Etoile FC set to sign 6-year contract with SSC

SPH Straits Times has reported French side Etoile FC is set too sign a six-year contract with SSC on their clubhouse.

It is at Queenstown, as requested, and the size of the site is 30000 sqm.

It is the largest and longest S-league contract ever with SSC as no other S-league clubs have a contract beyond 2 years.

SSC noted it was the French side that wanted such a lengthy deal. 

Etoile FC  new chairman Mr Hicham Moudden was quoted by the press that this show the commitment of the club and that the club is set to stay even beyond next year (when the 3 year deal with S-league participation end).

Etoile FC change their chairman

S-league champions Etoile FC will undergo a management change with Mr Johan Gouttefangeas set to set down from his post as chairman.

The new chairman is Mr Hicham Moudden.who is described as a major investor in the club.

FAS have thank Mr Johan Gouttefangeas in a press release.

Masrezwan Masturi join Protectors

Home United have pulled off a coup as they signed Masrezwan Masturi from Geylang United

The 30-year-old have been one of the Eagles best performer in the last few seasons which he spend with the Bedok club.

At Home United, he find the competition for the starting lineup tougher but he will surely relish it.

For Home United, his arrival will bolster their squad strength as it come to the important tailend of the season where the title is won and lost.

Home know modern football demand a squad to win it and they looked to have it now.

Woodlands looking at Fumiya Kobayashi

The rumors going around is Woodlands Wellington is looking at signing Fumiya Kobayashi from Hougang United to bolster their defence.

But this will surely weaken Hougang and one will not understand why the Northeast side will want to do that.

Especially as they could be bringing in Vitor Borges as a result and one cannot see how the Brazilian arrival is likely to strengthen the Hougang attack much more than it is.

However if Woodlands Wellington pulled it off, it will be a coup for the Northern side who clearly need a player Fumiya Kobayashi in their defence.

In the meantime, there are talks former international Itimi Dickson is looking to sign for the club but it seem it is died and buried now as financial terms could not be iron out.

Warriors sign Goran Subara

Ex-Gombak United midfielder Goran Subara have signed for SAFFC for the remainder of the season.

The Aussie had left the S-league at the tailend of last season to join Indonesian Super Liga PSM.

However the Aussie is leaving the Indonesia club as a reason of unpaid salaries and bonuses according to the media there.

The Warriors therefore have decided to pick up the midfielder as they are short on numbers after Japanese Taisuke Akiyoshi suffered a long-term injury and Serbian youngster Luka Savic departure.

With the injury, Taisuke Akiyoshi is expected to be de-registered for the rest of the season, to free up the foreigner slot, even as he is  still on the Warriors payroll.

Hougang linked with Vitor

Brazilian Vitor Borges, who has been released by Balestier Khalsa, is reportedly seeking a club in Singapore. 

And the club linked with him is Hougang United.

The club may need a forward as their own Brazilian Diego Gama de Oliveira has been injured for a while now and is struggling to recover thus leaving the Hougang club without a reliable goalsource.

But Vitor record at Balestier show he is more a support forward rather than a goalsource himself so he may not be the right fix at Hougang.

Balestier sign Aussie

Balestier Khalsa have signed a new forward and he is Aussie Mark McGough.

The 23-year-old have been brought in to replace Brazilian Vitor Borges.

While the Brazilian have put in some decent performances upfront, unfortunately his failure to convert chances into goals on a regular basis is a killer for a club like Balestier.

The Toa Poyah club just do not have the luxury to keep a forward who scored only 7 goals in 50 games.

It is one goal every seven games and this season it is worse, if not as bad, as after two goals against Geylang United, he has only hit in one more goal in another ten games.

The Tigers need a forward to put the ball in the net like Rivaldo who they truly miss. 

Meritocracy looked the best step forward

Up until now, I have written nothing on the Lion City Cup as I believed youth development is best left out of the limelight.

This stand have been formed as I have noted over the years how when the public get into the act, a lot of actions do not reflect what is best for the players but what is most popular.

At this point in time, the youth players bodies are still growing up and while they need to play football, they also need a lot of rest and one thing one read is how fans want these teams to play in as many top competition as possible.

This will not be good for long-term development as one believed for a body can only take so much; especially one that is not fully developed yet.

Let the coaches of the teams decided what is best and that is where I come to the main point.

