SO SINGAPORE has been dealt another blow to their Asean Football Federation title hopes.

Fifa's decision to rule China-born striker Qiu Li ineligible for the region's footballing showpiece, because of his failure to meet the latest residency rules, means the Lions will have to start their defence of their Asean crown without yet another key player.

Khairul Amri, whose goal won the 2006 edition, is nursing a broken foot. Fazrul Nawaz, the pacy winger who came off the bench to good effect two years ago, will also give next week's tournament a miss.

But Qiu's absence may not all be doom and gloom for the two-time defending champions.

While the Lions' back-to-back wins have earned them plaudits, they have also earned brickbats.

Media in Thailand and Malaysia have questioned whether Singapore can indeed feel proud that their wins were accomplished with the help of foreign talent.

Nigerians Agu Casmir and Itimi Dickson and England-born Daniel Bennett play key roles in the 2004 win.

Two years ago, China-born Shi Jiayi, Serbia-born Mustafic Fahrudin and another Nigerian, Precious Emuejeraye, were added.

This year, seven naturalised citizens, Qiu excluded, will help in the Lions' bid for a record third successive win.  

Singapore can argue that football, even at the international level, is fast becoming a global game, literally. Qatar have a South American and several Africans in their team. Even Vietnam had a Brazilian goalkeeper in their ranks, although he will not represent them in next week's event.

But when you parade a host of Caucasians and Africans in an Asean tournament, expect that picture to not go down well with other teams and rival fans.

Malaysian daily, New Straits Times, recently carried a commentary pointing out that unlike other countries like the United States where the pull effect is stronger - athletes head there for a better life, opportunities, etc - the Singapore model is one more of recruitment, of chasing talent and getting them to don national colours.

It is sentiments like the above which the Lions can turn around, somewhat, with the Qiu Li situation. The addition of an eighth "import" would further fuel growing anti-Singapore sentiments with the region

The Lions, depleted they may be, need to show that theirs is a team where local talent is as much a big part of the team as foreign talent.

It may be a pity that 23-year-old Khairul, arguably the brightest young Singaporeans talent to come out in a long while, will not be able to parade his skills on the regional stage once again.

It would be the perfect advertisement of the Singapore system, where Khairul honed his skills playing alongside foreign talent.

But in his place comes Shaiful Esah, a promising 22-year-old who has the ability to shine on the bigger stage. Qiu's absence has also meant that another Singapore-born footballer, Mustaqim Manzur can taste regional action. Both have but only a handful of international caps to their names.

The loss of Qiu Li may well affect Singapore's chances. But if the Lions can become the only team to win three consecutive AFF titles, despite a depleted side and with the addition of two inexperienced players, perhaps striking gold can persuade detractors that all that glitters is not the foreign imports.