BoLASEPaKO.COM - A Blog on Singapore Football

[Telegram Chat] - TANGIBLE PLANS WITHOUT ANY GRANDSTANDING ANTICS

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:30:00 +0000

The Jaguars Team Coach stationed at Bishan

Frankly speaking, the news of the recent change of management at the once-mighty Tanjong Pagar United doesn't excite me at all.

Having observed how things were run over the last few years from a bystander's perspective, I would rather reserve judgement until the time is right.

Nonetheless, it is crucial that the new management keeps all stakeholders informed of their plans, without making any grandstanding statements.

After all, with the new season merely weeks away, we should have received some tangible updates from the club by now regarding whatever plans they have in mind.

Spare a thought for those long-suffering Jags supporters who had enough after all these years.

- 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎'𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍 -

WORLD CUP: PRICED OUT OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 29 May 2026 16:22:48 +0000

The blogger with Ian Wright at Tiong Bahru Market in 2015

I am no longer looking forward to the World Cup — a feeling that began after 2002.

Gone are the days when the competition was broadcast on free-to-air channels, serving as a focal point around the globe that everyone looked forward to every four years.

FROM SBC TO SBS

Back then, our local broadcasters would host the coverage from their own studio setup at Caldecott Hill during those SBC days before the role was taken over by Australia's SBS in 1994, which introduced Singaporean households to the legendary duo of Les Murray and Johnny Warren for the very first time.

Since then, watching the World Cup has become a costly affair. Football fans have to dig deep into their pockets to pay for the subscriptions just to witness the mesmerising moments of icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

I still remember paying the subscription for the first (and last) time so that my late father could watch the games during 2002 edition which was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea.

"SCANDALOUS": IAN WRIGHT

So when recently former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright criticised the "scandalous" costs that ordinary fans need to pay to watch the World Cup, it struck a chord with me.

Speaking to The Independent, a British online publication, the Gunners legend blasted:“The tickets. The travel, everything is extortionate, it's a rich man's game. It's scandalous."

So, if given a choice: -

• Would you pay whatever it cost to watch the World Cup on television?

• Take a sabbatical from the game during the tournament?

I know jolly well what is my best option.

Last but not least, is the upcoming tournament being organised by FIFA?

Why did Hasnim Haron leave for Johor in 1993?

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:06:33 +0000

I can still vividly remember the day I read the shattering headline printed in the 3rd January 1993 edition of The Sunday Times (the Sunday edition of The Straits Times (ST)).

I literally choked on my drink when I read this headline (as credited)

Despite noting the ace winger did not have a good season in the previous year that saw Singapore relegated to the second tier of the Malaysian League, the broadsheet assessed: "If 26-year-old Hasnim (Haron) does move across the Causeway, it would be a severe blow to Singapore's hopes of a successful campaign when Division Two of the Semi-Pro League (Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 2) kicks off in July."

NOT A "PIN DROP" AT ALL

The development caught the whole local football fraternity by surprise, as there had been literally no sign—not even a pin drop—to hint to anyone that the midfielder was on his way to Stadium Larkin (the home ground of Johor FA).

This was especially shocking, given that things were looking up for a rejuvenated Hasnim, who had performed well during a training tour to Myanmar and the Merlion Cup tournament during that period.

It was later revealed that S.Thavaneson, the president of Hasnim's parent club Balestier United, was aware of the approach from the southern Malaysian state but decided to keep it confidential.

Due to his position as an FAS (Football Association of Singapore) council member, the then 45-year-old businessman was criticised for not informing Jalan Besar (where the FAS headquarters are located) of the approach beforehand.

Many felt he should have done so, given the ongoing "rebuilding" process aimed at seeing Singapore regain their spot in the Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 1.

Thavaneson drew criticism from his peers on the saga (as credited)

While such an act drew brickbats from his peers in the footballing circle, Thavaneson remained unfazed and defiant. He maintained that he had done nothing wrong throughout the saga — choosing to stay silent during the height of the controversy.

Speaking to ST, Thavaneson said: "It is not my duty to report to the FAS Council on what is happening in my club or for that matter what my players are up to."

"So when Hasnim started his negotiations with Johor it was strictly a private and confidential matter. It would have been grossly unethical of me to report it to the FAS," he added.

Subsequently, a "clear-the-air" meeting was held on 6 January between FAS secretary John Koh, national team general manager Patrick Ang, and treasurer Chey Chor Wai at the old National Stadium. The goal was to get to the bottom of how the saga had unfolded, after it had rocked the establishment since the start of the new year.

This followed Ang's revelation to the ST that Hasnim had already given his word to the Johoreans, effectively ruling out any hope of the FAS making a last-ditch effort to retain the services of the pacey winger.

I will never forget this comic strip (as credited)

The meeting resulted in a blessing for a determined Hasnim to pursue his footballing career on the other side of Selat Johor, although he promised he would remain available to represent the Lions in all international competitions.

For the southern Malaysian state, it was a dream come true, as they had actively pursued Hasnim since declaring their intention to do so in August 1990.

13 JUNE 1992: THE CATALYST FOR DEPARTURE

With the die already cast, The New Paper (TNP) followed up on the development by shedding light on the details that triggered Hasnim's intention to leave Singapore.

On 13 June 1992, when a beaming picture of him showing off his "Hasnim King" boots appeared in the ST in the morning, little did he know that the outcome of the Lions' match, ironically, against Johor on that same day, would lead to one of his darkest moments.

Despite netting a beautiful curler late in the game to reduce the deficit in the 2-1 defeat against the southern Malaysian state, Hasnim found himself being abused by disgruntled fans after the game.

Hasnim revealed what triggered his decision to move (as credited)

The following were described by the tabloid on those unpleasant occurrences.

"He (Hasnim) was leaving (the stadium) when he was confronted by six men who moved at him in a threatening fashion. They gesticulated and shouted obscenities at him. Luckily some friends who saw the incident, ushered him away."

"Later that night, fans telephoned Hasnim and abused him. They would call up, use foul language and hang up. It went on until the early hours of the morning and continued for the next few days."

Those unpleasantries were probably became part of the catalyst that fueled the ace winger's desire to move.

In that TNP article, Hasnim said: "I was under tremendous pressure from the fans and the press. I wasn't able to concentrate. I was just getting worse."

"I wasn't able to do what I did in 1990 or 1991. At times, I couldn't even trap the ball! And, I'm supposed to be one the better ball-players.

"That's when I began to think that I had to make a move. Otherwise my game would have gotten so bad that I would have to quit before I reached my peak."

RETURN TO SINGAPORE

It was arguably the right decision at that juncture, as Hasnim flourished in his new environment once he crossed the Causeway.

At one point, after scoring 12 goals in 16 league matches and three in the Malaysia Cup tournament, he was being considered for a Lions recall by the then-national coach Barry Whitbread for the 1995 SEA Games squad, only to turn it down due to family commitments.

Balestier Central failed to sign Hasnim back from Johor (as credited)

When the S.League was poised to kick off in April 1996, Thavaneson tried but was unable to recall Hasnim to play for the newly registered Balestier Central in the republic’s professional league; Johor refused to release him from the loan deal they had signed with Balestier United, which was only due to expire in December of that same year.

However, in an ST report filed in February 1996, Hasnim promised he would return and play for Balestier once his obligations with Johor were over. He stayed true to his word the following year, when he signed a "lifetime contract" with the Tigers in early January 1997.

THE FINAL CURTAIN

Strangely, the one-time Belgium-bound midfielder did not cap his glittering career with the then Toa Payoh-based side; he left the club at the end of the 1999 season—a move that caught many by surprise when the news surfaced in Berita Harian (BH).

BH reported Hasnim left Balestier Central at the end of the 1999 season (as credited)

The local Malay daily stated that then Balestier coach PN Sivaji refused to comment on the reasons for the player's departure, though he admitted he still wanted Hasnim in the team. The report added it was understood that the decision had been made by Thavaneson.

Hasnim crossed Braddell Road to sign for Home United (as credited)

Days later, BH revealed that Hasnim had crossed Braddell Road to join Home United at Bishan Stadium. He presumably ended his career with Clementi Khalsa in an unceremonious fashion, when his contract was terminated midway through the 2002 season due to "non-performance".

(P.S 1: This is the second and final blog post featuring former Singapore international Hasnim Haron. You can read the first part of his story by clicking the link here.)

(P.S 2: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited. Should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible, and I will remove them upon request.)

