10 Facts About the Ben Davis Saga Every Singaporean Son Should Know And Learn About

Lest you’ve been rocking under a life, you would have heard of Ben Davis, the dude who died to stop a burglar in the house and in the process, gave rise to a hero who will save the world…

Oh, wait, wrong Ben. Sorry, my bad.

Rather, I’m referring to 17-year-old Singaporean Ben Davis, who recently got a chance to play for EPL top-flight club Fulham FC.

Which is an over-achievement in its own right, seeing how he’s a Singaporean and the only way Singaporeans can ever hope to grace the EPL is by sitting in front of a TV box and doing some serious method acting shit.

#sorrynotsorry

But here’s the thing: Ben Davis might not get to fulfil his dreams because of one very particular reason.

MINDEF is salty that Ben Davis can play for the EPL, and as such have used NS as an excuse to stop him from playing. Okay, no, just kidding.

But NS is the thing that’s stopping him from reaching his dreams.

#notkidding #notreallyanyway

1. Fulham FC

On 29 June, Singapore footballer Ben Davis became the first Singaporean to sign a professional contract with an English Premier League (EPL) Club, Fulham FC. This comes after Fulham signed him on a two-year scholarship last July, and he apparently impressed so much that the meisters decided to award him a two-year contract one year into his scholarship.

But there’s just one obstacle in his way, and I’m not talking overly-attached mothers who don’t want to see their poms poms leave the heartland.

2. NS Obligations

Den Bavis, being a 17-year-old Singaporean, has to do what every decent local male being absolutely dreaded:

Serve the army.

And while that’s pretty normal and all, it’s to be noted that a footballer’s career is relatively short, and two years could potentially not just stunt his growth, but backtrack it all together.

As such, Ben Davis applied to defer his National duties, but alas.

MINDEF’s says it’s not fair. Sorry.

3. Outrage

Following the revelations, Singaporean Netizens were outraged about MINDEF’s decision, with many of them questioning the system’s rigidity, and whether it’s actually a monarchy in disguise.

Others encouraged the youngster to give up on his citizenship.

But to be fair, some supported MINDEF’s decision.

4. FAS Appeal

But it seems that Ben and his dad weren’t about to give up yet, as they have applied for an appeal with the help of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

Its 17 July statement reads as follows:

“The FAS strongly supported Benjamin Davis’s request to defer his National Service (NS) obligations, and we made this known in our earlier communications through MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth) when the application was first made.

At age 17, Benjamin has been given a contract to play football at a professional level with Fulham FC, in the English Premier League, and we believe that the support for a Singaporean to play at the highest level will have benefits to the community and nation.

All hope is not lost, it seems.

5. Petitions

And it seems that our own Singaporeans have been keen to contribute, with two petitions started up on 15 July in a bid to combat MINDEF’s decision.

Arguing that Ben’s case is a rare opportunity that does not happen often, they insisted that Ben Davis be given a chance to truly let his talents shine.

To date, the petitions have garnered over 4,000 and 2,500 signatures respectively.

6. Joseph Schooling

And it seems that Singapore’s first ever gold medallist has joined in on the roaring debate, with his advice being that Ben should “go for his dreams”.

“It’s definitely a difficult situation for him. But my advice to him would be to follow his dreams, follow his heart, do what he needs to do,” said Schooling, at the sidelines of the Singapore Sports Awards on Wednesday (July 18) night, where he was crowned Sportsman of the Year for a record fifth time.

“Obviously I come from a different sport, I was in a different situation. I can’t advise him on what to do. He should get together with his parents, decide what’s the best plan for himself and go from there.”

7. No commitment date

But is MINDEF really the only “guilty” party here?

See, according to MINDEF, the reason they’re being so anal about the rejection…

Is supposedly because Ben’s dad had been unwilling to commit to a date of enlistment.

Having sent its representatives to question the father on his son’s enlistment date, MINDEF said that Ben’s dad “would not commit to a date and expressed that he would put (Ben)’s professional career first”.

It also stated that Ben Davis’ actions “are meant to further his own professional career, not national interest”:

Incidentally, this is MINDEF’s statement in full:

“The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) recognises Mr Benjamin Davis’ achievement in securing a senior contract with Fulham Football Club (FC).

