A drive to the Bishan Stadium -- home to Home United Football Club -- shows just how much Singaporeans care about sports. A spotless entrance and a row of small, sparkling cafeterias in front of the stadium add to your belief that when it comes to the maintenance of soccer stadiums, Singapore can match the best in the world.

Saturday being a weekend, routine football practice games are off the schedule. Yet, some amateur players are busy sharpening their skills. One can feel the vibrant football culture here. But a conversation with PN Sivaji, head coach of Home United, leaves you wondering.

The level of football in Singapore is the same as in India. But Indian football is better placed. Interestingly, Singapore is ranked 128 against India's 153 in the FIFA list. "The main problem here is that football is not vibrant here. There are no icons like Baichung Bhutia. Talks are on to sign up foreign players but we are still waiting. Besides, we have to train and play on the same pitch, which is a major hurdle," he adds.

Though football and the S-League here is well organised, there is still lack of patronage, of fans and sponsors. "People are not interested in watching the league matches live. Unlike in India, the clubs here have to pay money to TV channels for the telecast of their matches."

Sivaji chips in with a word of praise for the current Indian team. "The present Indian squad has tremendous potential, but the desired results are not coming. It is just a matter of time before everything falls in place."

Home United, owned by Singapore's home ministry, finished second in last year's S-League and are currently placed third. Incidentally, the club club will face Dempo Sports Club in the home-away AFC Cup matches in September.

The country boasts of 12 multipurpose stadiums of which two are exclusively for football. But Sivaji, who is also the technical director of Singapore national team, says: "Football here is ruled more by the bookies." Football betting was made legal in Singapore in 1989 to reduce illegal gambling. Even the dates and timings of matches are decided by the bookies. Surprisingly, money doesn't come from gate-collection but betting generates around 60 to 70 per cent of the revenue.

(In Singapore, July 2008)