Would a "PLAY-OFF" system sustain the league?

Click on the "envelope" for a bigger view

Scribed this on the back of an envelope.

Please don't be confused by those "arrows" and the hideous handwriting (it was a scribble-on anyway), allow me to explain with some helps from the "wiki" pages on the subject.

As you can see for yourself on the top of the envelope, I scribbled "Top 8 (AFL)", while at the lower half of it, you should noticed the words - "Super League (RL)".

With SAFFC very likely to warap up their unprecedented "fourth-peat" (their fourth consecutive league titles) in days to come, I wonder what's the point of carrying the regular league fixture since there's nothing more to fight for (except for the remaining prize monies)?

Since there's no relegation/promotion format in the league set-up, the rest of the pack are merely fighting for their pride to complete their fixture, thus there's absolutely no reason for fans to pay to come and see some meaningless games.

Having said that, I came to realize some sporting leagues around the world have been adopting some kind of "play-off" system for those top teams as a "reward" of doing well at the end of their regular season (completion of the fixtures).

Which is why I would like to borrow example from both the AFL (Australian Rules Football) and Super League (Rugby League)'s play-off system to see if it could fit into our league system.

The AFL "play-off" format (text borrowed from "Wikipedia")

• At the end of the 22 rounds, the top eight teams compete in the four-week AFL Finals Series.
  
  In the first week the top four teams play in Qualifying Finals (1st vs 4th & 2nd vs 3rd), the two winning Qualifying Final teams progress directly into a Preliminary Final in the third week, with the other four teams playing in Elimination Finals (5th vs 8th & 6th vs 7th).
  
  In the second week the two losing teams from the Qualifying Finals play the two winning teams from the Elimination Finals in the Semi Finals.
  
  The winners of the Qualifying Finals play the winners of the Semi Finals in the preliminary finals.
  
  The two winning Preliminary Final teams play in the Grand Final in the fourth week of the finals. The Premiership winning team is the team that wins the Grand Final.
  

The Super League "play-off" format (till 2008) (text borrowed from "Wikipedia")

• Week One
  * Elimination Semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th
  * Elimination Semi-final B: 4th vs 5th
  
  
• Week Two
  * Elimination Final: Winners of Elimination Semi-final A vs Winners of Elimination Semi-final B
  * Qualification Match: 1st vs 2nd
  
  
• Week Three
  * Final Qualifier: Losers of Qualification Match vs Winners of Elimination Final
  
  
• Week Four
  * Grand Final: Winners of Qualification Match vs Winners of Final Qualifier

What we learn from it?
Like the American sporting system, the AFL operate on a "franchise" system (correct me if I'm wrong as this is based on my observation) while the Super League in England will implement a "Licensing" system in their coming season.

Both league formats don't have the "promotion/relegation" system, so year in and out it'll be the same teams pit against each other, which is something similar to our own S.League format.

Let's face the fact that it's absolutely impossible to implement the "promotion/relegation" format in the league setup, given the unfavourable climate local football is facing now and the lack of sizable fan population, so why not give a thought of having something that might just work for us?

A Suggestion (Please refer to the chart below, before you proceed on)

Click for a bigger view

With the completion of the regular season (the current format we having), the team that finish at the top of the league ladder will be declared as the "minor premiers" (a similar term using in AFL, depicted as "1st" in the above chart).

Together with teams that finished at the second (2nd) to sixth (6th) position of the standing, these six teams will enter the next phrase of the season - THE PLAY-OFF (based on the discontinued "Super League" play-off format).

Being the "minor premiers" will entitled itself to some form of advantage, that is it will be awarded a trophy, cash monies for that achievement and a "bye" in the qualifying stages (as illustrated on the chart above) where they will only play against the team finished at the second position of the standing in Week 3.

The winning team of this fixture - the "minor premiers" and the "2nd" will be one of the finalists in the "Grand Final" that ultimately decide the league champions.

