Balestier Khalsa head coach Akbar Nawas tenders resignation, will leave end-August

Balestier Khalsa head coach Akbar Nawas has tendered his resignation, the Singapore Premier League (SPL) club announced on Thursday (Aug 18). 

The club, which currently sit seventh among eight teams in the SPL table, stated that it “accepted his resignation and reached a mutual agreement” with the 46-year-old. 

Akbar will serve a notice period and take charge of Balestier’s next two SPL matches against Geylang International on Aug 21 and Tampines Rovers on Aug 28. 

He will join Thailand second-tier side Udon Thani FC at the end of his notice period, Balestier added in its statement. 

“Everyone at the club would like to thank Akbar for his hard work, commitment and service to the football club and we wish him all the best in the next journey in his managerial career,” the club said. 

Akbar was appointed as the Tiger’s head coach at the end of 2021 on a two-year contract worth more than $170,000.

He has led the Tigers to six wins, two draws and 12 losses in the SPL so far. The Tigers have scored 28 goals and conceded 50 so far. With 20 points, they sit only above the Young Lions in the league table, but trail third-place Tanjong Pagar United by only nine points. 

Less than a week ago on Aug 12, Akbar led the Tigers to their biggest league win in its history with a 6-1 win over Hougang United.

It was the first time the Tigers scored six goals in a single match since the inception of the S.League in 1996. 

Balestier added in its statement that its plans and ambitions to progress “remain unchanged” and “will continue under new leadership of the team”. 

“We will be looking to appoint a new head coach as soon as possible and an announcement will be made soon,” it added.