Anybody with a good memory will remember the uproar that accompany the appointment of Dejan Gluscevicthus and latter when the U16 also went along the same route, it was no less different.

It is now over two years (for the Dejan decision) and that decision have been fully justified.

The U15 have developed well under him and it is as clear as day he has been able to strengthen the technical abilities of the youngsters under him.

Just note the difference in class between the side under him and the YOG side a year ago, when they were both the same age then for the Haiti coach had said something that will always stick in my mind.

He noted the technical abilities of the Singapore side and told his charges to push up against Singapore as he know the Singapore boys will not be able to play the ball around and have to resort to long ball.

He was right and regardless of how one feel about the 'invasion' of the foreign coaches, it is time for local coaches to face up to the fact we need to learn from them and not just comment about the different culture or we are no less inferior.

This only give the impression we do not need to learn anything and we do for we have to ask ourselves if our coaches really had any value outside Singapore.

This may sound harsh but it is a fact that when overseas clubs/teams are looking for coaches, Singaporeans do not registered and this is a result that local coaches have not proven anything yet.

If we have then, we will be like Europeans or South American with the ex of the Dutch who attract the Aussies and the Brazilain and Argentinian who attract the Japanese.

But we do not have any market other than Singapore itself so let forget the culture or superior or inferior talks.

Indeed culture may be the problem as we seem to be following our former colonial master blindly on his sensitive subject.

The English love to tell the rest of the world they do not need to learn much about football from anybody and indeed, Stuart Perice noted the 'DNA of the English are different' from others so the English cannot learn.

This is nonsense as babies can learn anything as they are a clean sheet of paper that can have nothing written on it.

So it is the resistance of the grown up that is the problem. 

Indeed culture is the problem and in such cases, we may have no choice but received the 'aids' of the foreign ones to change it as locals are unfortunately too accustomed to English football on what it tell us; which we usually agreed with it.

So for too long, it is the long ball culture we have developed since the 70s.

But now, we have a choice and we can be positive and be willing to learn from the likes of Dejan Gluscevicthus and our technical Director on the subject of coaching thus changing our style or we can be like the English and tell the rest of the world of our 'different culture'.

I believed most will take the right path so meritocracy has won and it is indeed the best step forward.

Home is leader as they defeat Tampines Rovers 2-0

Home United are the new S-league leader as they defeated Tampines Rovers 2-0 at Bishan.

The killer came from Stags old boy Qiu Li as he scored the opener from the spot. After that, Firdaus Idros doubled the lead as the Stags had to go for the attack.

In another match, the Warriors make full advantage of the slip by the Stags as they defeated Gombak United 2-1.

Mislav Karoglan scored a brace while Fareez Farhan reply for the Bulls.

With this results, the uniform teams looked firm favourite for the championship as Etoile FC are hit by the five points penalty and a congested fixture list while the Stags are troubled by poor form, weak squad and a long injury list.

The uniform sides though have none of that problems and the transfer window have allowed them to strengthen as well as they recruit to  bolster their already powerful squad. 

Home United

Lionel Lewis (GK), Kenji Arai, Juma'at Jantan, Valery Hiek, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Shi Jiayi (C), Firdaus Kasman (Rosman Sulaiman), Masrezwan Masturi (Firdaus Idros), Kim Dae Eui, Frederic Mendy, Qiu Li

Tampines Rovers

Hafez Mawasi, Seiji Kaneko, Benoit Croissant, Fahrudin Mustafic, Ahmad Latiff (Jamil Ali), Akihiro Nakamura, Imran Sahib (Ahmed Fahmie), Shahdan Sulaiman, Ismadi Mukhtar, Aliff Shafaein (Shukor Zailan), Aleksandar Duric (C)

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SAFFC

Shahril Jantan (GK) (C), Shaiful Esah, Razaleigh Khalik (Hafiz Osman), Bah Mamadou, Daniel Bennett, Syaiful Iskandar, Ivan Jerkovic, Goran Subara, Mislav Karoglan, Fazrul Nawaz (Indra Sahdan), Erwan Gunawan (Mustaqim Manzur) 

Gombak United

Lee Heng Huat (GK), Jaslee Hatta (C) (Jeremy Chiang), Hamqaamal Shah, Ismail Yunos, Obadin Aikhena, Walid Lounis, Tengku Mushadad, Park Kang Jin, Ridwan Jamil (Ridhwan Jamaludin), Fareez Farhan, Chang Jo Yoon (Zulkiffli Hassim) 

Champions make a losing return

Champions Etoile FC lost their first match since the Hougang incident as they went down 1-2 to Courts Young Lions at Queenstown Stadium.

