Sunday, July 17, 2011
SLeague Gets Better & Better
I know the general perception in Singapore is that their football is shite but then most of them sold their soul to the EPL a decade back and pine for queen and empire once more.
But the SLeague continues to be one of the most exciting leagues in the region.
Not like Thailand where Buriram PEA had won the TPL before the season had kicked off, allegedly, or Indonesia where much depends on outside factors.
I've devoted a fair bit this season to what has been going on outside the title race because for me that is just as exciting. Geylang United's unbeaten run and Balestier Khalsa & Hougang United's transformation from whipping boys to good, solid mid table fodder are three just for a start.
Friday night saw Hougang host this season's cannon fodder, Woodlands Wellington. With 10 goals in 21 games and just two wins the rams have been fighting for bottom spot with Tanjong Pagar all season.
Hougang meanwhile, under Adie Iskandar, are showing what a bit of continuity can bring to a football club. They sit 6th and have been scoring goals. All a big change from the days when they were known as Sengkang Punggol 0.
In their last game they had won 1-0 at SAFFC's formerly impenetrable Choa Chu Kang Stadium and to show how much things have changed nobody was really surprised. Hougang have also beaten another title challenger this season, Tampines Rovers.
So Friday night they come up against the shot shy Woodlands at Jalan Besar. In their first 10 away games Woodlands had managed just one win, at Young Lions. A blank against Tanjong Pagar was their only other point on their travels.
The Rams won 3-2! 75 goals in their 20 games this season.
It's a crying shame that more Singaporeans who think their Liverpool fans would have travelled to Kuala Lumpur to see their adopted heroes than attended a thrilling game in their own backyard.
# posted by Me @ 8:00 AM 
