"I always believe such cooperation between clubs and their locality GROs (Grassroots Organization) will do more good than anything. Both parties should leverage on the plus sides of each other to benefit themselves in the long run. And this is something I hope the "joint event" this afternoon is not a "one-off" event.

Soler Swag for days

After what can only be described as a highly disappointing season in 2011, the Red Bulls, and more importantly their front office, certainly had their work cut out for them. A roster filled with so much talent but woefully underachieved had to be revamped somehow. And it was Erik Soler's job to fit together the right pieces to assert New York as a top team once again.

(This entry is formulated based on materials obtained via Singa Cup Official Website)
INTRODUCTION
Singa Cup is an international youth football tournament co-organized by Dynamique Konzepts Pte Ltd, an event management company with its partners Joji, a local based design and innovation consultancy.

Televised live on TCN.

That's right, folks; to go along with the laundry list of accomplishments the Metro Bulls have attained in their illustrious history, you can add 2011 Emirates Cup Champions to it. Now while it's no La Manga, it ranks right up there with the Mickey Mouse Cup of 2010. Hey, this is about the only Red Bulls news I can get excited about nowadays, so get off my back.

Wow, well hopefully you haven't been using the Offside as your sole source for MLS news (as I know many of you do), because I haven't been very diligent in updating you on all things Red Bull New York. With the Bulls facing some adversity (understatement of the year?), the front office has taken action and enlisted the help of German backstop Frank Rost.

(This entry is formulated with additional details provided by the media release issued by The Red Card, the co-organizers of the 23rd Canon Lion City Cup)
(Pictured above) I drawn "Juventus" to join Group A (picture credit: The Red Card)
... that the National U-15 team due to play in the upcoming 23rd Canon Lion City Cup had found themselves grouped together with Italian powerhouses Juventus U-15 and Newcastle United's U-15 squad in the Group A.

(This entry is formulated based on the transcript of the press release issued by the tournament organizer with copyright of images depicted here belong them as well.)

"To continue fostering international relations between the various nations, other than diplomatic visits and International summits, we have decided to put 2 of man's biggest obsession together; Beer and Football, a combination which can never fail.

(Part of the entry is formulated with the transcript of the press release obtained via Ogilvy Public Relations, the coordinating agency of this event)
(P.S: The copyrights of the images depicted in this blog entry belong to Ko Po Hui, unless credited to copyright owners accordingly)
It's not very often to see me in this busy stretch in Singapore at this early hour, but here I was at the Ngee Ann City (commonly known as "Taka" after its anchor tenant - Takashimaya SC) for the Tiger Street Football 2011 tournament.

A friend of my who is actively involved in the local rugby scene dropped me an email to inform me that local rugby community is staging their own charity game in aid for the Japanese quake victims after what the football community had done last weekend.
And since it's all for good cause, here is the information of the upcoming rugby charity match to be played at Padang this coming Saturday.

With her group of five of them being first in the queue (pictured above), Japanese expatriate who gave her name as "A I" told this blogger they were here since 5.30am outside the ticketing booth of the Jalan Besar Stadium.
"Because we want to show our support to our fellow countrymen devastated by the recent earthquake back home in Japan.

(Media Information from the Football Association of Singapore)
(Pictured above left-right) Singapore Red Cross Director of Operations Mr Lim Theam Poh, Co-Chairman of S.League Cares Fundraising Committee Mr Zulkifli Baharuddin, FAS President Zainudin Nordin, Hidetoshi Nakata, Co-Chairman of S.

(The entry is formulated based on the transcript of the media release obtained from renowned PR agency, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide - the coordinating agency of this event)
Tournament poster (above) obtained from Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
This coming April will see some fast paced, dynamic street football action taking place at Ngee Ann City, as international acclaimed brewery Tiger Beer will be hosting the inagural "Tiger Street Football" regional tournament from 16 to 17 April 2011.

Broadcast information TBD.

Well, it looks like Backe's decision to make Thierry Henry the next Red Bulls captain is official. After seeing Henry wear the armband in Wednesday's friendly against Atlante, there was some speculation as to whether the decision would be carry over into the regular season.

With the Red Bulls down in Mexico for the beginning of their preseason schedule, New York pulled out a win in PK's over Mexican side Atlante, 4-3, after each side failed to score in the regulation 90.

Last year, the Red Bulls had an almost perfect preseason, finishing at 7-0-3. With the new look Bulls on the pitch for the first time in 2011, their undefeated streak continued.

Well, it seems as though Don Garber's "big announcement" was a big PR letdown and irked many MLS fans, but it works just fine for me. Red Bull Arena will play host to the MLS All-Star game for the first time since 1997 back at Giants Stadium, although the opponent has yet to be released.

MLS has undergone a pretty drastic transformation right before our very eyes this offseason, one that has left me asking, "Where have all the stars gone?" alla Hershey's Cookies and Cream commercials circa 1998. Many of the league's big name stars have hit the road for various reasons, leaving behind an opportunity for many of the leagues budding young talents to take their place.