Fazli Ayob and Safuwan Baharudin scored for the Cubs while Kevin Lefranc reply for the French side.

In other matches, Hougang United won their matchup against the slumping Balestier Khlasa 4-2 while Geylang United won their third match in a row as they defeated Albirex Niigata (S) 1-0.

Carlos Delgado, Noor Ali and a brace from Jordan Webb did the job for Hougang with Balestier goals coming from their new recruit Mark Kevin McGough.

Vasile Ghindaru scored the winner for the Eagles from the spot. 

Courts Young Lions

Izwan Mahbud (GK), Afiq Yunos (Faris Ramli), Eddie Chang (Safirul Sulaiman), Irwan Shah, Safuwan Baharudin, Fazli Ayob (Ignatius Ang), Hafiz Abu Sujad, Zulfahmi Arifin, Hariss Harun (C), Nazrul Ahmad Nazar, Khairul Nizam

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Balestier Khalsa

Ahmadulhaq Che Omar (GK), Anaz Hadee, Lim Young Woo, Paul Cunningham (C), K Sathiaraj, Ishak Zainol (Ridhwan Osman), Armanizam Dolah, K Vikraman (Shamsurin Abd Rahman), Andrew Tan (Nurhilmi Jasni), Kim Young Kwang, Mark Kevin McGough 

Hougang United

Fadhil Salim (GK), Lau Meng Meng, Fumiya Kobayashi, Ratna Suffian (C), Azhar Sairudin (Fathi Yunus), Jordan Webb, Fazli Jaffar, Faizal Amir, Sobrie Mazelan (Noor Ali), Carlos Delgado, Emmeric Ong (Aqhari Abdullah) 

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Geylang United

Yazid Yasin (GK) (C), Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, Adrian Dhanaraj, Syed Fadhil, Vasile Ghindaru, Hassan Aziz (Sevki Sha'ban), Kim Jae Hong, Shah Hirul (Jonathan Xu), Syed Thaha (Fadli Kamis), Jung Hee Bong, Hafiz Rahim

Warriors beat Stags in top of the table clash

SAFFC has given their title chance a boast with the defeat of leader Tampines Rovers at Tampines Stadium.

This defeat meant the Stags has dropped three times as many points in the second round compared to the first and it is hurting their title hopes at a crucial stage.

The lead build by the Stags, which was as high as five points with a game in hand, is gone now and the momentum is with the uniform teams.

And this match show how much the Stags need their injured key players back as it was mistake by their keeper cum defence that handed the Warriors the winner.

A draw will not have hurt as much.

Mislav Karoglan and Ivan Jerkovic did the damage for the Warriors withthe Stags turning to their regular outlet Aleksandar Duric.

In other matches, Geylang United defeated Hougang United 2-0 and likewise Gombak United who also won their tie, against Balestier Khalsa 2-0.

Syed Fadhil and Kim Jae Hong scored for the Eagles. Hamqaamal Shah and Chang Jo Yoon scored for the Bulls.

As for Home United, they kept up the pressure on the Stags and Warriors by crushing Woodlands Wellington 5-1 at the Woodlands Stadium.

Kenji Arai, Frederic Mendy, an own goal and a brace from Qiu Li killed off the Rams. The Rams consolation came from new recruit Moon Soon Ho. 

Hougang United

Fadhil Salim (GK) (Ameerul Shafiq), Lau Meng Meng, Fumiya Kobayashi, Ratna Suffian (C), Azhar Sairudin, Jordan Webb, Fazli Jaffar (Noor Ali), Faizal Amir, Basit Hamid (Duncan Elias), Sobrie Mazelan, Carlos Delgado 

Geylang United

Yazid Yasin (GK) (C), Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, Adrian Dhanaraj, Jonathan Xu (Fadli Kamis), Joo Ki Hwan, Syed Fadhil, Vasile Ghindaru (Sevki Sha'ban), Kim Jae Hong, Shah Hirul, Jung Hee Bong (Mubarak Ahamad), Hafiz Rahim

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Gombak United

Lee Heng Huat (GK), Jaslee Hatta (C), Hamqaamal Shah, Jeremy Chiang, Ismail Yunos, Obadin Aikhena, Tengku Mushadad, Aloysius Yap (Ridwan Jamil), Park Kang Jin, Fareez Farhan (Zulkiffli Hassim), Chang Jo Yoon (Kwon Jin Sung) 