(P.S 3: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)

(P.S 4: From 1921 to 1994, Singapore competed within the Malayan and later Malaysian domestic football systems (as an invitational side following independence in 1965). Barring a few brief exceptions, this unique cross-border arrangement defined local football for over 70 years, until Singapore exited the Malaysian league to launch the S.League in 1996.)

(P.S 5: The blog post is based on publicly available sources, primarily from Newspaper SG. There is no attempt to speculate on or interpret the motives of any individuals or organisations involved. The aim is to present the findings matter-of-factly.)

[Telegram Chat] - HONDA TO FC JURONG: A LONG AWAITED IMPACT FOR SINGAPORE FOOTBALL?

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:50:00 +0000

Keisuke Honda training at Jurong East

The stunning recruitment of former Japanese international Keisuke Honda by the soon-to-be-renamed FC Jurong (currently Albirex Niigata (Singapore)) has sent shockwaves through the local football fraternity since the announcement made this morning (10/4).

While marquee signings are nothing new since professionalisation began in 1996, what matters most is the impact the former AC Milan star will make come August.

The league’s history is littered with so-called "impact" players who failed to leave a mark—such as 1990 Cameroon World Cup veteran Émile Mbouh, who turned out for Tiong Bahru United in 1997.

Which other "marquees" can you recall who truly left a lasting impression during their time in Singapore?

(👀: Shingo Nakano, at the background of the snap, would relish the opportunity to partner with the legend)

Hasnim Haron’s Aborted Move to Belgium in 1992

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:21:05 +0000

Hasnim Haron in action for Singapore (as credited)

With the ball at his feet near the corner flag, the conventional move would have been for Hasnim Haron to pass it to a teammate in a better position to deliver a cross into the box.

Nonetheless, the nippy Singapore winger had other ideas. He slightly rolled the ball backwards with the sole of his boot before flicking it up and whacking it into the penalty area during a Liga Semi-Pro (the Malaysian League) match at the old National Stadium.

Such unorthodox trickery sent the thousands at Kallang into a state of frenzy. I will never forget the moment I saw that play on a delayed telecast back in 1990.

The start of the last decade of the 20th century marked the rise to prominence of a man touted to fill the void vacated by both Fandi Ahmad and V. Sundram moorthy.

(L-R) Hasnim and V Sundram moorthy in 1987 (source)

With the exodus of the aforementioned duo overseas in the 1980s, the island republic was in desperate need of a new football poster boy. This pacey midfielder gradually found himself thrust into that role after earning his first senior call-up from Seak Poh Leong in 1986 (source), following an impressive display in a FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) U21 tournament.

Whenever he had the ball, adrenaline would surge through the crowds at the Kallang terraces as Hasnim raced along the flanks to lead another attack into the opponent's half.

OFFER FROM BELGIUM

With such eye-catching performances on the field, it wasn't long before an offer to venture out of "The Little Red Dot" came knocking on his door in October 1991.

News report on offer from Belgium for Hasnim (as credited)

S.Thavaneson, the president of Hasnim's club Balestier United, first revealed to The Straits Times (ST) that an unnamed Belgian club had tabled a 10-month contract for the then 24-year-old. Additionally, the same report mentioned that three Malaysian state teams—namely Selangor, Pahang, and Johor—alongside an unnamed American club, had indicated their interest as well.

The late Joe Dorai, who first broke the news of these offers via the broadsheet, shared further details in a follow-up a month later. He identified SC Lokeren as the Belgian club and outlined the proposed one-year deal, which included a signing-on fee of US$80,000 and a monthly salary of US$6,500.

"$72,000-A-YEAR"

In the meantime, Hasnim offered his services to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). He hoped they would accede to his request for a $72,000 one-year contract, which would allow him to continue representing them in the Liga Semi-Pro 1992 season.

However, the offer was rejected by the local governing body. Not only did they decline to provide a counter-offer, but they also stated they would not stand in his way if he received better offers elsewhere.

The rejection of the winger’s offer was criticised by the then ST sports editor, Godfrey Robert, who lambasted the FAS for being "myopic" at a time when Liga Semi-Pro was becoming more competitive.

The veteran journalist wrote: "The FAS must realise that Singapore cannot afford to lose Hasnim. He is its hottest football property today. He is immensely skilful, a strong dribbler, and he has sound vision."

Hasnim trying on his pair of "Hasnim King" boots (as credited)

This came amid intense interest in a player who earned the distinction of being the first Singaporean footballer to have boots named after him.

"In short, Hasnim is Singapore soccer's best entertainer who commands a massive following. And is not soccer also about entertainment?" argued the man, who was also the author of the book "The Malaysia Cup", in his commentary for the morning daily.

Despite their rejection of his wage demands, the FAS maintained that their negotiations with Hasnim, via Balestier United, were still ongoing.

Steven Tan, the executive secretary of the FAS, reiterated that they would not stop Hasnim should he receive better offers elsewhere. Tan went on to clarify that the earlier statement should not be interpreted as meaning the player was not wanted by the Singapore team for their upcoming Liga Semi-Pro campaign.

Such a stance did not soften Hasnim's resolve. He stood his ground and refused to lower his demands, setting an ultimatum for 15 January. He made it clear that if no firm offer was made by then, he would finalise arrangements to sign for one of the aforementioned Malaysian states or take up the offer from SC Lokeren.

"U-TURN"

Days later, things took a different trajectory. Berita Harian (BH) reported that Hasnim was somewhat reluctant to move to Belgium, as he did not want to be away from his family.

He was also wary after seeing what had happened to both Fandi Ahmad and V. Sundram moorthy (source: 1, 2) during their respective spells in Europe.

Later, in the 24 January edition of the local Malay daily, it was more or less confirmed that Hasnim had shelved his plan to ply his trade in Europe. The headline was definitive: "Hasnim tidak berminat main di Eropah" (Hasnim not interested in playing in Europe).

"Hasnim not interested in playing in Europe" (as credited)

The article mentioned that no specific reasons were given for his decision not to go, although he added that he would consider it for the following season should another opportunity arise.

Yet, days later, The Straits Times shed some light on why there was probably a change of mind by Hasnim when it reported that Balestier United had secured funding from an unnamed third party to ensure he remained in Singapore. This private backing was intended to be in addition to the "seed money" promised to local clubs by the FAS.

With this additional funding secured, Hasnim decided to shelve his plan to attend the trial with SC Lokeren.

"HASNIM WHO?"

While the private funding appeared to have settled Hasnim's future in Singapore, the sudden collapse of such a high-profile move left the media with lingering questions.

Seeking to clear the air regarding the legitimacy of the Belgian interest, The New Paper (TNP) opened a Pandora’s Box by reporting SC Lokeren’s denial of any knowledge of the winger.

TNP opened up the pandora's box on Hasnim's move to Belgium (as credited)

In a fax reply to the afternoon tabloid's enquiries, Lokeren's club secretary Marc Tempels stated: "We never have had the intention to realise this transfert (sic) because this player (Hasnim) and the Club (Balestier United) to whom he belongs were totaly (sic) unknown by (sic) us."

Not only that, the Belgian club also denied they were looking for a player from this part of the world. On top of that, Tempels added that there were already five players from Africa on trial with the club, who were bound by Belgian league regulations stating they were only allowed to have three foreigners.

When prompted by TNP, Thavaneson was not surprised by Tempels' unawareness of the offer, explaining that the negotiation had been conducted on a personal basis between the club president and the agent.

However, Tempels backed his claims by checking with his colleagues at the club, all of whom responded by saying they had heard of neither the deal nor Hasnim himself.

Thavaneson refuted SC Lokeren's Tempel' claims (as credited)

Thavaneson countered by producing a fax from Lokeren to agent Ante Bekin, who was negotiating the deal, stating they were looking forward to having a Singaporean midfielder (Hasnim) on trial in January.

After Thavaneson revealed the fax from Lokeren to Bekin, Tempels backtracked slightly. He told The Straits Times that there might be a "possibility" of Bekin discussing the deal with F. Keepens, the club president, although Tempels maintained they were not interested in signing Hasnim, without giving any specific reasons.

Bekin backed Thavaneson's earlier statement, stating that he, too, was not surprised by Tempels' unawareness of the proposed move. He explained that such discussions would be treated with 'utmost confidentiality' until all details were finalised—something he suggested was beyond Tempels' level, as he was merely an administrative officer and not a decision-maker.

