Bitching among us to see improvement by itself

Seems to me that the news of the league authority having talks with another Japanese club, Cerezo Osaka "some times back" triggered another round of exchanges of thoughts on the tweet timeline.

Not much concern about whether the league is ready to welcome another new team into it, nor the the fate of Albirex Niigata (Singapore), who are in the scene since 2004, with talks of consider pulling out if the Osaka club is given entry to the league.

It's more on how those discussions sprung out of this that led us back to the vicious cycle that most of us are so familiar with.

Sorry, but have the "SuperGals" ignited the passion? (credit: FAS)

Vicious Cycle 
Talks vary from whether is the league ready to take another foreign club in the expenses of those local ones to reminisce the "good ol' days" from whenever it was, from the issues of how the league authority's attempts to bring back to crowds with some futile initiatives to the lack of media exposure, etc.

As we can see for ourselves that we know what are the issues that we are facing in local football and they are actually nothing new, which is, therefore, a concern.

If everyday, we are facing a new problem after solving those old ones, I would be less that worry because it means we are actually improving and bracing ourselves with a greater challenge ahead.

Status Quo
10 years ago or so, we talked about the lack of awareness in the S.League. 10 years later, we are still fighting to generate that in Singaporeans' mindset.

This souvenir ball was given out at launch of GOAL 2010

10 years ago or so, we were talking about how National Service and "paper chase" were the stumbling blocks of our athletes from progress further. 10 years later, after "Goal 2010", "Strategic Plan" and whatsoever fancied titled blueprints you had seen, you still can't get national players release from their NS obligation to represent the nation.

In short, we are not moving at all and keep holding back by those problems we are facing since day one.

One may argue the difficulties facing and things evolved in manners beyond one's control, but it's not what I felt.

Rather, it's the lack of bold, brave decisions and clear mindset to undertake to break the mould that if 10 years (or longer) down the road, things remain as they are now, I think that would be the end of road.

While at the meantime, we just keep bitching among ourselves to see improvement come out by itself..

The return of the Legend named Therdsak

Therdsak won 5 S.League titles with SAFFC

He is always be remembered, in my opinion, as the best foreign player to grace the S.League ever since the inception in 1996.

Never had someone who is able to dictate the pace of the game by turning the tide around for his team when the chips are down.

With his departure from the scene in 2009 to return home to Thailand, there's no one that has come close to match his stature in the fraternity.

For the fact that at the age of 38, he is still as good as gold as the crowds at Bishan Stadium saw the return of a legend named Therdsak Chaiman to Singapore football scene when he set up two goals to help his  team Chonburi FC to beat Home United 2-1 to clinch the top spot of Group G of the AFC Cup.

The result proved to be a blow for the Protectors who were hoping for a victory over the Thai powerhouses would avoid them a dreadful trip to the Middle East for their octofinals fixture in this continental second-tier club competition.

Qiu Li's (16) yellow for dissent was unnecessary 

Things were made worse for Lee Lim Saeng's men when they are set to lost Qiu Li for the second round match for collecting an unnecessary yellow card during the match that ruled him out of the journey.

"Qiu Li is an experience player and he should have control his temper in the game."said coach Lee after the match on the naturalized Singapore international's caution.

Indra Sahdan's (on ground) appeal for penalty was ignored in closing stages

"I think we did our best that I don't want to blame my players, while taking full responsibility of the result, but I felt the penalty (foul on Indra Sahdan, who also scored the consolation goal) in the second half should be given to us." added the Korean who also paid compliment to Therdsak as a "top class" player.

Home Utd's full-back Franklin Anzite (11) did well upfront

Despite the result that placed them in a more favourable next round fixture  at home, Chonburi's coach Withaya Laohakul is far from satisfactory.

"I'm not really satisfy with the result, as I felt my team lacking confidence and I think they are afraid of making mistake and afraid of losing or draw the game." said the former Thai international.

"Also because of the humid weather, I think my players looked tired but we were lucky to score early which has made things easier for us in the game." added coach "Heng" as he is affectionately nicknamed.

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Thought of Wisdom by Yazid...

Yazid was the MOM for 2009 Singapore Cup

"It's really not how much you're getting paid, but how you manage your money..." Geylang United goalkeeper Yazid Yasin. 

The former Lion City Cup winning custodian was recently saw himself being embroiled in a "that thing" case that saw two of his former teammates jailed.

