Jakarta Casual

SINGAPORE, 25 August 2011: Thailand and Singapore played out a goalless draw in an International Friendly on 24 August 2011 at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was an important match for both nations as they prepare to take on Australia and China respectively on the 2^nd of September 2011, in the Asian Zone World Cup Qualifiers.

Singapore started the brighter of the two with Captain Shahril Ishak, Qiu Li and Shaiful Esah linking up play down the left on numerous occasions.

It took the Lions until the 11^th minute to seemingly fine a loophole in the Thai defence, when Qiu Li found an unmarked Shahril down the left flank only to see his delivery cleared by the Thai backline.

The home side were pressing Qiu Li high up the pitch and a few mistimed tackles saw the Home United forward flat on the ground, grovelling in pain

As the half wore on, the Thais started coming into the game with captain Datsakorn Thonglao and Surat Sukha stringing the passes in the middle of the park.

The Thais had a good opportunity with 24 minutes on the clock when Datsakorn looked up and sent a cheeky lob that seemed destined for the top left corner until Izwan Mahbud leapt into the air and claimed it with authority.

Two minutes later, the Thais put together their best move of the game when Apipoo Suntornpanavej dinked a long ball into the path of Sompong Soleb down the right who sent a teasing grounder into the box, only to see an oncoming Surat blaze the ball over the bar.

The second half started with both sides making a string of substitutions with Shahdan Sulaiman, Shukor Zailan and Lionel Lewis coming on for Qiu Li, Mustafic Fahrudin and Izwan Mahbud respectively.

Coach Avramovic was left fuming when a dubious offside call by the linesman left Shahril Ishak seething, after Shi Jia Yi played a brilliant ball to put Aleksandar Duric through before he squared it to an unmarked Shahril who drilled it into the net with much aplomb.

On 70 minutes, the newest member of the squad, Hafiz Rahim came on for Jia Yi and immediately showcased his fine dribbling skills on numerous occasions to trouble Thai backline which had to give away two yellow cards for late tackles on the nippy Geylang United winger.

As the match moved towards the final ten minutes, the partisan crowd at the Rajamangala National Stadium were treated to some exciting end-to-end stuff as Isa Halim and Ruzaini Zainal played a neat one-two before releasing Hafiz who sent a thunderbolt towards goal, only to see the Thai goalie, Sintaweechai Hathairattanakool palm the ball away for a corner-kick.

Lionel Lewis who managed to go through the entire second-half with no complications on his recent groin injury was called into action when he made two wonderful saves to deny the home side a last gasp winner.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, coach Avramovic said: “This is not the first time Thailand and Singapore played each other and both countries know each other well. I believe that this game is important for both of us as we prepare for the China game while the Thais will play Australia in the World Cup Qualifiers.

“It was an exciting and competitive game where both teams had chances. In the first half, we had more opportunities but they had chances in the second-half as well.

“It will be a difficult game against China as they have some quality players but we will go to Kunming and do our best and play our own game.”

Stopper Lionel Lewis also stepped in to assess his groin injury when he exclaimed: “I would first like to thank coach for giving me a good 45 minutes to play and test myself. I feel that I’m still not 100% but I’m getting there. I didn’t attempt to take any goal-kicks as we decided not to take the risk with a couple more days before the China game. As for the two saves towards the end of the game, it was part and parcel of the game and I definitely will continue to work towards full fitness when we reach Kunming.”

Hafiz Rahim, whose second-half appearance was his first-ever international match was equally delighted to be given a run-out by coach Avramovic when he said: “I wasn’t nervous when my name was called up to prepare to get on the pitch. I just wanted to go out there and do what I can and test myself against the Thai defenders. It was great to be given an opportunity to represent Singapore.”

The Lions will now move on to the next phase of their trip for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier against China PR when they travel up to Kunming on 26 September to continue with their preparations.

SOURCE - Singapore FA

# posted by Me @ 3:46 AM 0 comments

It’s been a while since I’ve had a good wholesome rant about football in Singapore. I find it very therapeutic to lash out once in a while from the anonymity of a keyboard and decry the faults so evident in others while I am never called to task on my opines!

Personally speaking I find Singapore football to be exciting. In fact the SLeague is the most exciting league in south east Asia. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Take a look at this current season where perhaps three or four teams are serious title contenders. But look at the intriguing sub plots lower down the ladder. The resurgence of Hougang United, Geylang’s fine unbeaten ru, Etoile’s bounce back from the five point deduction, Balestier’s switch from cellar dweller to mid table, Tanjong Pagar’s youth and ability to give the big boys a run for their money.

And there’s more. Hougang fans attempting to create an atmosphere at SLeague games, young players making an impression on the national team, Harris’ growing maturity, Home United’s fine form, Jordan Webb making an impression, Fazrul Nawaz netting consistently.

I could go on but that will do for now.

The head of the Football Association of Singapore has decided that next season they will do more about attracting fans to games and he has set up a committee to find ways of doing this. I have no idea who is on this committee, I imagine a bunch of time servers and the usual faces who have their boats in the papers but I tell you who should be on any gob fest looking to revitalize Singapore football.

The lads behind Lions All The Way who have taken to following the Lions and giving them a bit of a cheer. United 4 United, a group of lads who have taken to following Hougang United and are trying to have a bit of a laugh at home and away games. The lads behind Bola Sepak and Liga Singapura plus the other bloggers who write at great length about a game all but ignored by the national media,

I guess though the panel will be stuffed with people who are called stake holders, a term which worries me. I guess it includes sponsors and let’s face it don’t they do a great job of both promoting the league and their products? There is a beer sponsor yet you can’t buy beer! One sponsor delights in giving away free ice cream! Hands up if free ice cream has ever enticed you to a football match? Seriously, until now they have contributed little, what makes us think they can do so in the future?

One suggestion to bring back the fans is to improve the quality of football as if all it takes is Harry Potter waving a wand! The football ain’t that bad and yes, there are dull games just as there are dull games in the English Premier League involving Singaporean’s favourite football teams, Liverpool and Manchester United. Hell, maybe even Barcelona have been involved in crap games.

Did you know the population of Tampines is reckoned to be 216,000? Bigger than the combined populations of Blackburn and Wigan in England! Two of the smaller teams in England yet Blackburn attract over 20,000 every home game while maybe 15,000. Tampines Rovers? In the low hundreds!

You could say the same about Jurong, which doesn’t even have a team anymore, Geylang and Woodlands. Why are crowds so risible? What have the FA done about correcting the slide to anonymity? What have the clubs done to get out in the community? How do week day evening kick offs encourage kids to attend football matches?

Attracting more people to football matches in Singapore is’t easy and I don’t mean to imply it is. It involves changing the mindset of the whole population who despite their flag waving on 9^th August still feel the pull of the old colonial power. Everything foreign, goes their logic, is good while everything local is crap. Except the government of course who are brilliant!

Change the mindset and we’re on our way!

# posted by Me @ 12:53 PM 2 comments