An unpolished Gem??

A boy caught my attention recently at the Singapore 9s Master.



So what's your verdict? I still believe we have so many untapped talents waiting to be discovered.

Don't let this example slip away....

"That" war is not over yet....

While it's a sign of relief to read the news that the wanted man - the former Liaoning Guangyuan team manager Wang Xin is caught in China (as depicted in the screenshot of TODAY's 27th Nov article).


How about this guy mentioned below in the archive I screenshot from Google?

Why we have to go through this again?

The league authority would have a lot to answer and convince the large number of dwindling local football supporters over the decision to admit another foreign club into the foray.

“Having foreign teams in the league would add colours and help to boast the standard of play in the league.” as what the league authority used to rationale the largely unpopular move, especially among those remnant fans of those “sit-out” clubs like Tanjong Pagar United, Jurong FC and Sembawang Rangers.

So when TODAY reported that CSL side Beijing Guoan was named as a potential team to be part of the set-up (as depicted in the screenshot above), the less-than-desirable reaction from those folks out there was more or less came no surprise to me.

To back their claim, stats and figures had clearly very clearly that teams from China had yet to prove their worth despite number of promises made at each pre-season media introduction.

Dalian Shide Siwu FC used to based in Queenstown Stadium

Other than Sinchi FC, which lasted from 2003-2005 despite never being a hit with the local set-up, their follow-up teams such as Liaoning Guangyuan and Dalian Shide Siwu only played in the league for ONE season before faded away (Liaoning shown the door after completed the 2007 season, while Dalian were not invited back after 2008 season).

Former Liaoning player Zhao Zhipeng was convicted for that thing in 2008.

Given such a short lifespan playing in the S.League, one can't help but wondering why these teams were admitted in the first place despite the number of stringent criteria needed to be fulfilled?

• Is there a flaw in the selection set-up?
  
  
• Is the time-frame given to assess these potential teams too short?
  

But one thing that's for sure is the inability to confirm the teams to be featured in the next season soon, will once again have everybody wait till the last minute for the fixtures, which one cannot guarantee NO CHANGE will be made (as it always happens).

[ACTIVITY]13th YES Camp‏ by Geylang United (CLOSED)

(P.S: The following message is brought to you by Geylang United Football Club. Any club or organization would like to publicize their upcoming activities via this blog, please feel free to email to me at "kopohui@bolasepako.com", thanks)

13th Young Eagles Soccer Camp

Calling all boys & girls (aged 7 – 13 yrs old) Join us this Dec ‘09 for an exciting camp experience. Pick up basic football skills from your favorite football personalities plus a trip to Night Safari

Details:
Date: 2 - 5 Dec 2009 (Wed - Sat)
Venue: National Service Resort & Country Club
Registration fees (incl. GST) :

• $200*(members/ ex-participants)
• $235* (non members)
  

(Includes: Accommodation, Insurance Coverage, Training apparels, Meals , BBQ session plus a night outing to Night Safari)

Registration forms are available at 101, Bedok North Ave 3 (GUFC clubhouse) or can be downloaded from website: www.gufc.org.sg. For more information, please call: 6441 7873/6441 8020.

Hurry,Register NOW!!

All details are correct as at the point of printing and are subject to changes without prior notice

At the 9s Master 2009 [edited]

A mundane weekend saw me head down to Jalan Besar Stadium over the last weekend to catch some veterans footballers in action.

It was indeed a low-key affair when most at the grounds were either old school-mates, teammates or family members of the players.

While the pace of the game was not what we saw in those S.League matches, where speed and aggression are the keys of the game.

Instead, much slower pace football does has its merits as it was much relaxed and less intense since everyone was there to reminisce the good ol' days.

SOME ACTION PHOTOS

"In-synch"

The KLM team (in stripes) were one of the two foreign teams in action.

The players from Old Raffles Association waiting for their turn to play.

What a leap in attempt to head the ball from the number 2 player from KLM team.

"Watch out for the ball!!"

Tussling for possession is necessary.

Former Lions R Suriamurthy (37) shows his stuff.

A great clearance header from this defender in white.

The mid-day heat was something these veterans got to cope with.

It's a time to get together for a kick-about for these "abangs" and group-picture taking.

There was only ONE official on the field during the play - the referee.

THE WINNERS

(Picture above) Ser Seng Veterans claimed the "Plate"

(Picture above) The Singapore Malays, with several ex-national players, overpowered Old Raffles' Association to take the "Cup".

