FINALLY.. the END of the Mess??

What 's going through the mind of Woodlands Wellington when they announced to the press that they taking Agu Casmir back on a year deal?

Other than that, the Rams will pay the US$20,000 sign-on fee, took by the errant striker, back to Indonesian club Persija.

While the FAS on their part, had cut the subsidy meant for him, slapped him with a one year ban from playing for the national team plus a hefty fine.

Now, the questions are:

Is the Indonesian FA and Persija willing to let the matter rest easily? Especially, after Agu went missing they had threaten to bring the matter to FIFA.

Sound contradicting here: Agu claimed his ITC will be released by Persija if he can pay back the US$20,000 sign-on fee (provided he sign with a new club).

All this while, it seems to me that Agu "will return the sign-on fee" to Persija but the latter don't seems to buy his story thus threaten to bring up the issue to FIFA.

So should we believe?

Anyway, time is not on Agu's side either.

With the recent frequet travelling around the globe, his fitness might be in doubt.

While the boo-boys are ready at the stands to voice their view whenever Woodlands play after their daring decision to re-sign Agu and Itimi Dickson.

Bad choice of venue

Let us just get straight to the point.

Yes, it may be the home of Singapore football, a perfect setting for the season opening match (the East-West Challenge) featuring the "cream of the crop" (minus the national team players who are away to Jordan for the Asia Cup qualifier).

But having the fanfare to be staged at the Jalan Besar Stadium on a lazy Sunday afternoon, seems to be a bad choice.

Far away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, where the previous fanfares had took place, this should be the first time the fanfare took place somewhere in the heartland (if you consider Jalan Besar is one of those heartlands, despite its close proximity to the CBD area.)

Unlike those staged in the prime area like Orchard Road, in the previous years where it adapted a "open-door, walk-in" concept, where fans and passer-by would mingled with one and other, this year event is more like a "close-door" event.

In attendance were mostly "official" fans from the clubs, filling up the grandstand of the stand, while at the opposite end of the stadium were covered up by the huge banners of the 11 participating clubs .

As time goes, l did noticed that the upper-tier of the stand had slowly filled up but not to that of a full-house.

Still at the end of the day, I doubt if this fanfare had achieved it's objective in generate the necessary awareness in the local football fans, who seems more concerned if Red Devils can beat the Latics later that night.

Anyway, the match ended 4-2 in favour to the West Team

Some of the pictures taken

Confession to make

I admitted that I'm one of those strongly advocated the use of naturalized citizens to play for the national team, though I maintained that not at the expenses of "sacrifice" our local players.

Been wondering if whatever happened to Agu Casmir and Itimi Dickson had shifted my point of view.

Don't get me wrong.

I am not saying other naturalized players are not committed, it just that the unprofessional attitude shown by these former Nigerians had reflected badly on the rest.

Not surprisingly, letters had been pouring in questioning the selection criteria under the Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS).

It certainly hard to stomach the thoughts that some are merely making use of their sporting talents to gain the coveted red passport.

Furthermore, if memory served me well I still recalled in his first interview as Singapore citizen, Itimi mentioned that he is putting in effort to learn to sing the national anthem.

Barely a year later, the same player seems to be in a "bochup" attitude following the exit from SEA Games, by mocking a follow team mate who was being interviewed by a journalist.

This morning, more shocking revelation revealed the astronomical figure paid to them (Agu and Itimi) last year had further condemned the duo to new lows.

Angry voices bound to be heard despite the justification made at the same time by FAS, their former employers.

But there are signs telling us that the relevant authority are “reviewing” some of the suggestions proposed by the angry public, which included issuing “provisional” citizenship.

However, I wasn't keen about the idea of giving out this “provisional” citizenship as it might encourage mercenaries to don the national colours till their “assignment” is over and walk off with a lump sum of gratuity for the “effort”.

Instead, some form of punishment should be meted out to stop the thing from getting out of hand.

For a start, get these errant guys to do what all Singapore guys supposed to do – SERVE THE NS!

Sure thing to do, why not? After all, being footballers those physical trainings should make them appreciate how lucky they are.

Just ask another naturalized player – Home Utd's Bah Mahmadou.

The former Gombak and Balestier man earned his call-up to the national team this year, used to be an air-con technician after out of contract with the Tigers two years ago.

While earning his bread and butter servicing the air-con, the Malian-born defender continued playing his football with in the low-tier NFL, before returning to the S-league with the Tigers again.

Which he later admitted in an interview last year, he would not want to go back to the lifestyle again and learned to appreciate what good the game had done to him.

So boys, it's better for you to WISE UP before SHIP OUT... the choice is yours..

We DID it!!!!

Alright..alright.. We fired the first salvo by beating the Iraqis..

It proved that nothing is impossible since Iraqis is far a much better team than us.

