Tsutomu Ogura steps down as Singapore Lions head coach; UK tourist says Singapore lacks history and charm in viral interview: Singapore live news

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Singapore football head coach Tsutomu Ogura has resigned due to personal reasons, ending his tenure just 17 months into a two-year contract. (Photo: FAS/Facebook)

Singapore football head coach Tsutomu Ogura has resigned due to personal reasons, ending his tenure just 17 months into a two-year contract. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said Ogura needed to return to Japan for pressing matters and that efforts to retain him were unsuccessful.

Ogura, who took over in February 2024, led the Lions to the ASEAN Championship semi-finals and recent wins in Asian Cup qualifiers. Former Tampines Rover coach Gavin Lee has been appointed interim head coach while FAS searches for a permanent replacement. Ogura’s departure leaves the Lions at a pivotal moment in their rebuild.

A UK woman’s comment that Singapore “has no personality” has gone viral, drawing both criticism and reluctant agreement from netizens across Asia. In a TikTok street interview, she said she wouldn’t revisit Singapore, describing it as “cold” and lacking the ancient history she expected.

The video has since sparked a wave of reactions. Some Singaporeans defended their homeland’s multicultural vibrancy and modern achievements. Others admitted the city can feel overly curated and light on heritage. Commenters noted that Singapore’s youth as a nation means it doesn’t have centuries-old ruins – but that doesn’t mean it lacks identity.

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