However, deferment from National Service (NS) is granted for exceptional sportsmen to represent our national interest and not their own career development. When granted, deferment is given for a defined period after which these sportsmen must return to fulfil their NS duties.

Mr Davis’ application does not meet the deferment criteria and was therefore turned down. When asked during the deferment application process when Mr Davis intended to return and serve NS, Mr Davis’ father would not commit to a date and expressed that he would put Mr Davis’ professional career first. Mr Davis went on to sign the contract despite the rejection for deferment and his father has publicly stated that he would encourage Mr Davis to renounce his Singapore citizenship in order to pursue his career.

Mr Davis’ actions are meant to further his own professional career, not national interest. As his father openly admitted, he is looking out for his son’s future, not Singapore’s. They have no intention of returning to fulfil their son’s NS duties, especially if Mr Davis is given a full professional contract after the two years of his senior contract. To allow deferment for this type of appeal, would severely undermine the ethos and sacrifice of Singaporeans who have all put aside their personal interests to complete their NS duties.

Many talented sportsmen, including footballers, have completed their NS dutifully first before pursuing their professional careers. Mindef has in place schemes during full-time NS to enable them to continue training to retain and improve their skills. We also provide additional training opportunities in the lead-up to major games such as the Southeast Asian and Olympic Games where our sportsmen represent Singapore and do us proud.”

And guess what; Sport SG fully supports MINDEF’s decision as well.

“Definitive commitment to return to serve NS at a specified date has to be paramount for deferment applications,” explained SportSG.

“In this case, MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth) and SportSG had earlier engaged the Davis family, where we had communicated to the family the importance of making that commitment.

“As they were unable to give the commitment, SportSG supports MINDEF’s decision to reject the application.”

8. Renouncing your citizenship? Fat hopes

According to several reports, Ben Davis’ father professed that should things not work out, they might have no choice but to renounce young Ben’s citizenship.

But is it really as easy as reciting the ABC backwards? As Mothership discovered…

Not quite.

Apparently, there are a set of rules you have to bypass in order to renounce your citizenship.

• Is or over the age of 21 years
• Of sound mind
• Is also or is about to become a citizen of another country

Plus, there’s one extra step for males.

And last but not least, all male Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 16 and a half years and above are subjected to the Enlistment Act.

So what does that whole chunk of text imply?

Well basically, if you’re applicable under the Enlistment Act and have yet to finish your NS liabilities, the Government may choose to withhold your renunciation of citizenship, which also means that you’re still a Singaporean and thus are required to go through NS.

Yeah. In other words…

Ben Davis isn’t that different from Uncle Ben after all.

9. Singapore Kindness Movement

You didn’t read that wrong; the Singapore Kindness Movement has stepped in with an article via writer Edwin Yeo, and in an ironic twist of fate it ended up kind of, for lack of a nicer phrase, lambasting its own name sake.

In the article, Edwin spoke about how Singapore was essentially a result-oriented nation, with its only focus on the benefits something might bring it.

“Even those who argued against Davis’ deferment used a transactional mindset, that if he wanted Singapore citizenship, then he has to serve NS just like everyone else,” he wrote.

“When retired diplomat Bilahari Kausikan posted on Facebook that same argument and was questioned by some on why Government scholars were then allowed deferment, his rebuttal was that it was because they came back and served a bond.”

“This is who we are. But maybe this is who we don’t need to be.”

Couldn’t agree more, Edwin. Really, it’s just Batman all over again.

10. What now?

If the appeal by Ben’s family and the FAS fails to work, Ben will have to return in December, a month after his 18th birthday, for his mandatory National Service.

Incidentally, Fulham Football Club has a page on its website that’s dedicated to the youngster, where he’s described as having “having made 10 appearances for the Young Whites in midfield in his first season at the Club”.

It also states that he(Ben) “had a pass accuracy of 90%…and made 13 tackles in his 10 matches and 16 interceptions.”

Small wonder why Fulham was so eager to snap him up even before his scholarship ended.

But one wonders whether he can continue to replicate such form after two years of uniform.