BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

Coach Stange (right) has a difficult time (file) So, we are facing the hard truth that after having a professional football league for close to almost twenty years, we are nowhere near to calling ourselves a PROFESSIONAL league that contributes $200 million to the local economy . In national coach Bernd Stange's eyes, some of the local players are merely "semi-professionals" and "even close to amateur" with more training needs to be done to close the gap. This was remarked by Coach Stange in an article that appeared in an online portal after the recent friendly against Juventus in which he led the Singapore Selection against the Italian giants. Al-Qaasimy in action against Juventus (file) Said the German coach in that Yahoo Sports article :  “If you’re 19, 20 or 21 years old and you’re semi-professional for a long time, like Al-Qaasimy [Rahman], who [just] came back from NS now, my expectation [ for players] should be limited,” “Now they are fre

(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) International Friendly: Singapore 2-1 Papua New Guinea 6/9/14 Sahil Suhaimi (center) was shielded from the ball PNG coach Wynton Rufer was absolutely class in his dealing with the media last night after his side's gallant 2-1 loss to Singapore for taking command in the proceedings at the post-match presser and "chided" their hosts for "underestimation" of his team who were lauded for being the hungrier side. And it is always a challenge to snap when one of the teams are decked in black outfit which would easy fused into the dark backdrop of the composition. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Singapore Cup SF - Balestier Khalsa 1-0 Tampines Rovers (PK 4-1) 25/9/14 Paul Cunningham (hidden) surrounded (fil

Zaiful dived to deny Mustafic's spot-kick The fairy tales continued for Balestier Khalsa after they secured a berth in the RHB Singapore Cup Final, where they are going to face either Home United or Brunei DPMM on the 7th of November at Jalan Besar, after knocked out Tampines Rovers 4-1 on penalties in the semi-final at the Toa Payoh Stadium last evening. Following a nail biting end to their Round Two league fixtures that saw pipped ahead of their "Pinball" rivals, Hougang United to be among the top echelon of the league table, the Tigers had to endure another nerve-wrecking moments before making to another major Cup Final second year on running (they won the League Cup last year). The ball hit my shin in the end after out of play Starting the second leg of this series on a one-goal disadvantage, Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic had declared his team would opt for an attacking tactic which he felt was a more viable option. Speaking to the official site (sle

Screengrab off "Toggle" The Singapore football team's hopes of staying behind after the official opening ceremony of the 17th Asian Games was given a minor boost after they scraped away with a 3-3 draw against a much superior Oman. Knowing that another defeat after the loss to Tajikistan on Sunday would mean the Cubs will immediately have to pack their luggage home after the closing tie against Palestine. I did not see the first three goals until the replay at half-time, although I thought it was a lapse in the defence that saw the Omanis headed home their third goal after the failure to close down on the flank to allow the ball to be floated for the routine rounding up from close range. Safuwan saved the day (file picture) Nonetheless, it was a great individual effort from winger Faris Ramli in the box to reduce the deficit before the interval and eventually saw Safuwan Baharudin saved the team from the skin of defeat with a header from nowhere to tie at th

(This entry is formulated based on the media release issued by the Football Association of Singapore on 10th September at 2104hrs) Hassan is going Incheon after all ... It came not surprise after all when the list of players heading to the Asian Games (Asiad) was finally announced last evening with the national selectors finally got most of the men they wanted for the trip to Incheon. Hassan Sunny, who in the first place wouldn't be released by his club Warriors amid the tight S.League title race, is named at the top of the 20-man list via a media release from the Football Association of Singapore after it was reported in the papers that measures were understood to be taken to ensure a " win-win situation " for both sides. Joining the 30-year-old shot stopper from the Choa Chu Kang-based side will be the speedy Suria Prakash that alongside with Adam Swandi (of FC Metz) will the only players not from either Lions XII or Courts Young Lions that make it to the