ActiveSG Football Academy Turns 7!

AFA Trainees at Toa Payoh Stadium in March 2023. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Opened officially on 2 April 2016 by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, the ActiveSG Football Academy was the first of a series of sport academies, launched by Sport Singapore that year. From a handful of training venues, ActiveSG Football Academy (AFA) has since expanded to 15 venues islandwide. And over the years, thousands of kids and youths aged 6-16, have taken part in the Republic's biggest grassroots' football training programme. Helmed by one of Singapore's former professional football stars, Aleksander Duric, AFA recently celebrated its 7th birthday. Reflecting on the past and looking ahead to the future of this unique community-based football academy, ActiveSG Circle caught up with Duric, Steven Tan (AFA Head Coach) and 3 current youth trainees. 

AFA Principal Aleksander Duric at training. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Aleksander Duric (Principal, ActiveSG Football Academy)

Q : As the Principal of ActiveSG Football Academy, how do you feel about the training programmes since its inception in 2016?
Aleks : I guess in the start, there was a very small number of kids and there were only a few training centres around Singapore. I must say, all of us who are involved in the ActiveSG Football Academy, should be proud that through the years, we opened up more centres and programmes and saw more kids join AFA. Seeing the kids coming in and out every week and being with our programme for many years is a great accomplishment!

Q : What is your biggest achievement for AFA in the last 7 years?
Aleks : I think the biggest achievement is definitely being able to accommodate kids of different age groups, different abilities and seeing them grow in their football journeys. We also started the pre-school programmes in the academy, where the youngest age group of 3 to 6 years, come to learn fundamental body movements and play football at the same time. And also, seeing the kids growing up in the academy and having some of them now playing professional football in the COE teams and SPL clubs.

Q : How do you define the role of various ex-international Singapore players as AFA coaches?
Aleks : This academy has a good mix of ex-international players, current Singapore League players and non-players. But this mixture is very good. It is also good to have coaches with different styles, coaching the kids. It is also great to see that all the coaches share the same passion to want to coach the kids in the academy.

AFA Principal Aleksander Duric at training. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Q : Of the thousands of trainees islandwide since 2016, any players for special mention?
Aleks : This one family with 3 kids comes to mind. They were at Jurong East Stadium when the programme had its opening ceremony back in April 2016. I saw the kids just shooting around and felt that they had some raw talent and so I approached them and got them to sign for our academy. Now, one of the boys is in the Singapore Sports School and his sister is currently a women’s national football player. The youngest brother is also presently in the Lion City Sailors Elite Team. So, it is amazing to see such kids growing up in our academy.

Q : What is your vision for AFA as you move towards your 10th Anniversary in 2025?
Aleks :  Well, my vision is to definitely increase the capacity of our programmes to have as many children enjoying football. Secondly, I would also like to focus more on girls’ football where we will try to open up girls-only football programmes/centres. Thirdly, we are looking to start grassroots leagues for our participants in the community programmes, to play against each other.

Ex-Singapore international footballer, Steven Tan. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Steven Tan (Current AFA Coach & former striker, Tanjong Pagar United FC and Singapore Lions)

Q : How long have you been with AFA and why did you decide to coach with them?
Steven : Well, I started with AFA in 2016 when Aleks approached me and asked if I was keen to start an Academy. I said, "Of course!". He told me about the project, and I believed in the programmes and I decided to come on board and join him in AFA. 

AFA Trainees are from the age of 6-16. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Q : How would you describe your biggest achievement by coaching at AFA? 
Steven : One of my biggest achievement is in building a strong relationship with parents. Firstly, I am very happy to see a lot of parents and kids staying in our programmes, even as we shift our training centre from Kallang to St Wilfried. I think we have developed a strong bond with the parents through events such as Kanga Cup and also a trip to Bayern, where the kids did very well.

Q : What else would you like to see for the future of grassroots football? 
Steven : I think we must first re-emphasize grassroots football, because like I read a quote somewhere, "if grassroots fails, all levels fail!". So, I think we must not neglect grassroots football. I think that's where the foundation is. That’s very important. 

AFA Youth Trainee, Ariffin Bin Kamarulzaman. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Ariffin Bin Kamarulzaman
Age : 13
St Patrick’s School

Q : How did AFA help in the development of your personal football skills?
Ariffin : At first when I joined AFA 2 years ago, I felt my skills in football were very bad. Then, I decided to stop for one month. After I stopped for one month, I rejoined AFA. When I joined back, I found that my skills were getting better and better, because I kept on practising with AFA coaches who were very encouraging. 

Q : Tell us the best part of training every week at AFA?
Ariffin : The best part of training is that you get to play against the coaches and players who are better.

Q : What message do you have for other boys and girls, who might be thinking to join AFA?
Ariffin : Just join AFA. The programmes are affordable and the coaches are very friendly and encouraging. 

AFA Youth Trainee, Asia Hajah Muhinudeen. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Asia Hajah Muhinudeen
Age: 12
School : Tampines Primary School

Q : How did AFA help in the development of your personal football skills?
Asia : It definitely helped me improve and form my skills. The coaches helped me to become a better defender in training and competitive matches. 

Q : Tell us the best part of training every week at AFA?
Asia : Playing a good game, meeting friends, chit-chatting with them and making people proud of me.

Q : What message do you have for other boys and girls who might be thinking of joining AFA?
Asia : It can be hard at first, but don’t give up, do your best and you will be able to get to where you want.

AFA Youth Trainee, Jayden Poh. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

Jayden Poh
Age: 15
Meridian Secondary School

Q : How did AFA help in your development of your personal football skills?
Jayden : ActiveSG FA helped me to be more confident on the ball, and taught me how to defend, dribble and shoot properly, plus the fundamental skills.

Q : Tell us the best part of training every week at AFA?
Jayden : For me, the best part of training every week is playing with the coaches and peers during matches at the end of the training session. And also, how the coaches are friendly. My team-mates are kind and will also point out my mistakes, whenever I do make them to help me learn and develop. I look forward to the sessions.

Q : What message do you have for other boys and girls who might be thinking of joining AFA?
Jayden : If you are looking to join AFA, just join, don’t hesitate. No matter your skill level, you will still be able to find a way to improve. The coaches won’t scold you at all. The emphasis here is on fun, while helping us to improve our football skills.You can just come here to relieve stress and play for fun.

AFA Coaches comprising several ex-Singapore international footballers. Photo Credit : ActiveSG Football Academy

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Additional Reporting by Chua Yu Heng and Jermaine Tan. Yu Heng is a 3rd year Events Management student at Singapore Polytechnic. And Jermaine is also a 3rd year Events Management student at Republic Poly. Both students are currently interning with ActiveSG Football Academy till August 2023