THESE are exciting times for sports in Singapore, as our nation prepares itself to welcome the world to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in August 2010.

But I was left with mixed feelings after reading news reports during the weekend, which pointed to the fact that the youth development programme of some key sports in Singapore are more effective, compared with that of our de facto national sport, football.

I find hockey hopeful, athletics awesome, and sailing splendid.

But, sadly, football is floundering.

Singapore hockey chief Annabel Pennefather knows exactly what her sport needs - more public funding - to produce a competitive challenge at the YOG, as well as how to get it - convincing the Singapore Sports Council to provide hockey with more financial support.

The Singapore Athletics Association's technical director Ralph Mouchbahani is full of confidence, saying that there is no need to improve SAA's efforts in youth development because they are already at an optimum.

I think national sports associations, which use public money, should operate in exactly the same mode.

Another association already doing this is Singapore Sailing.

Its spirited supremo, Mr Low Teo Ping, has boldly set the target of not just one or two, but three gold medals.

Way to go, Mr Low! I wish your team smooth sailing all the way.

Unfortunately, though, my heart sank when I read about my favourite sport, football.

Singapore's highest-ranked football official, Steven Yeo, hardly inspires confidence.

In a results-oriented endeavour such as high performance sports, target-setting for elite athletes is a way of life.

But, somehow, the FAS general secretary has chosen to shy away from this.

Any Olympic champion, medallist, or even a finalist will tell you how competitive they are and their huge hunger to win.

But when asked about a target, all Mr Yeo could offer was: "It's not right to get overly competitive and expect these youngsters to win medals.

"More importantly, the YOG is about showcasing Singapore's young footballers."

In other words, it is okay for our junior footballers (who will eventually be the Lions of the future) to lose every match in front of an expectant, paying home crowd?

With such a defeatist mindset, it is no wonder Singapore soccer is in such a sorry state - the S-League has been called 'Secondary-League'.

Even free admission to matches has failed to attract significantly more fans.

In Singlish, we would say, "Free also don't want."

Just how much more pathetic is Singapore football going to become before FAS puts a stop to the rot?

While I recognise it would require a mammoth effort from our youngsters to win a medal, shouldn't FAS have at least set a target of, say, a place in the quarter-finals or the last sixteen?

How does one justify using public or corporate money to fund a national sports team whose main purpose is to showcase its players?

If winning is only a secondary concern of the FAS, why does it bother recruiting foreign-born players and deprive Singapore-born players of international match experience?

The ball is now firmly at Mr Yeo's feet.

Make full use of it, Steven.

Don't lose possession.