BEGINNING OF A NIGHTMARE

The whole saga came to an end when Hasnim became one of those who signed and committed himself to the 1992 Liga Semi-Pro season.

However, little did the ace winger know that the year would turn out to be one of the lowest points not only of his career, but of the island republic’s too, in what was then the annual staple for football fans on both sides of the Causeway.

(P.S 1: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited. Should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible, and I will remove them upon request.)

(P.S 2: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)

(P.S 3: From 1921 to 1994, Singapore competed within the Malayan and later Malaysian domestic football systems (as an invitational side following independence in 1965). Barring a few brief exceptions, this unique cross-border arrangement defined local football for over 70 years, until Singapore exited the Malaysian league to launch the S.League in 1996.)

(P.S 4: The blog post is based on publicly available sources, primarily from Newspaper SG. There is no attempt to speculate on or interpret the motives of any individuals or organisations involved. The aim is to present the findings matter-of-factly.)

The Overturned Final: Could The Oversight Have Been Prevented?

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000

"While Tampines Rovers have admitted their mistake, the Fourth Official and the MC (Match Commissioner) must share the blame. This oversight was entirely preventable had they intervened in time," shared a former Match Commissioner during a recent exchange, days after the 2025/26 Singapore Cup final between Lion City Sailors (LCS) and BG Tampines Rovers.

"Fourth Official" making substitution during a match (as credited)

The aforementioned match was won 2-0 by LCS after extra time, with goals from Hami Syahin and Anderson Lopes. However, the result was subsequently overturned after it was confirmed the Stags had committed the following breaches:

A COSTLY SUBSTITUTION

• Breach of Article 19.2 (Minimum Local Player Requirement): The club failed to maintain the mandatory minimum of four Singaporean players on the pitch at all times. This occurred in the 81st minute of the match when Joel Chew (a Singaporean player) was substituted for Yuki Kobayashi (a Japanese national), leaving the team with only three Singaporean players on the field.

• Breach of Article 4.2.4 (General Regulations): By failing to meet the player quota specified in Article 19.2, the club was also found to be in violation of Article 4.2.4 of the Singapore Cup 2025/26 Regulations.

• As a consequence of these abovementioned breaches, Article 4.3 was triggered, resulting in the match being declared a 3-0 loss for BG Tampines Rovers by forfeit.

INSIDE THE OFFICIALS’ OVERSIGHT

"The standard procedure is to cross-reference the list and track exactly how many substitutions have been made for both local and foreign players," said the former MC, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

In his opinion, the MC on duty should have already spotted that something was amiss from the moment the team reserves started warming up on the sidelines and putting on their jerseys to get ready to enter the field.

THE CRUCIAL "WARM-UP" WINDOW

"This is the crucial window where the MC checks the team sheet; he should know immediately if the substitution quota has been reached," he explained.

He added: "Even if the MC is seated away from the Fourth Official, both of them must maintain a clear view of the pitch.

"(The Fourth Official) should have double-checked the team sheet. It appears he overlooked the details, perhaps taking the situation for granted rather than verifying the facts," concluded the former MC.

[Telegram Chat] - A FORGETTABLE CUP FINAL

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:31:00 +0000

It was a damp squib of an affair as both Lion City Sailors (LCS) and BG Tampines Rovers failed to deliver a match worthy of that of a Singapore Cup Final.

The overcautious approach by two of the biggest clubs in local football resulted in an ordeal that the fans simply had to endure. I still cannot believe this was the kind of football we saw at the Jalan Besar Stadium earlier (10/1).

LCS' Kyoga Nakamura in front of the Tampines' fans who used to adore him

Everything was in place for the match everyone had been looking forward to (i.e.: the recruitment of former Stags' cult figure Kyoga Nakamura to LCS was enough to hype up the match), yet the quality shown was poor. The lack of dynamism in the final third at both ends made it a pain to watch.

Dragging the match into extra time felt unnecessary; it could have been avoided if both the Sailors and the Stags had been more aggressive in attack.

If this is the standard for our local 'Heavyweight' clashes, what needs to change before these two meet again in the remaining of the 2025/2026 season?

More bravery in the final third, or a complete change in tactical approach?

"Matchpix" - Aug - Dec 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Po Hui) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:59:00 +0000

Community Shield - Lion City Sailors 1-4 BG Tampines Rovers 160825

BG Tampines Rovers claimed the first trophy of 2025/6 season

BG Tampines Rovers secured a 4-1 victory over Lion City Sailors at the Jurong East Stadium to lift the Community Shield - the traditional curtain-raiser to the Singapore Premier League.

Coach Akbar Nawas made a triumphant return to local football by guiding the Stags to their sixth Community Shield.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Community Shield - Lion City Sailors 1-4 BG Tampines Rovers

#ACLTwo - Lion City Sailors 4-2 Selangor FC 011025

The Selangor players having a word with the referee.

The match was kicked off at 6pm, before the activation of the LWS halted the play.

The game resumed following the deactivation of the LWS.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ #ACLTwo - Lion City Sailors 4-2 Selangor FC

#ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 2-1 BG Pathum United 021025

BG Tampines Rovers caused an upset by beating BG Pathum United in this ACL2 fixture

The Stags took the lead against the run of play shortly before the interval and doubled the cushion 12 minutes after the break.

Chanathip Songkrasin reduced the deficit late in the game, but it wasn't good enough to save the Rabbits in the end.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ #ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 2-1 BG Pathum United

#ACQ2027 - Singapore 1-1 India 091025

The scoreline that had me dumbfounded

The Lions should have been more aggressive and literally paid the price for being too passive in their attacking play.

It was a draw that seems like a defeat to see a win that was within their grasp and slipped away.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ #ACQ2027 - Singapore 1-1 India

#ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 1-0 FC Pohang Steelers 231025

BG Tampines caused another ACL2 upset with this win over Pohang Steelers

BG Tampines Rovers' Hide Higashikawa's solitary goal in the 1st minute against three-time AFC Champions League winners Pohang Steelers was deemed enough to cause one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ #ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 1-0 FC Pohang Steelers

Singapore Cup - Balestier Khalsa 3-0 Tanjong Pagar United 021125

Jags' Sahil Suhaimi (stripped top) tried his luck against Balestier Khalsa

Balestier Khalsa opened their Singapore Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United at Bishan Stadium.

It was the Tigers' second win on a roll over the Jaguars at the same venue at Bishan Stadium.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Singapore Cup - Balestier Khalsa 3-0 Tanjong Pagar United

#ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 5-3 Kaya F.C.–Iloilo 271125

Stags' GK Syazwan Buhari in agony after conceded a goal

Despite having qualified for the next round of the AFC Champions League Two, BG Tampines Rovers found themselves struggling in the second half against Kaya F.C.–Iloilo at Bishan, a spell that almost proved costly for them.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ #ACLTwo - BG Tampines Rovers 5-3 Kaya F.C.–Iloilo 271125

Shopee Cup - Lion City Sailors 3-2 Shan United 171225

LCS' Maxime Lestienne ready to take a corner

Lion City Sailors secured their first victory of this season's Shopee Cup campaign by beating Shan United 3-2 at Jalan Besar Stadium.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Shopee Cup - Lion City Sailors 3-2 Shan United

"Pinball Duo" Stay Put At Bishan Till End Of Season

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:13:00 +0000

Following the recent announcement by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on 9th December, Jalan Besar Stadium (JBS) will become the home ground for both Lion City Sailors (LCS) and Young Lions, featuring a newly-installed natural grass turf.

Bishan Stadium (file picture)

It is also confirmed that Bishan Stadium (above) will serve as the home venue for the other Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs, namely Balestier Khalsa and Hougang United, for the remainder of the ongoing 2025/2026 SPL season.

"BISHAN - HOME OF TIGERS AND CHEETAHS TILL END OF SEASON": FAS

In an email reply to this platform, the FAS spokesperson said: "Bishan Stadium will host the home matches of Hougang United and Balestier Khalsa for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season from January 2026."

FUTURE OF HOUGANG STADIUM AND PRSC

When asked whether future SPL matches would be held at Hougang Stadium (slated to reopen in mid 2026) or the upcoming 5,000-seater stadium at the Punggol Regional Sports Centre (PRSC), the FAS spokesperson reiterated the statement made in the earlier announcement regarding JBS:

"The FAS will continue to work with all clubs, Sport Singapore, and the AFC to ensure a smooth transition and to uphold the standards expected of competition venues."