Balestier Khalsa

Joey Sim (GK), Anaz Hadee, Lim Young Woo, Paul Cunningham (C), K Sathiaraj, Ridhwan Osman (Shamsurin Abd Rahman), Armanizam Dolah, K Vikraman, Andrew Tan (Nurhilmi Jasni), Kim Young Kwang, Mark Kevin McGough 

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Tampines Rovers

Alimin Mohamed (Hafez Mawasi) (GK), Jufri Taha, Benoit Croissant, Seiji Kaneko, Ahmad Latiff, Akihiro Nakamura, Shahdan Sulaiman, Imran Sahib, Ismadi Mukhtar, Aliff Shafaein (Fahrudin Mustafic), Aleksandar Duric (C)

SAFFC
Shahril Jantan (GK) (C), Shaiful Esah, Razaleigh Khalik, Bah Mamadou, Daniel Bennett, Syaiful Iskandar, Noh Rahman, Ivan Jerkovic, Rhysh Roshan Rai (Hafiz Osman), Mustaqim Manzur, Mislav Karoglan, (Fazrul Nawaz)

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Woodlands Wellington 

Amos Boon (GK), Sahairi Ramri, Munier Raychouni, Madhu Mohana, Jalal, Sazali Salleh (C), Ali Imran Lomri (Darrel Tan), Han Yiguang (Syed Karim), Hyun Jong Woon, Moon Soon Ho, Nigel Vanu 

Home United 

Lionel Lewis (GK), Kenji Arai, Juma'at Jantan, Valery Hiek, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin (Asraf Rashid), Shi Jiayi (C), Nor Azli Yusoff, Firdaus Idros (Firdaus Kasman), Kim Dae Eui (Isa Halim), Frederic Mendy, Qiu Li

Punishment for the Hougang Incident

After some lengthy hearing, it was found out that both Serge Souchon and Hadama Bathily is guilty of the fracas in the game between Hougang United and Etoile FC.

Serge Souchon
- Guilty of assaulting Hougang's Basit Abdul Hamid
- Fined $1,500 and suspended 5 games

Hadama Bathily
- Guilty of assaulting Hougang's Assistant Coach Hasri Jalaini
- Fined $2,000 and suspended 7 games 

Shariff Samat
- Guilty of assaulting Etoile's Bathily
- Fined $1,500 and suspended 5 games

Hasrin Jalaini
- Guilty of using vulgar language
- Fined $1,000 and suspended 3 games

Fathi Yunos
- Not guilty of any charges due to discriminating evidences

In addition, Etoile FC and Hougang United FC are both fined $10,000 (with $5,000 suspended) and also docked 5 points each.

S-league Preview XVII & XVIII (Edited)

S-league Preview XVI - 4 right & 3 wrong

Mon 20-Jun Gombak United - Balestier Khalsa (JWS)
Mon 20-Jun Hougang United - Geylang United (HGG)
Tue 21-Jun Tampines Rovers - SAFFC (TMP)
Wed 22-Jun Woodlands Wellington - Home United (WLD)
Thu 23-Jun  Balestier Khalsa - Hougang United (TPY)
Thu 23-Jun Etoile FC - Courts Young Lions (QTN)
Fri 24-Jun Geylang United - Albirex Niigata (S) (BDK)
Sat 25-Jun Home United - Tampines Rovers (BSN)
Sat 25-Jun SAFFC - Gombak United (CCK)

Mon 27-Jun Geylang United - Woodlands Wellington (BDK)
Mon 27-Jun TPUFC - Etoile FC (CMT)
Tue 28-Jun Albirex Niigata (S) - Balestier Khalsa (JES)
Thu 30-Jun Hougang United - Gombak United (HGG)
Fri 1-Jul TPUFC - Geylang United (JBS)
Sat 2-Jul Tampines Rovers - Woodlands Wellington (TMP) 

Gombak United vs Balestier Khalsa
The Bulls have just defeated the Tigers in the Singapore Cup so they must be fancied. Yes, I do not trust the Bulls but at this point the Tigers are in a slump and struggling to string any results. Even the Bulls should get full points from this game but who know as this is the (ultra-defensive) Bulls we are talking about. 2-1 to the Bulls 