While for those remaining teams (3rd to 6th positioned), their fate in this post-season stages would definitely be tougher as compared to the top 2 teams since they will have to endure some gruelling "knock-out" fuels against their opponents before they can proceed further.

The Conclusion
The whole idea of this "play-off" format, is to avoid having those "meaningless" fixtures after a league champions are declared with few more rounds of matches to play.

This system should be served as an incentive to those "top-tier" teams to fight for better position in order to avoid those teams they would not want to meet in the early stages of the "play-off".

And most importantly, as the league authority have no plan of implementing the "promotion/relegation" system in anytime near future, the "play-off" should help to inject some form of excitement we would normally seen in those relegation dogfight.

Just a thought here....

(P.S: Thought of posting this suggestion days later, but decided it's time to let it out)

Ticket information for the 2009 Sultan of Selangor Cup

SINGAPORE, 23 September 2009 - Ticket sales for the 2009 Sultan of Selangor's Cup will commence tomorrow (24 September 2009) at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

This eighth edition of the Sultan of Selangor's Cup, that is hosted by Singapore for the third time, will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday, 4th October.

The main match between the Singapore Selection and Selangor Selection will kick off at 7.30pm, while the curtain-raiser match between both Veterans team featuring football legends the likes of Fandi Ahmad and Dollah Kassim will start at 6.15pm.

Upbeat performances by Revalina and Bloco Singapura will entertain the early arrivals from 5.00pm onwards on matchday, with lots of cash and attractive prizes to be won during the half-time game.


Ticketing details

Price
Grandstand (Entry via North or South Entrance) - $8.00
Gallery (Entry via East Entrance) - $5.00

Sales Venues

• Jalan Besar Stadium: 24 - 25 Sep (12pm-8pm) 28 Sep - 2 Oct (12pm-8pm)
  
  
• Hougang Stadium: 28 Sep (6pm-8pm)
  
  
• Jurong West Stadium: 30 Sep (6.30pm-8pm)
  
  
• Jurong East Stadium: 01 Oct (6.30pm-8pm)
  
  

Just came back from Jalan Besar Stadium and saw these posters hanging around the stadium, maybe the organizers should explore the possibility of having some of these banners hang on the lamp posts along Jalan Besar (as depicted in the map below - the dark blue line) to attract more publicity, as that stretch of road towards Rochor Road is a busy road.


View Jalan Besar - banner to hang in a larger map

[Initiative] Help the HOMELESS...by buy a T-Shirt

(P.S: Those wonderful guys at SoccerPro seeking this blog as a platform to spread the message of helping the less-privileged)

The recent-concluded Homeless World Cup saw Ukraine crowned as the world champions of this tournament, by beat Portugal en-route to clinch the honour.

Despite the fact that this tournament had ended on 13th September, the spirit of this event did not.

So in aid to help to fund the future tournaments, SoccerPro together with the event organizers "Homeless World Cup" had decided to sell the T-Shirt depicted below in order to raise the necessary fund to do so.

(Picture credit: SoccerPro)

Please help to spread this message of helping the less-privileged through the game we love.

For more information, please log on to the following links for more details

• To buy 2009 Homeless World Cup Tee Shirt - Limited Edition
• More information of "Homeless World Cup" organization
  

It's a bit far-fetched that I must admit, but just drawing an analogy between gaming and the issues facing football

Competition area for the One Asia Cup Final for EA SPORTS FIFA Online 2 platform , inside the event hall of the GCA 2009.

Some of you may think how would a football blogger like me be covering a game event (Games Convention Asia) at Suntec City?

In the past, the idea of earning a livelihood from playing computer game would be deemed IMPOSSIBLE and being ridiculed upon.

Participants from other South-Asian countries completing against one another for the US$100,000 worth of cash and prizes.