SHORT TRIP HOME IN 2021 AND 2022

Since ground-sharing among SPL clubs began in 2019, Balestier Khalsa have played their home matches at Bishan, except for the 2021 and 2022 seasons when they hosted fixtures at their ancestral Toa Payoh Stadium.

Balestier Khalsa vs Hougang United at Toa Payoh Stadium in 2014 (file picture)

Likewise, the Cheetahs also returned to Hougang Stadium during those same two seasons. That arena, which is part of the Hougang Sports Centre, has been closed for renovation since 1st April 2024.

(P.S.: The term "Pinball Derby" between Balestier Khalsa and Hougang United first came about after a match in 2013, when the then Cheetahs coach Johana Johari described the Tigers' game plan as "playing pinball" in their Singapore Cup Quarter-Final match. That fixture eventually saw the Toa Payoh-based side knock the north-easterners out of the tournament.)

[Telegram Chat] - STABLE THE SHIP BEFORE TOO LATE

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 12:47:39 +0000

I will not comment on whether Gavin Lee (pictured right) should be given the permanent role as Singapore national team head coach after he successfully guided the Lions to their first AFC Asian Cup qualification on merit on an interim basis.

Gavin Lee (Pictured right)

Although many cite the argument that he is "a local and knows the system well" as the main reason he should be appointed, I hope this consensus is not merely a result of the ongoing state of euphoria following that historical feat.

The irony is, wasn't that a similar argument cited in 2016 when former Singapore striker V. Sundram moorthy took over from German Bernd Stange as the tactician of the four-time ASEAN champions?

Despite rising through the coaching ranks since his retirement as a player with Jurong FC in the early 2000s - having acquired enough pedigree by taking charge of S.League clubs like Young Lions and Tampines Rovers before landing in the hot seat - what happened in the end?

At the same time, I also wonder if many have overlooked the biggest elephant in the room: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯?

If, in the end, the FAS (Football Association of Singapore) appoints someone else who is more experienced as the next Lions head coach, Lee should ideally be a major part of the backroom staff as part of a "grooming" process.

Nevertheless, we are not certain if this new coach would be "comfortable" with Gavin’s presence, as the new coach might have his own preferred coaching setup. This is something that boils down to effective communication and a clear definition of roles.

With the main tournament less than two years away, time is definitely not on our side. The ship must be stabilized as soon as possible before we set sail to the biggest tournament in January 2027.

UPDATE: On 28th November 2025, the FAS announced the appointment of Mr Gavin Lee as the Head Coach of the Singapore Men's National Football Team.

Revival of the Ho Ho Cup in 1950: Rekindling the Malaya–Hong Kong Football Rivalry After WW2

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:52:00 +0000

Some time ago, I received some images of a few black-and-white photographs from a member of the family of the late Mr Foo Hee Jong, a defender who represented Singapore during the 1950s.

The 1950 MCFA tour contingent arrival at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong (as credited)

One of them was a group photo (above) taken at the Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.

Based on some information gathered, it is likely that the photo had been taken in mid-January 1950, and the contingent was the MCFA (Malayan Chinese Football Association) Sino-Malay team with Mr Foo being one of the members.

THE RETURN OF THE HO HO CUP

One of the objectives of the tour was to resume the Chinese Interport Football Competition, popularly known as the "Ho Ho Cup" (for sponsorship reasons) - a match that was contested by ethnic Chinese teams representing both Hong Kong and Malaya that traced its roots back to 1928.

The MCFA contingent walking on the tarmac of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong (as credited)

In the middle of the photograph was a silvery trophy that was placed in front of the delegation who arrived at the "Pearl of the Orient" following a stopover at Bangkok after they departed from Kallang Airport in Singapore.

That trophy was the second variant of the "Ho Ho Cup" donated by Ho Ho Biscuit Factory at 4,800 Malayan Dollars, as a replacement for the original trophy that was lost in Hong Kong during the Second World War.

TRIP DELAYED DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES

Scheduled to embark "probably" on 5th November 1949, as reported by The Straits Times on their 9th October 1949 edition, the departure was delayed due to financial issues when the following statement, as quoted, was printed on the broadsheet’s 20th October backpages.

“M.C.F.A however, have not been able to accede to this request because the tour fund has not yet reached the target figure of $10,000 needed to cover the tour expenses.”

The MCFA trip to Hong Kong was confirmed on 7/12/1949 (as credited)

There was even a suggestion that the trip might be postponed to the following March due to climate-related issues, in addition to the aforementioned financial concerns.

The itinerary was finalised when it was confirmed at an MCFA meeting held after a match between the Malayan Chinese and the Indian Tourists at Ipoh on 7th December 1949.

FAREWELL AT THE GOH LOO CLUB

Before their departure, the Malayan players and officials were given a farewell reception at the Goh Loo Club, with the new trophy being presented to them, alongside two sets of eleven gold medals - one for the winners and one for the runners-up.

The Goh Loo Club in Chinatown

A subsequent report from the Hong Kong newspaper "工商晚報" (Kung Sheung Evening News - KSEN) revealed the medals' different values - the winners' medals were worth $75 each, and the runners-up's were valued at $55 each.

ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG

Upon their arrival at the Fragrant Harbour on 18th January, the travelling party paid a courtesy call on Aw Boon Haw, the legendary Tiger Balm King, before playing their first three games of their tour.

Speaking to KSEN shortly after touching down, the team manager Lim Hock Seng revealed that star players like Olympian "Twinkletoes" Chia Boon Leong (who represented the Republic of China in the 1948 Games) and Aw Boon Seong were not available due to work commitments.

“Most of the players we have for this trip to Hong Kong are new faces, with the main motive to nurture their technique,” said Lim on the objective of the trip.

"But above all, we want to instil sporting spirit and moral integrity in each of them.

"Without those virtues, no matter how gifted a player may be, we would never select him in the first place." he added.

The MCFA crest

The first match on 21st January was an all-Chinese affair between the Combined Chinese side representing Hong Kong, taking on their Malayan opponents for the Ho Ho Cup, which saw the former clinch the new trophy after a two-nil win at the South China Athletic Association (SCAA) football stadium at Caroline Hill.

With the inclusion of Malay players in the following day’s match at the same venue, the touring side notched their first win with a 4-2 victory over the Hong Kong League Selection.

Two days later, the Combined Chinese side secured a 6-3 win over the visitors at Fa Hui Stadium, which is located on the other side of Victoria Harbour at Kowloon Peninsula.

FATIGUE ON THE SECOND LEG

That result concluded the first leg of the contingent’s Hong Kong tour, before they flew to Manila on 25th January to continue their series of friendly fixtures against local sides.

Two more fixtures against the Hong Kong League Selection and the Combined Chinese side saw the Malayan team lost 7-1 and 3-1 respectively, an indication of fatigue on the tourists who were back in the then British Crown Colony for the second leg of their venture.

Before landing on the tarmac of Kallang Airport on Valentine's Day, the contingent played three more games at Bangkok - beat Phra Nakhong 2-0 and Siamese Chaisod 4-2, drew 3-3 with Bangkok XI.

A TOUR TO REMEMBER

The tour was hailed as a success by Lim after the squad, apart from the opening Ho Ho Cup defeat, won seven of their other twelve matches, with three draws and two defeats (see P.S 2 below).

However, the former Perak and Selangor player noted that the climate had been a significant factor in some of their Hong Kong matches.

The touring team, upon arrival at Kallang Airport, at the end of their trip (as credited)

The Malayan boys were not used to the cold weather, which forced them to play in bone-chilling conditions - the 7-1 loss to the Hong Kong League Selection side on 7 February at Caroline Hill on Hong Kong Island was one such example.

Acknowledgment: I would like to express myheartfelt thanks to Mr. Lee Fengnian, who shared and allowed the reproduction of those pictures that led to the fruition of this blog post, detailing an often-forgotten part of local football history.