Hougang United vs Geylang United
The Eagles have no attack and no defence and is facing a point where they could drop into the bottom 3. It would have been an unbelievable story at the start of the season but this is the reality now. I am not sure they are in any shape to take on Hougang. 2-1 to Hougang 

Tampines Rovers vs SAFFC
The first of two big games of the week for Tampines. They will not like what I think of them at this point. I believe they are vulnerable not just because of injuries but also because they are tired while their main rivals have started to gel. Of the big teams, Tampines is the one to have make the most minimal adjustment to their squad and it has shown in the first round where they needed no time to get off the ground. But now as they make little changes, their first team is stretched with few resources to call off the bench. Fahrudin return will be welcomed but one player is not enough considering how many they lost. 2-1 to SAFFC 

Woodlands Wellington vs Home United
The Rams have just been destroyed in the Singapore Cup by Home. Anybody believed the Rams can turn it around within one week. We all know the answer so the best the Rams can hoped for is to keep the score down. 3-0 to Home 

Balestier Khalsa vs Hougang United
Two games in the space of four days. Both teams will be tired as frankly both do not have a deep bench to call upon. A draw could satisfied both teams in such a situation as they looked to finish in the top half (Their targets at the start of the season). 2-2 draw 

Etoile FC vs Courts Young Lions
A lot of eyes will be on this game as the champions make their return since that Hougang incident. The French side will hoped for an easy game and they have it. I can see them beating the Cubs and so should most fans. 2-0 to the Champions 

Geylang United vs Albirex Niigata (S)
Just as they are in no shape to take on Hougang, I cannot see how the Eagles can be in shape to face the White Swans. If the White Swans play to their full potential, they will makan the Eagles and it will not be pretty. But what can the Eagles do as they now faced the question whether they make mistakes in releasing a few of the players at the end of 2010 season  3-1 to White Swans 

Home United vs Tampines Rovers
The Protectors was one of the teams to get points off the Stags during the Eastern side amazing run in the first round where they collected 29 out of 33 points. Since then, the Stags have dropped more points to allow their main rivals back and have been hit by injuries to key players. But more worrying is how much they rely on Duric as without him, they had a tough time against TPUFC, a side they should have makan. The S-league top scorer has scored 7 of the Stags 12 goals in the second round and in such big games the defence are key and Home defence look much better. Thus will be the Stags be able to handle Mendy and Qiu like what Home could well deal with the Stags top marksman (without anybody else to call upon). 2-1 to Home 

SAFFC vs Gombak United
The Warriors must defeat the Bulls and it is not a question of if or whether they should. The season is past it halfway point and games are running out and mistakes now will prove more costly than ever. If they drop the points now, the other contenders could well pulled away and the Warriors will pay for it at the end of the season. 3-1 to the Warriors 

Geylang United vs Woodlands Wellington
By now, the Eagles must have found their new forward. If not then what can I say other than - why did you release Peter Tomko for? In the last 5 years, since Duric departure, none of the forwards the Eagles have brought in have the same success as Peter Tomko. It showed us how difficult it is to find scoring forwards (especially at the right price). If the Eagles had somebody in mind who is better when they let him leave, I have nothing to say but it is clear they do not. 3-2 to Geylang 

TPUFC vs Etoile FC
Tanjong Pagar results have been getting better but even they know the chances they will get a result against Etoile FC is slim to none. It is not looking down on them but acknowledging the champions strength. The French side still have better players than the Jaguars. 2-0 to Etoile FC 

Albirex Niigata (S) vs Balestier Khalsa
Will the Japanese be in the title race? I am not convinced as yes, they have started to pull away from the mid-tier pack and is only a few points behind the top teams. But it is the matchup against the top teams that I need convincing. No doubt they have done well against the top sides recently but if I still believed once the top sides hit top gear, they may well pulled away from the Japanese side again. However if they finished in fifth place, it should be acknowledged as a successful season for the Jurong side. 3-2 to White Swans

Hougang United vs Gombak United
Frankly I see little to separate both sides and in their last meeting, both sides shown that. Up until a mixup between the Bulls keeper and defence, the Cheetahs could not break down the Bulls and in return the Bulls were not much better in breaking down the Cheetahs. A match that could be determine by those minor details so the safe route is a draw. 1-1 draw 

TPUFC vs Geylang United
Here is a match the Jaguars will be more confident they can get something from. The Eagles will have by now played 4 matches in 12 days and like most teams in the S-league, they do not have a bench to deal with that. The Jaguars should take advantage of that. 2-1 to the Jaguars 

Tampines Rovers vs Woodlands Wellington 
Let make this short. There will be one winner and it is not going to be the Rams. 5-0 to Tampines Rovers

Stags open up gap

Tampines Rovers have open up a four-point gap at the top after crushing Woodlands Wellington 5-0.