But as the gaming industry gaining bigger market share, it's inevitable that some game makers, in order to gain larger market share, start organize tournaments with cash prize monies to entice budding gamers to pit against each other (which some top gamers eventually making a living on those winnings plus endorsement deals).

Staying focused is one of the key in playing online games

Perhaps from those passions and determination shown by those gamers can teach a thing or two to those existing footballers waiting at the bay to fill up that vacuum created by the mass exodus of national players to Indonesia.

Gaming industry is now a million-dollar industry

It sounds like I'm trying to use the two totally different things to draw an analogy with each other, but if we take a closer look at how things been evolved for the gaming from those dark alley days to a million-dollar industry, I would have to say the local football scene is at its "dark alley" days NOW.

This is a conclusion drawn from many discussions I had in recent days with many of my peers and like-minded local football supporters after the recent "walk-out" of some national team players to the Indonesian League.

Baihakki Khaizan (top) is set to left for Persija in Indonesia.

Maybe, the league authority still stuck to its guns that by prided itself being "one of the Asia's top TEN leagues", however, the resentment of the lack of progress and remedy in certain issues highlighted by Noh Alam Shah, prior to his departure to Arema Malang, had somehow opened a can of worms that every single area of the league setup is being scrutinized avidly.

Is the tag of "Asia's TOP 10 League" too much a burden for all?

I think it's really time for all of us to STOP finger-pointing each other and seeking a resounding solution to each problem the league is facing now is the utmost task for all.

It would be more productive in this way, isn't it?

• Rather than wondering if the youngsters we have in the Prime League are ready/able to fill the gap (even if Alam Shah doubt them with all due respect to them), when now there's a chance to do so.
  
  
  In case, you're not aware of it most Prime League games play at 5 pm on weekends, call the clubs for details and catch them in action to judge for yourself.
  
  
  
• Rather than approach that "wait-and-see" attitude most clubs having now, to see how we can really take care of the players' welfare and their well-being after they hang up their boots.
  
  
  Point to ponder: How are we gonna package the league to attract more ladies to the game?
  
  
  
• Rather than complaining the lack of atmosphere at the stadiums, when one got to ask themselves WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME they saw a live game (I mean at the stadium and NOT from your living room) and guilty enough to admit on pointing out every shortcoming they perceived based on limited information and fact, while not making an effort to go down to their neighbourhood stadium all because "lack of time"?
  
  
  Are you are of them, deprived the clubs from taking more gate-taking?
  
  
  
• Rather come up with some initiatives that are being "taken-for-granted" for all would accept them, it's time to have a conducive feedback channel to hear from all stakeholders what they want.

It's going to be a long and tough process to win back the lost fans, whom many of them still living in those Malaysia Cup days, to the stadiums, nevertheless, waiting for solution to drop from the sky is not an option.

So at end of the day, if those gamers did not stick their gun and hang to it, I think it would still stuck in their "dark-alley" days, isn't it?

It's high time we cracked the whip and start walloping the horse... CHARGE!

(P.S1: The blogger is just merely drawing an analogy between PC gaming and football, it's never his intention to encourage people to play PC game all day long to earn a living)

(P.S2: Many thanks to Mr Jonathan Leow for letting me to know such event and triggered a thought that lead to the conceiving of this entry)

Product Review: "Adidas Samba Millenium" indoor soccer shoes.

(P.S: Got an email from SoccerPro who asked if I keen to do another review of a product from their stock list.

Which I obliged and here's another piece of product review of the blog - "Adidas Samba Millenium" indoor soccer shoes.

Opinions expressed below are sole personal from the blogger himself , without any form of interference from whosoever entity or individual.)

PREFACE
"Never take it for granted." I said to myself after I decided to take up this reviewing offer.

In my last review for the "Nike First Touch II FS - Varsity Royal" boots I did last year, I took it for granted by using my conventional shoes size to determine the size of the reviewed product, thus the tight-fitting of the shoes caused some uncomfortableness whenever I wore them.

