Jakarta Casual: Over Land & Sea

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Over Land & Sea

Ok I admit that there may have been the odd time I have mocked fans of Singapore football and their lack of passion for either there club or national side but now I am delighted to have something positive to say about them.

When Agu Casmir scored Singapore's last gasp winner against Myanmar the camera panned to the crowd and showed two young fans wildly cheering and jumping up and down like idiots do when they have travelled far and secured a last minute victory. It's one of the sweetest moments in football (26 May 1989) and when you have experienced something like that it stays with you forever. Moments that define a football culture.

My mate Dale in Thailand was following Chonburi long before the recent boom in the Thai Premier League and his memories have taken on a sepia like resonance as he recalls trips to Muang Thong United when they were still Nong Jork United. I was following the Arse long before Wenger turned up with his daft ideas of drinking bottled water and pretty football.

It's like the lads who followed the Sex Pistols at their early gigs before the EMI record deal, you were the leaders, not the followers.

Singapore may or may not get a result against Vietnam. If they do and they go on to win a 4th ASEAN Football Federation Cup then that moment when Agu Casmir slid the ball home will go down in football folklore on the island and the two lads who made that long journey can glow in the satisfaction that they were there.

Coming to the Bung Karno for the semi lads?!

# posted by Me @ 8:26 AM