The forgotten training ground outside Yishun MRT station...

Took this picture yesterday during my train ride when the north-bound train stopped at Yishun station.

Of course, it's nothing usual about this green plot of uneven field and furthermore there's this sheltered walkout that linked the station to the nearest residential block but what prompted me to blog something about it is because the field used to be the training ground of already-defunct Gibraltar Crescent SC, which used to play in old Premier League during the 80's.

I still recalled many years back while on my way to my uncle's place in Yishun, I would alighted at this MRT station and transferred to a feeder bus and it was during one of those visits I chanced upon an opportunity to catch the team in training.

Sadly though, the team, together with another northern-based team, Sembawang SC merged together as Sembawang Rangers FC to play in the inaugural S.League season in 1996, had faded away in 2003 when the Stallions decided to quit the league due to financial difficulties.

What a shame as the team, that used to have the likes of Nazri Nasir, Thai midfield star Tawan Sripan and Noh Alam Shah, was one of the best-supported team in the league.

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From Brunei's perspective....

(Picture) "PrtScr" from The Brunei Times

Got an email from a reader from Brunei who shared with me the match report of last night's match between Brunei DPMM and Balestier Khalsa at Bandar Seri Begawan.

Interested readers may wish to download a "pdf" copy of the match report from the link below:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/84y5xnmynn0/dpmm20bk.pdf

Thanks for the effort, Aziz

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More signatures

More signatures were gathered during the charity match in aid for Charmaine Lim's cancer treatment.

I finally got hold of former Geylang United and ex-Balestier Khalsa coach Jang Jung after missed him on several occasions.

Rudy Khairon was walking behind me after Jang Jung signed the poster, and I asked, "Hang on, let see if you were inside the poster?", "Yeah, I think so... " said the former national midfielder.

But the agony was the missing out of Hasnim Haron who is nippy as ever as in his playing days when he left the ground early after the match...

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[Event] CHARITY MATCH IN AID OF 4-YEAR-OLD CHARMAINE LIM’S CANCER TREATMENT

Was late for the game anyway but it was a good turn-out for this charity match organized by former Singapore international Rafi Ali, as thousands of fans turned out at the Tampines Stadium to catch stars of the yesteryears to parade their skills in aid for the four-year old cancer patient Charmaine Lim.

PICTURES AT THE END OF THE MATCH

Show of appreciation at the end of the day

Cheque presentation to Charmine's mother Mrs Cynthia Lim (in pink)

Part of the crowds who help in the charity event by paying an admission fee of $10

This one for the album

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Short scribe on Home U's misadventure in Hong Kong (edited)

Got a call from my friend, Bryan Lim who saw the match where Home United were trounced 4-0 by Hong Kong powerhouses - South China AA in the AFC Cup knock-out stage.

Here are some of the extracts from his posting filed from Hong Kong...

"I just came back from the game played @ the HK Stadium.A passionate & capacity crowd of about 8K watched the humiliating defeat. Here's the starting lineup (3-5-2): Lionel-Rosman,Mani & Hiek-Dickson,Shadan,Syed Fadhill & Perez-Lodovick & Azhar. Sivaji(as usual left an orthodox leftback,Jumaat on the bench), keeping faith with the oft crticized rotation system.

The pitch was slippery after showers in the afternoon and an hour before the game. Weather was humid."

"The SC supporters sitting in front of me asked if I was from Singapore. We had a chat & they admitted that HU was a good team but lacked a finisher. Frankly,HU's porous defence made 2 fatal errors which made SC looked gd. they were very impressed with Dickson. By the way, you may have also realised that Jiayi is missing. Has he been transferred to Tampines already???"

"So what excuse is Sivaji going to use this time? Too much rest???"

For more detailed report by Bryan, please log on to this link.

And thanks Bryan for the time, effort and most importantly - the passion (your effort had made some mainstreamers hide behind the curtains...hahaha)

Well Done...

Managed to source this youtube clip on the Home United's defeat to South China (in Cantonese though)...

and see for yourself how skipper Mani's heroics towards the end denied South China from scoring a few more!!

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Come Clear and Balance it!!

Two news broke out today which had been circulated around the fraternity lately.

(Picture from "Today") "Where are you, Bryan?"

Young Australian striker Bryan Soane had left Balestier Khalsa over contractural dispute, while management reshuffling took place in Sengkang Punggol saw coach Jorg Steinnebrunner and chairman Ben Lim walked out of the club.

Based on both stories by TODAY, the details seems to be one-sided as public were only given one half of the stories, while scratching their scalp why the other half, being the concerned parties, were not being quoted or giving their side of the stories.

(Picture from "Today") "Where are you, Jorg?"

I was told efforts were made to get into contact with the gentlemen but with not much success.

Apparently, the gentlemen felt it's not time to spill the beans or they just simply don't want to dwell on it?

Whatever it may be, I felt the fans have every right to know the inside out of both stories rather than having their imagination running wild by going on speculating aimlessly.

(Picture from "Today") - Saswa spilled the beans last year...

Ironically, they should have did what former Sengkang coach Saswadimata Dasuki did last year when the ex-national defender came out in public to refute claims that he "went on leave to sort out some personal matters" when in actual fact he was told to "do so by the club".

So what if it may be the case that can of worms would be opened if these gentlemen decide to let go everything off their chest but one thing for sure is that some questions shall never be swept under the carpet.

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[Event] : H-TWO-O Ultimate Challenge

In an effort to raise funds and the profile of orphans and children from disadvantaged families in Singapore, YEO’S will be holding its inaugural H-TWO-O Ultimate Challenge event on 18 July 2009 at Nanyang Polytechnic. This event will feature 2 exciting challenges - 5v5 Futsal and Biathlon.

5v5 Futsal is sanctioned by Football Association of Singapore. All proceeds collected will be donated to Jamiyah Children’s Home.

To register or information, please visit http://www.yeos.com.sg/htwooultimatechallenge/

Registration close on Sunday, 12 July 2009.

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Kung-Fu Friendly as Cubs beat the Indonesian U23...

(P.S:Things were made so easy now since the opening of the Pioneer MRT station, located within strolling distance of the Jurong West Stadium.)

The Cubs redeemed themselves after that Malaysian thrashing by beating the Indonesian U23 at the Jurong West Stadium, although they clearly knew it very much that much work needed to be done if they want to be seen as a favourite of the year-end SEA Games.

2-0 was the scoreline as the Cubs finished off the Indonesian guests with two well-taken goals in each half but not without any incident that made the match a mockery of that as a friendly with four players (two from Singapore, one on-field and one bench player of the visiting side) being sent off by referee Abas Daud.

PICTURES FROM THE MATCH
The only "friendly" moment of the game?

The Cubs celebrate their second goal of the night...

Fans at the terraces.

"Cool it guys!! it's just a friendly match"

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