A hat-trick by Aleksandar Duric and a brace by Shahdan Sulaiman did the job.

In another match, the Courts Young Lions was defeated 1-0 by Tanjong Pagar United at Jalan Besar.

Arisman Arman scored the winner 

Tampines Rovers

Alimin Mohamed (GK), Jufri Taha, Benoit Croissant (C), Seiji Kaneko, Ahmad Latiff, Akihiro Nakamura, Shahdan Sulaiman (Jamil Ali), Imran Sahib (Shukor Zailan), Ismadi Mukhtar, Aliff Shafaein (Ahmed Fahmie), Aleksandar Duric 

Woodlands Wellington 

Ang Bang Heng (GK), Munier Raychouni, Farhan Zakaria, Jalal, Ali Imran Lomri, Sazali Salleh (C), Han Yiguang, Hyun Jong Woon, Goh Swee Swee, Moon Soon Ho, Nigel Vanu (Nawfal Shahib)

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Courts Young Lions

Izwan Mahbud (GK), Afiq Yunos, Irwan Shah, Safuwan Baharudin, Fazli Ayob, Eugene Luo, Zulfahmi Arifin, Hariss Harun (C), Faris Ramli (Hafiz Abu Sujad), Nazrul Ahmad Nazar (Safirul Sulaiman), Fairoz Hasan (Khairul Nizam) 

TPUFC 

Ng Jia Fa (GK), Khairul Solyhin (Abdul Rahman), Kim Seong Kyu (C), Delwinder Singh, Taufiq Rahmat, Kim Jong Oh, Cyril Bagnost, Takaya Kawanabe, Nurizam Azman, Gary Loo, Patrick Paran (Arisman Arman)

RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One results

 RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One

Hougang United 1-0 Young Tigers

Scorer: Mamadou Diallo (95') 

Hougang United

Fadhil Salim (GK), Lau Meng Meng, Syaqir Sulaiman, Fumiya Kobayashi, Ratna Suffian (C), Azhar Sairudin, Jordan Webb (Aqhari Abdullah), Fazli Jaffar (Noor Ali), Basit Hamid (Sobrie Mazelan), Carlos Delgado, Mamadou Diallo

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One
Gombak United 2-1 Balestier Khalsa

Scorer: Zulkiffli Hassim (67'), Chang Jo Yoon (77') / Anaz Hadee (49')

Gombak United

Lee Heng Huat (GK), Jaslee Hatta (C), Hamqaamal Shah, Jeremy Chiang (Zulkiffli Hassim), Ismail Yunos, Obadin Aikhena, Walid Lounis, Tengku Mushadad, Park Kang Jin, Fareez Farhan (Ridwan Jamil), Chang Jo Yoon (Shane Ryan) 

Balestier Khalsa

Joey Sim (GK), Anaz Hadee, Paul Cunningham (C), K Sathiaraj, Kenneth Chang, Ishak Zainol, Ridhwan Osman, Armanizam Dolah (Shamsurin Abd Rahman), Andrew Tan (K Vikraman), Vitor Borges, Kim Young Kwang

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One
South Melbourne 0-3 Albirex Niigata (S)

Scorer: Shotaro Ihata (22'), Atsushi Shimono (85'), Shimpei Sakurada (89') 

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One
Geylang United 1-2 Tampines

Scorer: Vasile Ghindaru (57') / Aleksandar Duric (29'), Aliff Shafaein (88')

Geylang United

Yazid Yasin (GK) (C), Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, Adrian Dhanaraj (Mubarak Ahamad), Joo Ki Hwan, Syed Fadhil, Vasile Ghindaru, Kim Jae Hong, Shah Hirul (Stanely Ng), Syed Thaha, Jung Hee Bong (Rizawan Abdullah), Hafiz Rahim 

Tampines Rovers
Alimin Mohamed (GK), Jufri Taha, Benoit Croissant (C), Seiji Kaneko, Ahmad Latiff, Akihiro Nakamura, Imran Sahib, Ismadi Mukhtar, Shukor Zailan, Aliff Shafaein (Zahid Ahmad), Aleksandar Duric (C)

