There has been a wonderful freshness to the SLeague in its opening weeks as teams like Hougang United and Balestier Khalsa have flirted with the top positions but the weekend just gone has shown the traditional big boys flexing their muscles and how.

Tampines won the title last year, confirming the triumph with a 5-0 rout of Balestier Khalsa.

There has been a wonderful freshness to the SLeague in its opening weeks as teams like Hougang United and Balestier Khalsa have flirted with the top positions but the weekend just gone has shown the traditional big boys flexing their muscles and how.

Tampines won the title last year, confirming the triumph with a 5-0 rout of Balestier Khalsa.

The 2012 J. League first division kicks off on March 10.
The fixture list has conjured a number of notable clashes, as Gamba Osaka welcome big-spending neighbours Vissel Kobe to Banpaku, Nagoya Grampus host Tokai rivals Shimizu S-Pulse at Toyota Stadium and Omiya Ardija entertain local rivals FC Tokyo at Omiya Park.

Indonesia Super League
Persidafon v PSAP 4-2 (Patrick Wanggai 2, Eric Bayemi, Christian Worabay; Wook Jin, Sukman) 4,850Persipura v Pelita Jaya 2-1 (Alberto Goncalves, Boaz Solossa; Zhekov) 23,272Deltras v PSMS 0-1 (Arie Supriyantna) 11,350Sriwijaya v Persisam 3-1 (Keith Kayamba 2, Hilton Moreira; Gonzales) 29,753Persija v Persiba 4-0 (Pedro Vasqualez Javier 2, Bambang Pamungkas, Ramdhani Lestalahu) 20,599
1 - Sriwijaya 15 9 3 3 34-13 302 - Persipura 14 9 3 2 28-16 303 - Persiwa 14 9 2 3 26-17 29
14 - Keith Kayamba (Sriwijaya)10 - Hilton Moreira (Sriwijaya)9 - Patrick Wanggai (Persidafon), Herman Dzumafo (PSPS)
Indonesia Premier League
Persebaya v Arema 2-1 (Halil, Dutra; TA Mushafry) 55,000Persijap v Persija 1-0 (Julio Lopez) 8,000
1 - Persibo 9 5 2 2 13-7 172 - Semen Padang 9 4 4 1 15-7 163 - Persebaya 9 5 1 3 10-6 16
Don't recall the last time Indonesian football enjoyed such bumper crowds on the same day.

Indonesia Super League
Persidafon v PSAP 4-2 (Patrick Wanggai 2, Eric Bayemi, Christian Worabay; Wook Jin, Sukman) 4,850Persipura v Pelita Jaya 2-1 (Alberto Goncalves, Boaz Solossa; Zhekov) 23,272Deltras v PSMS 0-1 (Arie Supriyantna) 11,350Sriwijaya v Persisam 3-1 (Keith Kayamba 2, Hilton Moreira; Gonzales) 29,753Persija v Persiba 4-0 (Pedro Vasqualez Javier 2, Bambang Pamungkas, Ramdhani Lestalahu) 20,599
1 - Sriwijaya 15 9 3 3 34-13 302 - Persipura 14 9 3 2 28-16 303 - Persiwa 14 9 2 3 26-17 29
14 - Keith Kayamba (Sriwijaya)10 - Hilton Moreira (Sriwijaya)9 - Patrick Wanggai (Persidafon), Herman Dzumafo (PSPS)
Indonesia Premier League
Persebaya v Arema 2-1 (Halil, Dutra; TA Mushafry) 55,000Persijap v Persija 1-0 (Julio Lopez) 8,000
1 - Persibo 9 5 2 2 13-7 172 - Semen Padang 9 4 4 1 15-7 163 - Persebaya 9 5 1 3 10-6 16
Don't recall the last time Indonesian football enjoyed such bumper crowds on the same day.

If anyone had said that Woodlands Wellington would have been top of the SLeague at any time during the 2012 I would have asked them politely to lie down and stop taking drugs. The Rams are bottom of the table fodder and have been since I have been following the game there.
But after two games they are second in the table only 'cos Albirex Niigata have a better goal difference.

Where has the filling gone for Home United "sandwich" ??"Two pieces of toasts without fillings in the middle" as what it sums up Home United performance in their season curtain-raiser against defending S.League champions Tampines Rovers in the Charity Shield match at JBS.
The void left by Valery Hiek was clearly illustrated in the goal conceded in less than five minute how the once stout brick-like Protectors' defense was fully exploited by Stags' new signing Davor Piskor with not follow up from Lionel Lewis' narrowing of angle from near distance.

