What a match!

What drama! Three goals and a walk-out!

It was great that Singapore beat the Thais 2-1, but a damper when the win is shrouded with controversy. To be honest, I felt quite sorry for the Thais, it was a rather harsh decision. I fear for the 2nd leg when the Lions make their way to Bangkok, it will definitely be hostile!

But there was no doubt that the Lions played well. The pace was good, the boys were disciplined and played their hearts out. What more can a fan wants from their team. If they continue playing the way they do, we will definitely be a soccer powerhouse in the region very soon! And what better way to set the backdrop for the opening of the new S-League Season.

Hear the Lion ROOOAR

Can Singapore beat Thailand in the first leg of the 2007 Asean Championship tonight? With tickets almost sold out, let's hope the Lions play their hearts out and put up a good show for the audience. I think as long as they try hard, work hard, play well - the fans will appreciate it.

Overheard a new cheer concocted by Glenn Ong and the Flying Dutchman for the match this morning on FMClass95:

We are Singapore, we are Singapore

We will stand together hear the Lion(s) "ROAR"

(to make the actual roaring sound)

Will be quite cute if the audience pick this up and roar at the stadium. It has the potential to be our very own Singapore way of cheering our team own. Geez, the power of the media... ha ha.

Go Lions, Go HUFC players representing the national team - make Singapore proud.

Oleh, Oleh, Oleh, Oleh ... in cyberspace

(post on behalf cloudmuse - a bit backdated my fault.)

Even as the people crammed into the National Stadium for the game between Singapore and M'sia, united as one spirit (hmm, maybe "united as one" sounds better), the same unity is fostered in virtual space.It seems that STOMP was abuzz with comments on the football game too. Well, if you can't join them at the stadium, join them in spirit in cyberspace!So perhaps football is a unifying force even in cyberspace?

The Sunday Times, Jan 28, 2007

STOMP users add to football mania

FOOTBALL fever is well and truly back in Singapore.Just as the National Stadium was packed with 55,000 fans cheering on the Lions yesterday, Internet chatrooms here were also buzzing.The Straits Times' interactive portal, Stomp, had more than 50 comments, with fans discussing Singapore's penalty shootout win over rivals Malaysia.Said Sengleng: 'Our team had put everything on the line for this. Hope they can do the same for the finals. Let the world know our soccer team is not a failure.'

Added Spleenboy: 'Wow! I never really enjoyed soccer but I sure am proud of our team.'

Hey its my first post!!!!

Its hard to disappoint the fans out there... but its sad to say that come march for 2007 season only 5 protectors will continue to serve the team, as the management decide to release all foreign players.

For some fans out there who have been reading up on us in the news paper you might have already know some of the players that the club have sign up.

But for others fear not, over the course of next few weeks i ll introduce the new players and tell u more about them and provide u hungry fans out there with more news.

For now let us first salute to our 5 local protectors

Lewis Lionel

Indra Sahdan

Ridzuan Fatah

Rosman Sulaiman

Subramani

Football

Ah ha! And now I shall make my grand entry into this blog by being the first cuddly chick to talk shop!

I love going to the HUFC matches, especially at their home ground at Bishan Stadium. Somehow, even though I am actually just looking at the guys chasing after the football and not understanding much about the rules, I am always so hyped up!

I love it when the crowd cheers for HUFC manz (men)... hehe.

And, it's so nice because I get to go into the VIP box to watch the match too. This means that my powdered nose will remain powdered. (I am a chick afterall!)

No prizes for guessing who my favourite Protector is. It's....... Egmar Goncalves. I love his smile!

Check him out here. Tell me who's your favourite Protector leh. Leave a comment for me, please!

Cuddly chick signing off for now! Gotta do what a girl gotta do - Have my beauty sleep lor. Hee....

Chicks can talk football too!

