The Workshop Tour Asia – Singapore concluded after three vibrant days of exchange, learning, and inspiration at Jalan Besar Stadium. Co-organised by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and Aspire Academy, the event brought together global football minds, local practitioners, and the wider community in a series of theoretical presentations, on-pitch practical sessions, and community initiatives — all with the shared aim of elevating the game in Singapore and the region.
Setting the tone with elite perspectives and pitch-level insights
The first day of the Workshop opened with a strong focus on holistic player development, blending sports science with real-world football applications. Aspire’s Dr Valter Di Salvo presented a fresh approach to performance enhancement and injury prevention, while Manuel Toscano of Juventus FC outlined how staff and players at the Italian club are supported in developing their mental skills. The FAS’ own Firdaus Maasar rounded off the theoretical sessions by encouraging attendees to think beyond physical data in the context of training load management.
The day’s Star Chat saw former Japan international Tadanari Lee reflect on his professional journey, offering rare insight into the resilience, adaptability, and focus that went into his teams that have thrived at the top levels of football.
In the afternoon, the attention shifted to the pitch. Corné Groenendijk (AFC Ajax) delivered a high-tempo session on “Coaching the Ajax DNA”, showcasing key tenets of the Dutch side’s world-renowned methodology. This was followed by Lewis Nightingale (Liverpool FC), who conducted a practical session on developing the technical ability to play forward with purpose — giving coaches tangible, real-world tools to take back to their teams.
Global solutions, local application
Day 2 of the Workshop turned the focus to applied performance and team-building strategies. Daniele Bonanno (Aspire Academy) opened with a presentation on youth performance development, followed by Matt Portas (The FA) who spoke about building a winning team through modern talent identification frameworks. Priscilla Castellani Tarabini (Italian FA) who took the stage immediately after, spoke on practical dietary strategies tailored to the developmental needs of young footballers.
The Star Chat featured former Manchester United assistant manager, Mike Phelan, who drew on decades of top-flight experience to share leadership lessons and reflections on the evolution of the game. His session resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom were eager to learn from someone who had been at the heart of one of football’s most storied clubs, and worked alongside one of its most successful leaders, Sir Alex Ferguson.
One of the standout features of the day was the contribution from event sponsors.
Fitogether, the leading sports tech company specialising in wearable EPTS (Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems), presented cutting-edge insights into player tracking and data capture, demonstrating how technology can sharpen detail and decision-making on the field.
A global leader in performance analysis solutions, Hudl followed with an in-depth look at their Pro Suite workflow — showcasing real case studies on how clubs globally use video capture and analysis to gain a competitive edge in coaching, human performance, and recruitment.
Out on the pitch, Karim Bencherifa (FAS) led a session on high pressing and attacking transition, while Hugo Machado (FC Porto) guided attendees through modern training design in a session titled “Training the Game”. Both sessions reinforced the day’s emphasis on bridging elite knowledge with practical execution.
Giving back to the game
The event wrapped up with a pivot to the local community. A special youth football clinic welcomed boys and girls from across Singapore to Jalan Besar Stadium. The clinic was designed to be a fun and engaging entry point to the game, while also exposing participants to world-class coaching principles.
Cycling through a series of activity stations led by speakers from the Workshop, the young players were introduced to age-appropriate drills focused on movement, ball mastery, and even tactical awareness.
It was a vibrant, high-energy session that underlined the broader mission of The Workshop Tour — to make elite knowledge accessible and inclusive, and to plant lasting seeds for the future.
The Workshop Tour Asia – Singapore was made possible through a close collaboration between the FAS and Aspire Academy, and support from sponsors Hudl, Polar Mineral Water and Fullerton Health, with the Orchard Hotel Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board also supporting the event.
As the curtains come down on this year’s edition, both the FAS and Aspire reaffirmed their commitment to driving knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and grassroots growth and doing their part to drive the continued development of football in the region.