This is the first pair of Adidas Soccer Shoes I wearing.

Which turned out to be good lesson learned, as I realized that one shall never gauge the size of the soccer shoes using his or her conventional shoe size since factors like the cutting and materials vary from shoes to shoes.

Another piece of valuable advice I gathered from a shop assistant is "do ensure there's a space of a size of thumb between the tips of your toe and the shoes, with your heel all the way at the back of the shoe".

Although a reader offered another opinion by stating that the reason for having that "tight-fitting" feel is for better feel and ball control of the possession while playing.

FIRST IMPRESSION
Call me a traditionalist, but to be honest, I would prefer to have any kind of soccer shoes be black in colour, rather having them in those flashy luminous look, which is a common trend in the market nowadays.

Black colour, to me, is ALWAYS the colour of the game...

Fortunately, most of peers' feedback agree with me on that issue, so it's not wrong to say having them black is still THE colour.

FIRST FEEL
The US size "9" I opted for fitted in nicely with extra "thumb" space to ensure that bit of comfort when wearing it, although, that initial "tight-fitting" on the both side of the foot is something unavoidable in any type of footwear.

Click the picture for bigger image.

A colleague suggested that given its kind of urban feel, this footwear goes well with various type of apparels and suitable for other activities, not just solely for playing soccer (as illustrated in the collage above).

TRY OUT
The initial plan was to combine the "urban feel" shot with the "try out" shot, but the lack of the main prop - the BALL, had we got it postponed the session a few days later.

So back to the same ol' place where we had a second go for the photo-cum-video shooting of the review.

Just step on the ball to have a feel of it...

Next, moving the ball around with the foot.

Juggling is being part of the game as well.

Next, on the foot as well.

The ball back onto the ground again for some instep controlling on the ball.

"Stepping" and moving of the ball.

Some "heel" controlling of the ball.

Before turn and shoot - GOAL!

THE SHORT VIDEO CLIP OF IT

Well, my groin wasn't okay on the day we did the film due to an injury incurred on the day before.

THE VERDICT
Despite the fact that there are other brands in the market producing soccer-related products, the "three stripes" is still the ONLY brand common folks would related it to the game.

I'm not sure if others would share the same opinion, but the "extra thumb" spacing between the tip of the toe and shoe, to me, is essential to provide the extra comfort when wearing them.

As I read before that the size of the foot tends to expand while exercise, so that little extra spacing is crucial to reduce aching due to size constraining, so do take note of that.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Many thanks to the wonderful guys of "SoccerPro.com" for making this try-out possible (Thanks for the trust, guys), Mr Mohamed Zainudeen for providing the BALL and Viknesh for his technical help throughout the shooting.

To find out more and interested in making online purchasing of "Adidas Samba Millenium", please click the link HERE

Good Luck to you, Guys who are heading south...

Not since the early 1980s when we last seen some of our top footballers left for greener pasture.

Coincide with Singapore's second pulled out from the Malaysia Cup in 1982, stars like Fandi Ahmad, Terry Pathmanathan, David Lee packed their bags and ventured to either the Malaysian or Indonesian leagues then.

When Terry Pathmanathan joined Pahang in 1982, it caused quite a storm

Fast forward 20-odd years later, some of the island's top players are heading to the south to the Indonesian league.

Thanks to the new 3+2 ruling that allows Indonesian clubs to employ two players from any AFC member country, thus out of sudden Singaporean players become hot commodities.

The only piece from the "mainstreamers" I across over the move

The funny sight was that, while the media speculation was rife with the Jakarta press (was once shown a clipping from one Indonesian papers with pictorial graphics and details), the local media seems to be caught unaware of it (some form of embargo in place or if there's case?).

Anyway, let's not stray away from the main topic.

Since now it's already confirmed that Noh Alam Shah (above) is joining Arema Malang on a year deal, while fellow Lions Fahrudin Mustafic and Baihaikki Khaizan still mulling over the switch to south, let's wish them all the best and see things from a positive angle.