(P.S 1: It is to note that the Ho Ho Cup match played on 21st January 1950 was actually the 1949 edition, the 1950 edition took place on 27th August 1950 in Singapore at the Jalan Besar Stadium)

(P.S 2: These stats in aqua italics were reported by The Straits Times, however Nanyang Siang Pau's [南洋商報] 15th February 1950 reported the following results that differs from the English broadsheet)

In Hong Kong (1st Leg - P3, 1W, 2L):

lost 2-0 to Combined Chinese (Ho Ho Cup)
win 4-2 over Hong Kong League Selection
lost 6-3 to Combined Chinese

In Manila (P5, 2W, 2D, 1L):

win 6-1 over Combined University
lost 2-0 to Turba Salvaje (local league champions)
win 3-0 Manila XI
draw 3-3, 0-0 with All Philippines

In Hong Kong (2nd Leg - P2, 1W, 1L)

lost 7-1 to Hong Kong League Selection
win 3-1 over Combine Chinese

In Bangkok (P3, 2W, 1L)

win 2-0 over Phra Nakhon
win. 4-2 over Siamese Chaisod
draw 3-3 with Bangkok XI

In total, the tour contingent stats for this tour are - six wins, three draws, and four defeats, based on details by Nanyang Siang Pau

(P.S 3: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited, should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible and I will remove them upon request.)

(P.S 4: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)

Singapore Premier League Ground Sharing - Lessons from AFL

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:17:00 +0000

When ground sharing among Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs started in 2019, there were mixed reactions from the fraternity.

To some fans, the uprooting of their favourite clubs from their allocated home ground was like “losing the sense of identity.”

Jurong East - one of the "shared stadiums" (file)

After all, when professional football was introduced in 1996, one of the key emphases was community outreach. Clubs were strategically located around the island so that they could embed themselves into the neighbourhoods they represented.

LOSS OF COMMUNITY ROOTS AND FAN IDENTITY

Take the case of Hougang United. They have been playing their home games at Jalan Besar Stadium (JBS) in recent years after moving out of Hougang Stadium when they were still known as Sengkang Punggol.

To this day, the HOOLs, the supporters’ group of the Cheetahs, still identify “Gate 3” as their meeting point. This was the spot near Gate 3 of Hougang Stadium where they congregated directly behind the team’s dugout.

RATIONALE BEHIND GROUND SHARING

According to a 2019 TODAY report, Yazeen Buhari, the then secretary-general of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), explained the rationale behind the move.

“There's a consolidation of resources so that there's a focus on each of these four stadiums (Bishan, Jalan Besar, Jurong East, and Our Tampines Hub) to have programmes purely for football — more football-centric.” said the former FIFA international match official.

“Secondly, (when) you have a stadium like that with an infrastructure upgrade, it creates more opportunities for commercial optimisation for the clubs.” he added.

"Town Square" of Our Tampines Hub

Concurring with those thoughts was Andrew Ang, the then general manager of Geylang International who have since based at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) after shifting out from Bedok.

“I believe we can win more fans there. Our Tampines Hub naturally attracts people to visit it due to the shopping centres nearby. It’s just a question of branding and marketing.” said Ang in the aforementioned TODAY article.

The ongoing 2025/2026 season, however, will see the use of only Jurong East, OTH, and Bishan for the time being, with JBS unavailable due to repair works.

INEVITABLE REALITY OF LIMITED VENUES

Some would opine that ground sharing among SPL clubs is inevitable given the constraints it has been facing - such as the availability of stadiums.

Nonetheless, this is not a uniquely Singaporean dilemma. One established sporting league with a rich legacy has adopted a similar practice, albeit due to a different set of issues.

THE AFL PARALLEL IN AUSTRALIA

That example is the Australian Football League (AFL), the top-tier competition of Australian Rules Football.

For many decades in the past, AFL clubs based in the outskirts of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, used to play their home games at suburban grounds where they originated.

Princes Park - Carlton FC's ancestral home ground (as credited)

For example, Princes Park was the home venue of Carlton FC from 1897 to 2005, while Collingwood hosted their matches at Victoria Park from 1897 to 1999.

While some of these clubs no longer stage matches at their ancestral grounds, they still maintain training facilities and administrative offices there - such as Moorabbin Oval, which is owned by St Kilda.

CENTRALISING AT MAJOR VENUES

Over the last 20 years, the abovementioned and other Melburnian clubs have played the majority of their home matches at just two arenas - the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG, or affectionately called “the ’G” by locals) and AFL-owned Marvel Stadium.

Several factors contributed to this shift. These included the need to meet growing fan expectations for better matchday experiences, modern stadium facilities, and other requirements that many ageing suburban grounds could no longer fulfil.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (as credited)

Accessibility was another key factor. Unlike some suburban grounds that were difficult to reach for fans without private transport, both the MCG and Marvel Stadium are within walking distance of major public transport hubs — making them far more practical for large-scale events.

Being a national icon, the 100,000-capacity MCG has undergone constant redevelopment to maintain its pedestal position in the game of “footy.” Since 1902 (with only seven exceptions), it has traditionally hosted the AFL Grand Final on the afternoon of the last Saturday in September.

Marvel Stadium at Docklands, Melbourne (as credited)

Marvel Stadium, opened in 2000 as Docklands Stadium and located on the banks of the Yarra River, may not match the MCG in capacity. However, its retractable roof ensures that events can carry on regardless of weather conditions.

By centralising at these two venues, AFL clubs benefit from sustainable matchday revenues, enhanced facilities for spectators and players, and greater media visibility.

LESSONS FOR THE SPL

The AFL example illustrates that “ground sharing” is not a step backwards but rather a strategic way to optimise limited resources for all parties involved. Any professional sporting league can adopt such a model to address space constraints and economic realities.

With the continued evolution of the SPL, the emphasis should be on enhancing the matchday experience.

This will apply at whichever shared venue is used, and in future could extend to new facilities such as the 5,000-seater in Punggol Regional Sports Centre (PRSC) and the 10,000-seater within the premises of Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID).

[Telegram Chat] - STOP GIVING ACRES OF SPACE LAH!

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:23:00 +0000

For a large part of the first half, Singapore was literally swimming against the tide with the Indians dominating much of the possession.

More spaces needed to be created to move the ball forward, and we have to be reminded that this is not a rugby match!

Song's double against India saved the campaign (file snap)

Song Ui-young's (file pictured) equaliser before the interval put the much-needed confidence back into the Lions.

The Lions midfield was struggling to hold up the home team, who were storming through the middle of the park. It was a question of whether Singapore could hang on to the lead after Song doubled his tally in the 58th minute.

Simply because too much space was given to India, which allowed them the flexibility to plan their movements to cocoon the visitors at their own half.

It wasn't easy when the Lions literally threw their bodies towards the end of the game to salvage this important 2-1 win over India, keeping the AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign alive.

It's DO or DIE against Hong Kong next.

ℹ️ For those unbeknownst, the abovementioned thoughts were from the AFC Asian Cup qualifying match between India and Singapore played on 14th October 2025 that ended with a 2-1 win for the latter.

[Telegram Chat] - I AM JUST A PHOTOGRAPHER

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:13:00 +0000

Facing the "lobang" at Kallang

I still have that distraught feeling after the blunder that allowed India to level the game at the closing stages of it.

We did not utilise the numerical advantage since the early period of the second half.

The back pass that led to the Indian equaliser was secondary when Lions were guilty of not being more aggressive in the final third.

It was either we intended to hold the ball long enough to frustrate the Indian or we just couldn't find our way to break them down at their back.

Did the substitution in the second half played a part when some questioned the effectiveness of it?

I don't know? I am just a photographer.

ℹ️ For those unbeknownst, the abovementioned thoughts were from the AFC Asian Cup qualifying match between Singapore and India played on 9th October 2025 that ended in one-all draw.

[Telegram Chat] - LESSON LEARNED: WHY KNOWING THE BASICS MATTERS ON ASSIGNMENTS

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:11:00 +0000

Just realised snapping at games is not merely pressing the shutter only (as credited)

During one of my recent shooting assignments, I stumbled upon a few harmless questions asked by my friend who was next to me.

Those questions circled around the tournament regulations, schedules, etc., which, frankly speaking, I usually don't pay much attention to unless they are deemed necessary, and I would glance through them before coming to the ground.

But what happened on that occasion actually had me thinking if I had not been that responsible when I carried out my assignments (even though it has always been for my platform all these while)?

In a sense, shouldn't I be kept abreast of those essential details of the event I am covering?

Apparently, this friend of mine was mistaken in thinking the match we were shooting was a "knockout" match that would proceed to extra time when it ended in a tie, yet it wasn't the case when it was a "group stage" match, and we would call it a day even if the match ended in a draw.

While I wasn't the one who made the said mistake, it, however, had me go into deep thought, after which I realised the importance of having a grasp of necessary details in hand to avoid such blunders.

