BoLASEPaKO.COM - A Blog on Singapore Football

The logo of 2TSS (use with permission) Scheduled to launch officially on January 2014, 2Touch Soccer School (2TSS) is Singapore's newest soccer education program. The new setup is part of 2Touch International, a sport services provider which has been providing organisations and institutions with sports related programs since 2009. Cater for kids between the ages of 4-12, 2TSS hopes to impart the fundamental skills of soccer to the trainees and develop them holistically through the game as well. "2Touch Soccer School boasts a well-planned curriculum that will train players using the most modern methodologies and a consistent philosophy and structure. This highly engaging method of coaching will develop not only technical players but also players with high levels of decision-making skills." said Mr Khairul Asyraf, the Technical Director of 2TSS. According to its website, the school had planned an all-year round schedule for its classes to be conducted around the...

Mr Peter Lim (left) is planning to buy Valencia (file shot) Just what was the first reaction when you read about billionaire investor Peter Lim's plan to take over La Liga side Valencia CF ( 1 , 2 ) when our football in our own backyard is struggling to pull the much-needed funding and attention ? It's pointless and meaningless to say anything about Lim's latest foray in football scene, it is his money after all and he will decide where it deemed fit as any businessman would. So much so of keeping maintaining the "feel-good" sentiment to convince the sceptical masses, the latest move by Lim, whose significant involvement in the local sports scene is through his SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship scheme , will once again cast the spotlight on the local game administrators' ability to attract more homegrown corporate big wigs. Which I am sure more people would be appreciated to see Singapore Airlines back to the foray, instead of having Air Asia embossed acros...

Some of those "ice-breakers" "How is S.League?" asked a colleague whom I chanced upon months ago. I replied: "If you ask this question, it would mean I didn't do my job properly, "It means somehow the league itself and its relevant information did not reach out to the wider audience they intended to." "Should have it done so, you would not ask me in the first place, isn't it?" I added. Another ice-breaker conversation that took place not long ago went like this after a day's work. "So Bishan stadium plays host for Home United (games), isn't it?" queried another colleague of mine "Yeah, it is," I answered. "Sorry lah, I don't quite follow the S.League, I just being confused lah." replied this colleague in an apologetic tone. "What's the problem again?" (imaginary dialogue) No worries, small chats as such are not uncommon since those guys are aware of my i...

The Cubs are through to the SEA Games semis (file picture) Should Singapore U23 want to ensure any chance of a medal at the SEA Games football competition, it will have to fix the Achilles Heel in giving away crucial dead-balls in injury moments. In spite having their berth confirmed in the semi-final of the most coveted event of the biennial meet, the Cubs, for the second time in four games, saw victory slipped away in stoppages that left that bit of a sour taste in their 1-1 draw against "Auld Enemy" Malaysia in Naypyidaw. Defender Afiq Yunos's close range tap-in in the hour mark placed the Cubs on the lead position before a well-taken free kick by Md Rozaimi in the injury time save the Harimau Muda's campaign. A victory against the defending champions would be seen as a major morale booster for the Cubs who had not had a smooth-sailing preparation besieged with hiccups , as compared to the consistency enjoyed by the Harimau Muda . Finished the group sta...

Sahil Suhaimi's (3) goal ensured Cubs' win (file picture) It was a hard fought win for the Singapore Under-23 in their 1-0 victory over their Vietnamese counterparts in their Group A SEA Games match. With this result, the Cubs propelled to the top of their Group on an undefeated record after this win and a draw earlier against Laos on Sunday . Once again, the Aide Iskandar's boys shown their bluntness in front of goal with just a goal registered on the record through their leading scorer Suhil Suhaimi's deflected strike that settled the difference in the injury time of the first half. Other than that, there wasn't much to crow about with the remaining of the match that seems far too familiar, except it was fair to acknowledge that Vietnam were by far the better side of the two with the intensiveness of their game coupled with some clever plays that threaten to punish the Singapore side in their box on several occasions. But football is such a cruel game ...

Screengrab of Live streaming off Youtube If anything is a gauge from the last two matches played by the Singapore Under-23 against the Philippines last Sunday (6-0 win) and their SEA Games opener against Laos that ended 1-1 moments ago, I think it wouldn't be too surprising to those who tracking the Cubs preparation in recent weeks. Clearly, the writings are on the wall that Aide Iskandar's boys can't do one of the basic things in football - TO SCORE. If there's anything positive to gather from the match in Naypyidaw, it would be the passing, possession play that led more patient and systematic buildup of attacking moves without giving away the ball too easily with closing down of Laotians advancement swiftly in the match. Things were made easy right from the start when the Cubs were on a numerical advantage after the Laotian skipper was sent off for a violent play on Shafiq Ghani but that did not translate the much-needed boast for them. Instead, it became a...

