BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

Jozef Kapláň (left) with Coach Mike Wong Fans of Geylang United would have to take some time to get used to seeing their beloved Eagles trooped out Bedok tunnel in not their usual green outfit. "WHY CHANGE OUR COLOURS?" EAGLES' FAN Instead of the colour that was long associated with the most successful team in the pre S.League days, the players will be donned in the maroon top. "We have always been green, why changed our identity?" said web designer Md Noor Hadi, an Eagles supporter who was surprised with the club's decision that was made known recently. He added: "It may be a small matter to many, but to people like me, who supported the club since the early 90s (Geylang International days), it's just not right lah. Green is the club colour, not maroon." Jozef Kapláň's (middle) only time in GREEN A similar sentiment is not alone with a Geylang fan who voiced his disapproval on the club's official Facebook page when the new m

(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) 2012 Pre Season starts... Geylang United(26/12/11) 2012 Pre-season Training starts with Geylang on Boxing Day 2012. With the field still under maintenance, the Eagles begun their preparation by focus on their conditioning on the tracks under the eyeful eyes of newly-recruited trainer Peter Jakobsen (pictured above left). Due to his resemble to Dutch legendary striker Denis Bergkamp, it's not wonder that Jakobsen was often mistaken for making a comeback with the Eagles when his picture first surface. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE REST OF THE PICTURE 2012 Pre Season starts... Home United(27/12/11) Home United also begun their pre-season training at the end of December at Ang Mo Kio Secondary School. The school is one of the adopted schools by the Protecto

To many at the game just now at Bishan Stadium, they jolly well knew that Home United's title fate was no longer in their hands after they lost to their closest rivals Tampines Rovers nights ago that saw they being dislodged from the top of the table. Home United - 2011 League runners-up Still to the recently crowned Singapore Cup winners , they remained focused with their task tonight and went on to beat a depleted Geylang United 5-0 before collecting the league runners-up cheque of $75,000 and medals from the guest of honour, Mr Sarjit Singh who is the honorary treasurer of the FAS at the end of the night. Although, one can't help but feeling sorry for the visitors who were playing their first game after more than a month break due to the rescheduling of the league fixtures and resulted them fielding a number of fringe players after having to release three of their imports - Jeon Byung Euk, Daniel Hammond and Yuta Nakano following the fulfilment of their contractual o

The residents in Bedok Central were in for a pleasant surprise last Saturday morning when they were greeted by players and officials of Geylang United Football Club. As part of their community outreach program to the vicinity they are based, the Eagles initiated the awareness drive to promote the upcoming "Eastern Derby" match against the neighbouring Tampines Rovers, who are due for a visit this coming Thursday (21st April) at the Bedok Stadium. "One reason we are doing this is because we want to generate an awareness that 'Geylang United is here' among the Bedok residents." explained Gale Gan, the club's Senior Officer (marketing and media) on the motive behind this awareness drive. "Getting players to come out and interact with the residents had shown that we are sincere of having them come down to Bedok Stadium to support us on the match days." added Gan. According to him, the response from the residents during the morning walkabout has bee

The KING signed on my notepad!! It's no wonder that wherever he has been, he will always bring joy to everyone he meets; yours truly is one of them. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could meet the man who is regarded by the world as the best footballer seen on the earth? But there I was at the Jalan Besar Stadium and Pelé was right in front of me! Former Manchester United captain Eric Cantona With another legendary footballer Eric Cantona (pictured above), both of them are in Singapore with American soccer legend Cobi Jones as part of the New Year Cosmos Asian tour contingent. The contingent was in attendance at the home of Singapore football to be part of the press conference to officially launch the two Courts Young Lions initiatives, namely the Courts Young Lions iPhone application and the Official Courts Young Lions Fans' Club. Following the press conference, the three former footballers sent the crowd of 2,728 into a state of frenzy when they made their appeara