Saw this article in the S-League website by "Chicks Talk Football". Really cute stuff, and I love the viewpoint. We have a few "chicks" (I hope I don't get flame for being chauvinistic for using this term - hey the Chicks Talk Football started it) writing for the Home U blog too, can't wait for them to start writing.

Back to the article, it's a wishlist for the new S-League Season. I have a few comments, with all due respect, in pink.

- sirennights

[from S-League Website]

Wednesday, January 03, 2007
QY Chen

info@sleague.com

Hola! Ohaiyo! Ni Hao! Selamat Datang! Hohoho, a very merry 2007 to all you readers out there!

As we bid a tearful farewell to our horrid hangovers, beer bellies and sore lungs from too much revelling and screaming (what else but the universal countdown chant of “10, 9, 8, 7...”) over the long weekend, it’s time to get down to the most important thing at the start of every swanky, new year – Wishlist Time!

Yes, making a wishlist is as pivotal as coming up with resolutions, because, well, wishes, when they actually do come true, are so much more gratifying.

Yours truly here, happen to have wishlists for everything, for example, Ten Irritating People I Hope I Don’t Have to Meet in 2007, Ten Phrases I Hope I Will Not Blurt When I Get Pissed Drunk in 2007…and the titles go on. Of course, being one of the few female writers of sleague.com (Ladies, where are you? Please drop me an email if you are interested in writing for us!), I thought it’ll also be neat to have a wishlist for the upcoming S.League season.

Too much testosterone can be awfully draining - no innuendo intended -, and once in a while, you need the chicks to come up with plans to make the S.League better. Football, after all, is about having fun, so, who better than us girls to brainstorm and whip up some really smashing ideas that are out of the box and perhaps, actually workable?

Shout-outs to my fellow female partners in crime for your delightful inputs over kopi! You know who you are.

Football hath no enjoyment like a woman high on caffeine. This is what we’d like to see in 2007, and what we think will make S.League rock like never before:

1) S.League Line Dance & Tai-Chi Nights

We’ve seen enough of the Dare Challenges at S.League matches during half-time. Some of the games have been rehashed so many times till we can already predict what will be presented beforehand! Why not have our senior citizens from community centre groups or leisure clubs perform their Line Dance or Tai-Chi routines during half-time? Most of them practise really hard at their craft, so the S.League should provide them with a platform to showcase their effort and passion!

(Hey, HUFC is one of the first local club to have a half-time entertainment for every home matches. At least I have seen Lion Dances, Traffic Police and SCDF performances, dancing, cheerleading etc. I heard that they are bring the half-time show back, can't wait.)

Of course, this is also a way to bring the S.League closer to the local elderly folks. Many people in their mid-life crisis start fearing that they have nothing to do after retirement, what they don’t know is, they can come watch the S.League games LIVE at a stadium near them!

(We used to have an ardent old man in a wheel chair who would come to every HUFC match. He's our most loyal fan. How about line-dancing and old folks singing competition. A few Elvis gig would be really cool.)

2) S.League Theme Events

We figure the S.League is not drawing many teenagers and kids at the moment, primarily because it is just a lot of football…and football. Why not have Theme Events, like S.League Halloween Night (on Halloween, everyone who dresses up in fancy costume enters FREE and gets a FREE pumpkin) and S.League Kimchi Fiesta (now that we have a Korean club playing, make one of their home games a Korean Day of sorts, with free flow of authentic Korean dishes, plus Korean traditional games and dances)?

(Er, you mean you come to matches not for football? So, my gut feel and hypothesis that there are more female spectators when we play Albirex. Works for me though. Voyeurism is an entertainment.)

Football has to be still the main draw of course, but with fringe activities like these (and not just the usual boring free popcorn and lollipops *snooze*), the S.League will be so much more attractive!

3) S.League Clubbing Nightouts

Do S.League and Zouk go together? We think it might just very well do! Clubs with clubhouses (throws seductive winks at Tampines Rovers and SAFFC), please don’t waste your facilities!