(P.S: If you access this site via "come.to/matchpix", please click the "Facebook" icon after you click "HERE" when you want to view the album as that will redirect you to the album, thank you) S.League - Home Utd 3-1 Albirex Niigata (S) 4/11/13 Runners-up medals at presentation The outcome of the match determined the positionings behind Tampines Rovers Football Club - the champions and saw Home United Football Club outmuscled Albirex Niigata FC Singapore 3-1 to claim the second and third spot respectively with a stunner by Sirina Camara. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Singapore Cup Final - Home Utd 4-1 Tanjong Pagar Utd 8/11/13 Off to Asia again for the Protectors Home United Football Club claimed the other ticket to Asia with an emphatic 4-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United at the JBS. Clearly for all to see the tough fitness regime imposed by Korean coach Lee Lim Saeng paid off that saw the Protectors overcame...

Watching the game from the stands Let's not be too hard on the Singapore Under-23 when the 6-0 scoreline could have on a double-digit shutout over the Philippines in the fund raising match for victims of Typhoon Haiyan graced by the presence of Her Excellency Minda Calaguian-Cruz, the Philippines Ambassador to Singapore. Slated to be the last warming up prior to the team's departure to the SEA Games in Myanmar, the Cubs did show the type of "passing-and-dominating" style of football, preached by Lions coach Bernd Stange, right from the start but faltered when it matter the most - putting the ball to the back of the net. Having most of the possession that broke down the Young Azkals fortress on several occasions, the Cubs were left frustrated on those rued chances that they created with Sahil Suhaimi missing the sitter from eight yards away in the 18th minute accounted as the biggest miss of all. Doing my part for the charity Pounding on the momentum thou...

Aide is not pressing the panic button just yet  Scheduled as the preparatory match for the upcoming SEA Games accorded with "A" international match protocols, the Singapore national team started the dice rolling in the fourth minute when skipper Harriss Harun's header went inches above the bar from opening the accounts. Despite dominating much of the possession in this match against Cambodia at Hougang Stadium, it must be appalling for the Cubs for not able to score as much as they created throughout the evening. Probably because the Games are just days away and to avoid any mishap from taking place, both sides adopted a "safety-first" approach with the hosts stroking passes around the park with the visitors defended in numbers at their back baying for opportunities to ambush the men-in-red on the counters. Shafiq Ghani's (26) headed home the only goal Nonetheless, the lack of clinical finishing from both teams on the field was the hallmark ...

"Heartlands Series" at Toa Payoh The national U23 side played to a one-all draw against Hougang United which comprised mainly their Prime Leaguers at the Toa Payoh Stadium. This match was part of the two-match series arranged this week for the SEA Games gelling process. Speaking to the media after the match, Cubs coach Aide Iskandar revealed he is "more or less" have in his mind who will be his starting eleven in the Myanmar adventure. Said the former national captain:"More or less this team that played tonight will be the first eleven, around 80 percent of them," "Overall, I am quite happy with what I saw today with the chances we created but I am not pleased with the end product that I think we need to work it out on that." added Coach Aide on those rued chances his side had during the match. Aide Iskandar is the coach of the Cubs Following the match against the Cambodian Under-23 side on the same venue this Friday, the squad o...

“This is the national team, and this is a qualifying match in which we still have a chance to make the Asian Cup finals,” “There is no reason for experimentation, we have to go out and make a result.” - Bernd Stange prior to the match against Syria at Tehran on ( TODAY, 15th November 2013 ) "We have to be realistic, as now we don't have the strength to qualify for the Asian Cup in Australia at this present moment and I'm still on the lookout for younger players to play the kind of football I want to, like I said before it takes time and it's a long process." - Bernd Stange after 2-1 win over Syria on 15th October 2013 Barely a month apart and contrasting thoughts from the Singapore national team coach must have a few guys scratching their heads on the actual priority of the German coach. It was the same man quick to douse the flame after the 2-1 win over Syria at home in October to quash any fantasizing thoughts of heading Down Under next year for the ...

