Singapore, 10 February 2017 – The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will set new operating hours for the two football pitches at the Home United Youth Football Academy (HYFA) at 8 Mattar Road. The new operating hours were decided after discussions with the Home United Football Club (HUFC), taking into consideration feedback from local residents. They seek to balance support for the development of HUFC’s youth football activities and addressing the concerns of residents.

2 Under the new operating hours, HUFC may conduct youth training activities on the two football pitches from 7pm to 9pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. On weekends, HUFC may operate the football pitches from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays, and from 4pm to 7pm on Sundays, for training and community engagement programmes organised by the HUFC. These are in addition to the current operating hours of 9am to 7pm on weekdays, for which public bookings are allowed. The new operating hours for the two football pitches will take effect from Saturday, 11 February 2017.

3 HUFC Chief Executive, Mr Azrulnizam Shah Bin Sohaimi said, “The revised operating hours is a positive development, and will still allow the Home United Youth Football Academy (HYFA) to continue to organise some of its community as well as youth training activities. The HYFA is part of the MacPherson community. Home United Football Club will ensure that our activities do not excessively inconvenience residents, while we continue to pursue HYFA’s mission of developing local football talent and developing character in youths. We appreciate and thank our residents and the agencies for their understanding”

4 Adviser to MacPherson Grassroots Organisations, Ms Tin Pei Ling, said, “I appreciate the efforts of the SLA and Home United Football Club in listening to local feedback. Residents have always understood the importance of co-existence and the need for give and take in a diverse and built-up community like ours. They appreciate a compromise that balances the needs of residents, whose homes and families are built here, and the broader sporting community.”

5 SLA had on 24 November 2016 required the HUFC to cease its activities at the two football pitches on weekends and after 7pm on weekdays. This was in response to residents’ feedback about noise and dis-amenities arising from activities on the football pitches. The restrictions were imposed to provide some reprieve to the residents, while the parties involved worked out a longer-term solution.