Perhaps next time, before heading to the ground for another assignment, it would be a good practice to set out the objectives of it and what we hope to achieve, and from there we can narrow down to doing the necessary factual findings and reading up to avoid the unnecessary gaffe.

After all, shouldn't it be that way?

- 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎'𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍 -

Anson Road Stadium - The "Wembley of Malaya"

noreply@blogger.com (Po Hui) — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 04:53:00 +0000

I first came to know the existence of the demolished Anson Road Stadium after I read a line from the veteran journalist Godfrey Robert's book "The Malaysia Cup" published back in 1990.

USED TO THINK JBS WAS THE OLDEST

Before that, it was always in my opinion that Jalan Besar Stadium was the oldest football stadium in Singapore (even though the old arena used to function as a rugby and hockey venue as well) due to its aged facade, which I noticed when I first visited the ground back in the early 1990s, before the redevelopment program began in December 1999.

Big turnouts like this were common at Anson Road Stadium (credit: NLB archive)

Field diagram for listeners tuned in for radio commentary in the old days (credit: NLB archive).

Recently, when I chanced upon an online article that provides a scribe on the arena, it piqued my interest to find out where exactly this stadium was located in the Tanjong Pagar district.

EXHIBITION VENUE TURNED INTO STADIUM

According to this "Singapore Infopedia" article of the National Library Board (NLB) site, the plot where the stadium was located was meant to serve as the venue for the 1922 "Malaya-Borneo Exhibition", a regional tradeshow to showcase the economic achievements of British Malaya and Borneo.

Following the exhibition, a loan of $25,000 was approved by the Legislative Council to convert the venue into a sports stadium which was completed and officially opened on 19 July 1924 featuring a "Singapore Cup" match between HMS Iroquois and HMS Pegasus.

TRACKING DOWN THE SITE

Armed with details given by the above-mentioned online article and old street map sourced from its sister site at "Spatial Discovery", I headed down to Tanjong Pagar to map out where the Anson Road Stadium used to be.

Based on the old map, it is clear that not far from where the stadium was located was the Telok Ayer Basin, which in the early days served as a dock for merchant ships to unload their goods.

A rare bird's-eye view of Telok Ayer Basin (credit: NLB archive)

Locations as shown based on information (credit: map from "National Archives of Singapore")

The Past And The Present of "Telok Ayer Basin" and its surrounding areas

Site (1) is the site where Anson Road Stadium was and it is now the cross junction near the Singapore Conference Hall (SCH).
The site (2) was where YMCA Sports Ground once occupied is now part of the AXA Tower.
Across (2) is the plot (3) where it used to be Nanyang Chinese Student Sports Field (presently the MAS Building).

I traced the map using Prince Edward Road and Anson Rd/Robinson Rd as the "anchor points".

Diagonally across it was the YMCA Sports Ground with Nanyang Chinese Students' Sports Field next to it, and because of its location near the port, it wasn't uncommon to see facilities like godowns, quarantine centres within the vicinity.

A football match at Anson Road Stadium in 1941 (as credited)

Another view of the Anson Road Stadium during a 1941 football match (as credited)

Years of redevelopment that took place in the area had largely altered the look of Tanjong Pagar.

Information from the "Singapore Infopedia", however, did mention that the site where the Singapore Conference Hall (SCH) is now is next to where the stadium was; as such, this could possibly be the closest indication of the demolished stadium.

CLUES FROM THE OLD MAPS

Probably, it is.

Along the way, I came across a few maps and an old photograph of the vicinity that more or less confirmed that the present site of SCH was once the location of Anson Road Stadium.

A 1944 map from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) indicated that the ground stood beside one end of the Telok Ayer Basin. In contrast, a 1954 map showed its disappearance (as circled).

The maps of Telok Ayer (1944 and 1954, as credited)

Further information revealed that after the Second World War, Anson Road Stadium was taken over by the British military and later used as a dumping ground.

Subsequent redevelopment led to the opening of Shenton Way in July 1951, which effectively sealed the fate of the arena and ended any hope of a new one at the site.

Using the Telok Ayer Market (also known as Lau Pat Sat) and the Telok Ayer Basin as anchors, two more maps published in 1972 and 2009 show the SCH marked on them.

The maps of Telok Ayer (1972 and 2009, as credited)

"NOT MUCH BETTER THAN OUR JBS" CHIA BOON LEONG

Recollected his first and only visit to the stadium, the late “Twinkletoes” Chia Boon Leong opined “It was not that wonderful. Not much better than our Jalan Besar Stadium.”

The Olympian footballer went on to give a brief description of the ground in his oral interview with the NAS back in 1997.

“The fence around the field and the main house is attap shape. Pavilion, you call that.” recalled Mr Chia who mentioned someone brought him to the ground when he was still a secondary school student.

Sadly, there is nothing visible, such as a commemorative marker or signage, to indicate the site of Anson Road Stadium.

Perhaps it is time for the relevant authorities to erect a commemorative plaque at the premises of SCH to honour the legacy of this first football ground on the island - etched in local folklore as the “Wembley of Malaya.”

(P.S 1: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources like NLB online newspapers archives, as credited, should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible and I will remove them upon request.)

(P.S 2: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)

PS: This article was first published on 16th August 2019 and is being refurbished with additional details in line with the content renewal of this blog.

"Matchpix" - Apr - Jul 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Po Hui) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:59:00 +0000

#ACLTwoFinal - Lion City Sailors 1-2 Sharjah FC 180525

LCS players and staff showing their appreciation to fans after the match

Lion City Sailors' Maxime Lestienne's late equaliser in the 91st minute cancelled out the lead taken by Sharjah's Firas Ben Al Arbi in the 74th minute, saw Bishan erupt.

But the sucker punch was dealt in the 97th minute by Marcus Meloni to seal the win as the Emiratis claimed the ACLTwo title.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Lion City Sailors 1-2 Sharjah FC

SGPL - Balestier Khalsa 3-2 Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 2505025

Outgoing Tigers' coach Peter de Roo given a shower after the match

A late winner by Reycredo Bukit saw Balestier Khalsa beat Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 3-2 to cement fourth positioning for the Tigers and a fitting farewell gift for Coach Peter de Roo at Bishan.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Balestier Khalsa 3-2 Albirex Niigata (Singapore)

SFOF25 - Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan 230725

The Gunners won the Tridentity Cup of SFOF25

Bukayo Saka's second half goal gifted Arsenal the Tridentity Cup before heading into penalties with AC Milan at Kallang.

Both teams were in Singapore for the Singapore Festival of Football.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan

Soccer 7s Series - 25,260725

Former Singapore international Gabriel Quak (red top) in Soccer 7s action

The Soccer7sSeries is a premier global tournament featuring a dynamic 7-a-side football format for men and women. The series brings together all facets of the global game in one action-packed weekend of quality football. Fans can get up close with their favourite teams and players from near and far.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Soccer 7s Series 2025

SFOF25 - Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle United 270725

(L-R) Newcastle United's manager Eddie Howe and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta

The game started off with a fever pitch when Arsenal unveiled their new signing Viktor Gyökeres before their final Singapore Festival of Football match against Newcastle United at Kallang.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle United

Football Legends Return as Soccer 7s Series Brings Past and Present Together

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:28:00 +0000

The inaugural Soccer 7s Series came to an end after three days of intense competition.

With some players from the 2016 Premier League-winning side in their squad, Leicester City Masters clinched the Masters category by beating COMOS Masters 1-0 with a solitary goal from Martyn Waghorn.

SKY BLUES TRIUMPHED IN OPEN CATEGORY

In the Open category, Coventry City emerged as the winners after defeating Corinthians of Brazil 2-0.

Former Singapore international Gabriel Quak's early brace in the game against Ratchaburi FC helped Singapore Football Club to secure the Plate in this category.

Gabriel Quak in action for Singapore FC

Hashtag United from England were declared the Shield winners after a 1-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua.

However, the Shanghainese did not walk away empty-handed when their female counterparts beat QPR Hoops to be crowned the women's champions.

Throughout the three-day tournament, football fans not only witnessed some fast-paced action played on a smaller pitch with shorter game durations (two halves of seven minutes); it was also a journey down memory lane for some.

JOURNEY DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

Borussia Dortmund Masters featured the likes of former World Cupper Jan Koller and Lee Young-pyo, while Leicester City Masters paraded former Premier League winners such as Wes Morgan and Danny Drinkwater.

