Duric's last hurrah: 'Put pride back in S-League'

Last Friday, the whistle blew to kick off the new Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League season, with Tampines Rovers beating Home United 1-0 in the season opener at Jalan Besar Stadium.

It also signalled the start of a long goodbye for the most successful player to have graced the league - Aleksandar Duric.

The striker will turn 44 on Aug 12 - an age which an overwhelming majority of professional footballers have long hung up their boots - and has long stated that this will be his final season.

His extraordinary S-League journey has taken him through 16 seasons, eight league title victories, three Singapore Cup wins, four top scorer awards, three Player of the Year accolades and a record 378 goals.

Yet, it is ending at a time when the Singapore professional football league is at a critical juncture.

While attendance is up, from an all-time-low average of 932 in 2012 to 1,200 last year, it is a league that had lost its lustre amid the rising popularity of the LionsXII and their Malaysian Super League exploits.

With the ASEAN Super League readying for launch next year, the S-League is facing its stiffest competition for star players, for fans and for sponsorship.

As Duric sat down for lunch at his frequent haunt in Holland Village, he began with this impassioned plea: "The S-League is Singapore's child and this is a child that must be protected.

"It is easy to criticise it, but there are many good people working very hard behind the scenes. Success doesn't come overnight."

But 19 seasons after the league started with a big bang in 1996, hopes of it making a deep impression among Singapore football fans fizzled out as the clubs struggle to find lucrative sponsorship to sustain interest.

As Duric noted grimly: "The league doesn't have enough strong clubs. Only Tampines and Home are financially strong enough.

"There just isn't enough budget set aside for publicity. Kids don't wear the jerseys of Tampines, Hougang United or Balestier Khalsa. Most clubs haven't been doing much to reach out.

"Money talks but there has got to be more effort to go to schools to engage youngsters. They are the future of the S-League."

It is evident that, despite his imminent retirement, Duric still cares a lot about the league, eager for it to stay a viable competition for local professional footballers to earn their keeps.

Throughout the hour-long interview, he spoke with an urgency, coupled with animated hand gestures, as he raced through a list of what is ailing the league.

One moment, he is chastising the clubs for not making themselves visible enough to entice the sponsors; the next, he is exhorting big Singaporean corporations to give the domestic league a chance.

He said: "AirAsia, a Malaysian company, is already supporting Singapore football. Even a Malaysian company has faith in us rather than their own league.

"Let's get some pride back. This is Singapore's league and it will be wonderful if big Singaporean companies back it."

Then, there is the fixtures list, which has the 12 S-League clubs playing primarily on weekdays - something which Duric doubts will be a crowd-pulling factor.

He said: "Singaporeans are busy people, especially during weekdays. Weekends are a better time for them to attend S-League games.

"It's weird to play in empty stadiums. The players are the entertainers and there is nobody for us to entertain."

Even as the crowds stayed away, Duric stuck with the S-League. Initially signing for Tanjong Pagar United in 1999, he has since played for Home, Geylang United, Singapore Armed Forces FC (now Warriors FC) and now, Tampines.

Having led a nomadic life in his early life - he fled his native Bosnia during the 1990s civil war, represented his homeland in kayaking at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and had footballing stints in China and Australia - he has embraced Singapore so much that he took up citizenship and settled down with his family of three.

Throughout his S-League career, his professionalism and discipline stood out, apart from his obvious knack for scoring goals.

He adheres to his regimen of no alcohol, no late nights, going easy on fatty food but training hard with the hunger of a young player.

In the league's 2.4km run test, which all players must pass before they can be registered, Singapore's oldest professional player clocked 8min 30sec.

Previously, the league had used the Beep Test, a multi-stage shuttle run, to gauge fitness. Many players flunked, including stars like Serbian defender Sead Muratovic and Croatian striker Mirko Grabovac.

While Duric laments the loss of good players, he insisted: "The Beep Test and the 2.4km run are important. The people who hated it are those who hate to train.

"Several good players are lost because of the fitness requirements and it's sad. But the life of a professional footballer is about hard work and discipline."

Despite all the problems besetting the S-League, the old warhorse still sees hope in the next wave of young Singaporean players. He said: "We have a good generation of players in Europe or South America now. Even our seniors who play across the Causeway are proof that football can pay well.

"Singaporean youths will be inspired by these players playing overseas. It shows that football can be a career."

A practical joker in the dressing room, Duric has embraced life on the island nation by trying out hawker fare. He now speaks Singlish with teammates and even knows the Hokkien swear words.

However, he admits that he is apprehensive about retirement, even if he is due to complete his "A" coaching licence by year end.

"It is going to be an emotional season, saying goodbye to all these stadiums I've played in before," he sighed.

"I'm not really looking forward to retirement. Many players don't really have a backup plan when they finish their careers and I am no different, but I definitely want to stay involved with Singapore football as a coach.

"I want another title and another top scorer award but I also want to enjoy my football for one last time."

meng@sph.com.sg

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