BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

Alright,alright ... Enough of the controversies that clogged the pages for the past few days. Frankly speaking, I'm sure the fans are sick and tire of reading the same thing day in and out. Simultaneously, the teams were being introduced to the media over the past week. While Albirex coach lchiro Otsuka did not made the bold proclamation like he did last year (which he claimed his speech last year was "lost in translation"), his Sporting Afrique counterpart Balasubramaniam sounded confident in achieving the top-three position. Citing his team's work rate and attitude, the rookie head coach believe it's possible. I wish them the best of luck, of course as much they don't want to draw comparison but that was what almost similarly Sinchi promised us in the first place too. I breathe a sign of relief that so far no coach belittle his own team like Chow Kwai Lam did to his hapless Paya Lebar Punggol, something that is uncalled for especially from someone like Chow.

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 either. W

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 from

I admitted that I'm one of those who strongly advocated the use of naturalized citizens to play for the national team, though I maintained that not at the expense of "sacrificing" our local players. Been wondering if whatever happened to Agu Casmir and Itimi Dickson has shifted my point of view. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying other naturalized players are not committed, it is 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 is 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 recall in his first interview as a Singapore citizen, Itimi mentioned that he is putting in effort to learn to sing the national anthem. Barely a year later, the same player seems to be in a &

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.