Capture the early 20s’ and PMEB crowd by coming up with S.League Clubbing Nightouts, where after an exciting 90minutes of football action, fans & spectators are invited to club and dance to hiphop and trance at the home team’s very own clubhouse! An entrance fee entitles you to two beers/housepours, age limit applies.

(Clubs are great places to relax and network. Just make sure that our local blokes don't club with the same intent and frequency as their England EPL counterparts. Also remember "IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE!" Hey, HUFC is tagged to MHA.

4) The S.League ‘Yan Dao’ FC

If there is one sureproof way to get the fairer sex to attend S.League games, it would be to start a ‘Yan Dao’ FC (‘Yan Dao’ means suave and handsome in the Hokkien dialect); a 20-man squad comprising the best looking dudes in the league to compete against the other 12 teams.

Who cares if they can play good football or not? If each of them looks like Takeshi Kaneshiro or Bae Yong Jun, you can bet that sheer numbers of ogling aunties and teeny boppers will be turning up in full force, armed with cameras and microscopic lenses!

(I knew there was an ulterior motive. The players from the other 12 teams will probably try to disfigure the faces of the "Yan Dao" team - so that they can join the Yan Dao team themeslves.)

5) The S.League Superstar/Idol Contest

Look at how Singapore Idol and Project Superstar have created a storm in Singapore. Mark our words, Reality TV is BIG and we hope S.League jump onto the bandwagon too.

Round up a bunch of weekend warriors, give them the chance to make the leap from amateur hero to professional S.League-r (the winner gets the chance to play a major S.League game with the club of his choice), and tada! Not only does S.League get maximum exposure, this could very well be the next biggest show on television.

(Another great idea. Chicks Talk Football probably yearn for a swimsuit category.

<--- Anyway, for preview, check out the new H2O ad featuring some of the S-League boys. Think they forgot the HUFC guys by accident.)

Chicks Talk Football is an irregular column that strives to give the female voice in an otherwise very masculine world of soccer. The writer might seem to ramble with irreverence, but seriously, she hopes her points are taken with heart.

NEW PROTECTORS IN ACTION

Five Protectors were in action with the national team in the AFF Cup. Can you name them? - ktvelu

Beckham's move to LA and what it means for HUFC

This from a fellow Home Team blogger. Good stuff, so we've decided to post it here too!

Singapore, or at least maybe we should start from HUFC :), should start nurturing stars that can be ultimately sold to the foreign (preferably top-class type) teams and leagues! This would generate income for the cash-strapped teams. Hey, this should even be a Key Performance Index - striving to nurture x nos. of talents that was signed by other leagues for a profit! Currently, only Fandi came close.

That's also one of the best way to up the profile and quality of the local football scene. But the bottomline is the S-League must dedicate resource and time to groom young football talents. HUFC is already doing so. The second step - to make the Lions a formidable force in the regional and international football scene so that people actually see them in action and want to sign them.

South Korea did it after many years and I would say they made it up there, with the likes of Park in Man United first team etc. (other Korean soccer starts also play in major European leagues).

Saturday, January 13, 2007Opportunity and laying a Long Tail to future paths I be no football fan, not being able to tell one side from the other, one rule from another.So don't worry, I be no Beckham fan, and won't be jostling with the rest for autograph or for the paraphernalia.But this article in TODAY is interesting - it tells a tale of how potential opportunities are seen, created, grasped, and how "long tails" are laid so that future opportunities (ie revenue sources) do not dry up. ("Long tails" referring to the book with the title that is something like Laying a Long Tail - not sure of exact title.)

Fittingly in La-la landBeckham's incredible journey takes a Hollywood twist
TODAY Weekend • January 13, 2007
Rahul PathakAssociate Editorrahul@mediacorp.com.sg

A MAN named Simon Fuller is gloating. "I have always dreamt of being responsible for sport's biggest deal," he says. "And now I have."

