[Media Information] Update on appointment of S.League Deputy CEO

(The entry is formulated based on the transcript of the media release issued by the Football Association of Singapore).

File Picture

SINGAPORE, 27 JANUARY 2012 – The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has completed its investigation into the allegations against S.League Deputy Chief Executive Officer Johan Gouttefangeas (pictured above).

Media reports had surfaced earlier last week that Mr Gouttefangeas was declared a bankrupt in France and would therefore be disqualified from being a key officer of FAS, which is registered as a charity. Section 27(1)(b) of the Charity Act states that a person shall be disqualified from being a key officer of a charity if “he has been adjudged bankrupt and has not been discharged”.

FAS President Zainudin Nordin said: “Prior to the appointment, FAS did our due diligence and ran checks which found nothing amiss. Nevertheless, we took a serious view of the allegations directed towards Mr Johan Gouttefangeas and we immediately embarked on a thorough investigation. We have since completed the investigation and we can affirm that Mr Johan Gouttefangeas is not a bankrupt.”

The court document in relation to the matter was received from Mr Gouttefangeas’ lawyer. The translated copies of the document of the Commercial Court of Lyon revealed that the court proceedings were in connection with or incidental to the "legal liquidation" of LNG Company of which Mr Johan Gouttefangeas was the Managing Director. In the said court document, the Representative of the Ministry of Public Affairs had argued for a "prohibition to manage for a period of 7 to 10 years". In his report to the Court, the Official Receiver also expressed himself in favour of a sanction towards Mr Johan Gouttefangeas.

Having heard the Representative of the Ministry of Public Affairs and Mr Johan Gouttefangeas’ lawyer, the Court adjudicated "against Mr Johan Gouttefangeas the prohibition to manage any sole proprietorship, artisanal or commercial and to manage any corporation for a period of five years". It is therefore clear that Mr Johan Gouttefangeas was never "adjudged bankrupt" by the court in France.

“We are now deliberating the next course of action, and will inform our stakeholders of our decision in due course,” said Mr Zainudin.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
27 JAN 2012

Uncle Ang says Goodbye to his beloved Eagles...

(This entry is formulated based on the media release issued by the Football Association of Singapore)

Mr Ang had been the face of the club

In less than a week, perennial underachievers Geylang United are hit by another news when it was announced that their long-serving chairman Mr Patrick Ang (pictured left) will step down from his post on 1st February.

According to the media release issued by the Football Association of Singapore, the long-time veteran in the local football scene will hand over the reins to former national skipper Leong Kok Fann.

"I am privileged to have served as the President and Chairman of Geylang International and Geylang United respectively and I am proud of our club's record in both the S.League and its predecessor league, the FAS Premier League." said Mr Ang in the statement issued in the late evening.

"While I am sad to leave the club, I do believe the time is now right for a fresh person to take the reins. I am confident that the club will be ably led by Mr Leong Kok Fann who has vast experience in the commercial sector and footballing fraternity." added the one-time general manager of the Singapore football team back in the 1990s.

The Singapore Cup in 2009 was Mr Ang's last major honour with the Eagles

Under the businessman, the team started out as International Contract Specialists in 1974 dominated the local football scene as Geylang International clinching six-time back-to-back league titles in the old "Premier League" from 1988 to 1993.

The founding of the S.League back in 1996 was also the result of the task force chaired by Mr Ang in 1995 and it was said that part of the $2 paid to register the "Singapore Professional Football League Pte Ltd" came from his pockets (citation needed).

Mr Ang said to pay the registration of the company that run the S.League

Paying tribute to his predecessor in the same release, the 16-time capped former international Leong said:"I am very humbled by this appointment as Geylang United has a commendable track record in domestic league and cup competitions since the mid-1970s. This legacy is due largely to Mr Patrick Ang's leadership, dedication and passion for the game."

"I look forward to working closely with the sponsors, club management & staff, players and volunteers to continue the good work in developing and providing opportunities for young talent to fulfil their career aspirations. 

"With the new S.League initiatives aimed at raising the standard of Singapore football, I am hopeful the fans will continue their support for the club." added the 53 year-old Leong who is also a member of the FAS Council and serves as chairman of the FAS Captains' Advisory Panel.

Disappointed....

DPM Teo Chee Hean (fifth from left at back row) graced the fixture draw in MBS (Picture credit: FAS)

I'm not mean to dampen the mood of everyone here, but I guess many of you out there must be disappointed by this time of the day when we are only made known of the opening round instead of the FULL fixture list of this season S.League.

