The New Turf at The Jalan Besar Stadium

Here l am writing this account from the media booth of the Jalan Besar Stadium, from where the new playing surface is visible (word of caution though, never ever do a "Jurgen Klinsmann" style of celebration on this artificial turf).

Below are the pictures that were taken prior to the start of the friendly match between S.League Selection and the visiting Thai All-Stars to mark the completion of the face-lift program of the stadium which was first officially opened on Boxing Day back in 1929.

The newly-laid surface was reported to cost around US$500,000 and the cost was covered by a grant from FIFA, the game's world governing body.

ONE-SIDED AFFAIR TO MARK OCCASION

Unfortunately, the maiden match played on this new surface was a one-sided encounter with S.League Selection walking away with a comfortable 6-0 win over the visitors who are coached by Piyapong Pue-on, the legendary Thai striker who was ranked among the best in Asia back in the 1980s.

The shutout saw the hosting side run riots with goals from Park Tae Won (of Woodlands Wellington's, eighth minute), Indra Sahdan Daud (Home United, 16th), Bae Jin Soo (Paya Lebar Punggol, 45th), John Wilkinson (Geylang International, 52nd), Balestier Khalsa's Kengne Ludovick (73rd) and Bah Mamadou (88th-minute penalty).

SOME PICTURES ON THE NEW SURFACE

(Picture above: the "left box" of the pitch)

(Picture above: the "right box" of the pitch)

(Picture above: the "center-circle" of the pitch)

(P.S: Some additional details were obtained from a report from The Straits Times dated 14th November 2005)