For The Record... "In an interview with Yahoo! Singapore, Zainudin (Nordin, FAS President) reiterated that the S-league will not become a "poorer cousin" once the LionsXII start their Malaysia Cup campaign."
This morning, got a text message from a colleague said my letter to TODAY was being published on the final day of 2008.
As published on "Voices" (TODAY's feedback page) on 31st Dec 2008
For the benefit of all readers, supporters, visitors etc., I felt I have the obligation to reveal what's the actual content of my letter (attached below) to TODAY, sent on 25th Dec 2008.
"PrtScr" of the letter sent
Sometimes, I don't blame the editors, due to space and time constraints, for shrinking my letter but I would be glad if they just spend a few more seconds going thru' the content of the letter before the editing.
As it happened before in one of my previous letters that one word being omitted by them had eventually MISINTERPRETED the whole meaning of it.
Happen to be at Jalan Besar Stadium and saw these two notices
The top is a notice to inform the public that the plastic surface of the stadium will be closed for upgrading from 7/12/2008 -31/1/2009.
While the second notice (before the first) informed the national team's upcoming home schedule will be played on the 28th January 2009, against the Jordanians in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
I bought this white plastic frame meant for cap washing in Perth years ago, but seldom use it despite my enormous cap collection which Ma isn't too pleased about it ("collect dust only" as she laments many times.)
Since I been wearing BOCAP quite often nowadays as a sort of self promoting this blog, it's inevitable that it's now for its first shower.....
So here you go... BOCAP had its first shower and also it proved that the plastic frame can withstand the grills and spins of that of a washing machine...
AFTERMATH I actually paid the price for washing it, as I later realized that the "Velcro" strap is a bit worn after the wash.
Now I would have to use "spring press stub" (as above) to enhance the fastening of the strap..
I got to be honest here...
Lesson learnt: Ensure your "velcro" is fasten when doing your laundry
Little did I expected that the place is sealed off from public because of the preparation of the "Countdown" party.
"(I) thought it was cancelled? I got the news from the internet." I told the security lady-in-charge, after she explained why the platform was sealed from public.
Nonetheless, she was kind enough to direct me to another spot for my photo-taking (above, though it wasn't the desired spot for me at all, ok then let's not spoil the Christmas mood).
I was at the platform because of the news below.
But before that the relevant authority and organizers shall resolve these grouses below.
As I finished my session at the side of the platform and proceed to take train to somewhere else, I passed by at probably the most valuable green belt of this island - Padang (below).
"How about have it at Padang, instead?" as this wacky thought came to my mind..
The RED bar being the temporary stand erected along the St Andrew Road (like the one we saw during the F1 race), while the playing surface will be at Padang instead!
At least, fans should be relieved to know that, " at least I don't need to strain my neck..."
The top of the picture is copy of yesterday's "Mypaper" and the mid portion to bottom (with the masthead - MY SAY) of it being the one I picked up just now.
At least, there's some sort of balance here as two different schools of thoughts were given adequate coverage here on this free handout.
The previous day's edition highlighted the frustration and criticism from fans, who posted on net forums, whereas on the feedback pages today, some loyal supporters jumped into the Lions' defence and blasted those comments made by those "fair-weather" fans (as one writer labelled them as) .
A friend of me has this to say, "simply put an article with net forum's quotes as its headline, is unacceptable."
"if a mainstream paper can get quotes out of the net, then we no need reporters"
Which is why they need a blogger eh, for this instance? hahahaha
"that's the sad fact.. all in the name of "grooming" youth players for bigger stage but fail to realize professional league is not a developmental league"Ko Po Hui
Introduction Ok, this annual review will departed from the previous ones, as such I would like to talk about the milestones this blog been achieved so far.
".com" finally BoLASEPaKO.com made its debut on the 1st January 2008, just as the world ushered in year 2008 simultaneously.
It was a dream fulfilled after a decade of sharing views, thoughts and ideas via in website (newsletter) format and later in blog format (just image the fact that I wondered if the site would survive then as it was first created out from a shared computer).
It may appeared insignificant but for an OMO (One-Man-Operation) blog, it's a moment to be remembered.
Many thanks to the organizers and the coordinating parties that I was part of the Singapore entourage that took part in the annual Sultan of Selangor Cup, which featured the heroes of the past and present eras.
Product Review Initially, I thought it was something too good to be true and it caught me by surprise when I received an email from "soccerpro.com", an online store specialized on the game's equipment.
A straight forward proposal saw me got a pair of this Nike First Touch Pro futsal boots from them, after a product review was done and posted on the blog.
