Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Kicking up a Racket
Last Thursday I was at the Wariors Arena to see SAF take on Woodlands in a preview of next month's Cup final and, to be brutal, the atmosphere was pathetic. SAF went into the game knowing they needed a win to keep their title hopes alive but you wouldn't think it listening to the crowd. In fact you couldn't listen to the crowd. They were drowned out by the chattering birds in the roof of the stand. When the birds stopped chattering the only noise came from the encouragement from home team coach Richard Bok.
The following night Home United took on Geylang United at Jalan Besar and this time we did get some noise. The visiting Eagles had brought a sound system with them for fox sake and sang along to some retro house music while Home were cheered on by busloads of new recruits looking smart in their uniforms and short back and sides. Mock we may, and will, but at least they made some noise and enthusiastically joined in the mexican waves.
Last night Balestier Khalsa made the short trip to Hougang Stadium to take on Sengkang Punggol. The home side had no fans that I could ascertain. Just a few disgruntled fogies tearing up their pools tickets. Balestier brought a few and they made a fair old din for the whole game. Of the three games they were by far the most vocal and up for it.
Mind you nothing could come close to the last ISL game I went to. Official figures optimistically gave 3,000 as the attendance for Persitara v PSIS and while the real number was much less than that the noise they made was pretty damned impressive.
Mind you, they won. Fans do make a noise when their team wins. Unless of course you support SAF and you just sit around looking cool and avoiding pigeon shit
The following night Home United took on Geylang United at Jalan Besar and this time we did get some noise. The visiting Eagles had brought a sound system with them for fox sake and sang along to some retro house music while Home were cheered on by busloads of new recruits looking smart in their uniforms and short back and sides. Mock we may, and will, but at least they made some noise and enthusiastically joined in the mexican waves.
Last night Balestier Khalsa made the short trip to Hougang Stadium to take on Sengkang Punggol. The home side had no fans that I could ascertain. Just a few disgruntled fogies tearing up their pools tickets. Balestier brought a few and they made a fair old din for the whole game. Of the three games they were by far the most vocal and up for it.
Mind you nothing could come close to the last ISL game I went to. Official figures optimistically gave 3,000 as the attendance for Persitara v PSIS and while the real number was much less than that the noise they made was pretty damned impressive.
Mind you, they won. Fans do make a noise when their team wins. Unless of course you support SAF and you just sit around looking cool and avoiding pigeon shit
# posted by Me @ 3:00 PM 