Albirex Niigata (アルビレックス新潟?) is a Japanese J. League soccer team currently campaigning in the top-tier of Japanese soccer – the J.League Division 1. Nicknamed the Albi, Niigata finished the 2011 J. League season in 14th position. Given the early calendar year start to the 2012 J. League season in February, adidas Japan has launched the [.

Kashiwa Reysol secured the J-League title and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup as the host nation's representatives following a climatic finish to the season in Japan this weekend. The title triumph was all the more remarkable given that the team had only won promotion from the Japanese second division last season.

Home United may have won the Singapore Cup but the SLeague title is the one they wanted and they missed out by one point to Tampines. They have already started strengthening their squad for the new season, which I believe begins in February or March, with a familiar face returning to Lion City and a hot talent from last season.

Intrigued by the nominations for Supporters of the Year in the SLeague. Normally SAFFC win it with their neo super hero style outfits and dangerously young cheerleaders and of course they are in the running again this year.
Looking at contenders this year, SAFFC, Gombak, Albirex Niigata and Young Lions, you get the feeling that for all the rhetoric that comes out of the FAS about rebranding the game it's all just same old, same old.

To coin a well-known footballing phrase, it's squeaky bum time in two of Asia's biggest leagues.

In Japan the title will go down to a last day showdown with any one from Kashiwa Reysol, Nagoya Grampus Eight and Gamba Osaka all capable of winning the championship. Kashiwa currently hold the advantage of topping the table with 69 points from 33 games whilst Nagoya and Osaka trail the leaders by just one and two points respectively with one round of matches to be played next weekend.

I have been most remiss in my coverage of the SLeague in recent weeks and I do apologise for that. I hope to take some games in before the end of the season though.
So how do we stand as we enter the final furlong? I think it's fair to say it's a two horse race as the table shows;
1 - Home United 29 22 2 5 72-28 682 - Tampines Rovers 29 21 3 5 60-23 66
Four games remaining and a two point difference make for another exciting climax to the SLeague.

With just about five games remaining in the SLeague it appears Home United are in pole position with a five point cushion over second played Tampines Rovers who have played a game less.
Last year's champions Etoile are out of the race, 10 points behind the leaders but then they did lose five points after getting involved in a brawl with Hougang United earlier in the season.

Albirex Niigata are in line for a Singapore treble after they squuezed by Hougang United in their Singapore Cup semi final last night.
The game ended 1-1 on 90 minutes meaning the teams had to go into extra time for the right to face Home United in the final in November. Yosuke Saito gave the White Swans the lead after five minutes of extra time but their hearts must have skipped a few beats when prolific scorer Shotaro Ihata was red carded minutes later.

SLeague
Balestier Khalsa v SAFFC 1-3 (Mark McGough; Mislav Karoglan 2, Fazrul Nawaz) 454Young Lions v Albirex Niigata 1-1 (Shahdan Sulaiman; Tatsuro Inui) 676
Albirex Niigata's flood of goals dried up last night at Jalan Besar when they could only manage a draw, a result that sees them move second.

Albirex Niigata have played their last three games away from home.
v Woodlands 5-1v Etoile 7-2v Home United 4-0
They are away to Young Lions on Wednesday! Probably lose 1-0...

Malaysia Cup
Kedah v Sabah 1-2Perak v Johor 2-1Terengganu v PKNS 3-2Negeri Sembilan v Sime Darby 5-0Kelantan v Johor FC 2-1Felda United v Sarawak 1-0Selangor v PDRM 2-0KL v T Team 2-1
SLeague
Home United v Albirex Niigata 0-4 (Tatsuro Inui, Ryuta Hayashi, Shimpei Sakurada, Kunihiro Yamashita) 923SAFFC v Woodlands Wellington 7-0 (Fazrul Nawaz, Taisuke Akiyoshi 2, OG, Mislav Karoglan 2, Indra Sahdan) 569
1 - Tampines 24 17 3 4 46-19 542 - Home United 24 17 2 5 59-26 533 - Albirex Niigata 25 17 1 7 65-25 524 - SAFFC 24 16 2 6 53-24 50
Albirex can't stop scoring and indeed the goals keeping flowing in the SLeague.

Malaysia Cup
Johor v Kedah 0-2Sabah v Perak 0-0Sime Darby v Terengganu 0-3PKNS v Negeri Sembilan 1-2Sarawak v Kelantan 0-2Johor FC v Felda United 0-2T Team v Selangor 1-0PDRM v KL 0-3
Just one home winner in the opening round of the Malaysia Cup and even that saw one of the favourites, Selangor, go down 1-0 to a goal by Alias!

