BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

(The following message is brought to you by TEAM IGNITE EU4RIA [YEP], an overseas CIP team to help the less fortunate in Battambang, Cambodia) INTRODUCTION As part of our fund raising efforts to renovate and refurbish an orphanage in Cambodia, we are raising funds by organizing a soccer tournament and a netball challenge! Join us and challenge yourself to be the best! All proceeds will go to the fund raising efforts to improve the lives of the orphans in the Madrasah Jamiyyah Munabiq Al-Khair run by Cambodia Good Source Organisation (CGSO). EVENT INFORMATION Date: 26 June 2010 Time: 9 to 5 pm Venue: East Coast Park CAGE Men's Challenge: 5-a-side futsal (Under 21 and Open Categories) Women's Challenge: 5-a-side street netball (Open Category) Cost: $80 per team (6-8 players per team including up to 3 reserves) Cash prizes to be won for top 3 winning teams! For more information, please log on to http://el-toreno.blogspot.com/

One of the aims of this blog is to expand its coverage beyond the S.League into the continental level, which I'm glad to say that I managed to fulfil that task as an obscure blogger. Just as people tend to see the glamour side of these continental tournaments (i.e.:the Asian Champions League and the second-tier AFC Cup), I thought it would be an eye-opener to take a look behind the scene of running the events, which is an arduous task for those who were involved. THE ACCESS PASS... (Picture above) Colour code of various type of passes and bibs were clearly illustrated on this glass panel. Credit to this volunteer whose task was to sort these passes. Being prided as the top-two continental tournaments, it's inevitable that the organizers - the AFC and the relevant local sub-organizers would have various pass issued to those involved behind the scene. From the AFC officials, players, coaches, team officials to the media, security, ball boys and even cleaners were being given a p

(P.S: As I will be out-station for a while, it would not be too good to leave this place empty.) Like I mentioned it's a collective effort from everyone to see this blog continue to excel, so this blog entry here is rather spontaneous in a sense that it was conceived after a brief chatter with a friend over the phone. During our short tele-conversation, he suggested a change in everyone's mentality shall be in place, should we see the successful implementation of the "Strategic Plan". He stressed that some "stick-in-the-mud" kind of attitude of some in the fraternity should be removed in order to see our football go forward. He went on added that with new ACL regulation, he doubt we can make because of 2 criteria - the mandatory promo/relegation system and the minimum 5k attendance at each game. So at the end of the day, would you guys agree that even given the grand, comprehensive strategic plan that detailed every thing, would the whole thing WOULD DERAIL

This afternoon, I went to collect my prizes for coming 1st in the "STAR SPORTS BLOGGER" This is the temporary site of the SSC (Singapore Sports Council), until the Sports Hub is ready. The recognition of my blogging - an iPhone , a Macbook and a "Magic Mouse" (many thanks to Mr Daniel Tan of SSC for taking this shot) . Nice chatting up with some of the SSC guys as ideas were exchanged, opinions were shared during the session. It was a wonderful discussion and yes, again, thank you very much for the recognition . AFTERTHOUGHTS When I realized that I won the contest, I knew that it's gonna be a brand new beginning to my blogging experience. With the recognition being bestowed upon, it also means I shall NOT rest on my laurels and the key now is how should I build on this achievement in order to improve my blogging on something so dear to me. And that's something I felt it's not only me, but a collective effort of you guys to help me to enhance the exper

Erwan Gunawan (second from right) scored the winner The picture above is a snapshot of a historical moment for Singapore football. This was the moment when substitute striker Erwan Gunawan (second blue jersey player from the right) headed home the winning goal to give SAFFC and Singapore their first-ever victory in the continental elite club competition over China's Henan Jianye. John Wilkinson (center) started his first game for the Warriors  The Warriors' defense were not being stressed as compared to the last 2 ACL home outings. As compared to their last two outing at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Henan's cautious and possession type of football complemented the style of the Singapore representative, as both Suwon Samsung and Gamba Osaka duly punished the Warriors with their much superior swift mobility tactics. Daniel Bennett's strike in the 65th minute gave SAFFC the lead. Erwan Gunawan came on as a replacement for Indra Sahdan Probably because of that "ton