Instant Reaction : Malaysia 2-2 Singapore

FT from PJ (Petaling Jaya): Malaysia 2-2 Singapore (29th Nov 2008)

Malaysia - Amirulhadi Zainal 22', Hardi Jaafar 74'
Singapore - Aleksandar Duric 10', 45+1'

No comment on this till I got the match report...

a complain that's a welcome one...

When is the last time we had fans complained about the "packed" stadium?

"BOCAP"....(edited)

If you guys recalled early this year that I toyed the idea of coming up with some items meant for marketing this blog, and the outcome is a T-shirt "print-on" transfer.

Apparently, the idea didn't turn out too well (as the colours tend to fade after a few washes) and the whole project was shelved until recent weeks.

I'm not sure how did I come to the idea of using cap, but I thought having cap as a marketing tool is probably the best option available.

Just take a look whenever an American sports team won a championship, a cap, with the word "CHAMPIONS" embroided, will be presented to each player of the winning team.

Michael Schumacher was paid handsome for the display of the logo on the front of his cap

Everytime when a F1 driver make his presence at a press conference, the cap seems to be a mandatory apparel as the name of his team or his sponsor will be featured prominently (remember the legendary Michael Schumacher ? was paid handsomely just to display his sponsor's name on the front of his cap).

So having decided on using cap as a marketing tool, the next tasks were to source around for the ideal quotation, the type of materials etc.

The choice of the material was a tacky issue as I was given a choice to opt for a COTTON or MICRO-FIBRE material.

Having want to have something that is versatile, I decided to opt for the MICRO-FIBRE simply because of it's a much lighter material, thus make it more appropriate for outdoor activities and suitable for the local climate

So it did not take me long before I got everything sort out and there you have it - BOCAP..

(although a colleague did feedback that I should have opt for the cotton for its more "firm" "presentable" appearance as compared to the "saggy" outlook of that of a micro-fibre).



Why BOCAP?
Pronounced as "Boh-Chup" which in Hokkien meaning "can't be bother"

I came to a decision to use the name BOCAP after some brainstorming.

The name is a combination of the first two alphabets of the domain "BO" and the word "CAP"



It is not to be pronounced as "Boh-Cap" but as "Boh-Chup", because no opinion was sought from the conceiving of the idea till the collection of the caps, simply because I "Boh-Chup"

Although coming to this stage, there's one opinion I need to seek that is the pricing.

Been asking around to collate some feedback and also posting some threads on some wildly-popular online forums such as "HWZ's EDMW", " Vr-Zone's Chit-Chatting " and "KallangRoar's Relax One Corner! ".

As expected some of the feedback were pretty nasty (click and see for yourself) such as,"i will throw straight to rubbish bin~ ", "if big enuff to clean bowling ball, shld be quite useful.", "I'd curse and swear if someone gives me such a cheapo door gift~! "

Anyway, just "BOCAP" lah.. can't be bother with some of those sarcastic comments.

Please stay tuned because the pricing and the purchasing of BOCAP, which is limited in numbers, will be announced soon and the meantime, all comments, inquiries are welcome.

Thank you.

To the heartlands...

It's certainly not a bad idea to stage a national team's match at one of the heartland areas.

In fact, I like the idea very much after witnessed Singapore beat Vietnam in the Tiger Beer Challenge Trophy match at the Jurong East Stadium.

The lineup before the kick-off

After the "closure" of the National Stadium and the unfriendly surface of Jalan Besar Stadium, using alternative like stadiums in HDB new towns is a good way to bring the team closer to the ordinary folks (it just like, "Hey, the national team is playing downstair, want go see or not?") rather having to travel to centralized locations such as Kallang or Jalan Besar.

OTHER PICTURES
The match in progress...

The boisterous support from the Vietnamese had a friend SMSed me that the whole thing made us looked like we are at an "away" game.

To be fair, it was half time when this shot on these local supporters was taken (Picture credit: Mr Theng Wai Mun)

"We are the Champions..."

"We can't play a slow game, as Vietnam played aggressively and gave them chances to score two or even three goals" Coach Raddy (right) in a his assessment after the match.

The media and the panel

There's still a long way to go before getting the act together.

Just like every eve of every big matcha, the game against the Vietnamese was to try out several players on new positioning, which I hope it the thing will click when required.

Good Luck, as always Lions...

Stuck with the Lions in the rain at Geylang (Field)!!

To be honest, Geylang is a place that's been maligned for long time.

No thanks to its sleazy background that it has to compliment with the fact that it's a "makan" (dining) paradise as well.

Was at Geylang area to catch the national team in preparation for the upcoming Suzuki Cup at the Geylang Field, which is strategically located in Geylang - the dinners' paradise (that's the fact, guys!!).


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SNAPSHOTS at GEYLANG

Here was I stuck in the rain at Lorong 8, GEYLANG.

Coach Raddy and the team in the rain.. it was raining very heavily...

The team managed to have a bit of a practice match.

But the rains forbid the session from going further...

Coach Raddy left with no option but to call off the training.

"Take care and don't catch a cold" as Coach Raddy instructed his boys...

Hyrulnizam Juma'at made his way out of the ground as the rains begun to stop.

End of an era (Woodlands)...