• S.League Match- Balestier Khalsa 0-1 Tampines Rovers (6/8/11)
  
  

Ahmad Latiff (pictured above in yellow jersey) delivered the sucker punch at the last kick of the game to help Tampines Rovers beat Balestier Khalsa 1-0 at Toa Payoh Stadium.
While the Tigers had a Mark McGough's goal disallowed which they claimed the Aussie's effort had crossed the goal line before Lions defender Fahrudin Mustafic cleared for safety in the first half.

SAFFC v Albirex Niigata 0-0Tampines v Home United 3-3 (Duric 4; Mendy 2, Qiu Li)
Second legs later this week

(Media Information from the Football Association of Singapore)
SAFFC hold the record number of win of the S.League title
SINGAPORE, 11 August 2011: Due to the closure of several stadiums for the upcoming Presidential Elections and also to facilitate our National Team's preparations for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Asian Qualifiers, Third Round matches this year, the following 2011 Great Eastern-YEO'S S.

Match No

Match

Original
Venue

New Venue

Original Date

New Date

Kick Off

SC10

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Albirex Niigata FC

Choa Chu Kang

NA

15-Aug

14-Aug

8pm

SC16

Albirex Niigata FC vs Singapore Armed Forces FC

Jurong East

Jalan Besar

21-Aug

18-Aug

8pm

SC15

Etoile FC vs Gombak United FC

Queenstown

Jalan Besar

20-Aug

NA

8pm

91

Etoile FC vs Albirex Niigata FC

Queenstown

NA

10-Oct

7-Sep

7.

SINGAPORE, 31 JULY 2011: Albirex Niigata (S) FC emerged as the 2011 League Cup champions after a pulsating match at Jalan Besar Stadium against Hougang United FC that ended in a penalty shootout.

The curtain raiser for the 2011 League Cup Final was the 3rd place playoff between Tampines Rovers FC and Home United FC.

Another exciting week of football in Singapore and I've missed it all so here is the table and top scorers. Hopefully normal service will resume next week.
1 - Tampines 20 14 3 3 41-16 452 - Home United 20 14 2 4 50-20 443 - SAFFC 20 13 2 5 39-23 414 - Albirex Niigata 21 13 1 7 48-22 40
18 - Mislav Karoglan (SAFFC), Aleksander Duric (Tampines Rovers)14 - Frederic Mendy (Home United)13 - Shotaro Ihata (Albirex Niigata), Qiu Li (Home United)11 - Jordan Webb (Hougang United)10 - Fazrul Nawaz (SAFFC)
Geylang play Etoile this weekend.

1

PR

19 Jul

Tue

Tanjong Pagar United FC

Albirex Niigata FC (S)

Clementi

2

PR

Woodlands Wellington FC

Hougang United FC

Woodlands

3

PR

20 Jul

Wed

Gombak United FC

Balestier Khalsa FC

Jurong West

4

QF

21 Jul

Thu

Etoile FC

Home United FC

Queenstown

5

QF

22 Jul

Fri

Singapore Armed Forces FC

Woodlands Wellington FC or Hougang United FC

Choa Chu Kang

23 Jul

Sat

REST DAY

6

QF

24 Jul

Sun

Tanjong Pagar United FC or Albirex Niigata FC (S)

Geylang United FC

Clementi or Jurong East

7

QF

Tampines Rovers FC

Gombak United FC or Balestier Khalsa FC

Tampines

25 Jul

Mon

REST DAY

8

SF

26 Jul

Tue

Winner of Match No.

Geylang United v Woodlands Wellington 1-0Tanjong Pagar v Etoile 0-2Albirex Niigata v Balestier Khalsa 1-0Hougang United v Gombak United 3-2Tanjong United v Geylang United 0-1Etoile v Woodlands Wellington 3-0
That's five straight wins now for Geylang United with nothing let in. Not bad considering they had won only two of their opening 13 games!

Hougang United v Harimau Muda 1-0Gombak United v Balestier Khalsa 2-1South Melbourne v Albirex Niigata 0-3Geylang United v Tampines Rovers 1-2Home United v Woodlands Wellington 5-1Etoile v Tanjung Pagar 2-0SAFFC v Phnom Penh Crown 4-0Pattaya United v Okkthar United 1-2
2 - Jonathon Toto (Etoile), Qiu Li (Home United), Erawan Gunawan (SAFFC)

In one of my less busy moments at work this morning I wondered aloud why the Albirex Niigata replica shirt costs 98 SGD was nearly twice as expensive as the Geylang United one which costs 50 SGD.
Koh Mui Tee, who is the Albirex Niigata manager, tells me that it is down to demand. They shift about 150 shirts a year while Geylang United manage a fraction of that.

