Memorandum of Understanding marks first collaborationbetween Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and Private EducationInstitution (PEI)

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach -23 July 2018 - PSB Academy, one of Singapore's leading PEIs,and FAS have signed a memorandum of understanding to offer all registeredfootball players and staff at FAS study grants for the Academy's range ofcertificates, diplomas and university partner degrees.

(left) Bernard Tan, Deputy Vice President, Football Association of Singapore, and Derrick Chang, CEO, PSB Academy, sign a memorandum of understanding to promote continuous learning among players and staff with study grants for higher education.

Nurturing future-ready players

As part of theagreement, for the next 5 years, eligible players and staff who enrol for acourse at PSB Academy will enjoy study grants that will cover a portion oftheir respective course fees. An additional SGD 10,000 worth of course rebateswill be given to any Singapore Premier League club which has 10 or more playerswho enrol for diploma or degree courses together. As an extension of PSBAcademy's ongoing partnership with The Credit Co-operative, TCC, study grantrecipients have the additional option of taking a 0% interest-rate[1]study loans for their remaining course fees.

"We are honoured to enter into this partnershipwith PSB Academy and formally recognise them as our first Private Education InstitutionPartner. With the revamp of the League, one of the key areas we have identifiedis to raise the competencies of clubs, officials, coaches and players. Besidessupporting our players' professional careers on the field, we recognise theneed to prepare them for their post-playing careers as well. We want to equipour players with the necessary skills and knowledge while they are still in themidst of their playing career as they make plans for their future.

"With this partnership,we hope to give players the opportunity and necessary support to hone theircapabilities off the field through a pathway for continuous learning andquality higher education," says Yazeen Buhari, FAS Acting General Secretary.

One diploma for the road

In attendance at thesigning ceremony was Fazrul Nawaz, a 33-year old striker for Hougang UnitedFootball Club, and recipient of PSB Academy and FAS's first study grant. Fazrulis undertaking a Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences, and hopes hiscertification will provide him a good foundation to become a youth coach tofootball hopefuls.

"It definitely takessome dedication and discipline to be a student-athlete, to balance aprofessional football career and studies. No matter how we perform on thefield, the support system we have is always important, and I am encouraged byFAS and PSB Academy's efforts in trying to provide more athletes opportunitiesto look beyond what we can do as footballers, to either train up a nextgeneration of winners, or have the confidence to pick up on a new skill andhone it for our own future," says Fazrul.

Pipeline of talent for the sports industry

Aside fromSingapore's football players and staff, PSB Academy students will also be ableto reap benefits from this partnership -- FAS will offer eligible students orgraduates an opportunity to intern with the association, or with SingaporePremier League's clubs.

"We are renewing ourcommitment to developing future-ready talent for Singapore through the supportof our local athletes today. We love what happens on the field, but want tofocus on nurturing their skills off the field," says Derrick Chang, CEO, PSBAcademy. "On top of that, this partnership with FAS provides our students realopportunities to gaining exposure to the sports industry, and allow them topursue career interests in this emerging arena. We appreciate that FAS sharesthe same dedication to youth development and open to training interns for thebetterment of our sports associations--we hope that this transfusion of freshblood will keep the spirit of innovation and improvement alive within theindustry."