Ok guys, this is gonna be a short one as hours later I need to be my mum's stall before she scream at yours truly...

(L-F: SAFFC's Shaiful Esah - in white, coach Richard Bok and Woodland's coach Jorg Steinebrunner)

If you were at the post-media conference of the RHB Singapore Cup final moments ago, you can't help but feel sorry for Jorg Steinebrunner , the out-going coach of losing finalists-Woodlands Wellington.

Due to the cost management exercise that's going to be implemented next year, Woodlands are likely to unload number of players from their payroll and fill the spots with younger players, therefore guys like Jorg, stars like Laakkad Abdelhadi, Park Tae Won, Akihiro Nakamura etc. will be packing up and move out of the north.

Jorg in his farewell (sort of) speech thanks the club management for giving him the opportunity to kick-start his coaching career.

While at the meantime, it was confirmed Warrior's Shaiful Esah will be drafted into the national team for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup, after Khairul Amri was pulled out due to his injury sustained the night before (the 3rd/4th placing match).

OTHER PICTURES AT THE POST-MATCH

Told the winning goal scorer Kenji Arai that I posted his singing video on Youtube, glad he's OK with that.

Therdsak Chaiman - you can't denied the fact that he's that good despite his age!

Coach Raddy, this guy (Ahmad Latiff) on the left deserved a chance as you are running out of attacking option (Picture credit: "Cloud").

Appreciated... Thanks :)

I was invited to the SAFFC's appreciation dinner at the CSC @ Bukit Batok.

Was told that this is an annual event of the club to show their appreciation to whosoever involved with the club, from the players to the management committee, from the volunteers to the backroom staff and from the fans to the sponsors etc.

Many thanks to SAFFC for the invitation to this event.

SOME SNAPS OF THE NIGHT

The first program of the night- the trophy presentation to the club chairman by the team.

SAFFC's chairman BG Tung Yui Fai in his address pays his tribute to whoever involved with the club and outline the vision for the next season and urged the team to aim for a "back-to-back" double by winning the Singapore Cup as well.

The FA Cup on the left and the League trophy on the right with the Singapore Cup - the missing piece in the jigsaw.

Japanese striker Norikazu Murakami (on the right) wooed the audience with his "Tears in Heaven".

... and the audience were certainly having a good time.

Kenji Arai and his wife had their roles in keeping the audience entertained too...

THE VIDEO

Many thanks to Kenji Arai who agreed to have this clip on Youtube :)

S.League Awards Night 2008

The billboard for this year's awards night

Again, was the annual awards night which was held at Orchard Hotel in the shopping district of Orchard Road.

The invited guests mingled around

"Is this your name?"

Where I was seated...

As there wasn't for me to expect anything new (in terms of programming), I decided to spend most of my time hanging out at the media room, where reporters were busy filing their stories.

The media at work at the media room.

SAFFC's fan club (with club chairman Simon Lee, flanked by the 987FM's Muttons) regained the fan club of the year award.

"Thanks, guys.." as (from left) Jean Danker, Park Tae Won and Daren Tan posed this picture for yours truly.

Park Tae Won became the eight centurion in the history of S.League after scored his 100th goal this season.

Coach of the Year - Albirex's Hiroako Hiraoka, flanked by award presenters national coach Raddy Avramovic and Mediacorp star Joanne Peh.

Coach Hiroaki being interviewed by the media.

The biggest shock of the night must be the coach of the year, when it was announced that Albirex Niigata (S)'s coach Hiroaki Hiraoka had clinched the award ahead of SAFFC's Richard Bok.

So earth-shattering was the news that the Japanese coach had the longest media interview among the awards winners.

So much so that one of the award presenters - Tay Ping Hui was spotted having his pictures taken with the fans while waiting for his turn.

... and with the blogger as well... (Picture credit: Abang Sani of BH, thanks 'bang)

But the biggest winner of the night went to Aleksandar Duric, the veteran SAFFC striker, who for the second year in running retained the "Top scorer of the year" and the prestigious "Player of the year"

"The one for the FACEBOOK!" as I urged Duric for this pose :P (Thanks, mate)

Although he still remains coy over his plan for the next season.. (still got chance to ask on Friday, folks)

if that's only the case...

if we could have the same atmosphere at every S.League match like the one at the Jalan Besar Stadium hours ago (where SAFFC clinched their record seventh title after beating their arch-rivals Home United with an Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin strike in the 56th minute. ).

Buoyed by the partisan supporters of both sides, comprises of largely NSFs of the army (siding the SAFFC) and the Civil Defence, Police cadets (backing Home United), it's not very often the case when we witnessed such a passionate ambience in a local league match.

If only, this is the case week in and out.. alas...

OTHER PICTURES AFTER THE MATCH
The usual pre-match ritual - having some fans taking part in games

Home United's coach Mr PN Sivaji is pleased overall with his "comeback" season and hopes the team bounce back in time for the "central derby" against Balestier Khalsa on Monday (17th Nov).

National striker Aleksandar Duric won his unprecedented fourth championship medal, though he's coy with his plan for next season...

SAFFC's coach Richard Bok looking forward to the tougher challenges facing the Warriors in ACL next year and pays tribute to his boys after another tough fight in defending their title this year.

The reigning coach of the year is hot favourite to retain his accolade this year.