For any player to play in front of crowds of more than 10,000 fanatic, boisterous supporters constantly will definitely hype him up (if he's able to handle it).

A chance to play in a big country such Indonesia will also make these Singaporean players realized the truth meaning of being a professional footballer whose job requires him to travel a lot (Fandi Ahmad told me once that travelling to away matches can take up to almost two weeks and some venues are not easily accessible by plane with coaches, train rides being common features as well).

Can Singapore players handle this atmosphere on a weekly basis, while find it exciting at the same time.

Much tougher and more physical playing style of football will be expected from the Indonesian League, so let's hope it would toughen up and improve the mentality and skills of these boys.

One of the main concerns of these guys would be the late payment of wages, which a common thing in this part of the world, although, I was told as foreign players their wages will be paid promptly as compared to the local guys (hearsay).

Lastly, what does this have to say about our clubs?

"We never stand a player's way, if he got a better offer elsewhere..." might be their thoughts.

But having so many star players making move at one go, it's definitely not a good sign and underlined the helplessness to keep the key players here in a time the league is struggling to pull in the crowds.

Sure, younger and fringe players will be given a chance to prove their worth, but that dirty word of "complacency" is something we would have to look out for as well.

Scene like this would be a thing in the past?

And like a friend mentioned, coach Raddy would have problem getting his national players for early centralized training for any big game coming up.

(P.S: By the time this post is loaded up, Alam Shah had played his last game for Tampines, and so might be another player from Stags' opponents tonight...)

I reiterated that - "It's not easy after all....."

Click for a bigger view

So what did I tell you? It's not easy to be a sports photographer!

Factors like ground survey before the game, the lighting of the venue, etc.

And the likeliness of having players crashed onto you! Like the depicted collage which compiled the frame-by-frame shot of Balestier's Korean import Oh In Kyun being overpowered by DPMM's Sairol Sahari and Safari Wahit.

The next thing I know was yours truly, who positioned himself behind the advertising billboard, was knocked by Oh when he lost his balance and crashed onto the board!

That's the job hazard as a photographer and luckily the camera escaped without any damage.

For the record, DPMM beat Balestier 3-1.

It's not easy after all.....

It's not easy to take action photos, and I just realized that few hours ago.

Armed with my newly-purchased "Fuji S2000", I decided to try it out (not without having some "interactions" with one of the "jaga", again!)

While I was snapping this shot of Geylang's players warming up from this position, I was advised by one of the "jaga", "Sir, you are not allow to take picture from here as you can only do so from behind the goal-line."

Frankly and to be honest, my mood dampen a bit when told of this "restriction" when just moment before that I did ask about the "Do's and Dont's" when roaming about the field area.

Luckily, the air was clear and I went on taking a few more shots (like the above pictured the match officials doing their own warming-up)...

... before I was suggested by Aundry Gan, the local renowned photo sports photojournalist, to position myself behind the goal (depicted above).

Noticed that I have been struggling to get my focus, Aundry get straight to the point and said, "Fuji is not ideal for sports photographing, it's more for studio shot".

"So after using "N" brand for 20 years, a lot of them were shocked when I switched to "O" brand." (I think "O" and "N" brand should be obvious which brand I am referring to eh...).

"I think you better zoom to the max (when using this camera), if not it'll kill you" as he shared with me another valuable pointer.

Indeed, I finally appreciate how difficult taking sports photograph is, it definitely need a lot of practice and honing of skill, which Aundry did mentioned, "It's not about the camera you have, it's about the person who is holding it."

Yes sir... and thanks for pointers that shared in that 45 minutes... and frankly, I'm not really satisfy with the outcome of the pictures... man, still a long way to go.

Just another day....

Just wonder how many of you guys were being shown concern by our "caring" jaga at the grounds??

