It came at a time amid reports of poor ticketing sales that forced the games' organizers to close the gallery section of the Jalan Besar Stadium (pictured below), where all the football matches of the inaugural event were hosted.
The decision to “shut down” the gallery section proved to be an unpopular decision that it meant fans would have to fork out a higher price price to be seated at the covered “grandstand”of the 6,500-capacity stadium.
However, a sudden twist of event saw the surge of interest on the football tickets that it was announced that the tickets to matches involved the Singapore team in the preliminary round were “not longer available”.
I later then realized that there was this report that the Ministry of Education had buying “80,000 tickets for students from primary schools to junior colleges to watch the game” (pictured above) so as to “ensure that students here have the opportunity to support local and foreign athletes while enjoying the spirit of sports competition”.
And based on the account from the eye-witnesses at the opening game between Singapore and Zimbabwe that the large part of the 4,800 crowds at the arena were actually students.
Stringent, yet necessary, check at entrance saw many fans missed this goal...
“(The) mystery of sold out tickets (was) solved when whole grandstand was filled with 3/4 students, if nobody wanna buy ticks, at least the schools are doing a good thing to buy them and let their students go unless otherwise.” said one fan who was at the match, but missed the first goal scored by Ammirul Mazlan in the very first minute due to the “stringent security check” at the gates.
But he added, “The support was deafening, (and such a)long long (time, we have) no such (an) atmo(sphere) at jbs (Jalan Besar Stadium), just look at our Friday night games (that is telecast live) for eg of quiet matches”
Just as I thought I resigned to fate for not able to be part of the crowds on the 19th August, things took a sudden twist (again!) when I read this tweet post (pictured below).

So I took the opportunity and asked the sales personnel what had actually happened.
"It's up to the ticketing system that they decided to release some for the public sales." replied the sales personnel regarding my query.
"As you can see for yourself (on the website), they (organizers) only stated 'AVAILABLE' without giving the actual figure they put up for sale." she added.


Its a good sign that MOE bought the tickets for schools to attend. At least the fans will be voiceforous given the amount of energy the kids are gonna generate in the stand. Just hope the cubs will not be overawed. They should be mentally prepared as the whole nation are now buzzing with excitement. Get the semi slot and YOU WILL SEE the whole nation might just be hovering around Jalan Besar stadium. GO CUBS GO! we are right behind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewas at the girls match at jalan besar last sunday,yes 3/4 stadium occupied by students,yesterday was at wisma to buy tickets for thurs and sunday game,both granstand and gallery were available,chose the gallery coz cheaper,only hope for good weather now.
ReplyDelete