SFA Fiesta at National Stadium. Photo Credit : Unleash The Roar! Dennis Yeo

The National Stadium played host to some 200 student-athletes, who had the privilege of playing football in the country's most iconic sports venue. On Saturday 28 January, the Unleash The Roar! national football project kicked off 2023 with the School Football Academy (SFA) Fiesta at the Singapore Sports Hub  The SFA programme which is run in 12 schools, allowed the teenage players experience the thrill of competing at the National Stadium in an inter-SFA 8v8 tournament – the first of its kind! 

SFA Fiesta at National Stadium. Photo Credit : Unleash The Roar! Teo Yong Kong

SFA Fiesta at National Stadium. Photo Credit : Unleash The Roar! Dennis Yeo

Players from the newly-introduced girls’ SFAs – Methodist Girls’ School and Woodlands Secondary School – were also in action. Both schools are new additions to the SFA programme in 2023. The full list of SFAs is available in Annex A (see below).

SFA Fiesta at National Stadium. Photo Credit : Unleash The Roar! Andrew Ho

Khairufatin Binte Suyasri, a Secondary Four player from Woodlands Secondary School, felt the experience at the National Stadium would help her team as they prepare for the upcoming National School Games. The 16-year-old Woodlander added: “It’s good exposure for us because it’s our first time playing at the National Stadium and it’s been a great experience; we had a lot of fun. We learnt that no matter what happens in a match, we should still trust our processes and continue to give our best efforts for matches like these and all upcoming matches. This was our first match of the year. With the Secondary Two players from last year moving up to play in the B Division this year, the chance to play together and gel as a team really helps.”

Woodlanders together with Women's National Captain Ernie Sontaril (white top) and FAS Ambassador Baihakki Khaizan (Back Row, Far Left) in one of the National Stadium dressing rooms. Photo Credit : Woodlands Secondary School FB Page

SFA Fiesta at National Stadium. Photo Credit : Unleash The Roar! Dennis Yeo

Off the pitch, guests at the SFA Fiesta enjoyed a wide variety of activities and food and beverage options. These included an exclusive tour of the dressing rooms at the National Stadium and a sports science booth with agility tests for all to try. 

The SFAs were officially launched in 2022, and serve as a key pipeline to produce technically sound footballers. Among the key features of the programme are increased training frequencies, the incorporation of sports science with training, and opportunities to train and compete overseas. 

    Annex A