Gallant Crown crushed out of Singapore Cup

Bangkok Glass' style of play is similar to what we saw by their fellow Thai side - TTM Samut Sakorn on last Friday.

Glass Rabbit fans... Wondering we would get to see the famed Glass Rabbit cheerleaders (depicted below) anytime soon?

(Picture credit: Bangkok Glass FC Facebook group) - the Glass Rabbits cheerleaders

Patient is the key in orchestrating any attacking play, a logic never seems to adapt by many of the local clubs who would prefer that "kamikaze" style of football (kick and rush before allowing your opponents to hit you hard when at vulnerability).

Just as we thought it was all over for Phnom Penh Crown when the Glass Rabbits scored their third before the end of first, a gusty fightback by the Khmer side saw them drew level in the 56th minute (as illustrated above).

But it wasn't good enough as the Cambodians were knocked out from the Cup.

PICTURES FROM POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

"We are not happy with the draw." said the Cambodian team manager Makara Be (pictured above left) with coach Apisit Im Amphai.

"Everybody in Cambodia were expecting us to make history in this competition and now we can't make to the semi-final because we lost (in the end)." he lamented.

"While I'm happy with the performance of my team, I think we underestimated Phnom Penh Crown." said Bangkok Glass team manager Supasin Leelarit (pictured above center) who is covering the coaching duty of this match in place of head coach Surachai Jaturapattarapong.

"It'll be up to coach Surachai to decide the team selection in the month of October when we'll be playing three big tournament at the same team." as Supasin revealed the dilemma facing the team next month.

阿兄见解 (A point of view from "Big Brother") -EDITED

Duric - 人在江湖,身不由己? (whose existence in the team beyond his control?)

A colleague of me (whom I call him "阿兄"- "Big Brother" in Teochew dialect) offered a different perspective on the current state of the national team a few days ago.

"We need a complete overhaul of the system." said my colleague, an avid football follower stayed in Hougang.

"Doesn't it tell you a lot things when our frontline still depend on the likes of (Aleksandar) Duric and Indra (Sahdan Daud), who're already in their sunset years as a striker?" he asked.

National skipper Indra Sahdan would face the chop if "阿兄" is the national coach.

"If I'm the national coach, this are the things I will do!" as he continued.

"First, I would set an age limit of 25 for the team, and gradually phrased out those above that age. This is maintain the energy level of the team."

"Secondly, I would set a criteria of only those who are at least 1.7m, and able to achieve a maximum of 12 seconds in 100m sprint to be in my team since the game is more about having height and speed nowadays." he explained.

(Picture Credit: wikipedia) Park Ji Sung - one of few Asian players earning their wages at the top.

"Just take at look at Asian players like Park Ji Sung (above), aren't they not at their top of their game where they are now?

"It's about having some tough military-style of training to instill some mental toughness in our current group of players whom I think are sorely lack of it."

"While players in other countries might have run more than 10 kilometers before the start of their training, what about our players? Who might have the comfort and leisure to drive to training in their cars or ride on bikes" he added (P.S: citation based on 阿兄's observation and understanding).

阿兄” is a regular at Hougang Stadium.

"I can tell you this, whenever I walked out of the stadium after each game (as he did when he left half-time during Sengkang's 3-0 defeat to Geylang not long ago), I feel nothing but dejection about the state of football we have in Singapore." as he sums up his thoughts.

SHOW OF APPRECIATION FROM 阿兄

"阿兄" thanks everybody for their feedback, as he merely wanted to make his view heard as a concerned Singapore football fan and this is what he have to say.

"I thank everybody for their feedback as (what I said is) meant for the future of our national team.

As I said again in today's game both speed, height and fitness are crucial factors in today's game, especially for defenders.

Just take a look at the present 100m world champions (Usain Bolt), he is not that muscular-built, but he has THE speed!

I agree that (Lionel) Messi is short, but he is someone exceptional and do we have someone like him in Singapore now?"