I was actually staying up late waiting for the latest media release from the league authority to see if the full list would be made known before the end of the day, but only to realize it was only accompanied by the same list (i.e.: the opening round) posting on the official facebook page earlier when they sent out at 9.47pm.

The kept delaying of the release of the fixtures had long been the bone of contention for many for the past few seasons with this year staying that course again (and we are talking about the S.League Version 2.0).

Little surprise to see my fellow blogger Antony Sutton of "Jakarta Casual" blogged his thoughts on this issue with "Harry Potter" analogy..

Little surprise to see why it is not release in full details ( wonder if they need to check if the possibility of snowing in Singapore before the confirmation?)

(P.S: The picture featuring players from the participating teams with VVIPs - poor job by the photog in coordinating the shot, anyway)

Clash of Colours as Eagles and Jaguars go different way...

New signing Jozef Kapláň (left) presented the new maroon outfit by coach Mike Wong (picture courtesy of Geylang United's official Facebook page)

Fans of Geylang United would have to take some time to get used to see their beloved Eagles trooped out Bedok tunnel in not their usual green outfit.

Instead of the colour that was long associated with the most successful team in the pre S.League days, the players will be donned in maroon top.

"We have always been green, why change our identity?" said web designer Md Noor Hadi, an Eagles supporter who was surprised with the club's decision that was made known recently.

He added:"It may be a small matter to many, but to people like me, who supported the club since early 90s (Geylang International days), it's just not right lah. Green is the club colour, not maroon."

Jozef Kapláň's (middle) only time in GREEN

Similar sentiment is not alone with a Geylang fan voiced his disapproval on the club's official facebook page when the new maroon home kit was first unveiled.

The unveiling of the unpopular colour came at a time when the club recently launched its latest club merchandise - a scarf with a colour combo of white and ironically, green.

Picture credit : Mr Md Noor Hadi

"It's weird to see fans with green scarves supporting team wearing maroon." exclaimed Hadi who recently got himself the new scarf at the club office (pictured above).

In the email response to the queries of the colour change, Geylang United said:"(The club) has always been associated with the colour green since its establishment in 1974.

"However, the club decided to have a different look for 2012 hence the decision to change the home kit to maroon which consultation being sought and agreed upon from both club management and the S.League."

In the same statement, the two-time league champions said they are well aware of the fans' reaction and added:"We really appreciate the fans' concern and had taken their suggestions and comments into consideration before concluded the decision."

While over at the other end of the island, Tanjong Pagar United, however, is reverting back to its roots when it announced the upcoming season will see the Jaguars parade in its traditional red-white horizontal stripes home kit (pictured below).

The primary design of Jaguars' home kit for 2012

"I feel delighted because I always felt that clubs should always wear their original colours they begin with." said long time Jaguars fan Gavin James Perreira in welcoming the club's decision to revert to its original colours.

He added:"The traditional red and white stripes are the ones I think most Jaguars' fans of the old and new generation can identify with as they are the starting colours when the S.League first started in 1996."

It was probably such a consensus among other supporters that the club had gathered from their various feedback channels that they decided to proceed with the plan of the colour switch when it was mooted in middle of last season.

"In mid-2011, we commenced planning for 2012, part of the plan was to bring the traditions of the Club, including the Red-and-White and Gold-and-Black stripes." explained the club in a statement on the come-about of the idea.

"We have also gathered feedback from some of the Club fans on the proposal, most of whom would like to see the team back in the traditional stripes.

"The reasons behind the switch to the traditional "Red-and-White" stripes are two-fold - for one is to re-emphasize the traditions of the Club and two, to lure the fans back to the Club, most of whom are able to associate themselves with the "Red-and-White" stripes." said the club in the same statement in respond to queries from this blog.

Tanjong Pagar Utd's Facebook page - where club and fans gather

As the result, the design of the 2012 home kits for the Clementi-based club was finalized by their apparel sponsors, THORB at the end of last season when it was unveiled officially at the Jaguars' last home match against Hougang United.

The club hopes that with the switch it will help to reconnect its traditional catchment area at Tanjong Pagar GRC, and at the meantime strengthen its presence in areas such as Clementi, West Coast, Ayer Rajah, Queenstown and Radin Mas being the regional sole professional football club.