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One

Home United 5-1Woodlands Wellington

Scorer: Firdaus Idros (28'), Kenji Arai (40'), Asraf Rashid (65'), Qiu Li (80', 86')

Home United
Lionel Lewis (GK), Kenji Arai, Juma'at Jantan, Valery Hiek, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Shi Jiayi (C), Isa Halim(Asraf Rashid), Firdaus Idros (Nor Azli Yusoff), Kim Dae Eui, Frederic Mendy (Sufian Anuar), Qiu Li

Woodlands Wellington 

Ang Bang Heng (GK) (Amos Boon), Adrian Butters, Sahairi Ramri, Munier Raychouni, Graham Tatters, Jala, Ali Imran Lomri, Sazali Salleh (C), Han Yiguang, Farhan Hairoddin (Nawfal Shahib), Goh Swee Swee 

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One

Etoile FC 2-0 TPUFC

Scorer: Jonathan Toto (39', 84)

TPUFC 

Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Khairul Solyhin, Kim Seong Kyu (C), Delwinder Singh, Taufiq Rahmat, Kim Jong Oh, Cyril Bagnost, Takaya Kawanabe, Nurizam Azman, Gary Loo (Patrick Paran), Shamil Sharif (Arisman Arman)

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One

SAFFC 4-0 Phnom Penh Crown

Scorer: Erwan Gunawan (18', 45'), Indra Sahdan (21'), Fazrul Nawaz (67')

SAFFC
Shahril Jantan (GK) (C) (Hyrulnizam Juma'at), Shaiful Esah, Razaleigh Khalik, Bah Mamadou, Daniel Bennett, Syaiful Iskandar, Noh Rahman, Ivan Jerkovic (Mustaqim Manzur), Mislav Karoglan (Fazrul Nawaz), Indra Sahdan, Erwan Gunawan

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RHB Singapore Cup 2011 Round One

Pattaya United 1-2 Okkthar United

Scorer: Somchai Singmanee (90') / Aung Moe (7'), Jean Roger Lappe Lappe (36')

Head to Head - Asia (Menu)

Note: Singapore Cup matches are included, as it is an official cup competition sanctioned by S-league and FAS and recognised by AFC, except (i) those involving S-league foreign clubs up against foreign league teams as the S-league foreign teams cannot be deemed to represent Singapore and (ii) National Youth Teams as they cannot be deemed to represent the respective league.Other competitions included are 1998 Super Cup, 2005 FAM-FAS Series, 2006 Malaysian FA Cup and 2009 S-league season with DPMM results - including those expunged by S-league - counted. All results take into account extra-time, if needed, but not PK.

All Results are correct as June 2011

ASEAN
- Brunei
- Cambodia League
- Indonesian Super Liga
- Malaysian Super League
- Myanmar League
- Thai Premier League
- V-league

North Asia
- Chinese Super League
- Hong Kong League
- J-league
- K-league
- Macau league

South Asia
- I-league
- Maldives Dhivehi League

West Asia
- Iraqi League
- Jordanian League
- Lebanese League
- Omani League
- Syrian League

SAFFC vs Cambodian League Results

Stage	Home Team			Away Team	Date
ACC	SAFFC	8	1	Royal Dolphins	1999
ACC	Royal Dolphins	2	3	SAFFC	1999
Singapore Cup	SAFFC	8	1	Phnom Penh Empire	17/6/06
Singapore Cup	SAFFC	4	0	Phnom Penh Crown	16/6/11

Update to Head to Head (Asia) section

Had updated the Head to Head (Asia) section.

Take note, did not include the matchup between Hougang United and Young Tigers as it was the B side. Although the B side also played in the Malaysian league in the lower Division aka Malaysia Premier League, I do not feel it is appropriate to view them anything other than a national youth team thus Point II come into effect.

This is the position also taken of matchup between Gombak United and South Melbourne as the Aussie side do not come from A-league but the VPL, which is under the Victoria state FA, thus it is not appropriate to state they represent Australia at this point but if in future FFA expand and South Melbourne are chosen, I will reinstall them.