I must apologize for the recent lack of updating due to the fact that there are some tidy chores in my house for the upcoming repair works that are gonna take place in days to come. As such, I might see myself being tied up for some packing and clearing up some stuff along the process. The last time around I unearthed the two precious TNP centerspread of the Malaysia Cup era and now here are some relics I discovered during my clearing out... OLD MATCH TICKETS I think match tickets are something just like a piece of stamp that reflects well on something that happened in the past. On and off, I would always get an email from a Belgian ticket collector asking for the used tickets for those Lions' matches. Unfortunately, these used tickets below are not to be given away at any price for their significance. (Pictured above) This ticket was the admission slip to the S.League Opening ceremony on 14 April 1996 at the National Stadium where the Thai national team was in town to pit a

Like I mentioned before, it's a matter of time I got hold a DSLR camera , and eventually I did. I wasted no time at all to try out my new " Canon 50D " on the same evening after I got hold of it on the same day itself, where else but at the stadium I decided to trial out my new toy. Below are some of the pictures I snapped along the way at the Balestier-Geylang match at the Toa Payoh Stadium. These are pictures I think are not often seen else where and thought it's kind of interesting to share with you guys. PICTURES OF THE DAY... "Sound check 1-2-3", "Testing 1-2-3" as the sound check on the audio equipments are done before the start of the game by this volunteer here. The match commissioner Mr Hanizam Aris (pictured above) ensured the team lineups and other relevant details are in order before the match. As always, 'keepers are the ones to come out first to starting the warming-up and here's Balestier's Ahmadulhaq Che Omar posing for

Another bad day in office for Peter Tomko as he was robbed of the ball in the Thai Port's box Meet a friend who donned the 1996's Geylang jersey after the game at the Lavender station. “I kinda give up as the way Geylang played was so unimaginative and depend on luck to win their games.” lamented this friend of my, as he offered his opinion of Eagles' performed before he boarded his train. The "Singha Jao Ta" 'keeper Pattarakorn Thanganuruck had very little much to do. Battle of "13", as the Geylang's Jonathan Xu trailing his opposite number Issarapong Lilakorn Indeed, he seems to be spot-on of the Eagles' performance lately. In their last two matches, the Bedok-based club had to came from behind, at the later stages, to level the scores to avoid being ended up as the losing side. "Chip it up!!" as Shah Hirul can only watch as Jirawat Makarom lifted the ball into the box Apparently, like my friend suggested luck was r

(Pictured above) This attempt by Tai Po's Ye Jia (23) was the first "decent" shot of the game I took. SHORT SCRIBE To be honest, it was a poor first half for me as there were barely any worthy shot that deemed "photogenic" Time to time, I could only recall myself deleted those "unworthy" shots - in short, it was a frustration first 45minutes. Things were made even more challenging, when I was told to stay near to the corner area (pictured above), instead of roaming behind the goal within the limits set by the billboards, which were not existed during the game! (Pictured above) Geylang's skipper Miroslav Latiak had a good game as he practically involved most of the Eagles' offences. (Pictured above) Geylang's striker Peter Tomko (right) had a fairly quiet game. Things improved in the second half when Geylang were attacking towards the goal, which I still positioned behind, as they shown more innovative style of attacking plays as

(P.S: I think I made a blooper out of this fixture, must be the heat of the 5pm that heat-stroked me.. I'm sorry for the mistake made earlier with necessary amendment made accordingly.) SHORT SCRIBE For the record, the match concluded with a 3-2 victory for the Rams over the Eagles - the two glamour teams way back in the founding year of the league ( remember 28,000 paying fans witnessed a top-of-table clash between perennial powerhouse Geylang United and "New Kids On the Block" Woodlands Wellington at the National Stadium in 1996's Tiger Beer Series?). Anyway, managed to rush from Hougang to Bedok for this friendly fixture under the scorching sun is by no mean an easy feat. It's not because the journey involved, rather the fact that heat was unbearable as the sunlight was so bright that it's rather difficult to snap some shots using my S2000 , due to its setting limitations. PICTURES FROM THE MATCH Former Eagles skipper Noor Ali (pictured left) now with Wo