October 6, 2004
It seems there are many controversies
concerning the entry of Planet FC to the S-league.
First is the standard of the Cameroon
side as after witnessing Planet struggle to beat a second-string Woodlands
Wellington side 3-2 last week & a S-league Selection consisting of mostly
lower team players alarm bells must be ringing within the FAS.
Surely this cannot be the team who
reportedly won the prestigious Queen's Cup in
S-League's director of competitions Quah Kim Song admitted as much when he said making various
claims that they will beat every S-League team easily, the expectations of
Planet were high but they have been disappointing so far.
Planet FC chairman Ngankeu
has promised that, this time,
He claimed there are 10 better players
to join the team if they are accepted in the S-League as he did not want to
take them away from their teams because he do not know
if they are in the S-League.
Even if Planet convince
the FAS that they have enough quality to compete in the S-League, there remains
the second controversy of financial stability.
An average S-League
club need at least $1 million
per season to operate. It can cost up to 20 per cent more for foreign clubs.
Can Planet
raise the money?
Chairman Ngankeu
insisted they have been advised on the financial part of things & is sure
they won't have any problems as they have some partners here in
His optimism is contradicted by Planet
officials asking everyone at the press conference, including Singaporean
journalists, if they had any sponsors' contacts to pass on.
Then, in a shocking revelation Ngankeu admitted that his players are literally playing for
nothing other than 3 meals a day & a roof over their heads.
He explained they do earn training
allowances & match bonuses, but the club keep them as the players do not
need the money for the club provide everything for them - good food, good
accommodation. When they need to make phone calls back home or when their boots
are torn, it will be provided so the players do not think about money & is
focused on football.
Certainly question marks hang over
Planet FC & only time will answer them