We did it - Thailand 0-1 Singapore [edited]

And we did it... from the "set-pieces", nice combination of Shaiful and Duric...

Just watched the delay telecast of the game on TV.

It was indeed a much better performance by the boys, as the commentator had pointed out correctly at the end of the game that Singapore had a game plan and got it well-executed by frustrated the Thais.

Nice to see Khairul Amri put up a credible performance after such a long while, and credit must also goes to the whole team for putting behind the last Saturday's defeat to come back with such a convincing victory at the intimidating Rajamangala Stadium.

Lastly, I would like to say "No point pin-pointing here and there, just get the job done swiftly!!" (after lurking at some posting on this thread of this popular forum...)

Who do you think you are?

It's ironically that since that 3-1 defeat to Thailand on Saturday, this blog recorded its biggest viewership since its establishment as it surpassed the previous record set on 20th May 2009.

So as a basic courtesy, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those folks who had flocked in over the past few days that made it possible to this new record.

And it the meantime, active discussions have been taken place since that heart-breaking defeat with many opinions, views, thoughts etc. being shared on and off the line.

It's seems to be always the case whenever we suffered any defeat or sort, all kind of brickbats would be thrown at the players or whosoever involved and even when we won or performed credibly the players, at times, would be discredited because "YOU have FTs" or "YOU're just plain LUCKY" etc.

I scanned through some of those discussions took place on whatever platforms, you can easily noticed that there's nothing much constructive except for a few opinions shared.

It wouldn't hurt me so much if comments were made by those passionate fans (like those who braved the rain to watch the Lions beat the Indonesians, as pictured above).

But at the end of it, we have to ask ourselves (included myself) - the FAS, the clubs, the coaches, the admin staff, the players, the ball boys, the groundsman, the security personals and the general public (I used the word - general public NOT fans) - what have we done and are we doing anything to stop the rot?

[Asian Cup Group E Qualifier] SINGAPORE 1-3 THAILAND

SHORT SCRIBE OF THE GAME
The first thing you noticed at the ground was the heavy security at the stadium.

Given the stakes were high and big crowds were expected that the organizers had decided to segregate both groups of fans from one and other.

And like most games played in Kallang in the recent years, it would always be the away fans who drummed up the atmosphere (Why are we the passive lot??).

Saw this fan dressed up for occasion..hope he had a good business selling those flags.

Things got off the worst possible start for the Lions after Noh Alam Shah was judged to handle the ball and Sutee Suksomkit made no error from spot against his old mate Hassan Sunny who dived the wrong way in the 12th minute (interesting fact: all three were playing for Tampines together months ago).

Before the KICK-OFF...

It was not going according to the Lions' planning as they struggled to make their presence felt as the Thais seems perfectly alright on a surface we thought would be their Achilles' heel.

While many folks out there suggested the midfield was the area where we lost the game and I tend to agree with that (see how Datsakorn pulling the strings there?).

22,183 turned out for the game

Could it be the case that we left it too late in the game that while we did made a few attempts to come back in the second half, it was not good enough as two defensive lapse in space of six minutes gave the maximum points to the yellow outfits.

The irony part was the scorers of those goals were guys the Lions are so familiar with as an unmarked Therdsak Chaiman made his return to international football with a sweet volley (75th minute) off a Nutnum Suchao's cross from left, while Sutee made no mistake on his one-on-one against a stranded Hassan in the 81st minute.

SNIPPETS AND PICTURES FROM THE POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

"What we worked on the training and they did that very well that gave them the platform to create chances which we did in first half." said Thailand's coach Bryan Robson (pictured above) in the post-match press conference.

"Apart from the penalty (in the 12th minute), we created two or three very good chances where we might have scored and so that was very pleasing." added the former Middlesborough manager.

Sizable media presence in the "Gold" room.

"Second Half, I thought we got a bit stretched as compared to the first half, which was a very good performance and we were little bit fortunately on couple of occasions when the balls bounced kindly for us, otherwise Singapore might have get back to (the) game.

"And on the counter-attack, we thought we deserved the second goal and it was a great move and good finish by Therdsak (Chaiman) to put us two-nil in front."

"What disappointed me is after we scored the third goal, we lost concentration and I felt that's the one weakness we have after playing well and lost it." said Coach Robson.

"That was not the team I practicing with, not the team that played (well) in the last few games for Singapre and what we practiced in the training were not recognizable there." said a visibly disappointed Coach Raddy (above) as he gave his assessment of the night.