He has just finished selling David Beckham to America, promising them that the man with the squeaky voice and Spice Girl wife will do for "sah-kurr" what the Beatles did for pop music: Make it rock.

Fuller has just secured the pop icon who happens to be a footballer a five-year deal worth US$250 million ($386 million) to end his career at Los Angeles Galaxy.

In case you need help with the math, that is US$1 million a week — for a man who can no longer break into the England team or even his present club's first eleven.

And yet, Major League Soccer (MLS), which runs the game in the United States, believe they have got him on the cheap. Even if you discount typical American hype for a moment, MLS commissioner Don Garber has explained the deal in simple terms: "David is truly the only individual who can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world.

"His coming here can be viewed as one of the most important moments in the history of professional sport."

Die-hard soccer fans who swear by the skills of a Ronaldinho or the vision of a Zidane may well roll their eyes. And they would be wrong.

Don't you get it? David Beckham is a footballer who transcends football, a man who is famous simply for being famous. And none of this has very much to do with his ability to bend a ball. Even Roberto Carlos has been known to do that.

It's fitting, too, that the deal should have been brokered for a footballer by Fuller, a man who once put five girls on stage together — never mind that they couldn't sing — and created a sensation called the Spice Girls. Beckham's world has many intersections.

THE LEGEND OF David
It started as a football story in 1996. On the opening day of the season, he scored the goal that shook the world, lobbing Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from beyond the halfway line. The man was blessed with a right foot that could unlock Fort Knox.

The call-up to England was just a formality, but Beckham has always had the knack for punctuating glory with sickening lows. The story never stales — a marketer's dream.He scored with a blistering free-kick at the 1998 World Cup. But in the very next round, he was suckered by Argentina's Diego Simeone. Beckham lashed out at his opponent, got sent off and became Public Enemy No 1.Vilification turned to intense curiosity the following year when he married Victoria Adams, better known as Posh Spice. The world did not know it then, but Beckham the footballer, was about to become David the celebrity.

Victoria, with her PR skills and showbiz background, introduced him to the glitz and tattoos, ever-changing hairstyles and product endorsements.

He was loved for his magical moments on the pitch and innate good grace. After scoring the wonder goal against Greece that helped England qualify for the 2002 World Cup, he famously spent time with a severely disabled young girl called Kirsty Howard, saying he had never met anyone as courageous as her.

And he was hated for no reason other than his Page 3 lifestyle, with a fan once screaming that he hoped Beckham's son Brooklyn would die of cancer.It all added up to more media frenzy, more fans. The poster boy had taken wing and when Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as England manager in 2001, his first remarks were that he needed Beckham's autograph for his daughter.

The man was now an international object of desire for the gay community as well as screaming Japanese schoolgirls. Posh and Becks was a brand that moved the fashion world. British flick Bend It Like Beckham underlined his wider appeal and an installation depicted him sitting among the apostles.

Even Time magazine included Beckham in its list of top 100 icons for 2004. It gushed: "Beckham is an icon of modern masculinity at a time when gender roles are changing faster than runway styles. It ain't easy being the metrosexual pin-up boy, but Beckham doesn't flinch from the term.

"Alex Ferguson's boot was another matter. It flew to catch Beckham under the eye and closed the chapter on their professional love affair. Soon Beckham was bundled off to Real Madrid. They called him a galactico. His critics said he was a shirt-seller.

GLITZ AND DOLLARS
It would not have escaped his new bosses' notice that Beckham's name alone shifted more than a million replica shirts at Real, where he had a 50-50 share of merchandising at the club. LA Galaxy have allowed him a bigger cut, which could net him US$10 million a year.

He already has a foothold in LA. It was here that he chose to set up the first of his football academies in the US, a free-kick away from his new home ground.There are murmurings, of course. His critics point out that this is the end of David Beckham as a serious footballer.

