BoLASEPaKO.COM - A Blog on Singapore Football

The Jaguars Team Coach stationed at Bishan Frankly speaking, the news of the recent change of management at the once-mighty Tanjong Pagar United doesn't excite me at all. Having observed how things were run over the last few years from a bystander's perspective, I would rather reserve judgement until the time is right. Nonetheless, it is crucial that the new management keeps all stakeholders informed of their plans, without making any grandstanding statements. After all, with the new season merely weeks away, we should have received some tangible updates from the club by now regarding whatever plans they have in mind. Spare a thought for those long-suffering Jags supporters who had enough after all these years. - 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓  𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎'𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍  -

The blogger with Ian Wright at Tiong Bahru Market in 2015 I am no longer looking forward to the World Cup — a feeling that began after 2002. Gone are the days when the competition was broadcast on free-to-air channels, serving as a focal point around the globe that everyone looked forward to every four years. FROM SBC TO SBS Back then, our local broadcasters would host the coverage from their own studio setup at Caldecott Hill during those SBC days before the role was taken over by Australia's SBS in 1994, which introduced Singaporean households to the legendary duo of Les Murray and Johnny Warren for the very first time. Since then, watching the World Cup has become a costly affair. Football fans have to dig deep into their pockets to pay for the subscriptions just to witness the mesmerising moments of icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I still remember paying the subscription for the first (and last) time so that my late father could watch the games during 2002 ...

I can still vividly remember the day I read the shattering headline printed in the 3rd January 1993 edition of The Sunday Times (the Sunday edition of The Straits Times (ST)). I literally choked on my drink when I read this headline (as credited) Despite noting the ace winger did not have a good season in the previous year that saw Singapore relegated to the second tier of the Malaysian League, the broadsheet assessed : "If 26-year-old Hasnim (Haron) does move across the Causeway, it would be a severe blow to Singapore's hopes of a successful campaign when Division Two of the Semi-Pro League (Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 2) kicks off in July." NOT A "PIN DROP" AT ALL The development caught the whole local football fraternity by surprise, as there had been literally no sign—not even a pin drop—to hint to anyone that the midfielder was on his way to Stadium Larkin (the home ground of Johor FA ). This was especially shocking, given that things were looking up for a reju...

Keisuke Honda training at Jurong East   The stunning recruitment of former Japanese international Keisuke Honda by the soon-to-be-renamed FC Jurong (currently Albirex Niigata (Singapore) ) has sent shockwaves through the local football fraternity since the announcement made this morning (10/4) . While marquee signings are nothing new since professionalisation began in 1996, what matters most is the impact the former AC Milan star will make come August. The league’s history is littered with so-called "impact" players who failed to leave a mark—such as 1990 Cameroon World Cup veteran Émile Mbouh, who turned out for Tiong Bahru United in 1997. Which other "marquees" can you recall who truly left a lasting impression during their time in Singapore? (👀: Shingo Nakano, at the background of the snap, would relish the opportunity to partner with the legend) - 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎'𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 ...