Sunday, April 04, 2010
Anonymous in Lion City, now Legends for the Crazy Lions
When Singaporean internationals Noh Alam Shah and M. Riduan signed for Arema, igniting a migration south by some of the SLeague’s biggest names there was some bemusement as to why they would want to leave. Singapore has everything, people wondered; why the hell would anyone want to leave?
A lot of soul searching went on as they tried to come to terms with the fact that the local heroes were leaving. It didn’t end there of course with Mustafic Fachruddin and Baihakki Kaizan also moving to the Indonesia Super League.
But while Farra and Bai may be living in the capital city of Indonesia it has been Alam Shah and Riduan who have made the headlines.
For Rarra and Bai, they moved to a team that was relatively settled. They slotted in alongside the likes of Bambang Pamungkas, Aliyudin and Ismed Sofyan, already local heroes in the eyes of Persija’s supporter’s club Jakmania.
NAS, better known as Ah Long, and Riduan moved to a team with its own set of fanatical supporters, the Aremania, but to a team who had fallen short of high expectations for many seasons.
And in Malang expectations were still low with some fans predicting a relegation struggle.
But it hasn’t happened. Instead Arema sit top of the ISL and have been there for several months. And the Aremania have taken their Singaporean imports to their hearts.
Back in Singapore it was generally felt that while Riduan possessed plenty of ability he had never really started to fulfill his immense promise. All pace and fancy boots was the prevailing perception.
Arema’s footballing fraternity had no preconceived ideas. They didn’t know so much about Riduan or his struggles but they also didn’t care. Singapore is Singapore, Malang is Malang and Malang has one advantage over the city state. Aremania. Motivation at half time comes from the coach leaving the dressing room door open and letting the crowd outside do the rest.
Away from home, away from family Riduan is flourishing and against Pelita Jaya, especially in the first half, he was awesome. Everwhere, up and down the flanks, tracking back. Yes, sometimes the first ball wasn’t there but then that’s what you get with wide men. You take the rough with the smooth and when it comes off…oh boy.
He scored one and no one could begrudge him his few precious moments alone in front of the Aremania fans packed on the enormous side terrace. The culture shock of the initial move is now behind him, he is purring on the field and the Aremania have given him the freedom of Malang.
With Noh Alam Shah people knew what they were getting. The proverbial 100% footballer who will never give up as long as he can lift his feet. Yes he sees a red mist once in a while but then so did the likes of Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and George best. The difference is, for Singaporeans, is that Keane, Cantona and Best played for Manchester United and people are happy to identify with them because they won trophies.
Ah Long was just considered by some a nutter. Because he was Singaporean in a country bereft of bad boys he became the national bad boy. Unlike the three Manchester United players though there was no accompanying respect.
When he made the move to Indonesia I said that he would become a legend. Fans in most countries around the world would immediately identify with him and his commitment on and off the field. When he pulls on that shirt he almost becomes a human dynamo. He’s here, he’s there, his exuberance leads him all over the pitch and into challenges that perhaps he should not be making. But his commitment comes with a smile, he’s a bit of a rogue and fans love that.
Aremania fans are no different of course. ‘These are icons of Arema,’ one told me, ‘we love them,’
Singapore’s apathy has become Arema’s gain.
A lot of soul searching went on as they tried to come to terms with the fact that the local heroes were leaving. It didn’t end there of course with Mustafic Fachruddin and Baihakki Kaizan also moving to the Indonesia Super League.
But while Farra and Bai may be living in the capital city of Indonesia it has been Alam Shah and Riduan who have made the headlines.
For Rarra and Bai, they moved to a team that was relatively settled. They slotted in alongside the likes of Bambang Pamungkas, Aliyudin and Ismed Sofyan, already local heroes in the eyes of Persija’s supporter’s club Jakmania.
NAS, better known as Ah Long, and Riduan moved to a team with its own set of fanatical supporters, the Aremania, but to a team who had fallen short of high expectations for many seasons.
And in Malang expectations were still low with some fans predicting a relegation struggle.
But it hasn’t happened. Instead Arema sit top of the ISL and have been there for several months. And the Aremania have taken their Singaporean imports to their hearts.
Back in Singapore it was generally felt that while Riduan possessed plenty of ability he had never really started to fulfill his immense promise. All pace and fancy boots was the prevailing perception.
Arema’s footballing fraternity had no preconceived ideas. They didn’t know so much about Riduan or his struggles but they also didn’t care. Singapore is Singapore, Malang is Malang and Malang has one advantage over the city state. Aremania. Motivation at half time comes from the coach leaving the dressing room door open and letting the crowd outside do the rest.
Away from home, away from family Riduan is flourishing and against Pelita Jaya, especially in the first half, he was awesome. Everwhere, up and down the flanks, tracking back. Yes, sometimes the first ball wasn’t there but then that’s what you get with wide men. You take the rough with the smooth and when it comes off…oh boy.
He scored one and no one could begrudge him his few precious moments alone in front of the Aremania fans packed on the enormous side terrace. The culture shock of the initial move is now behind him, he is purring on the field and the Aremania have given him the freedom of Malang.
With Noh Alam Shah people knew what they were getting. The proverbial 100% footballer who will never give up as long as he can lift his feet. Yes he sees a red mist once in a while but then so did the likes of Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and George best. The difference is, for Singaporeans, is that Keane, Cantona and Best played for Manchester United and people are happy to identify with them because they won trophies.
Ah Long was just considered by some a nutter. Because he was Singaporean in a country bereft of bad boys he became the national bad boy. Unlike the three Manchester United players though there was no accompanying respect.
When he made the move to Indonesia I said that he would become a legend. Fans in most countries around the world would immediately identify with him and his commitment on and off the field. When he pulls on that shirt he almost becomes a human dynamo. He’s here, he’s there, his exuberance leads him all over the pitch and into challenges that perhaps he should not be making. But his commitment comes with a smile, he’s a bit of a rogue and fans love that.
Aremania fans are no different of course. ‘These are icons of Arema,’ one told me, ‘we love them,’
Singapore’s apathy has become Arema’s gain.
# posted by Me @ 3:42 PM 
Comments:
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I can only wish them the best, and hope that someday our home fans can learn to be as supportive as Aremania :)
When we stop comparing Singapore football to EPL/Serie A/Primera Liga football, and support our footballers because we must, instead of Singapore Pools - then Singapore football will make the development it has promised for so long, with or without foreign talent.
Just my opinion, of course. But I feel commitment from the fans is sorely lacking in Singapore.
When we stop comparing Singapore football to EPL/Serie A/Primera Liga football, and support our footballers because we must, instead of Singapore Pools - then Singapore football will make the development it has promised for so long, with or without foreign talent.
Just my opinion, of course. But I feel commitment from the fans is sorely lacking in Singapore.
thanks for your opinion icedwater. its as valid as anyone else's and of course i fully agree with you
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