BoLASEPaKO.COM - A Blog on Singapore Football

I would think it will be the biggest accomplishment on the CVs of any marketing or PR (public relations) person if he/she is up to the task to ensure Lionel Messi's trip to Singapore is free of any hiccups. MESSI’S HISTORY OF SKIPPING THE REGION For the record, the Argentinian skipper has famously snubbed this region on several occasions. A recent poll conducted by this platform indicated that a majority fear he may not turn up with the three-time world champions, who will be in town in early 2026 (click below to see the poll outcome). Prior to his brief stopover in the republic back in 2017 , a thigh injury ruled the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner out of a friendly match held at the Shah Alam Stadium in 2013 . Since then, the Inter Miami star has also missed matches in both Hong Kong and Indonesia , despite being heavily promoted as the star attraction of these fixtures. A RISKY PROMOTION FOR SINGAPORE? Messi’s non-appearances have not only disappointed thousands who longed to se...

Singapore National Team ’s 1-0 defeat to Nepal at the National Stadium on 21 March 2025 left many fans stunned. With a higher FIFA ranking, the 160th-ranked Lions were expected to overpower the Nepalese who are ranked at the 175th place, but instead, they found themselves struggling to put together a cohesive performance. "Nasi Lemak" - a favourite local dish After the match, a friend of mine used "Nasi Lemak" (above image, as credited), a beloved local dish, to describe the situation. NO WATER, NO NITRATES – NO QUALITY INGREDIENTS "If the padi field doesn't have the water or nitrates, you can't have decent nasi lemak or Teochew muay." said this friend of mine who started off his theory with these words. He reasoned that if a padi field lacks water and nitrates, you can’t grow quality rice, nor can you cultivate fresh cucumbers. It also affects chicken feed production, meaning the fried chicken wing - the heart of a good "Nasi Lemak" -...

My colleague was humming this tune (clip above, credit:  insorlow ) to another colleague before I replied, "Road to Wembley, lah!" "It was a time when we were able to watch football (on TV) without paying extra (money)." I continued with that bit of reminiscing feel after listening to that humming of the tune that was played at the start of the iconic program that showcased the highlights of the FA Cup matches back in the 1980s to 1990s on the long-gone Channel 12 – the terrestrial channel that broadcasted most of the sporting programs in those days. WHEN ENGLISH FOOTBALL FIRST CAPTIVATED US It was also during that period when many of my peers first got to know about English football and started to pick a team to follow (with me no exception until I decided to localise wholeheartedly in the early 1990s). How we watched football in the past   Not surprisingly, what we saw in the highlights from the program and those of the weekend's live matches on Channel 12 bec...

Muangthong United (MTU) is one of Thailand’s most recognised football clubs with an impressive domestic to boost with. However, when it comes to playing against Singaporean teams in AFC club competitions, the Thai giants have consistently struggled. From past encounters with SAFFC and Tampines Rovers to their most recent hitting-the-kerb against Lion City Sailors, Muangthong’s struggles in Singapore remain a recurring theme. EARLIER SETBACKS AT JBS That bumpy ride of "Twin Qilins" in began in the 2010 AFC Champions League playoff against SAFFC at Jalan Besar Stadium (JBS) - the main venue of Asian club tournaments for Singaporean clubs. René Desaeyere - MTU coach in 2010 Despite their reputation, the Nonthaburi-based club failed to secure victory, missing out on the group stage of Asia’s elite club competition. Their frustrations continued in the 2011 AFC Cup group stage when they faced Tampines Rovers. The match ended in a 1-1 draw , further underscoring Muangthong’s inabil...