Goodby my "HOME" (re-post)

Not long ago my sisiter said, "Thought you said it was LAST TIME already?" when I mentioned that I'm going to the National Stadium for the recent-concluded friendly matches.

Almost two years after a blog entry and a video tribute.. I was still wonder when the day will come

I guess it was due to the indeceiveness of the SSC that made everyone kept speculating when the "Grand OLD Lady" is going to be bulldozed, thus it was declared that 30th June was confirmed as the "grand finale" of this Kallang arena.

More picture of the National Stadium.



This is the press room (above) where all reporters mingled, crack jokes and of course, meet the deadline.


A view of the playing surface and the running track from the top-tier of the stadium (above).


Here's the "yellow box" of the stadium, where fans gathered to ease and calm their nerves.

It's always having that exciting feeling to walk through one of the many entrances, eagerly anticipate any epic to unfold.

... thanks to the presence of the security personnels, whose presence deterred many flare-up from going overboard (except for that one in 2005).

The National Team warming up prior their game against the Saudi Arabia.

This was where the trophy presentation took place.

Part of the skyline of Singapore as seen from the corridor outside the press room.

This is the VIP Lounge, where the honoured guests gathered and view the match.

.. Of course, having the best view of the house.

This is the lobby of the stadium, where the lift (in the middle of the picture) would bring the guests to the lounge.

The "Sliver" room is where the post-match conference took place.

.. With the media gathered and ready to grill the coaches.

Which is why some coaches dreaded walking along the walkway to the "Sliver" room.


Having this shot of the stadium taken from the "odd-looking" bus stop, which is located across the road.



Few more of my own at the National Stadium.
(many thanks to Ms Tan Kee Yun and Ms Evelyn Tan for taking these pictures)

Due to "safety" reason, I only able to attend a match at Kallang in my late teens, unlike most of my peers.

But I'm glad to have been there for some significant moments.

• Saw Malek Awab set up the Fandi Ahmad's winner over Kedah, which was crucial to see the Lions clinched the M-League title eventually.
• Saw the launch of the S.League in 1996
• The crowning of the first S.League champions - Geylang United
• Saw Singapore claimed their second Tiger Cup on this very ground
• Saw Singapore beat Thailand for the first time in 30 years that eventually won them the third Aseam title.
• And be there for the final game - Singapore vs Australia

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Cast Aside

I'm not sure if my eyesight was playing a trick on me (as I underwent an eye operation not that long ago.).

On the left of the text is the snapshot of the "roll-of-honour" list of Sports Awards 2007.

Much to my dismay, our beloved national football team were not even credited at least a meritorious award.

Thus I am wonder why could not this be happened?

Is it because being an Asean football champions mean nothing to the sport administrators??

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Johnny joins the fiesta in June as well

"TODAY"'s report on the upcoming football fiesta

June's Football Feast

It's nice to see number of the Asian Cup finalists are here in Singapore in weeks to come for their preparation of the main event.

This is something rare in a sense that the national team seldom have chances like these to pit against some of the best in the region.

Personally, I would love to see the Lions play against some of these teams on a more frequent basis (if possible), rather having (with no disrespect) against the likes of Sri Lanka or Maldives in recent years.

I guess it's more on planning ahead, if not why we always hear club managers in Europe reluctant to release their players for those "meaningless friendlies"?

"Welcome Johnny"
Together with the upcoming fiesta is probably the much-anticipated debut of new Lion John Wilkinson of SAFFC.

Most of today's papers which I had scanned through had carried the news of the inclusion of England-born "Wilko".

Even the "Lianhe Wanbao" (pictured above), which rarely covered the S.League intensively, had a quite a sizable portion with glaring headlines making the annoucement.

Boy.. hope Johnny boy can cope well with all the spotlights that shone ob him.

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You just can't please all of them

(P.S: thought want tohave this blog entry posted straight after the Lions' successful run in the Asean Football Championship, but second thought I decided to wait till now and see how's the reaction.)

