Sports Minutes: Noh Alam Shah on Tanjong Pagar exit, Singapore's AFF assignment against Indonesia and more

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan on MoneyFM 89.3.

**Zia-ul Raushan** (0:05)
MoneyFM 89.3, it's time for Sports Minutes with me, Zia-ul Raushan. Not many names are synonymous with Singapore football like Noh Alam Shah. A supreme goal scorer and a celebrated star striker in his playing days, the now 45-year-old coach recently confirmed his departure from Tanjong Pagar United, the club he brought back from isolation into the Singapore Premier League back in 2020
Why and how did it amount to this and what next for Noh Alam Shah? And in a week where our Lions are set to renew their ASEAN rivalry with foes Indonesia, who better to look ahead to the clash than a man who has played in both those countries? Coach, thank you so much for joining the show. How are you doing?

**Noh Alam Shah** (0:47)
I'm great, Raushan. I have never been better.
I'm enjoying time with my wife, having a good break currently and focusing on my academy that I co-founded. So it's good. It's good. I've never expected this.

**Zia-ul Raushan** (1:02)
And I must tell the listeners that he seems to have a light air about him compared to the last time when you were here and you recently returned from Tokyo, you talk about this big relief, big smile on your face, right? It's been about two weeks since you announced your departure from Tanjong Pagar. I want to dive into the whys and hows, but first, in your own words, what does Tanjong Pagar mean to you?

**Noh Alam Shah** (1:24)
I think Tanjong Pagar has been more than a club for me. Basically, I emotionally invested a lot in the club as well.
It also has given me the opportunity to grow professionally and also as a leader over there. And I have to say that it's nice knowing that I have the opportunity with all those people, the management, the staff, the players, who believe in my ambition and ideas when I come back from Japan. And I'm thoroughly grateful for what they have supported me throughout the time when I was there. And happy now to see how they have developed to become what they are now.

**Zia-ul Raushan** (2:12)
And everything you mentioned seems to suggest so much love for the club. Just now, I said your name is synonymous to Singapore football. Your name is synonymous to Tanjong Pagar United as well. Yet here we are and you've decided to leave. Why, Coach?

**Noh Alam Shah** (2:26)
I wasn't decided on a particular day. Basically, I had a few discussions with the new management. And the discussion was about the directions ahead. And when we discussed over a couple of times, then the directions differs. Then I go back home and reflected that I think this was the best time for me to leave Tanjong Pagar.
And look at my own individual self and try to explore new challenges ahead.
Of course, there's no bad blood between the both of us. I really supported the new management vision and I really wish the best success for the club.

**Zia-ul Raushan** (3:17)
You talk about this not being a one-time decision, something you had thought over for a while. When Rajesh, the new club chairman, came on Sports Minutes, I think towards the end of June, I asked him about Coach Along and where you would feature in his plans. He said we will find a place for him because we knew his value. What changed?

**Noh Alam Shah** (3:35)
Nothing, nothing changed. I still have one year of contract left. Man, I felt Rajesh is a fantastic person who has very high belief in what he does.
And I feel that it's best for me to be outside of the club and let him lead the club on his own merits. So basically, when I sit down with him, I feel this is the best decision that both can make. So we decide on that and then we move on on a better way.

**Zia-ul Raushan** (4:10)
And speaking of Rajesh, club takeover is not like, today I want to take over, tomorrow I take over. It would have been brewing for a while. Did this start already last season and already then were you worried about your future with the club?

**Noh Alam Shah** (4:23)
There was rumours over time back in the year, a year ago, but nothing concrete happened until May this year. So again, it was a sudden action done by the new and old management. So we were caught a little bit surprised because I was already planning for next season as well, already put plans and then discussing with other players about coming over.
And like I said, it was really shocked for two months for everything to happen.