Former Singapore international Aleksandar Duric has said that the national team's head coach V Sundramoorthy will be well served if he receives training and coaching exposure overseas.
The 46-year-old, who also serves as Principal for Sport Singapore, has echoed Singapore legend Irfan Fandi's opinion that stressed the need for local players and teams to have overseas exposure. Duric added that Sundram need not even go far but can head to China, where top tacticians are operating.
"Sundram should have a chance to learn from top national coaches as football is constantly evolving. He has to keep up with the developments in areas like training and sports science," Duric said, as quoted by The Straits Times.
"Best of all, he does not even need to go far. [Marcello] Lippi and a host of top coaches are all in China now."
With the expectations on the newly-elected Football Association of Singapore council high, strengthening the national team, which is reeling at the 160th spot in Fifa rankings will be the governing body's priority.
Despite the Lions facing poor results in the recent past, including a group stage exit at last year's AFF Suzuki Cup, Sundram was given a two-year contract extension earlier this year and an overseas stint similar to former Malaysia head coach Ong Kim Swee's Queens Park Rangers trip will help the 51-year-old tactician.
The Lions though came up with a vastly improved show during the AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifying opener and held higher-ranked Bahrain to a 0-0 draw in Riffa. Sundram's men next face Chinese Taipei at home in their second game of the qualifying campaign in June.
Not just the coach, but young boys from the Republic should also go beyond Malaysia and Thailand and try fetching contract in Europe, Duric says.
"The FAS should have enough connections to secure contracts for our boys in Europe. It's time for them to venture further than just Malaysia or Thailand," he added.
