Former Lion Kadir Yahaya returns as Unleash the Roar s director of football

SINGAPORE – One of the most respected voices in the fraternity, Kadir Yahaya is known for his honest criticism of Singapore football.

This week, the former Lions defender stepped up to put his words into action and help move the sport forward.

Kadir, 57, has been appointed as director of football at Unleash The Roar! (UTR) in what is his first direct involvement in a national level role since 2015, when he was part of the Singapore Under-23 coaching staff at the SEA Games.

Launched in 2021, UTR is a national project led by Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to improve local football with various long-term initiatives.

As UTR’s director of football, Kadir will oversee youth development initiatives, which include the Junior National Development Centre (JNDC) and the National Development Centre (NDC).

He will also work closely with academies and local clubs to put in place player development strategies for youth players.

In an interview with The Sunday Times at the Kallang Football Hub (KFH) on March 5, Kadir said a “sense of duty” led him to return from Thailand, where he had been head of youth at Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United since 2022.

In January 2024, he took to social media to air his concerns about Singapore football and urged for more attention to be paid to issues like coaching appointments and league management.

He also highlighted other issues plaguing the game in interviews with local media.

Kadir, who was a key part of Singapore’s 1994 successful Malaysia Cup and League team and 1998 Asean Championship-winning side, said: “I think this is the right time for me to return.

“I’ve