The venue of the return leg - Rajamangala Stadium (picture credit: Wikipedia)
However, I will be very appreciative if some of you guys, who might be watching the game via some alternative sources, could post your thoughts, comments after watching this match.
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It's ironically that since that 3-1 defeat to Thailand on Saturday, this blog recorded its biggest viewership since its establishment as it surpassed the previous record set on 20th May 2009.
So as a basic courtesy, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those folks who had flocked in over the past few days that made it possible to this new record. Click to continue reading...

SHORT SCRIBE OF THE GAME
The first thing you noticed at the ground was the heavy security at the stadium.
Given the stakes were high and big crowds were expected that the organizers had decided to segregate both groups of fans from one and other.
And like most games played in Kallang in the recent years, it would always be the away fans that drummed up the atmospher (Why are we the passive lot? Click to continue reading...

Singapore coach Raddy said he's glad with the media turn out today that he felt this must be something good about the game tomorrow.
Thailand's coach Bryan Robson this is first time he comes to Singapore in a capacity as a coach and he's looking forward to the game and challenge ahead.
At the meantime, the former England skipper gave an update to the media on his team preparation and said,"everything is going well. Click to continue reading...

Media information by Football Association of Singapore)
SINGAPORE, 6th November 2009: Match Tickets for the crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier between Singapore and Thailand on 14 November will go on advanced sale from Sunday, 8 November during the RHB Singapore Cup final at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Click to continue reading...

Hassan Sunny was the first player to come out for his warming up
The Lions kept their composure well in the first half (save for that slip when they allowed the Indonesians to level shortly after they took the lead in the 10th minute) to restrict their guests from prowling deep into their half to maintain their 2-1 lead. Click to continue reading...

What can I say about this when I first saw this in the morning?
To my surprise, even one of my maternal aunts can recalled some of the names of these legends when she revealed that during her courtship days with my uncle - going to the catch the team in action was a common thing in their "pak-tor" days! Click to continue reading...

Not since the early 1980s when we last seen some of our top footballers left for greener pasture.
Coincide with Singapore's second pulled out from the Malaysia Cup in 1982, stars like Fandi Ahmad, Terry Pathmanathan, David Lee packed their bags and ventured to either the Malaysian or Indonesian leagues then. Click to continue reading...

Before the KICK-OFF
Spoke to some of the crowds at the stadium before the kick-off.

• "I first came to know this game from a China-based website and after verified it with local sources, I gathered some of my classmates here to watch the game" said 19 year-old Hu Qiang, a NUS student who was at the match with some of his classmates (above).

Click to continue reading...

(Picture) Coach Raddy (with cap) put his players through the pace.
Good thing was I managed to make it to the national team training session at Geylang Field after work, when initially I thought some stupid accidents along the PIE would derail my plan to catch the session.
(Picture) Fahrudin Mustafic doing some stretching on the sideline. Click to continue reading...

(P.S: Below is a press release by Strategic Public Relations Group Singapore, a renowned public relations consultancy who are coordinating the above-mentioned event)
Singapore, 28 July 2009
NATIONAL DAY CHALLENGE KICKS OFF WITH GRUDGE MATCH
Singapore Lions takes on China to launch new football event
Singapore – In celebration of Singapore's National Day, the Singapore National Team will play China to kick off a new annual football event – the National Day Challenge. Click to continue reading...

(Picture from TV) Doesn't this trophy looks like the Malaysia Cup?
It was a soft, deflected goal from Andriy Voronin at the stroke of first half and the lapse in an indiscipline Singapore' backline in the second half saw the visiting the Liverpool ended their Singapore "holiday training camp" with a win of the hosting Lions at the heaven-know-when-will-tear-down National Stadium. Click to continue reading...

Yes, I admitted that I used to be one of the KOP.
But that was many years ago and yesterday I was the National Stadium to catch the Reds' only "open door" training session in front of approximately 6,000 (just a rough figure).
SOME PICTURES TOOK DURING THE EVENT
Spot someone familiar? Click to continue reading...

The "Super-sub" of the late 80s - Abdullah Noor signed on the 1990's poster (25th May 2009)
"Don't take my picture!!" said Abdullah Noor when I bumped onto him just now outside the Jalan Besar Stadium.
But when he saw the priceless poster, he was surprised and asked how and where I got it. Click to continue reading...