And the next thing I knew was that whenever someone googled for this particular model of boots, quite of them were diverted to this entry.
Many thanks again to guys (Travis and Mason) at "Soccerpro.com" for the opportunity given.
Appeared on "Reuters" Another like-minded blogger (Mr Sean Grybos of Soccercity FC) dropped me a mail and asked if I could be part of his set-up in covering S.League football on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, given the nature of how this blog is work and coupled with my day job commitment, I declined his offer as I doubt I'm doubt I able to produce the kind of quality he expecting from me.
But nonetheless I did contributed an article that eventually picked up Reuters!
Thanks, Sean for the "lobang" (opportunity) given.
We almost made it Yes and how close it was when we were at the second last stage of 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
No doubt and to be frank that the cruel and ugly sides of the local sports journalism had surfaced after the Uzbeks game.
FLASHBACK: 2nd June 2008
Sad for the fact that not all remembered the good works we had done to get to that stage but the gigantic thrashing in the hands of the Uzbeks at the National Stadium.
Enough of bashing though, as weeks ago I delighted to come across a TNP article on how some former footballers are still involved in the game, either with the local game governing body or with various S.League clubs as coaches.
As a paper that relays heavily on football news to boast its readership, I do hope the TNP, as it's commonly known, could do a bit more by covering such similar stories to raise the awareness and profile of the league, and at the meantime see themselves as an "auditor" of any shortcomings surrounding the league.
Red tsunami Having got themselves ridiculed last year, the Korean-based Super Reds redeemed themselves this season by finishing among the top three of the league table.
The mastermind behind the revival - Jeon Kyeong Joon.
Having completely overhauled the entire setup of the club, the Koreans made everybody dropped their jaws and set themselves as the early pace-setters of the season.
Even if their brave effort did not landed them the title, the Koreans' 360-degree change this year had certainly made this season a memorable one for their exploits this season.
Yet, I still have my reservation when the club announced some plans to turn their Yishun stadium a sort of entertainment hub (Clementi Khalsa, now part of the merged Balestier Khalsa, had similar plan for Clementi Stadium years ago but never materialize.)
Proposal, talks they may be, it's up to how if they can convince the landlords - SSC.
Over to you guys, SSC The Great FST debate An unresolved issue here as the general population on whole still "struggling" to come to term on how the authority been trying to convince us that this is the way to go to achieve sporting excellence.
Clock-wise from left: Daniel Bennett, Agu Casmir and "MIA" Itimi Dickson
I'm not sure if my stand on FST had tweaked a bit, as I being an advocate for this scheme, however having seen the recent "come-and-go" of several athletes upon the "completion of their mission", I begin to doubt if this "short-cut" scheme does really benefit us after all.
Sustainability after their sporting career is the missing piece of this jigsaw puzzle and unless we are able to solve this shortcoming of the FST, if not skeptics out there will continue to see these naturalized citizens merely "mercenaries" than being "one of us".
I felt it's nothing to do with as if we are going to accept these "pendatangs" as "one of us" in the first place, rather we should be asking if there's anything that would make them rooted here than leaving once they playing days are over and only then the question of "accepting" would be more logical to ask
Sustainability follow by integrating is the key for Duric and his follow naturalized citizens.
Still, a word of caution to those foreign players who are keen to don the red top - think very carefully before commit yourself, as we are not mentally prepared to see more following to the likes of Egmar Goncalves and Mirko Grabovac, both left because the lack of sustainability.
One of the difficulties this club face is the RCs (Resident's Committee ) and other community-based organizations been less-than-enthusiastic to their approach.
However, he stressed that support from the club management are equally important which he's glad that his bosses been very supportive on this aspect.
Based on his input, I decided to follow up with the rest of the 11 clubs, via various mode of communication (using on email, as listed on their website or getting through contacts, and fax), on this mind-bogging topic.
Out of the 11 clubs approached for comment on this topic, only a handful failed to respond.
On this juncture, I don't wish to conclude anything but it's regrettable that some clubs, despite a reminder, did not reply at all (even though the questionnaire was not obligatory) and I thought by using email and fax is also a way to benchmark how responsive of each club is in dealing with ordinary folks like me.
Nonetheless, some of the feedback I gathered from those who responded shown that efforts were, indeed, made in their integrating into the vicinity they based.
Saw this signboard near my place...
Other than running the popular soccer clinics, some clubs also took part in community events organized in their vicinity, such as community fund-raising, making visits to the less-privileged etc., in order to raise their profile and generate awareness in their allocated area.