Seems like everybody was fired up for this game despite the glooms that clouded the camp prior the match.

Wish I was there, not able to be there due to other commitments :(

However, I would like to remind the boys that it's just the begining and it's still a long journey ahead.

Stay cool and focus, we will be in the main stage.

And what a night was as at the same time the island mourned the death of former Deputy Prime Minister Mr S Rajaratnam who passed away this afternoon.

(What a way to start the week as the paper revealed all)

Is the Myth Broken?

What a way to draw the attention of the fans.

A day before the kick-off of the Asian Cup qualifier against the Iraqis, news broke out that Woodlands duo Mazreswan Masturi and Goh Tat Chuan were axed from the national team, for breaking the curfew.

Not surprised that the former was dropped (as former coach Jan Poulsen did that to him before due to poor discipline too) but was amazed that a senior like Tat Chuan was shown the door too.

Making the news more intriguing is the statement quoted by the midfielder.

Not known for his outspokenness as this is a player who let his game do the talking.

By mentioned that some players "have a worse attitude" and went unpunished for "missing training", it had opened some rooms for imagination and speculation.

Is the Myth Broken?

As it's been a long time that thing like these were mentioned.

By spilling the beans in the papers, it seems to diminish the fact that the team is working as a cohesive unit (at least until now I used to think that).

Although the FAS had treated the matter "closed", the scar will remained as it goes.

A colleague of me commented that it was a "harsh" decision to drop Tat Chuan because of he had a compassionate reason for breaking the rule.

This colleague further commented that Rams star should apologize to coach Raddy and team manager Eugene Loo, instead the whole team because "they are the captains of the ship".

Definitely not something the fans would like to see before the kick-off while I don't rule out the possibility that there will be "relevant follow up" to this saga.

(The match ticket of the match)

Young Lions cruised through the next round

I must say the two MCs are kidding themselves if they thought they had a great fun in hyped up the atmosphere.

It's always a thankless job in getting the fans to join in "the fun".
I guessed since the "retirement" of that "wave conductor" of Kallang (during the Malaysia Cup), no one has been able to emulate that extraordinary feat like he did.

Nevertheless, here I was right at the top of Jalan Besar watching the returning leg of Malaysia FA Cup tie between the Young Lions and Shanzan Muda of Pahang.

Given their familiarity with the artificial turf and it's continuous offences right from the start, it's not surprise that the host took the lead in the fifth minute.

Plenty of misses and uncoordinated moves dominated the first half.
While Young Lions were faulted for not increased their lead following the early lead, they were also guilty of giving away numbers of threatening free kicks around the box.

Shahzan Muda was the dominated side of the second half.

Slick movements and better possessing of the ball by the visitors had restricted the flair of the hosts who could only relied on any counter attacks made available to break out of their half, in which resulted the third goal for the home team.

(logo courtesy of footballasia.com)

Tough times ahead?
(A look before the start of the Asian Cup campaign)

The same old bugbear (i.e.: poor finishing) haunted the team again when they drew against Hong Kong in their final warm-up match before the start of the Asia Cup qualifiers.

Despite the fact that the Lions had not clinched a win so far in year 2006, the concerning parties had somehow praised the team performance so far (other than the loss against the "arrogant" Danes.)

Having to come back from a two-goal deficit to level against the Kuwaitis and conceded a goal at the dying moments in their match against the Omanis, is by no means an easy feat.

The fighting spirit shown in those two games, maybe somehow restored (but not all) that bruised ego of Singapore football, which was badly deflated in the last year's SEA Games.

The failure yet again to find net at the required moment will be the key problem for the coach Raddy to solve.

But on the hindsight, could it also tell us that things are looking good?

Rewind your memories back..

Nobody give a chance to the team at the start of the 2004 Tiger Cup campaign and in the end, they walked as the champions of SEA football.

Armed with that tag and with large number of players from the Tiger Cup winning squad, expectations were high for the U-23 to break SEA Games' gold medal duck.

It was a disastrous outing which eventually led to the missing of Agu Casmir, after the much-criticized performance from the naturalized player.

Having started the calendar on a losing note and without a win to its credit till this date, no doubt about it that question marks are all over the places if the Lions can ever qualify for the continent's biggest tournament.

However, I believe that's the kind of perfect setting for us as being the underdogs, the pressure will not be on us but on the rest of the group.

Thus when the chips are down we are expected to bounce back (if the trick works again.).

Just like one journalist used to say something like "never praise" the Lions as they will get complacent easily.

Of course, that does not mean the boys shall dish out sub-standard football at warm-ups and show how capable they are when the real test begins.

There's absolutely no valid reason for having playing a lousy game but the players must bear in mind that they might never have a chance to play in the World Cup, at least being featured in the Asian Cup will be quite an achievement.

(Fans watching the national team training session)