soccer team down the years.

Why the hullabaloo about S'pore, with its tiny population, recruiting foreign sports talent?

France introduced a different Foreign Sports Talent scheme back in 1998, that won them the football World Cup. They had a multi-cultural team of 2 African-born players, others born in French overseas territories & several players born in France of immigrant parents.

The victory inspired pride & optimism about the prospects for a French model of social integration.

The best advertisement for multi-cultural France has long been the French soccer team. The black, white & Arab players singing the national anthem arm in arm looked like a blow to the far-right National Front party & other racists.

The team seemed to have done more for integration than years of political will. Then President Jacques Chirac declared a "tricolored & multicolored France". Even though nobody is so optimistic now, the foreign talent scheme had some positive effects for the country.

The world champions of 1998, looked the perfect symbol. Their parents hailed from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Algeria, Argentina, Senegal, Poland, Portugal & Ghana. There were only a few white French players in the squad.

France's world champions were not merely great footballers, but role models too. Zinedine Zidane, son of Algerian immigrants, has frequently been voted most popular Frenchman in poll organised by newspapers. Lilian Thuram, born in Guadeloupe, was the team's intellectual. Thierry Henry, whose mother came from Martinique, is as eloquent in the island's Creole as he is in French. Though the players emphasise their ethnic origins - all are patriotic Frenchmen.

Ireland have produced some fairly successful football teams down the years, but a closer examination of some of their most formidable sides will reveal that almost the entire starting line-up consisted of foreign talent.

The following are just a few of the foreigners who have worn the green jersey of Ireland with pride: John Alridge (one of their most prolific forwards), Mick McCarthy (an inspiring ex-coach & captain), Matt Holland (an influential midfielder), John Sheridan (who scored goals from his midfield position), Tony Cascarino (a fearsome striker) & Terry Mancini (who marshalled the defence) were all born in England.

Add to that list Kevin Sheedy (who was born in Wales) & Ray Houghton (born in Scotland), & we can see that Ireland's national soccer teams owe a huge debt to foreign talents indeed.

Eagle2004
You are an avid and well informed soccer fan. I understand where you are coming from but pardon me I have to disagree with you. There is no need to splurge our taxpayers money on these substandard and mercenary FTs in sports. We have a sports school and we can groom our own.

We have athletes like Ben Tan and Jocelyn Yeo before. We may not excel in a particular sport but we are capable of producing an olympian. Build from there. It is just my humble and shallow thought. Auspicium Melioris Aevi from Hullet House.

Oh please ! Let's not wholesale copy what others do for the sake of sporting medals. If you want to do it, do it all the way and get foreign talents in our army and navy and air force. Why stop at sports if you really think that foreign talents are so essential ? France brings in the world best, we bring in the "have gones". I rather prefer watching Samah Ala..., Quah Kim Song, and our home grown talents. They bring out the emotion and pride in me. Even the ministers are half hearted about this FT scheme. Look at Mah Bow Tan's reaction in the National Day Rally ! Don't try to convince Singaporeans when they themselves are not convinced.

Why do we so desire these medals? No one bother to ask. Why we can't accept that we are no good at sports?

The Singapore Sports Council should be helping Singaporeans to excel in their sports, rather than persuading those who excel in their sports to become Singaporeans. Otherwise, Team Singapore will lose its national character.

Hato.Omeko #5

Auspicium Melioris Aevi!

When Stamford Raffles held the torch
That cast Promethean flame
We faced the challenge of the day
To give our school a name

The EAGLE eye and gryphon strength
They led us to the fore
To reign supreme in every sphere
The Sons of Singapore

Greetings from Bayley! Thanks for your valuable input. Unfortunately, 'The Sons of Singapore' are a practical lot who believe that a professional degree will get them further in life than excellence in sports ever will.

waytogoLTA

{France brings in the world best, we bring in the "have gones"}

France has the budget to bring in the best sportsmen. Living in France is also a huge attraction, as it is a conducive place to raise a family.

S'pore has only the budget to attract the 2nd & 3rd tier of talent from China & the region, or footballers with only enough ability to play in the S-League. Do not compare apples with oranges.