Jan Koller in action for Dortmund Masters

The locals were not to be outdone. Former Singapore internationals Aide Iskandar, Aleksandar Duric, and others turned out for Singa Legends in the Masters tournament as well.

From Taipei Dome to JBS: How Anime Brought Sports to Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:55:00 +0000

Barring those years disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, heading to Taiwan has been an annual ritual for me, which I consider my pilgrimage to baseball – another sport which I deeply devoted to.

Nothing beats the experience of catching the CTBC Brothers (中信兄弟) in the Taipei Dome (臺北大巨蛋) – the latest iconic landmark of the capital city of Taiwan, which took more than three decades to come to fruition.

CTBC Brothers' Crayon Shin-chan themed home game at Taipei Dome

As a fervent supporter of the "Yellow Troopers" (the nickname of CTBC Brothers), it was yet another thrilling experience, as always, to see them locking horns in their home series against Fubon Guardians.

The showdown between them is popularly known as the "Financial Holdings Derby" (since both teams are owned by major Taiwanese financial conglomerates – CTBC Brothers is owned by the CTBC Holding, while Fubon Guardians (富邦悍將) belong to Fubon Financial Holding Co.).

Fans had their pictures taken in front of the posters of their favourite players

The home series, which I attended back in April, came with an added twist when the entire event was themed around the classic anime - "Crayon Shin-chan".

From themed merchandise to eye-catching stadium visuals, the collaboration brought a fun, whimsical vibe to those games, adding another layer of excitement to an already thrilling rivalry.

"CRAYON SHIN-CHAN" AND "BABY SHARK"

Such collaboration in the Taiwanese professional baseball league is not uncommon, as before the "Crayon Shin-chan" partnership, the defending CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League – the official name of the Taiwanese professional baseball league) champions held their first themed event of the ongoing season at Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, their principal home ground at Taichung, with "Baby Shark".

"Crayon Shin-chan" themed door gifts

"Baby Shark" themed door gifts

More importantly, such themed events have always been a hit among the fans, as they would look forward and spare no effort to splurge on the limited quantity of the wide range of merchandise relevant to those themes, such as jerseys, caps, accessories, etc.

MASSIVE WINDFALL FOR CTBC BROTHERS

Based on a local media report (in Mandarin), proceeds from the sale of the merchandise in the recent collaboration with "Crayon Shin-chan" amounted to NT$27 million (approx. S$1.09 million) and were estimated to go as high as NT$30 million if takings included online sales as well.

On top of that, each fan would receive some attractive door gifts upon entering the game venue, like coin purses and blankets, which were given out during those two days when I was at the Dome.

The Entrance of the Crayon Shin-chan merchandise area at Taipei Dome

Long queues were formed to buy limited edition Crayon Shin-chan merchandise at the Taipei Dome

It's no rocket science that the CTBC Brothers bank heavily on these themed games to boost their coffers; it helps in the fact that, being the most popular team in Taiwan, the games involved them are usually well-attended, be it their home or road games.

POKÉMON - ALBIREX THEMED EVENT IN 2014 AND 2017

Singapore Premier League club Albirex Niigata (Singapore) did something similar way back in both 2014 and 2017 when they hosted "Pokémon" themed league fixtures against Home United at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

On both occasions, door gifts were given away too, and "Pokémon" merchandise were available for sale, with a lucky draw being conducted during the half-time interval of the 2017 edition, where fans stood a chance to win prizes such as a camera, soft toys, etc.

2017 Albirex Niigata (S) "Pokémon" themed fixture (credit: Playmaker SG)

According to the club, the idea of having such themed events was their initiative with the motive to develop awareness for the White Swans (Albirex's nickname) using Pokémon to attract more fans to their home matches.

While the targets were achieved on both occasions, the club also shared the challenges in the organising process.

One of which was the licensing of the popular anime series needed to be sought from its IP (Intellectual property) owners, The Pokémon Company in Japan.

I got this "Pikachu" paper hat in 2017

Other hurdles included the cost to bring the Pokémon mascot to Singapore.

Additionally, there were events and marketing campaigns to promote the characters during these themed events, as noted by the Jurong East-based club in response to queries on this platform.

While the possibility of having another Pokémon-themed event at SPL matches may not happen anytime soon, it is hoped that it will happen again one day.

📊 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 ➡️ 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬.

[Event] - JBS to Host "Soccer7sSeries" in July

noreply@blogger.com (Po Hui) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:18:00 +0000

To mark Singapore’s 60th birthday, and as part of the organisers’ ambition to grow the tournament across international markets, the "Soccer7sSeries" will be held at Jalan Besar Stadium (JBS) this July to fuel that vision.

"Soccer7sSeries" will be held at JBS

In the press release issued by the organisers, Mr Dom Lane, Chief Executive Officer for the Soccer7sSeries shared the reason for staging the competition.

SINGAPORE - A GLOBAL SPORTING DESTINATION

“Singapore has truly become a global sporting destination, so we’re delighted to bring the Soccer7sSeries to the country,” said Mr Lane.

The tournament will feature high-profile clubs from around the world, with representation from the likes of Vasco Da Gama from Brazil to German giants Borussia Dortmund, English club Coventry City to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Singapore will be represented by Singapore Premier League (SPL) club Geylang International in both Men’s and Women’s Open competitions, with former Singapore internationals Shahril Ishak and Khairul Amri turning out in the Masters category for Singapore Football Club (SFC).

Clubs from neighbouring countries like Indonesia’s Persib Bandung and Malaysian powerhouse Selangor will also be featured to enhance the regional appeal of the event.

FAST-PACED FOOTBALL AND FESTIVE ACTIVITIES

“Fans will be treated to faster football. Our Soccer7sSeries format involves 15-minute games played on a full-size pitch, meaning we have four games played every hour. We’re really excited to show fans in Singapore what the Soccer7sSeries is all about.” added Mr Lane in the same media release about the tournament format.

"Soccer7sSeries" will be held from 25th to 27th July at the JBS with activities lined up to keep everyone engaged in the fun-filled atmosphere peppered with Singaporean tastes and flavours at the three-day event.

For details of this event, please log on to https://www.soccer7sseries.com/ for more details

(This entry is formulated by the media release issued by Wasserman, the PR agency for the event, with media materials depicted in this entry belonging to "Soccer7sSeries")

Are Lion City Sailors Making the SPL a "One-Horse Race"?

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:42:00 +0000

The 2024/2025 Singapore Premier League (SPL) finally came to an end with the retention of the Singapore Cup by newly-minted SPL champions Lion City Sailors (LCS) on the last day of May.

Dutchman Bart Ramselaar netted the only goal in the final of the local premier knockout competition to see the Republic's sole privatised club cap off their memorable campaign in emphatic fashion over their closest rivals, Tampines Rovers, at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

LCS first XI in ACLTwo Final at Bishan Stadium

The following day saw LCS walking away with a few accolades at the SPL Awards Night with Aleksandar Ranković named "Coach of the Year".

A DOMINANT SEASON CAPPED OFF IN STYLE

It was an impressive roll of honour for the club that took over the operations of Home United and revamped to its present form in 2020, and has since set a few benchmarks, including the $10 million training facilities at Mattar Road that other SPL clubs can only dream of.

So here comes the question – are the muscles on and off the field of LCS going to turn the SPL into a one-horse race?

COMPARISONS TO PAST DOMINANCE

While the team captured the hearts of the nation back in May, when they finished runners-up in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League Two Final, the club has yet to enjoy a consecutive league title-winning streak like Geylang International did in the early 1990s who monopolised the semi-professional FAS Premier League from 1988 to 1993.

LCS' Aleksandar Ranković named "Coach of the Year"

However, there are traits suggesting that things are in progress if the discrepancy between LCS and the rest of the pack keeps widening, as we have seen in the just-concluded league season.

GAP WIDENING ON THE FIELD

It was not uncommon to see the Sailors chalking up big-margin wins occasionally, like 7-1 and 6-0 against Albirex Niigata (Singapore) twice at home in last June and mid-January respectively, and 8-0 and 6-0 against Young Lions during the unusually long season that lasted more than a calendar year, because of the essential transition phase to align with the AFC Club Competitions’ calendar, as spelt out in the SPL media release on 12 April 2024 that detailed changes impacting the league format.