"It's tantamount to semi-retirement, isn't it?" former star Gary Lineker told BBC. But he added: "Beckham's played for two of the biggest clubs in the world. It's a step down, wherever you go, so you might as well experience something different.

"The lifestyle seems tailor-made for the Beckhams.They are expected to buy a place near their friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. And at the "TomKat" wedding in Italy last year, Victoria also made friends with Jennifer Lopez, who is introducing her to the Hollywood jet-set.Said Gordon Smart, deputy showbiz editor of British newspaper The Sun: "Image-obsessed LA will be a great place for Victoria to pursue her career in fashion design."There were rumours David would go to Celtic, but Sauchiehall Street doesn't quite compare to Sunset Boulevard.

"Playing for Newcastle or Celtic would have done nothing to burnish Beckham's aura. But making soccer popular in the US — something that Johann Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Pele and even the 1994 World Cup could not achieve — now, that would be something.

At Home with Subra

The New Paper (9 January 2007) has a special feature on our HUFC Captain S. Subramani, or affectionately known as Subra. Subra is retiring from the Lions after (gasps!) 111 caps for Singapore! Kudos to TNP for this report - Subra is someone who definitely deserve more recognition for his contribution to the country and the local football scene.

As you can see, I respect Subra very much. On the field, Subra is very much like the milder (temper) and "civilised" Roy Keane of HUFC, whom the team and fans will miss if he is not playing. (I use Roy Keane as an example because Subra likes Man United - like me :) - but Subra don't really get drunk and box people in pubs or deliberately step on people's face on the pitch lah).

On the contrary, Subra reads the game well and is very effective as a defender without playing dirty or "behave like a bull-dozer". Respected and well-liked by everyone (Keane was feared), Subra is also genuinely friendly and approachable off the pitch.

Can someone give this man some national award or something (my personal view)?

The Electric New Paper :

Adios Subra

By Wang Meng Meng, 10 January 2007

'IT'S about time.’ 'I've had a long and happy career with the national team and the time is right to leave and make way for the others,' S Subramani, Singapore's long-standing defensive bulwark said sombrely.
'I can still remember when I first received my national call-up in 1995, I was just so excited that my dream to play for the Lions had come true. For me, it has always been the case of taking each match as it comes and giving my best to stay in the coach's plans. Little did I think that I'd have 111 caps today.'
'I'll be 35 this year and I don't think my body can withstand playing for both club and country anymore.'More importantly, I think I'll be leaving on a high. 'We are the defending champions of Asean and we're good enough to retain the title. So, the time is right for me to go.'

'I gave up athletics for football only in late Eighties'
Veteran national defender S Subramani has called it a day. During a fulfilling 12-year career with the Lions, he won two Tiger Cups and 111 caps. Here, he talks to WANG MENG MENG about his retirement from international football and his fondest memories with the Lions.

THE BEGINNING
Started playing football when I was studying in Clementi Town Secondary School.'Before that, running was my first love. I was really into cross-country and long-distance events. I wasn't even a defender when I first started playing. Actually, I was a midfielder and I represented Clementi Town and later, Jurong Institute.
'It was during my A-level days in the late 1980s that I was first spotted when John Chia (team manager) selected me for Combined Schools team. I am eternally gratefully to John for giving me the chance.'After I played well during a trip to China in 1990, I was converted into a centre-back and I've played in defence ever since. And in the same year, I broke into the pre-Olympic team under P N Sivaji.'

PROFESSIONALISM
'I first started out at Premier League side Tiong Bahru (later renamed Tanjong Pagar United) in 1992 when Sivaji, who was coaching the club, gave me my first taste of semi-professional football.'It was an exciting time as I never thought that I will be playing with two Malaysia Cup heroes in Terry Pathmanathan and David Lee.'I later represented Safsa during my national service days and when I left the army, I returned to Tiong Bahru. And in March 1995, I received a phone call.'The person on the line was Douglas Moore. He told me that I had just been called up for the national team for the Philips Tournament (featuring clubs Korean Industrial Bank, Piroozi of Iran and Sweden's Osters IF plus the Thailand national side).'

