Oh Robbie, How could u!!!!

At least now l know how Dr M feel so pissed...

Of course, it's always my policy that never touch politics here in the cyberspace.

Saw this news clipping on TODAY!!!

Definitely, it's a joy for the fans of the Brit-pop superstar Robbie Williams as their idol will be staging a one-night concert here in Nov but the sad thing is because of this "hard-to-come-by" money spinning gig, the relevant authority cancelled the booking made in advance by the FAS to accomodate the foreign legion.

Once again, we are being ditched aside...

Take the farce out of the Cup!!

It's not the first time that the league authority invited foreign teams to take part in the Singapore Cup.

However, I am wondering if some of these team are here just to make up the number?

So far, the Thai side PEA had impressed me despite losing to Woodlands on the polling day, while its fellow side - Chonburi FC had an easy task by wiping out the faded Home United weeks later.

But the farce of it, is to call in the Cambodian side Phnom Penh FC.

• What's the point of having invited a team that trained on hardcourt surface priror coming here?
• What's the point of having invited a team that having sizable number of Cambodian internationals who can't play the game for full 90 minute but only half of it?

C'mon guys, time to restore the prestige of the Cup by stop inviting those "mickey mouse" teams OR better drop the WHOLE idea of having them to make up the numbers after all it's SINGAPORE Cup!!

Welcome to the club, Karim

(the namecard of former Woodlands's coach Karim Bencherifa)
Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa had parted way with the struggling northern giants Woodlands Wellington.

It was the second time that Bencherifa left Singapore.

Back in the midst of the 2004 season, he came in as a "trouble-shooter" for the now- sit out club Tanjong Pagar United, in which he did fairly well to revitalise the club though it was beyond his control when the Jaguars decided to sit out.

He came in again mid last season , this time to the Woodlands stadium, not only he guided the Rams to the third position of the league standing and also to the final of Singapore Cup final.

Unfortunately though, Good thing never last as the Rams struggled to repeat its form and struggled to this day.

Interestingly, the Moroccan coach had just joined the club what could be known as the "troubleshooter" club.

Rewind your memories back and look at how coaches like Jang Jung and Chow Kwai Lam, who took over at Balestier and Tampines Rovers few seasons ago.

All three of them came in during the midst of the season and left in the middle of next.

Is there a curse or something like that whenever a "trouble-shooter" come in to pick up the mess and failed to put the house in order when given his own?

Another milestone again: the first video on BoLASEPaKO

So there you go - the first video posted on this blog.

Making use of the ready-made-available servers like "YouTube" has been kind to bloggers like us.

This video was recorded while I was at Woodlands stadium weeks ago.

I'm not not sure how you guys feel but personally speaking I noted that despite the dedication and hard work by these cheergroups, I still feel that there's a lot of catching up to be done.

Ever noticed that the cheers, the songs and the dance routine are almost similar to one another?

Thanks goodness, the introduction of the Sporting Afrique fans (in the clip below, recorded after their heroes won thier match against Woodlands) who somehow revolutionise the cheering (to certain extend at least).



Maybe, it would be advisable to take a leaf from the Japanese fans during the early years of the J-league, when their fans researched intensively to find their own identity.

But sometimes, how l wish these girls and boys can tone down a bit as i do found it a bit irritate, while trying to concentrate the game..

I finally got LEECHED!!!

Thought everything was in placed for the day to come (i.e: the opening fixture of this year's World Cup).

Sourcing out the alternate sources to see the games for free, had been the top most priority for me after it was announced that the cable provider (Starhub) had decided to opt for a PPV for the "Greatest Show on earth".

Of course lah, the public outcry was there when the bad news was announced but the Singapore mentality is that, after "making hoo-ha" initially, the general public will eventually give in and "be a good boy" (accept the reality).

Was ready to tune in to my alternate sources (eg: the RTMs, the live streaming via the internet) on the 9th, only to realise that the heavy traffic had made the viewing over these sources - MISSION IMPOSSIBLE !!