FINANCIAL MUSCLE BEHIND THE SCENES

Many opined that the deep pockets of Sea Limited, owned by billionaire Forrest Li, who was elected unopposed as the president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in April, are the reason for such dominance enjoyed by LCS.

LCS' training facilities at Mattar Road

Probably true to a certain extent, although the biggest concern right now is how to make the league a competitive one to avoid it becoming a one-horse race.

MAINTAINING COMPETITIVE BALANCE

After all, no one will find it attractive to see a team thrashing their opponents week in, week out when the priority now is to see the SPL become a more robust tournament.

Having a robust tournament plays a key role in grooming players to prepare them for a more intense and demanding environment, as required at the international level.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT SEASON

With the new season merely weeks away, time should not be wasted, and work should already have started right after the Awards Night.

First on that list should be the confirmation of the number of teams to be featured in the 2025/2026 SPL season, as soon as possible.

Having said all these, onus is still on everyone to play their part to see fruition to it.

If not, it is pointless and a waste of time to keep having those grandstanding proposals one after another to revitalise the "dead horse".

A Catalyst Is Badly Needed For The Boost

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Tue, 20 May 2025 06:58:00 +0000

LCS did their lap of honour after their ACLTwo Final defeat at Bishan

You have to give credit to Lion City Sailors (LCS) for what they have achieved so far.

Some may say they have the resources that other Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs can only dream of, but let us not forget how difficult it has been for LCS to juggle so many matches in the current season (having to feature in four different tournaments in the ongoing season).

Singapore football badly needs a catalyst to lift itself out of the doldrums, and let's hope what LCS have done so far is something the game here can build on.

AGONY ON THE CONTINENTAL STAGE

While the result ended in agony for the republic's sole privatised football club in the recently concluded AFC Champions League Two (ACLTwo) final, in which they lost to UAE's Sharjah FC at the "new-look" Bishan Stadium.

The 2025 ACLTwo Final saw the biggest crowd at Bishan Stadium since its opening

The sheer determination and the hurdles they overcame had won the hearts of the 9,737, which included luminaries like the President of Singapore, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who penned his thoughts on social media, lauded the performance of the team who ironically reclaimed the SPL title merely days before.

A MOMENT THAT FELT FAMILIAR

When I saw the LCS players sink to the ground after the final whistle was blown, it was no different from the ambience we witnessed when the Singapore national team lost to Indonesia in the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final on Christmas Day in 2021 at the National Stadium.

BUILDING ON BELIEF

So the key is how can LCS and Singapore football on the whole build on this belief that the team showed against some of the top clubs in Asia?

England's heartbreaking exit from the 1990 World Cup was seen as a catalyst that fuelled the formation of the English Premier League, which has since become the world's most-watched football competition.

TIME FOR OTHERS TO STEP UP

How can this inspire the rest of the SPL clubs to also follow suit?

The efforts should be made to see the same turning out at local games on regular basis

After all, LCS pocketed US$1 million for their efforts in finishing as runners up of ACLTwo should be one push factor to spur the rest on, shouldn't it?

The ball is now in your court, and you know who you are.

[Event] - Gunners to battle it out with Magpies and "I Rossoneri" in #SFOF25

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:46:00 +0000

(This entry is formulated by the media release issued by Full Circle PR, the PR agency for the event with image depicted in this entry belonging to "Singapore Festival of Football")

After a one-year hiatus, the Singapore Festival of Football (SFOF) is set to return this July, featuring English powerhouses Arsenal and Newcastle United, alongside with 19-time Serie A champions AC Milan.

FIRST VISIT TO SINGAPORE BY "I ROSSONERI"

While both the Gunners and Magpies are no strangers to the republic for having paid their visits in the past, the coming trip to the Lion City will be the first-ever for "I Rossoneri".

In the press conference held earlier today (11/4) at the Pan Pacific Singapore, the tournament's joint organisers - TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced a five-year partnership has been confirmed to see regular top-flight European football fixtures played in Singapore in alternate years (2025, 2027 and 2029).

(L-R): Ms Melissa Ow, Bacary Sagna, Serginho, Shay Given, Timothy Ho

"We are delighted with the partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board. The nation’s location, efficiency and passion for European football make it a natural spot for teams to conduct their preseason training and connect with their fans in Southeast Asia." said Mr Timothy Ho, Managing Director, TEG Asia.

He added:"The tournament will reunite fans in Singapore with their beloved clubs with the Gunners returning for the first time since 2018 and the Magpies since 1996. AC Milan fans will also get to watch their club play live for the first time in Singapore."

Echoing the similar sentiment in the same media release issued shortly after the said press conference, Ms Melissa Ow, Chief Executive, STB said:"This partnership will bring some of Europe's most prestigious football clubs to Singapore, creating memorable experiences for both local and visiting fans.

"This event adds to our vibrant calendar and also reinforces Singapore's appeal as a must-visit destination. We look forward to welcoming the teams, fans and visitors to experience Singapore's diverse offerings and warm hospitality." added Ms Ow.

SFOF was last held in 2023 - with Liverpool FC won the SCST trophy

The press conference also saw the presence of three former players representing each of the participating sides - namely Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Serginho (AC Milan) and Shay Given (Newcastle United).

First held in 2023, SFOF saw over 130,000 fans turn up at the National Stadium to witness matches involving English sides Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City FC as well as multi-time Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich over a week.

TICKETING DETAILS

Tickets for the Singapore Festival of Football 2025 go on sale to the General Public on Friday 25 April 2025 at 12 noon.

Fans are encouraged to sign up for the waitlist on Ticketek Singapore by Monday, 21 April 2025 to gain access to exclusive pre-sale and other promotional activities.

FIXTURES FOR #SFOF25

Wednesday, 23 July ➡️ Arsenal FC vs AC Milan
Friday, 25 July ➡️ Arsenal FC Open Training
Sunday, 27 July ➡️ Arsenal FC vs Newcastle United FC

(Both matches and training session will be held at the National Stadium)

[Telegram Chat] - "YOU CAN PLAY A PART TOO 🫵"

noreply@blogger.com (Ko Po Hui) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 22:48:00 +0000

This post is a reproduction of a reply to one question posted on an online forum on how to improve local football

It's a question everyone has been asking, and TBH, there is no viable solution to the problems we are facing.

As for now, I would encourage that those who have been to local matches, be it the national team's, SPL (Singapore Premier League) or even school games, post and share their thoughts on their socials with their family and friends.

Spread the awareness using your phone

While we may not see those who have never been to local matches to be convinced or be converted instantly, the whole idea is to spread the awareness of the local game, which has been besieged by negative publicity (i.e., the usual Goal 2XXX or 3XXX joke).

Let your family and friends know about the other side of local football through' your social media postings and make them curious about "How come my who-and-who is following the exploits of Lion City Sailors when almost everyone is following Messi or CR7?"

And hopefully they may one day ask, "Hey, can I join you at Jalan Besar Stadium?"

"Matchpix" - Jan - Mar 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Po Hui) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:59:00 +0000

Shopee Cup - Lion City Sailors 0-0 Buriram United 230125

Buriram United's penalty claim was brushed aside

The goal-less draw between the powerhouses of both Singapore and Thailand saw the former represented by Lion City Sailors being eliminated from the Asean Club Championship aka Shopee Cup (for sponsorship reason)

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ LION CITY SAILORS VS BURIRAM UNITED

Singapore Cup - Balestier Khalsa 1-2 BG Pathum United 020325

Balestier Khalsa's Kodai Tanaka (extreme right) being hold back

Ace striker Kodai Tanaka's botched attempt from the spot near towards the end had Balestier Khalsa licking their wounds in this Singapore Cup defeat against 10-man BG Pathum United at Bishan instead.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ BALESTIER KHALSA VS BG PATHUM UNITED

#ACLTwo - Lion City Sailors 1-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (agg:4-1) 130325

Lion City Sailors celebrate after their opener against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at JBS

Lion City Sailors became the third Singaporean club to feature in the semis of a top-tier AFC club tournament with this 4-1 aggregate win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the JBS to clinch a final-four spot in the AFC Champions League Two tournament.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ LION CITY SAILORS VS SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA

#ACQ2027 - Singapore 0-0 Hong Kong, China 250325

Hong Kong supporters out in full force

Both Singapore and Hong Kong, China found themselves begun their AFC Asian Cup qualify campaign with a nil-nil ending at Kallang.

The Lions had two goals disallowed by the referee due to infringements.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES ➤ SINGAPORE VS HONG KONG, CHINA