BoLASEPaKO.COM - A Blog on Singapore Football

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...

Please plan your journey home I would only say my eyelids barely open when the League Cup match between Balestier Khalsa and Brunei DPMM proceed into second half. It wasn't a boring match to some extend with some few exchanges in between the two, but the only grump was the fact that second 45 only kicked off at 2235hrs. As all may have guessed it - the activation of the Lightning Warning System (LWS) had caused the match to be kicked off at 2125hrs (which on normal day would have seen a game finish by that). While let's not argue what the activation of the LWS would caused, since we all know it's safety at stake and there shall not be compromise on this aspect. However, some fine tunings should be considered to work around once the activation is on with one aspect would be the inconvenience to those at game without their own transport. With the public transport normally ceased at around or close to midnight, I wonder if there's any contingency measure, sho...

(Media Information by the Football Association of Singapore ) The ban will only come into effect if he is found guilty by the DC of any further misconduct committed prior to 31 Dec 2011 SINGAPORE, 11 March 2011: The FAS Disciplinary Committee convened on Thursday 10 March 2011 with regard to the charges against Woodlands Wellington head coach R. Balasubramaniam (pictured above). Balasubramaniam had been charged for breaches of misconduct after the Great Eastern – YEO’S S.League match between Woodlands Wellington Football Club and Albirex Niigata FC at the Woodlands Stadium on 21 February 2011. Having investigated the incident and having considered all the relevant facts and circumstances, the Disciplinary Committee came to the following decision: Balasubramaniam, who admitted to the charge, was found guilty of the charge. He has been suspended from the area immediately surrounding the field of play, and in particular from the technical area and substitutes’ bench for four S-League mat...

As one of the key areas is to improve the quality of the foreign players playing in the S.League, Tanjong Pagar United are making sure they are not lagging behind in that area despite the short preparation notice given their re-entry to the S.League that was only confirmed middle of this week. According to licensed FIFA player agent Abdul Halim of "Off-Side" Sports Management & Consultant, he had liaised with the Jaguars to bring in two young South Korean players for trial over the weekend. Midfielder Kim Jong Oh (pictured above, aged 22) skippered for his university Yewon University in University Korean League and was accoladed the "University Player of the Year" in 2010. While his fellow compatriot, 22-year old Hyun Jong Woon (pictured above) had been in honing his football skills in Brazil since the age of 13 that included a stint with top Brazilian side, Corinthians, is known to have the ability to make killer passes and excellent at dead ball and freekicks....

(Pictured above L-R) FAS Sec-Gen Winston Lee, FAS president Mayor Zainudin and Jaguars GM Francis Lee hold the Jaguars' jersey. RETURN OF THE JAGUARS Only from the mouth of Mayor Zainudin Nordin, the president of the Football Association of Singapore that it's finally confirmed the returning of Tanjong Pagar United back to the S.League family after weeks of speculation in the local football fraternity. PLAN FOR THE FUTURE Also at the same media briefing session, the mayor shared with the members of the media the progress and the upcoming programs for the local football, which was recently thrust to the limelight following the shock disbandment of the Lions after a poor Suzuki Cup outing last month. With the disbandment of the Lions, it was told youth players will be the cornerstone of the national team rebuilding process and Mayor Zainudin had set the target for the national U23 squad to make it to the final of this year's SEA Games football competition to be held at Palemb...

Having seen in the past few weeks of all kinds of solutions, remedy put up by various concerned parties on whichever means to lift the local game from the slumps. With much due respect, most of which we heard, read and seen are mere "recycled" suggestions that always brought to attention in any kind of mis-happenings. I think we been hearing stuff like "go back to basic", " start from the beginning", if that's the kind I would like to make this suggest - SEPARATE the S.LEAGUE from FAS. With two operate separately as individual to another, just like in the old days until the two organizations were merged to streamline the operations of running the game in Singapore with the league being operated as a business unit under the umbrella of the FAS. However, time had proven that it has not been the case for large part of the time to improve the game's standard in Singapore. Such arrangement is not uncommon as it is in the case of Japan, where J...

Historical night at Jurong East Stadium, debutante Etoile FC claimed their second trophy of the season by clinching the holy grail - the S.League championship (pictured above). After suffering some early scares in the first half by trailing 2-1 to hosts Albirex Niigata (S), the French stormed back to beat the Japanese 4-2 in the end to seal the race. Coach Patrick Vallee (pictured above on right) claimed his second honour in his debut season with the French outfit, would he sweep the coveted "Coach of the Year" award on the "S.League Awards Nite" on the 21st November as that final piece of his jig-saw puzzle? But one thing for sure is Frederic Mendy (pictured above) is set to go up to the stage to pick up this season's "Top Scorer" on the same night. The other two results on the night saw Tampines Rovers beat Balestier Khalsa 4-1, while the "Uniform Derby" at the Jalan Besar Stadium ended with both SAFFC and Home United in a goal-less dra...

Referee Abdul Malik officiated this historical match INTRODUCTION It was a historical day at the Jalan Besar Stadium, as the season 2010 welcome both Etoile FC and Beijing Guoan into the foray of the S.League.  For the record, the French-based Etoile is the first European-based club, while the feeder club from the Chinese capital is the fourth Chinese-based club to be featured in our league.   I was at the pitchside to snap some shots during the first half, before heading to an elevated angle to catch this "live" game of the season after the break.  In the first half, what I saw was a stout Beijing defence that did a job in holding the French side at the bay, as in what their coach said the post-match press conference "they played according to my instruction", with Etoile striker Frederic Mendy was certainly a lone figure up front with unwanted attention from those green-shirted men. We hope it's just "first match jittery" for Frederic Mendy (pictured...

(P.S: I wonder if some of the some young players out there agree with me the importance of staying put together, if possible.) After his team defeated Balestier Khalsa , Young Lions' coach Terry Pathmanathan (pictured above during the " Sultan of Selangor Cup 09 ") was not a happy man as you thought he would be. In the post-match media conference, the former national skipper remarked "some of the boys are getting big on their heads that they need a knock on it." In short, the ex-Tampines Rovers stalwart blasted his boys for not playing according to plan and making many unnecessary moves in the game. Young Lions' striker Khairul Nizam's (hidden by the fourth official) "over-the-top" goal celebration warranted an unnecessary yellow card in their recent match against Balestier. "During my time after I scored a goal, I get back to my position and game carry on." said coach Terry when asked if the "over-the-top" goal celebration...

Hi Folks... Sincerely apologized for the lack of update lately, as I just came back from a short getaway, which I'll update on my travelog ( Ko's Travelog ) in weeks to come. While I was out-of-town, I think I missed a few upsets along the way, such as Woodlands defeated SAFFC at Choa Chu Kang (was told there were scuffling among the supporters after the game.) Balestier beat Geylang United (wonder if the target of 60 points set by the Geylang's Chairman Patrick Ang is still achievable?) Young Lions upset Home United at Jalan Besar . Not bad eh? Keep up the good work for causing a few upsets that what's the league need the most. Although, one thing I can't really figure out is why while I was in the foreign land I can't access on the blog and the mail service that tied to it? (anyone has an answer?)