Tony Basha, head coach at the privately run Australasian Soccer Academy in Sydney's west, believes the gulf in technical class between the A-League isn't just restricted to the major AFC leagues of Japan, South Korea and China.

"Yes the Aussie players are stronger, fitter and maybe faster but technically, I'd rate most of the Singaporean players I've seen as better than what I see from Aussie players in the A-League," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

Basha speaks from experience. He is a former S-League player with Gombak United and has leveraged this relationship to take his academy on tour in Singapore.

His academy coaches Ballamodou Conde and Todd Lewis both have experience playing and coaching in Singapore and Asia, with Conde a leading S-League player and Guinea international.

What's more, Bryan Soane, one of Basha's former academy players from the NSW Super League player, signed for S-League club Balestier Khalsa in January.

Soane, 21, scored his first goal for his club in this third appearance for the Tigers mid-week in a 1-1 draw with the Super Reds.

"On the ball they are calmer, in control, can turn out of trouble easier compared to most A-League Aussies," added Basha.

"At youth level in Singapore, they are improving all the time. Are we? And Australia has not been able to thrash Singapore in their last two games remember."

The debate about the technical ability of A-League players has come into sharp focus over the last week. The A-League-based Socceroos were handed a football lesson by a rampant Kuwait last week in an Asian Cup qualifier.

And this week's ACL matches further emphasized the gulf in class between some of the stronger leagues in Asia and some A-League clubs with a loss to the Jets and a home draw for the Central Coast.

The ACL has also highlighted the value of using Asian-based Aussies for future Socceroos line-ups. Ryan Griffiths for instance did his chances no harm with an eye-catching display for Beijing Guoan against the Jets in a 2-0 win for the home side at the Workers Stadium.

And there is central defender Eddie Bosnar in the J-League, Jade North in South Korea and Mark Bridge also in China. Even Robbie Gaspar, based in Indonesia, could be worth bringing into camp.

"Look at our national team," added Basha. "Travis Dodd doesn't get picked against Kuwait. How can that be?

"Players like Tahj Minniecon, Shannon Cole, Travis and overseas players like Nicky Carle should be regularly picked. Yet Matt Simon is picked?

"I'd rate Soane as better than Simon already. Matt works really hard and credit to him but he's not at that technical level yet, is he?"