Friday 10 June: HOUGANG UNITED FC VS YOUNG TIGERS (Malaysia) - Possible 'live' match, to be confirmed.

Match No: 1

Venue: Hougang Stadium

Time: 7.30pm

Saturday 11 June: GOMBAK UNITED FC VS BALESTIER KHALSA FC

Match No: 2

Venue: Jurong West Stadium

Time: 7.

SLeague Latest
Young Lions v Woodlands Wellington 1-2 (Fazli Ayob; Goh Swee Swee, Leonardo Alexio) 509Tampines Rovers v Albirex Niigata 3-1 (OG, Shahdan Sulaiman, Aleksander Duric; Yosuke Saito) 1,304Home United v Hougang United 4-2 (Qiu Li, Frederick Mendy, Firdaus Idros 2; Diallo Mamadou, OG) 1,531
I don't want to sound patronising but what's happening at the bottom of the SLeague is almost as exciting as what is happening at the top.

(This entry is formulated with extracts from the press release issued by the Football Association of Singapore)
(Pictured above) The result of the draw
Defending champions Bangkok Glass confirmed the earlier quibbles of not coming back to defend the RHB Singapore Cup they won last year, while last season's runners-up Tampines Rovers will face Geylang United in a "eastern derby" showdown.

AFC Champions League
Jeonbuk v Arema 6-0
4 - Arema 6 0 1 5 2-22 1
Well I can't see any Indonesian teams being allowed to compete in the ACL in the future. It just isn't a priority for them and long flights overseas aren't exciting when you spend half the season on planes anyway.

With the ongoing campaigning to the running up to the General Elections, it's inevitable to see various S.League stadiums being selected as venues for the contesting parties to hold their mass rallies.
According to sleague.com, the selected stadiums are Bedok, Bishan, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Jurong East (pictured below, courtesy of Albirex Niigata[S]), Jurong West, Tampines, Toa Payoh and Woodlands Stadiums, while two stadiums (Hougang and Queenstown) were also named as the "reserve" venues by the police.

It hasn't been much of a season for Young Lions in the SLeague so far. They have just one win and three goals from their opening eight games. The early season circus of Pele etc has been forgotten as the season has now become one defeat after another; the latest coming in the last minute against title challengers Home United.

With 10 games gone SLeague new boys Tanjong Pagar United have yet to light up the compeition. Indeed, the opposite is true; they have become the whipping boys of the league as a team combined of young players with the odd older head struggle to make any kind of impression beyond a team to boost your goal difference against.

Indonesia Super League
Persija v Persiwa 0-0 15,150
SLeague
Balestier Khalsa v Albirex Niigata 0-1 (Musahi Okuyama) 1,110

Indonesia Super League
Bontang v Pelita Jaya 1-2 (Kenji Adichihara; Safee Salee 2)
Liga Primer Indonesia
Persema v Medan Bintang 4-1 (Batavia Union v Cendrawasih Papua 3-2 (Hary Saputra, Nur Iskandar, Juan Cortes; Yance Yowei, Fred Agius)Bandung v Bali De Vata 0-1 (Nyoman Armawan)Bogor Raya v Minangkabau 0-0
Thai Premier League
Pattaya United v Buriram PEABEC Tero v Sri RachaMuang Thong United v TOTBangkok Glass v Osotspa
SLeague
Young Lions v Albirex Niigata 0-5 (Sakaruda, Inui, Kawakami, Hotta, Saito) 1,510

A Singapore newspaper is reporting that of last night's near 2,000 attendance for the Albirex Niigata v Etoile game, only 490 were paying spectators! The rest were freebies, media and security personnel! And ballboys.

But you know what? That official attendance doesn't actually reflect the number of people who actually went to the stadium.

1 - Home United 4 3 1 0 11-2 102 - Tampines 4 3 1 0 12-4 103 - SAFFC 4 3 0 1 9-3 94 - Etoile 4 2 1 1 6-3 75 - Gombak United 4 2 1 1 4-4 7
4 - Mislav Karolgan (SAFFC), Aleksander Duric (Tampines Rovers) 3 - Maxime Belouet (Etoile), Park Yo Seb (Tampines Rovers)
Tonight sees Tampines Rovers look to carry on their free scoring start to the season against Thai champions Muang Thong United at Tampines Stadium.