Profile of Dan Bennett by Singapore football writer David Leoy

15/02/02

In this exclusive article David Leoy, resident writer of S-League.org, gives Red-Passion.com readers the low-down on Wrexham's new acquisition Dan Bennett.

Daniel Bennett started figuring in the teams of Tiong Bahru and Balestier Central in his early twenties. At Balestier Central - a modest outfit based in Toa Payoh Stadium, PN Sivaji, then the Tigers' (Balestier's nickname) head coach, preferred to play Bennett in midfield. In the middle of the park, he has proved to be a consumate operator; able to deliver good long balls and passes to probe opposing defences. Bennett also appears to be at ease playing in front of the defence as a holding midfielder too.

When he returned to the S-League after completing his education, Bennett rejoined his first club, Tanjong Pagar United (the new name of Tiong Bahru). Despite holding a British passport, Bennett was able to figure in the Jaguars (as Tanjong Pagar is nicknamed) without affecting his side's quota of foreigners due to his Permanent Resident (PR) status. The wily Tanjong Pagar head coach, Tohari Paijan saw his potential and played Bennett in central defence alongside ex Singapore international Lim Tong Hai. The duo had forged a formidable partnership, complementary in several respects too as Bennett is comfortable with the ball on the ground while Tong Hai handles aerial balls well.

Bennett's qualities as a defender were firmly thrusted into the spotlight when our national coach Jan Poulsen selected him for inclusion in the Singapore squad for friendlies against Liverpool and Manchester United. Bennett played well in both ties, particularly against Liverpool where his decisive tackles foiled and broke up several of Emile Heskey's and Michael Owen's runs. As such, it helped to cap the scoreline of Singapore's defeat to Liverpool to only 2 goals. For both games, Bennett featured for the entire 90 minutes. However, as Bennett only has PR status but not Singapore citizenship, Poulsen has not been able to call him up for Singapore's international tournaments. In fact, some quarters had cited the fact that Bennett must undergo National Service as a probable stumbling block to him taking up Singapore citizenship. (Bennett would have to undergo National Service, a compulsory two or two and a half year military training that all able Singaporean male citizens must perform.)

With him in defence in the 2001 season, Tanjong Pagar finished fourth in the twelve team league. Defensively though, the Jaguars had the third least number of goals conceded and much credit must go to Bennett. His fine year in 2001 was capped when he was awarded the S-League "Player of the Year" award in the League's annual ceremony to honour the best players in the league for every year. Hours after receiving the honour, Bennett had then jetted off to UK for trials with English League clubs, including Oldham, Bradford and Swindon. The first round of trials proved to be unfruitful and Bennett had returned to Singapore momentarily for the Christmas period. With the S-League 2002 season due to start in mid February, Bennett had to either secure an overseas contract or miss being registered for the first round of games of the Singapore season. Nonetheless, to his credit, the gritty Bennett did not give up on his dream of playing in UK and has finally made his mark at Wrexham.

Singapore soccer fans will certainly miss Bennett playing in our games but we, especially fans at S-League.org (http://www.s-league.org) still send our best wishes to him, hoping that he does succeed in the English League.