Off to Asia again with this Cup win by Home United Should we say the emphasis on match fitness by Home United coach Lee Lim Saeng paid off with that emphatic display that shredded Tanjong Pagar United apart in the RHB Singapore Cup final? Just days ago a friend of mine suggested that the Protectors are the fittest side among the S. League clubs with the tough regime imposed by the former Korean international since his arrival at the Bishan-based club three years ago. All it took was two quick set-pieces goals in the early stages of the first half to inflict the damage on their opponents to set the momentum right for Home United to wrap up their second Cup win under Coach Lee with a convincing 4-1 scoreline. Shahril Jantan won the Cup two-on-a-roll Seemingly agreeing with the opening notion, Home United's 'keeper Shahril Jantan offered his thoughts to this blogger after the match. Said the decorated custodian: "I think that this team is fitter as compared to...

(P.S: If you access this site via "come.to/matchpix", please click the "Facebook" icon after you click "HERE" when you want to view the album as that will redirect you to the album, thank you) 2013 Singapore Cup - Home Utd 1-0 Balestier Khalsa 7/10/13 Nothing went right for the Tigers (white jersey) that day  It was a dream that came to an abrupt end with Balestier Khalsa saw their unprecedented bid for a cup double ended in an agony. Given a precedence that saw the newly crowned League Cup winners came from behind to beat Hougang United to be in the RHB Singapore Cup's "Final Four", hopes were high for the Tigers to repeat the same feat against Home United who were on a slim advantage of a goal margin after their semi-final first-leg win at Toa Payoh earlier. But Firdaus Idros's strike in second half dashed any hope of doing so. Tried these shots on the settings of ISO 2500, 1/1000 on f2.8. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ...

Three-peat for Tampines Rovers  Unlike the previous two seasons that saw tight finishing to the S . League title race, Tampines Rovers had a relatively easy ride (amid some scares along the way) on their route to retaining the trophy. Thanks to their closest rivals Albirex Niigata (Singapore)'s defeat to Balestier Khalsa last Sunday, the Stags were declared the league champions without kicking a ball and had their trophy presentation took place right after their 1-1 draw against Tanjong Pagar United last evening at home. The presentation coincided with the Asian Champions League (ACL) final which took place on the same night and it's no secret the now five-time S. League champions have long harbour the thoughts to compete with the continent's elite. Wonder if I would get another chance? Depending on the outcome of the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) criteria check weeks ago on the S . League (which is due to release next month), Tampines would then ...

The "Masters" getting ready for action at the tunnel This afternoon saw me inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the IG Masters 6s Singapore Cup. This event was back in town for the second time running after the first was held last year at the same venue. It featured the likes of Robbie Fowler, Mark Wright, Paul Parker, Patrik Berger with many others who used to ply their livelihood in the English Premier League (EPL) and not forgetting our own heroes like Nazri Nasir, Dalis Supait, Lim Tong Hai, Bashir Khan plus the still active Aleksandar Duric turning together for the Singapore Masters team. Robbie Fowler (R) takes on Alex Duric (C) with Lim Tong Hai looks on Pierre van Hooijdonk (right) made scoring look easy Meanwhile those former EPL stars were represented in the forms of "Liverpool Masters", "Man Utd Masters"(based on their past affiliation with the two clubs) and "EPL All Stars Master". The event was split into three...

Albirex Singapore Pte Ltd, the operating company of S.League club Albirex Niigata (Singapore), announced the establishment of Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh FC (ANPPFC). The logo of the new club (via Albirex Niigata-S's FB ) The newly setup is a wholly owned subsidiary of Albirex Singapore in Cambodia and will be based in the country capital Phnom Penh where they are due for their debut in the “Metfone Cambodian League” (C-League) next year. "Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh FC will also hope to raise the value of sports in Cambodia by operating a football club in Japanese style and contributing Cambodian society. Through these activities, we will try to be a role model as a leading company in the Japanese sports business." said the club in the statement on the motive behind their foray into the Cambodian football scene. Scheduled to kick-off in January 2014, ANPPFC will fill up their roster using mainly Cambodian players with up to five import players allowed under the s...

Khairul Amri (19) gave Lions the lead in 61st It is obvious that Singapore national team coach Bernd Stange will be heavily involved in the preparation for the upcoming SEA Games with the remaining matches in ongoing Asian Cup qualifiers are served as tuning up process. Naming seven players with Games eligibility in the starting lineup in their 2-1 win over Syria, therefore, came no surprise when he mentioned earlier the "first test" to prove his "passing-and-dominating" theory will be in the biennial regional meet . Shafiq Ghani (center) helping out in defence Safuwan Baharudin (21) kept things tidy at back That notion was confirmed right immediately after the Lions' victory at the Jalan Besar Stadium on the night that saw Khairul Amri and Gabriel Quak put their names on the scoresheet against the Middle-Easterners. "It'll be the SEA Games," said the 65-year-old coach in reply to the first question fielded by the media in the ...