BoLASEPaKO.com - a blog on Singapore Football

What 's going through the mind of Woodlands Wellington when they announced to the press that they taking Agu Casmir back on a year deal? Other than that, the Rams will pay the US$20,000 sign-on fee, took by the errant striker, back to Indonesian club Persija. While the FAS on their part, had cut the subsidy meant for him, slapped him with a one year ban from playing for the national team plus a hefty fine. Now, the questions are: Is the Indonesian FA and Persija willing to let the matter rest easily? Especially, after Agu went missing they had threaten to bring the matter to FIFA. Sound contradicting here: Agu claimed his ITC will be released by Persija if he can pay back the US$20,000 sign-on fee (provided he sign with a new club). All this while, it seems to me that Agu "will return the sign-on fee" to Persija but the latter don't seems to buy his story thus threaten to bring up the issue to FIFA. So should we believe? Anyway, time is not on Agu's side e

Let us just get straight to the point. Yes, it may be the home of Singapore football, a perfect setting for the season opening match (the East-West Challenge) featuring the "cream of the crop" (minus the national team players who are away to Jordan for the Asia Cup qualifier). But having the fanfare to be staged at the Jalan Besar Stadium on a lazy Sunday afternoon, seems to be a bad choice. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, where the previous fanfares had took place, this should be the first time the fanfare took place somewhere in the heartland (if you consider Jalan Besar is one of those heartlands, despite its close proximity to the CBD area.) Unlike those staged in the prime area like Orchard Road, in the previous years where it adapted a "open-door, walk-in" concept, where fans and passer-by would mingled with one and other, this year event is more like a "close-door" event. In attendance were mostly "official" fans

Confession to make I admitted that I'm one of those strongly advocated the use of naturalized citizens to play for the national team, though I maintained that not at the expenses of "sacrifice" our local players. Been wondering if whatever happened to Agu Casmir and Itimi Dickson had shifted my point of view. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying other naturalized players are not committed, it just that the unprofessional attitude shown by these former Nigerians had reflected badly on the rest. Not surprisingly, letters had been pouring in questioning the selection criteria under the Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS). It certainly hard to stomach the thoughts that some are merely making use of their sporting talents to gain the coveted red passport. Furthermore, if memory served me well I still recalled in his first interview as Singapore citizen, Itimi mentioned that he is putting in effort to learn to sing the national anthem. Barely a year later, the same p

We DID it!!!! Alright..alright.. We fired the first salvo by beating the Iraqis.. It proved that nothing is impossible since Iraqis is far a much better team than us. Seems like everybody was fired up for this game despite the glooms that clouded the camp prior the match. Wish I was there, not able to be there due to other commitments :( However, I would like to remind the boys that it's just the begining and it's still a long journey ahead. Stay cool and focus, we will be in the main stage. And what a night was as at the same time the island mourned the death of former Deputy Prime Minister Mr S Rajaratnam who passed away this afternoon.

(What a way to start the week as the paper revealed all) Is the Myth Broken? What a way to draw the attention of the fans. A day before the kick-off of the Asian Cup qualifier against the Iraqis, news broke out that Woodlands duo Mazreswan Masturi and Goh Tat Chuan were axed from the national team, for breaking the curfew. Not surprised that the former was dropped (as former coach Jan Poulsen did that to him before due to poor discipline too) but was amazed that a senior like Tat Chuan was shown the door too. Making the news more intriguing is the statement quoted by the midfielder. Not known for his outspokenness as this is a player who let his game do the talking. By mentioned that some players "have a worse attitude" and went unpunished for "missing training", it had opened some rooms for imagination and speculation. Is the Myth Broken? As it's been a long time that thing like these were mentioned. By spilling the beans in the papers, it seems to

(The match ticket of the match) Young Lions cruised through the next round I must say the two MCs are kidding themselves if they thought they had a great fun in hyped up the atmosphere. It's always a thankless job in getting the fans to join in "the fun". I guessed since the "retirement" of that "wave conductor" of Kallang (during the Malaysia Cup), no one has been able to emulate that extraordinary feat like he did. Nevertheless, here I was right at the top of Jalan Besar watching the returning leg of Malaysia FA Cup tie between the Young Lions and Shanzan Muda of Pahang. Given their familiarity with the artificial turf and it's continuous offences right from the start, it's not surprise that the host took the lead in the fifth minute. Plenty of misses and uncoordinated moves dominated the first half. While Young Lions were faulted for not increased their lead following the early lead, they were also guilty of giving away numbers of th

(logo courtesy of footballasia.com) Tough times ahead? (A look before the start of the Asian Cup campaign) The same old bugbear (i.e.: poor finishing) hau nted the team again when they drew against Hong Kong in their final warm-up match before the start of the Asia Cup qualifiers. Despite the fact that the Lions had not clinched a win so far in year 2006, the concerning parties had somehow praised the team performance so far (other than the loss against the "arrogant" Danes.) Having to come back from a two-goal deficit to level against the Kuwaitis and conceded a goal at the dying moments in their match against the Omanis, is by no means an easy feat. The fighting spirit shown in those two games, maybe somehow restored (but not all) that bruised ego of Singapore football, which was badly deflated in the last year's SEA Games. The failure yet again to find net at the required moment will be the key problem for the coach Raddy to