THE FIRST TIME
I wasn't nervous when I went for my first training with the Lions. Honestly, I was buzzing with excitement as I wanted to learn from great players like Fandi Ahmad, Kadir Yahaya, Lim Tong Hai, Jang Jung and Abbas Saad.'The experience was fantastic. There were lots of banter around and the seniors really made me feel welcome.'You know what, Fandi is actually the biggest joker of the lot. He is always full of jokes and pranks. His friendliness really made me feel at ease. That is something I always remembered.'That should be the way. I don't really pay much attention to this senior-junior thing. I mingle around just like any of the guys.'To me, we're all team-mates and we have all been picked by the national coach to win matches for the country. By welcoming the new boys, I'm doing my part in helping them settle down.'

PATIENCE
'These days, it is easier for the youngsters to walk into the team and stay there.'Back then, it was extremely competitive. All the rookies had to train hard before they are given a chance to start. As for myself, I waited two years before I finally nailed down my place.'That was in 1997 when the Lions toured New Zealand and I played three matches there. When we returned, I was called into Barry Whitbread's office and he told me that he was happy with my performances and it is now up to me to keep the centre-back slot.'The man I replaced was the late Borhan Abu Samah. I don't know how he felt. But I know another dream of mine had come true. My patience had paid off.'

The Future: Planning to work for Home 'I'VE just signed a two-year contract with Home United and I'll see out my club career with them at the end of the 2008 season.'Coaching? I've not really decided on that as I have enrolled in a programme at Novation Business School.'I had just received my Advanced Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management and I'm currently studying for my degree for the same subject. If everything goes well, I should complete my course next year and I'm looking forward to finding a job in the administrative side.'Of course, with my international retirement, I can spend more time with my wife Vanitha.'You know, I dated her for 10 years before we married in 2002. She's the love of my life.''I fought back'

TIGER Cup was the absolute low.

'So many fans turned up at Kallang to see the Lions get whacked 4-0 by Malaysia. It was an absolute disaster.'At that point, I seriously considered retiring from the national team. But after thinking long and hard about it, I simply couldn't walk away.'It was not right to leave during the lowest point. I picked myself up and vowed to fight back and achieve something before I left.'The 2005 win proved that I made the right decision.'

'Thank heaven for the coaches I had' 'I AM lucky to have played under several fantastic coaches.'Raddy Avramovic has a wealth of experience, having coached in the Middle East and played for Notts County in England. He has a lot of ideas during training and is like a fatherly figure to all of us.

'SAS' THREESOME'

I hope that he will be given more time to coach us. He wants to do lots of good for Singapore football but his ideas need time.'I also want to thank my former coaches at Home United - Robert Alberts and Steve Darby - as well as Richard Woon, the general manager of Tanjong Pagar, who took good care of me.'Overall, I had been really blessed to have learned from these people.''I'm really proud of my partnership with Aide Iskandar and R Sasikumar.'For about five seasons, we were regulars for both Home United and Singapore. We had such a telepathic understanding that we were dubbed 'SAS'.'We complemented each other perfectly. Aide was the broom who reads and sweeps away the danger. Sasi has his height. And I had my pace.'On top of that, we're all great friends off the pitch.''We've got a very good batch of players now. Most of them are between 23 and 25 years old. That is a good age in football.'With the talent that they have, this team can go far. 'All we need is to have the discipline and desire to do well.'It is really up to us now to defend our Asean crown. The time has come for us to be 100 per cent focused on our mission. 'If we can do that, we should be able to retain the title.'

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Home United FC Blogs

The Home United Football Club has started our very own blog! Look out for more fun and exciting news about the Club, juicy details about the real people who makes up HUFC, what goes on behind the scene and more. Come share your thoughts with us too! Looking forward to a great Season ahead.