Not surprisingly, one of three foreigner-based clubs (Super Reds, Albirex Niigata and Dalian Shide Siwu) highlighted that, being a foreign team in the S.League, it will take time and efforts to persuade local residents to accept them "as one of them".
Albirex's players posed for a shot, with a female fan, last year after a match
At the meantime, the cultural upbringing and character of each individual also plays a part in whether these expat players, mostly in their late teens or early adulthood, are able to see themselves involved in such community activities in the near future in multi-cultural society like Singapore.
While one club did admitted that the on-going unfavourable economic climate and lack of manpower deterred his club from carry out these "integrating" programs, and efforts to rent playing surfaces for their training programs in return by providing soccer clinics to these community organizations were turned down.
Interestingly, demographical aspect was also mentioned in one of the replies, in which this particular club stated that being based in an "aging" estate literary make it difficult to push for such awareness activities that normally targeted the youth.
Just as I thought I might not have a chance to speak some grassroots organizations or schools on this topic (due to the limited contact), suddenly, out from nowhere, I got some interesting views from a school administrator.
This artificial playing surface is now a common sight in schools island-wide.
In his feedback, he commented that the absence of "notable" players (i.e: the national players) conducting the soccer clinics somehow failed to inspire these kids to become a full-time player.
And this administrator has "serious doubt" if such interactions are going to have impact in fostering the bond I envisage for, since based on his observation both players and coaches weren't making an effort to improve, like encourage the kids to come down to the stadium to support them.
I felt it's all up to whosoever involved to see if such bonding would eventually takes place.
At times, it do pissed me off when people talk about local football and first thing come to their minds are the odds and stakes.
Wondering that will there be a time for me to see something like these at our neighbourhood grounds?
Perhaps, one club official sums up pretty well "The challenge is promoting local football to everyone who is weaned on a diet of foreign leagues – it’s an uphill task. I guess it’ll take time to grow our audience." (and it's the case)
No-GO platform A lot of guys must be pretty disappointed for the "No-GO" on staging the Singapore Cup final at the Floating Platform.
I agreed that location-wise, it is strategically located right in the heart of the trendiest spot in Singapore, but pragmatically speaking the main grouse lays on the fact that the pitch is too far away from the viewing gallery.
Players would love the idea to play the game with the famed skyline as the backdrop but the fans, especially those be seated at the extreme ends, might swear that that would be the last time they going to the platform for a match, if the cup final was staged.
So whose fault? Probably, the designer is not a football fan or some engineering difficulties might not have seem my "already-late" proposal fitted in the first place?
Game over (not really for the case of National Stadium)...
The press reactions on the following day...
Don't dwell over the lost to Vietnam that caused us the Asean supremacy on 21st December.
Let's move on and aim higher, and setback like those should spur us on in qualify for the Asian Cup proper in 2011.
Although I do feel sorry for the "Grand Ol' Lady" (the National Stadium).
As after countless of "last" match being staged since 30th June 2007 - the "official" closing date, the much beloved arena is fast becoming an eyesore for some and the legacy of it is fast eroding as well.
The poor "Grand Ol' Lady" was used again for a "crucial" match...
I'm not sure if the current economic slump being the reason behind the delay of construction of the Singapore Sports Hub, which was scheduled to commence on Feb 2008 (as stated on the SSC website.) or just that happened to be so many "case-by-case basis" events that this 65,000-seated stadium is the only venue that is capable for hosting them?
Simply had it enough that I decided to drop a mail (below) to the the papers (namely "mypaper" and "TODAY") in hope the relevant agency will give the much-puzzled public a definite answer to this saga.
Was at Jalan Besar yesterday afternoon to take a look how the ticket sales, when the organizers decided at the eleventh hour to put the tickets on sale on Saturday, which was slated as a non-sale day.
Although there was no long queue for the tickets, the fans slowly turned up at the ground to buy their tickets.
When asked how they came to know the tickets were on sale, many of them replied that they got to know "last minute" sale via the papers and from the internet.
Next stop to the National Stadium and saw the staff busy prepare the deco for the match.
The thing is everybody can just walk into the National Stadium to catch the team in training, although one must be discreet in snapping pictures while the training session is on, as coach Raddy is rather particular about this.
Coach Raddy was given a "BOCAP" as a souvenir after the end of the training session...
As published on "Voices" (TODAY's feedback page) on 31st Dec 2008
"PrtScr" of the letter sent
"PrtScr" of the letter sent