Left with little choice (or rather NO choice) but to dial 1633 to "get leeched"...

Probably, the only good thing about the sole cable provider, is that upon calling them, the channel 27 and 28 were ready for viewing in just matters of hours

The thought of installing those old-fashioned antenna don't fancy me much, as my home unit is not an ideal place to receive those free-to-air channels.

Eventhough, "Mac" (picture below, took at Braddell Mac) is just minutes away from my home, still the laziness of walking put me off

(inside the "Mac" itself, the screen on the left of the picture)

(outside the "Mac", chairs and tables are in placed to anticipated the onlookers)
Therefore, with little option left, there goes the 15 bucks to the provider, a hard, bitter pill to swallow having known our fellow fans in neighbouring countries can see the matches for FREE, at the comfort of their home.

For those, don't mind squeezing around, the 30 "Mac" around the island are always there to welcome you.

Happy Viewing

(PS: at the time of writing this, crowds are streaming into Braddell Mac for the match between T&T vs Sweden, with the waiters on standby mode to serve us all, after all it's BIG business after all)

Is it a worth for all this while?

Came to know that "McDonald's" decided to show the World Cup matches at some of their restaurants (those selected 24-hours outlets).

Great for fans like me who refused to pay the leech provider for that unjustified extra cost.

Now at least for a month or so, we could hang out at "Mac”, munching the burgers, sips our coke while catching the games.

Of course, crowds will definitely swell in numbers though I have been pondering if this is worthwhile.

On surface, it may appeared "Mac" is doing a brisk business with the folks but think about it - how much when some just walk in either they order a cup of coke and jolly well occupy a seat for a double header or even NOTHING at all?


With some outlets like the one near Braddell MRT station (commonly known as " Braddell Mac" pictured on top), the display screen is visible from outside thanks to the transparent glass panels, so don't be surprise if things really get out of hands when fans trying to fight with each other for a better viewing position.

Then coupled with social problems that might follows such as noise pollution (due to the big crowds) could made "Mac" is this all worthwhile?

Still the first and foremost, we must say thank you to "Mac" for offer the fans such a privilege for those who can't afford cable TV.

Just shut up if you know nuts!!!

That's something that I would not want to hear after dragging myself from the National stadium to take one of those late night trains back home from Kallang MRT station.

Noticed my Lion's die-hard t-shirt (pictured left, at the top tier of the grandstand), the stranger at the platform asked "You went see the game ah? Who win?"

"We (Singapore) won but (only) after (the) penalty shootout (against Malaysia)" I replied

"You know why we played badly?" this stranger said

"Because the players we have are formed last minute.

"Where are the players who won the Tiger Cup? Like Subramani? The Chinese guy (Goh Tat Chuan)?

You know why England can't perform? Because they are formed last minute!"

Thank goodness, before the "pundit" could prove his theory, our train arrived.

Rather than listen to his nonsense, I just stood near the train door and listen to my music.

I have nothing against fans who want to make their views heard, acknowledged but the bottom line is "KNOW WHAT YA SAYING, BRO!!"

What is this when this stranger mean "they are formed last minute!"?

Does this stranger know what he's talking??

If by his definition, the national team should be a group of player grouped together like a club team?

I hate to use that term, but I just find it "STUPID!!"

By having this "grouped national" players is simply denying other players from playing his national team and at the meantime, tendency of having any of the "already national player" being complacent.

In fact, this is not the first time, l came across such a silly comment from an ignorant fan, having heard the same comment years back.

We all should know that there's not such thing called a "permanent" national team, if the coach felt that a player is not good enough then out he go (and get another replacement).. simple as that.

What a silly explaination of this "last minute" theory, unlike club team, national team are only assembled together in a space of weeks or days for a certain purpose (i.e: friendlies or international tournaments)

I guess this guy must be another joker living in the past (the Malaysia Cup days).

So please man, know what you are saying before you trying to act smart.

Anyway, l did told this stranger Subramani was not fully-fit FULL STOP.

(photo credit: many thanks to Mr Wong Keng Meng for the shot taken)