Grasshoppers offer Lewis
a trial
Goalie will spend one week at Swiss side, who are one of Man City's
partner clubs
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Sports
January 10, 2008
Author: Wang Meng Meng
IT STARTED as just a training stint, but Lionel Lewis' foray into
European football is bearing fruit.
The Football Association of Singapore announced yesterday that the
goalkeeper has been offered a one-week trial with Swiss Super
League club Grasshoppers Zurich starting from Sunday.
Last month, The Straits Times reported that the 25-year-old
underwent a one-week training stint with Manchester City, thanks to
an initiative by FAS vice-president Ng Jui Ping.
He became the first Singaporean to train with the first team of an
English Premier League club.
Then, City's executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid said that
besides reviewing the goalkeeper's talent, the club 'will also
consider the suitability of placing him in one of our partner
clubs'.
City have alliances with Grasshoppers, FC Moscow (Russia), Perth
Glory (Australia), Shanghai Shenhua (China), Thanda Royal Zulu
(South Africa) and Chonburi FC (Thailand).
The English club work with them in areas such as coaching
exchanges, player analysis techniques and youth tournaments.
Lewis said yesterday: 'The Manchester City training stint was a
great experience for me and I'm delighted to be invited for a trial
at a big club like Grasshoppers.
'It's every footballer's dream to be given such an opportunity and
I will definitely do my best when I'm over there.
'I would like to thank Lt-Gen (Ret) Ng for arranging the Man City
stint and Grasshoppers trial for me and also FAS president Ho Peng
Kee and national coach Raddy Avramovic for their support.'
The Grasshoppers trial will not affect the Home United custodian's
international commitments as the Lions prepare to tackle Saudi
Arabia in Riyadh on Feb 6.
Lewis will join the national team in Muscat on Jan 21 as the Lions
embark on a two-week acclimatisation programme.
Lt-Gen (Ret) Ng added: 'This is a significant step for Singapore
football and it is a testament to the growing stature of our
footballers, national team and S-League for our players to be
considered for trials in Europe.
'I hope that this trial is the first of many opportunities for
Singaporean footballers.'
His sentiments were shared by FAS president Ho, who said: 'I'm
happy that Lionel is going for this trial. It's good that his
achievements have been recognised, which I hope will encourage him
to press on whether or not he secures a contract.'
Grasshoppers are Switzerland's most successful club in domestic
competitions with a record 27 league titles. They also have 18
Swiss Cups but are currently seventh in the 10-team league, 19
points behind leaders Basel, who have 39 points from 18
games.
The club's current No. 1 goalkeeper is Eldin Jakupovic. He is on
loan from Lokomotiv Moscow and is expected to return to the Russian
club after the Swiss league finishes its winter break on Feb
2.
The other shot-stoppers on Grasshoppers' books are a pair of
20-year-old Swiss - Dragan Djukic and Manuel Huber.
Capped 48 times by Singapore and noted for his reflexes, aerial
strength and safe hands, Lewis is arguably the best goalkeeper in
Asean football today.
He justified the hype by taking the Most Valuable Player award at
the 2005 Tiger Cup, when he helped Singapore claim the regional
crown.
The following year, he was the only Asean player to be nominated
for the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year
award.
He was also the only goalkeeper to be nominated and Singapore's
only nominee in the award's 13-year history.
[email protected]
Go west Singapore's other
football exports to Europe:
Fandi Ahmad
FC Groningen, Holland first division (1983-85)
OFI Crete, Greece Super League (1990)
V. Sundramoorthy
Basel, Switzerland Super League (1987)
Daniel Bennett
Wrexham, English League Two (2001, 2003)
Copyright, 2008, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
