Soft-spoken S'pore football Japanese coach blames himself for 5-0 loss to Uzbekistan

He is taking one for the team in true Japanese fashion.

Belmont Lay | June 08, 2021, 06:18 PM

The soft-spoken Singapore national football Japanese coach has blamed himself for the 5-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on June 8. 2021.

The Japanese coach, Tatsuma Yoshida, 46, had earlier apologised to fans for the Singapore side's 4-0 loss to Palestine on June 4.

Singapore is ranked 159th in the FIFA World Rankings. Uzbekistan is 86th.

Take the fall for the team

Having conceded nine goals in two outings, Yoshida stopped short of apologising this time round, but provided cover for his boys by taking the blame, in true Japanese fashion.

Speaking in halting English, Yoshida called the latest defeat a big loss for the boys and said his team and himself are "not enough" at this stage.

However, he said he hopes the team will do better against Saudi Arabia next and make it a "good match".

Yoshida said in his post-match interview:

It was a big loss by the boys. The boys were doing well. Their performance was better than the previous match. So this shows that they can do more. They proved that they can do more. We also have to understand we are not enough and it's also my management and strategy. And my everything as a coach is not enough. But we and I will have to learn from this match. But we don't waste time lamenting on this match. We'll keep on going. We have next match against Saudi Arabia. The boys need some treatment. The last match I want to make it a good match. The last match in this tour.

Singapore World Cup dreams fade

Singapore remains fourth in Group D of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The team has conceded 19 goals and scored seven.

Their next match will be against Saudi Arabia on June 12 (Singapore time) in the final game of their qualifying campaign.

Top photo via Football Association of Singapore