It's nice to see "H-TWO-O" roped in the likes of Noh Alam Shah, Lionel Lewis, Ridhuan Muhamud, Hariss Harun etc. to promote this brand of istonic drink (as depicted in those promotional posters below spotted at City Hall MRT station).
Ridhuan Mahamud showing his skill
Noh Alam Shah (foreground), Lionel Lewis (in biking gear and cycling) and Hariss Harun
At least, we get a chance to see local footballers gaining some much-needed publicity other than during those "prominent" matches (i. Click to continue reading...

Once again I got an email from my Brazilian friend, Renato Andreão.
This time round, Renato conducted an interview with Tampines Rovers star striker Noh Alam Shah.
In this interview, "Ah Long" shares his thoughts with Renato on his ambitions for this season and gave his opinion what could have led the current trophy drought at Tampines, despite at a time boasted one of the potent striking line-up in the league. Click to continue reading...

Suddenly, those old memories just popped back aftera href="http://www.bolasepako.com/2009/03/mixed-feeling-but-its-prayer-answered.html" FAS decided to life the ban imposed on ex Lions' idol, Abbas Saad/a.br /br /I managed to dig out these collector cards produced by "GOAL" magazine (now defunct) during the 1994 Malaysia Cup season. Click to continue reading...

I'm not harping on that infamous incident that took place after we beat the Jordanians on the 28th Jan 2009.
But I would like to know since this brawl had already been reported to the Police and statements had been taken from relevant parties, how is the authority going to follow-up from this point? Click to continue reading...

Was at the National Stadium again to see how the preparation for the game against the Jordanians the following day.

Good to see guys like Aleksandar Duric, Khairul Amri back in training with Hariss Harun doing some light workout at the sidelines with trainer Aleksandar Bozenko.

Much of the training were dealt with "set-pieces" and match practices.

Click to continue reading...

The NEW Paper seek some opinions from overseas fans about their view on the national team's recent defeat to the Iranians...
Not bad eh.. as our football did attract some attentions from these overseas football lovers BUT hey, take a look .. it's not your usual "Jones" or "Taylors'. Click to continue reading...

Lionel Lewis prepared to take the goal kick.
"Is it fair to say when one moment of madness would define the outcome of a game?"
I'm not sure if that's a fair statement but somehow that's the tendancy of people trying to find a scapegoat when things went horribly wrong.
Ismail Yunos was one being singled out, by netizens, as one such "scapegoat" when he was sent off for a illegal tackle made and saw he received the marching order. Click to continue reading...

Happen to be at Jalan Besar Stadium and saw these two notices
The top is a notice to inform the public that the plastic surface of the stadium will be closed for upgrading from 7/12/2008 -31/1/2009.
While the second notice (before the first) informed the national team's upcoming home schedule will be played on the 28th January 2009, against the Jordanians in the Asian Cup qualifiers. Click to continue reading...

The top of the picture is copy of yesterday's "Mypaper" and the mid portion to bottom (with the masthead - MY SAY) of it being the one I picked up just now.
At least, there's some sort of balance here as two different schools of thoughts were given adequate coverage here on this free handout. Click to continue reading...

I just came back from Kallang....
What a sad end to the tournament...
We had our chances (with Ah Long's countless efforts) but the luck wasn't there at all...
The Vietnamese had their chance and capitalized on it and made us paid for the price.
The general consensus was "Why Noh Rahman, who had a good game as the right-back, was replaced by an attacking-minded Ismail Yunos? Click to continue reading...

Was at Jalan Besar yesterday afternoon to take a look how the ticket sales, when the organizers decided at the eleventh hour to put the tickets on sale on Saturday, which was slated as a non-sale day.
Although there was no long queue for the tickets, the fans slowly turned up at the ground to buy their tickets. Click to continue reading...

From "mypaper" today....
Only when I saw this clipping today at the backpage of "mypaper", I realized that it was exactly 14 years ago on this day, we won our last and final Malaysia Cup at Shah Alam after hammered Pahang 4-0.
As on today, the national team is facing Vietnam in Hanoi later at night for the semi-final showdown of the AFF Suzuki Cup, let this historic moment be a moment to inspire but not to dwell on it. Click to continue reading...

Click for a bigger picture
See you at the National Stadium on the 21st December, against the Vietnamese.
But, please refer to the "PrtSc" below from the SSC website..
Can we meet the deadline when it was already stated the construction supposed to start on February 2008? Click to continue reading...

"Sopcast" let me down again and a white knight in Kallangroar.com recommended this alternative -"SPVOD".
Need not to worry about the buffering of the clip as it was smooth-sailing throughout the match, although it was lag by a few seconds (which always the case).
And we did it again at Senanyang (aka Gelora Bung Karno Stadium) with a 2-0 win over the hosts, who must be feeling a lot of pressure before and now, after the match. Click to continue reading...