While the media, fans are lauding the success of the national team in retaining their regional supremacy, there's still a group of guys simply don't buy that as an accomplishment.

"They were just lucky, as you can see the midfield were not up to task against the Thais." said one of those I heard.

"Is this the type of football they played, for earning 4k?" said another.

And that classic comment of all,” they are not as good as those last times who played for the national team."

If the first two quotes do make sense to some, fine. I would have some thoughts on the last statement.

Just days before the second-leg of the semi-final between Malaysia and us, one of my co-workers made one such "comparison" comments.

"Just take who we have during the 70s - Dollah Kassim, S Rajagopal, Quah Kim Song lah and the defence jaga (marshalled) by Allapitchay was hard to break down!" said my co-worker.

Upon hearing that, I asked, "Since with Uncle Choo (Seng Quee, probably the best coach we had) around that time, why didn't we made it to the Asia Cup then?"

Dead silence drew upon when I asked that.

Apparently, there was not answer to my question from this group of my colleagues, as they mercilessly panned the effort of the Lions who did us proud.

Comparison is rather a dirty word, in a sense that it would eventually kill one career.

During the 90's, I came across how the likes of Fandi and Co. can't "compare to" the likes of Kim Song, Dollah and co.

Yet, just long after we retained the title, similar remarks were made by some.

"They played like SH*T" remarked this guy.

"I can tell you, if they continued like this, they will kena teruk, teruk.

"To think these guys are earning thousands a month playing football, compare them to Fandi who they all are part-timers!!" said this guy.

(Where in actual fact that Fandi and company were considered the pioneer group of pro footballers in our times.)

With that, I bring myself back to the early 90s that Fandi and co were then mercilessly panned by the media for not able to attain the status of those class of the 70s.

"One half team" is the most common-used tag bestowed on that star-studded squad, as to some fans, the team was capable to play only one half of the game before went into hibernation after the break.

Nonetheless, after clinching the double in 1994, this team was disbanded after we decided to withdraw from the Malaysian League.

Still, the legacy left behind and ensured this team's status among the local football folklore.

No doubt about that each team, players have their own merits and shortcomings but to draw comparison between teams from different eras, I simply find it absurd.

First of all, they simply don't have the chance to pit against each other.

How fair are these "experts" to compare the teams?

Base on what criteria set, should we gauge the each and individual team and players?

Not being rude or whatsoever, I would like to point out that other than winning the grand prize of a domestic tournament, what did the class of the 70s achieved? And reiterated that since Uncle Choo was around then, shouldn't we made it to the Asia Cup or something big?

After all, the results are what matter the most.

The post-Malaysia Cup national teams had proven their capabilities by clinching the regional titles not once but three times, something their predecessors never done it before.

While nay-sayers were quick to say these teams were just being lucky to secure the honours but one can't denied the fact that they did it.

Football is a cruel game which whoever win by scoring more than their opponents, not simply because one team play better.

If rules allow the latter factor to decide the winners, few would disagree that the "Magic Magyars" should win the World Cup in 1954, or the "Total Footballers" from Holland should be awarded the cup in 1974.

Furthermore, one should take into account where we won the Tiger Cup (now called the Asean Football Championship).

We did it in Hanoi in 1998 against the Vietnamese who backed by their partisan crowds.

We secured a two-goal advantage in the intimidating Senanyang in Jakarta, two years ago.

Against the sea of yellow-shirted Thai fans, we walked away with the Cup.

All these feats can't be achieved if not the belief in "believe in yourself".

Coach Raddy shall be credited for this transformation, for his fulfilment in delivered what he promised.

Have we not heard what his predecessors claimed to "drop any unperformed players" but how many dare to?

Knowning his charges were not on par in terms of skills with their opponents, coach Raddy's ability to motivate his team and shrewd tactics planning had succeed in many times to produce some shocking results.

So whatever it is, don't discredit the players because they are one of us who made us proud.

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