"And in the first place, the intention was to hit the ball and run, we created at least 300% chance in the second half that we should scored and the critical thing in this match is we did not score in the chances (we created)." lamented the Serbian coach as he continued.

"I felt the referee was too harsh to give away the (12th minute) penalty, because there were three similar situations for us where the Thai players handled the ball in the penalty box and the referee failed to give those penalties." said coach Raddy.

Coach Raddy also felt the team had been losing posession in midfield, while found it difficult to break the Thai down and thought maybe some "individual effort would paid off" that caused them those missed chances.

REACTION FROM FANS....

Got this text message straight after the game from a friend of me, who requested me to make his feeling known on this blog. I was a bit hesitant about putting this, but each individual is entitled to his/her opinion and I don't have any comment on this above message...

The Thai supporters made their presence felt with their more lively and spontaneous cheering.

When Raddy meets Robbo [Pre-match press conference of Asian Cup Group E Qualifier between Singapore and Thailand, follow by Pre-Match training at JBS]

The setting for the media conference.

I was at the pre-match media conference, held at the Amara Hotel at Tanjong Pagar, of the utmost important Asian Cup Qualifier between Singapore and Thailand.

Singapore coach Raddy (pictured above) said he's glad with the media turn out today that he felt this must be something good about the game tomorrow.

Thailand's coach Bryan Robson (below) this is first time he comes to Singapore in a capacity as a coach and he's looking forward to the game and challenge ahead.

At the meantime, the former England skipper gave an update to the media on his team preparation and said,"everything is going well.", but he highlighted a problem many national teams' coaches are facing - the lack of time to prepare the team when some of the overseas-based players "can't stay long enough".

Coach Raddy thinks that's not better occasion than Singapore versus Thailand to have the local fans come out in force to give the team the "home advantage" they need.

The Serbian coach told the media that team preparation is good and he's happy with the players' attitude shown in the training, with everyone eager to prove themselves.

Lions' skipper Noh Rahman (above) echoed his coach's point of view and he's grateful the chance to lead the team out tomorrow, but he still felt that the captain is striker Indra Sahdan Daud, while added each of the eleven players on field has the capability of being the team's captain.

Coach Robson appreciate the valuable help given by his assistant Steve Darby (pictured aboved, middle of the trio), for being someone who has been working in the region for so long, whose knowledge of Singapore players helped him in preparing for the tomorrow's game.

Thailand's captain Datsakorn Thonglao (above) said that 2007 controversial AFF championship final between the two sides was a thing of a past, as his teammates and himself are focusing on tomorrow's match instead.

He said every player in the Thai national team is skillful and everyone having the capability to win the game on his own.

Friendly pose before the big match tomorrow... (wonder what Coach Raddy was saying to Robbo?)

Another one for my album (thanks to a fellow media worker for making this possible)

SNEAK PEEK AT THE TRAINING SESSIONS

Coach "Robbo" ditched aside his business suit and got down to business at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

With former Home United coach Steve Darby as his chief assistant, coach "Robbo" hopes his familiarity of the Singapore players would help him.

Not forgetting to mention this legend who used to struck fear to Singapore's defence - Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang (above), now back as another assistant to Bryan Robson.

The Thais started their session with slow jog around the field.

The Thai media at work...

Some of the Lions getting ready for the work-out.

Not before coach Raddy delivered his briefing to the boys first.

All I can say the Lions are in good spirit.. Good Luck and "Untuk Bangsa Dan Negara!!"

(Media information by Football Association of Singapore)
Singapore fans travelling to Asian Cup Qualifier urged to use public transport

SINGAPORE, 13 November 2009: FAS have been working closely with the relevant authorities on the safety and security arrangements for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier between Singapore and Thailand at the National Stadium on Saturday 14 November.

Measures include among others reducing the capacity at the stadium to 40,000, designating seats within the stadium for the Thailand supporters, urging the public to purchase their tickets early and to take public transport to the match.

Please note that Car Park F and the coach bay area next to Car Park G will not be available for the public on the day.

Tickets on match day will go on sale from 5.30pm at the National Stadium East and West Entrances subject to availability.

We are pleased to inform that SBS Transit will be increasing the frequency of Service 11 from 4.30pm to 11.00pm for the convenience of fans taking public transport. Service 11 plies the route between the Geylang Bus Interchange (next to Kallang MRT Station) and the National Stadium.