Friday, May 17, 2013
Ambitious Admiralty Join League Cup Fray
There is no promotion or relegation to or from the SLeague. It stands alone and clubs come and go as they feel like it subject to meet various regulations.
We have seen the likes of Etoile, Gombak United and Super Reds drop out in recent years while the arrival of Tanjong Pagar was a timely boost while many were sounding the death knell of the professional game.
Now we have Admiralty. The ambitious club, strangely nicknamed Wolves (not very maritime, is it?) are reportedly keen on joining the SLeague and this year will enter the League Cup; the first time a National Football League club, no not that American nonsense with Tupperware, have entered.
They defeated Singapore Cricket Club, don't ask, 2-1 in the play off semi final thanks to goals from ex SAFFC man Gunter Djafril and a penalty from Mathew Shiva.
In the other play off Singapore Recreation Club defeated Westlake 1-0 to set up the final at Jalan Besar last Sunday.
Admiralty won 3-1 with goals from Djafril, Jonathon Xu and Haziq Sudhir.
Their reward was to enter the Singapore League Cup proper where they were drawn in a group with Harimau Muda, Home United and Woodlands Wellington with the dates of the ties to be announced later.
Being drawn with Woodlands is an interesting one because Admiralty have drawn heavily on the Rams alumni to get them where they are now.
Apart from Djafril they do boast plenty of experience.
In goal is former Singapore international Rezal Hassan. He may be 39 years old but everyone knows goalies can keep going, right? Has played for Tampines and Woodlands in the past.
Midfielder Shamsurin Abdul Rahman has played for Balestier Khalsa and Woodlands Wellington while Noor Ali, whose brother Jamil now plays for Tampines, has played for most of the SLeague teams including, of course, Woodlands.
Then we have defender Sathiaraj who has played for, you guessed it, Woodlands.
Who knows, others may have too but they don't have their own wiki page!
Anyway it's good to see clubs with ambition being allowed to mix it with the big boys.
We have seen the likes of Etoile, Gombak United and Super Reds drop out in recent years while the arrival of Tanjong Pagar was a timely boost while many were sounding the death knell of the professional game.
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| Admiralty (wearing red) in NFL action |
They defeated Singapore Cricket Club, don't ask, 2-1 in the play off semi final thanks to goals from ex SAFFC man Gunter Djafril and a penalty from Mathew Shiva.
In the other play off Singapore Recreation Club defeated Westlake 1-0 to set up the final at Jalan Besar last Sunday.
Admiralty won 3-1 with goals from Djafril, Jonathon Xu and Haziq Sudhir.
Their reward was to enter the Singapore League Cup proper where they were drawn in a group with Harimau Muda, Home United and Woodlands Wellington with the dates of the ties to be announced later.
Being drawn with Woodlands is an interesting one because Admiralty have drawn heavily on the Rams alumni to get them where they are now.
Apart from Djafril they do boast plenty of experience.
In goal is former Singapore international Rezal Hassan. He may be 39 years old but everyone knows goalies can keep going, right? Has played for Tampines and Woodlands in the past.
Midfielder Shamsurin Abdul Rahman has played for Balestier Khalsa and Woodlands Wellington while Noor Ali, whose brother Jamil now plays for Tampines, has played for most of the SLeague teams including, of course, Woodlands.
Then we have defender Sathiaraj who has played for, you guessed it, Woodlands.
Who knows, others may have too but they don't have their own wiki page!
Anyway it's good to see clubs with ambition being allowed to mix it with the big boys.
# posted by Me @ 8:08 AM 
