Singapore Premier League clubs resume full training

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From today, Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs are now allowed to return to full training.

The move is a step towards the resumption of the 2020 season for the eight SPL clubs. Restrictions on group sizes and the types of training that could be completed under Phase 2 have now been lifted.

From June 18, clubs were allowed to train in small groups under Phase 2 Safe Transition guidelines.

Under Phase 2, the maximum group size was five players and one coach. Players were not allowed to mix between groups during a session while heading and physical contact was discouraged.

“The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) welcomes the move by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce to allow the resumption of full-team training sessions for Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs. This is a significant step towards having our clubs resuming football as per normal in this year’s SPL season,” the Football Association said in a statement on Monday.

“The FAS today briefed the 8 Singapore-based SPL clubs on the necessary safe management measures that they will need to abide by as they resume full training sessions with effect tomorrow, Tuesday 1 September 2020.

“As we continue to work alongside the relevant ministries and stakeholders on setting a tentative resumption date in September for the SPL season, a key priority will be to allow an adequate period for players to be conditioned and prepared for competitive matches, while also ensuring all necessary measures are put in place to safeguard the health and safety of players and officials.”

On March 24, the FAS announced the immediate suspension of the SPL season and training for clubs.

In announcing the suspension, the FAS said that the priority of the association was the health and welfare of players, officials and fans.

Singapore have a population of 5.639 million and have had 56,812 cases of COVID-19 and 27 deaths – Singapore’s Ministry of Health confirmed 41 new positive cases on Monday.

The Singapore Premier League is the highest level of domestic competition in Singapore. The league was established in 1996 as the S. League and was rebranded in 2018 as the SPL.

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Canada Soccer to begin new National Training Centre project

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Image credit: ACHPF / Shutterstock.com

Backed by the Government of Canada with an investment worth nearly AUD 10 million ($9,826,000), the project aims to establish a world-class facility for athletes, coaches and communities.

Building the sport and community

The investment comes as part of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF), an ambitious program of the Government of Canada which will provide AUD 51 billion ($51 billion) to infrastructure projects over 10 years.

However, the Canada Soccer Training Centre is one key project which will benefit from such substantial investment. But the project isn’t just for future players – it will help boost economic activity and create a facility built for excellence and growth.

“It is about creating a world-class sport facility where athletes can train and represent Canada at their best,” explained Secretary of State (Sport), Honourable Adam van Koeverden, via press release.

“From the playground to the podium, it is projects like this that provide athletes, coaches, local families and communities with vibrant, accessible spaces to fuel participation, connection, and a growing passion for sport.”

President of Canada Soccer, Peter Auguros, further expressed his gratitude for the investment and what it could bring future generations.

“This support reflects a shared belief in the power of sport to strengthen communities and develop the next generation of Canadian talent. We are proud to partner in building infrastructure that will benefit our athletes and help shape the future of the sport in Canada.”

 

Growth gains momentum

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off in a few short weeks, Canada Soccer’s plan for a National Training Centre Project is symbolic of long-term vision.

The tournament is not a final flourish, but a stepping stone to accelerated growth.

And this is not a short-term setup.

As President of Concacaf and Vice-Preisdent of FIFA, Victori Montagliani explained, this is a project designed to survive for generations.

“The development of a National Training Centre in Canada represents an important legacy project for the country and it is always a positive sign when our members invest in infrastructure across the region.”

 

Final thoughts

The project, therefore, perfectly aligns a growing buzz for football across the region with intentional investment and ambition.

And although the action must eventually stop on the pitch, Canada Soccer are ensuring that growth continues long after the tournament’s final whistle.

Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

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Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

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