Many lauded the action taken by the Eagles skipper after he was being approached by reported straight to the relevant authorities that led to the conviction of Koreans Kim Jae Hong and Jeong Byung Euk.

While many seem to be fixated with the nagging scourge that has been bothering the whole setup, those words by the 32 year-old had appeared to give us a view from another perspective.

The importance of managing your money probably should be something apply to everyone, especially of that of those professional athletes whose career lifespan is short.

While efforts have been made to educate players, officials alike of the danger of "that thing", it's also equally important to equip them with adequate knowledge to manage their finances properly.

Had we not heard a case of a player who got his contract terminated last year by his club over his alleged finance irregularities? And part of the reasons was that failure to exercise prudence over his spending (as told).

As such, is it also a time for all to look into the area to educate the players in this financial management to avoid them fallen into hard time after they hang up their boots?

(P.S: Having said that, I do come to know of a few players involving some sidelines outside the game in prepare for time ahead and this should be encouraged with assistance provided, if necessary)

"Matchpix" - April 2012

(P.S: If you access this site via "come.to/matchpix", please click the "Facebook" icon after you click "HERE" when you want to view the album as that will redirect you to the album, thank you)

• S.League - SAFFC 1-2 Harimau Muda 1/4/12 2012

"Why?"

Harimau Muda kept their impressive run since the start with a 2-1 win over traditional powerhouses SAFFC at CCK.

Wan Zack Haikal was the key man of the Malaysians' win with a goal and set up another in the game, while Shimpei Sakurada's goal briefly revitalized the Warriors' hope until Ahmad Hazwan Bakri scored the winner in 83rd minute.

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• AFC Cup- Tampines 0-1 Terengganu FA 04/04/12

Alek Duric (left) eventually scored twice against Ganu in return fixture

Tampines Rovers' continental campaign is in danger of not having themselves crossing the AFC Cup group stages for the first time since their participation with 1-0 defeat to Malaysian club side Terengganu FA at JBS.

A horrific start to the game when Tampines's' custodian Sasa Dreven and defender Benoit Croissant gifted Terengganu FA's Joseph Kalang Tie a perfect gift when the duo's miscommunication resulted an one-nil lead in less than five from the kick-off.

Was playing around with the setting of 1/400 to 500 and ISO2500, until it was set back to my default of 3200 instead.

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• AFC Cup- Home Utd 3-1 Yangon Utd 11/04/12

Fred Mendy (10) scored two of Home Utd's goals

Despite the vocal presence of their adoring fans, Yangon United failed to hold on to the one-goal advantage they took in the first half through Mladen Ristici in the 37th minute and allowed their hosts to stage another dramatic comeback like they did against Citizen AA weeks ago.

The talismanic Qiu Li was again proved to the saviour for the Protectors when he levelled the scores in the 70th minute that allowed the floodgates to open to see Frederic Mendy to add in two more goals in the 75th and 80th minute to seal the 3-1 win in front of a crowd of 3,146.

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• S.League - Gombak Utd 2-0 Geylang Utd 22/04/12

Julien Durand (in white) scored one of the two goals scored

This was the match that I finally got to put my poncho into good use with the drizzling came down during the second half of the match, after the Mum nature kept us guessing her mood.

Took the risk of using 1/320, ISO3200 with f5.6 (what else) on a pitch surface rather similar to certain extend like Bishan (some patches were reflective grass blades) with not much of favour when Geylang were in their away stripes that made focusing a bit trick.

In the end of the day, the hosts walked away with a 2-0 with goals from Gabriel Obabin and Julien Durand.

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• AFC Cup - Tampines Rovers 0-0 Kitchee SC 25/04/12

"You mean we're out of the picture?"

With Terengganu's thumping win over Vietnam's SLNA on the same night, Tampines founded themselves not making to the next phrase of the second-tier continental tournament since they first took part in 2005.

To Tampines Rovers, Kitchee SC of Hong Kong had proven to be a tough proposition with their Catalan-inspired style of play in both's second meetup in the AFC Cup Group F preliminaries.

The swift passing with the movement on and off the ball by the current Hong Kong Division One table-toppers had definitely placed them on a much favourable position to break the deadlock in the first half, if not for the heroics of Croatian custodian Sasa Dreven on several occasions.

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