Fulham teenager Ben Davis stuns Singapore by choosing Thailand after dispute over his attempts to defer mandatory national service
- Observer says a ‘breakdown in communication’ allowed the situation over national service to spin out of control
- The 18-year-old was last week named in Thailand’s provisional squad for the SEA Games in the Philippines
A “breakdown in communication” over mandatory national service has resulted in Singapore’s great football hope Ben Davis walking away from the country of his upbringing – where he was threatened with jail time – and opting to play for Thailand at this year’s Southeast (SEA) Games.
Singapore netizens have largely rallied around Davis, who plays for Fulham in the English Championship, even after he was called up to the Thai squad after having his application to defer military service rejected by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (Mindef).
The ministry was quoted in local media as saying the 18-year-old Thailand-born Davis “defaulted from his National Service obligation” and was liable for a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$7,200) and a maximum of three years in prison.
Shamir Osman, a former journalist and close observer of Singapore football, said an earlier tit-for-tat between Davis’ father, Harvey, and the Mindef exacerbated the situation, with the youngster eventually choosing Thailand – his mother’s home country.
“The national service issue was the critical factor here,” said Osman. “For me it was the breakdown in communication. The authorities in Singapore have a bit of an iron fist and his dad is English, he didn’t quite grasp the way things are done.
“What caused the problems was when [Davis’ father] made the comment that if the boy had to relinquish his citizenship that was something they would consider.
“That pushed things over the edge, with Mindef saying the father couldn’t give a definite timeline for his son’s return, which in a way was a fair comment. What they needed to do was sit down and draw up milestones and KPIs and if he hits them then he can carry on. It’s a shame that it has come to this.”
Davis is a product of the Singapore Sports School development programme and became the first player from the Southeast Asian country to sign for an English club when he joined Fulham in 2017 on a two-year scholarship.
He made his first-team debut on August 27, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in their 1-0 loss to Southampton in the League Cup.
Singaporeans felt a sense of pride that one of their own had made it in English football, which is the most popular sport in the country.
But it now appears as if his future lies with the Thai national team after he was named in their provisional squad for the SEA Games, which are being held in the Philippines in November and December. The Football Association of Singapore had yet to respond to a request for comment from the SCMP.
Although social media comments mostly sided with Davis, some observers say the deferment application should never have been entertained in the first place because Davis failed to meet the criteria.
Because he was playing for a club – Fulham – and not involved in national duties, he may not have been eligible military service exemption.
Swimmer Joseph Schooling, who won a gold for Singapore at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had received a deferment to help him train for the Games.
Harvey Davis said in a Facebook post on Tuesday he was delighted his son would play for Thailand.
“Another fantastic achievement. Proud for Ben and for being called up to the Thai National set up,” he wrote.
Online users mostly supported Davis, saying he had been “defamed” by being called a NS defaulter – a serious accusation in Singapore that may have repercussions in term of further studies and employment.
Wrote one user: “why defame..... he is a kid pursuing his dreams. Well done and they have no rights to stop him from achieving his dreams and his future.”
Another wrote: “Good boy, do what you love. Follow your own dreams. Over the horizon the pastures is greener. The face of Singapore looks beautiful but there is no soul in it.”