Head to Head - Continental (Menu)

Note: Charity Shield matches are included, as it is an official cup competition sanctioned by S-league and FAS 

Europe

• Allsvenskan 

SAFFC vs Allsvenskan Results

Stage	Home Team			Away Team	Date
Charity Shield	SAFFC	1	1	AIK	21/1/10

Vs Allsvenskan

Overall Results

P	W	D	L	GF	GA
1	0	1	0	1	1

• SAFFC

P	W	D	L	GF	GA
1	0	1	0	1	1

Vs Iraqi League

Overall Results

P	W	D	L	GF	GA
1	0	0	1	0	1

• Tampines Rovers

P	W	D	L	GF	GA
1	0	0	1	0	1

Tampines Rovers vs Iraqi League Results

Stage	Home Team			Away Team	Date
AFC Cup	Arbil SC	1	0	Tampines Rovers	24/5/11

Tampines Rovers vs V-league Results

Stage	Home Team			Away Team	Date
ACC (Brunei)	Tampines Rovers	0	0	HAGL	29/7/05
AFC Cup	Hanoi	1	1	Tampines Rovers	15/3/11
AFC Cup	Tampines Rovers	3	1	Hanoi	26/3/11*

* Played at Jalan Besar Stadium

Tampines Rovers vs Maldives Dhivehi League Results

Stage	Home Team			Away Team	Date
AFC Cup	Tampines Rovers	1	0	Club Valencia	6/4/05
AFC Cup	Club Valencia	0	4	Tampines Rovers	20/4/05
AFC Cup	Tampines Rovers	3	1	Hurriya	11/4/06
AFC Cup	Hurriya	0	4	Tampines Rovers	25/4/06
AFC Cup	Victory SC	1	3	Tampines Rovers	1/3/11
AFC Cup	Tampines Rovers	4	0	Victory SC	3/5/11*

* Played at Jalan Besar Stadium

Annyeonghi Gaseyo, K2 Crouch

Jung Hee-bong who have been touted as K2 'Peter Crouch' have been released by Geylang United.

Jung was compared with the England forward only due to with his height and frankly, after seeing him in action, I cannot see what else there is.

Indeed, Jung have been a disappointment and I have to wonder if the reason he was not recruited in Indonesia was not due to 'administrative problems' as claimed.

Whatever the real reason, he is no longer in the S-league as of now and the Eagles are not wasting time looking for a replacement.

The Eagles twitter account have notified their supporters that there are two 'ang mos' having trial with the Bedok club.
 

Etoile get new forward as Robert deal stalled

Defending champions Etoile FC have a new forward and he is Frenchman Kamel Chaaouane.

He is described as a talented and skilled 26-year-old striker from Hyeres FC by the Eotile FC fan blog.

The new bird is replacing Jonathan Justin who is going back to France.

Jonathan Justin was described as the new Mendy by the Stars chairman Johan Gouttefangeas at the start of the season.

Now we will not know if that is the case but all the best to him.

At the same time, TNP have reported Etoile FC deal with France winger Laurent Robert looked to have stalled.

Gouttefangeas was quoted he will reveal more details at the end of the week.

Rams look to boast firepower with 3 new foreigners

Woodlands Wellington is looking to boast their forward line in the transfer window; no doubt due to the fact they have been unable to score goals regularly as they recorded a record eight-match scoreless run early in the season.

They have recruited Koreans Moon Soon Ho, former Super Reds forward, and, from Tanjong Pagar United, Hyun Jong Woon.

Moon had scored 6 goals in the 2008 campaign with then Super Reds with Hyun expected to marshal the midfield which had lacked bite.

At the same time, 18-year-old Aussie forward Grant Randall, who was recommended by former Lion R.Suriamurthi, could be registered for the Rams Prime League slot.

With the new recruits, Woodlands Wellington will finally have options upfront in term of numbers if not goals.

And this is what Rams coach Balasubramaniam hoped for as he admitted to the press the Rams needed to start being a goal threat so that the team will have belief.

For at this point, the Rams are collapsing as the players do not have any belief they can get anything once they fall behind.

Jaguars get their Frenchman

Tanjong Pagar United have signed former Etoile FC midfielder Cyril Bagnost after they free up a foreign slot.

Korean midfielder Hyun Jong Woon have moved to Woodlands Wellington.

Cyril Bagnost is expected to play a big part in the Jaguars midfield as he had played a key role in the midfield of Etoile FC when they rode to victory in the 2010 season.

Jaguars looking at former Etoile midfielder

According to TNP, Tanjong Pagar United are looking to recruit in the transfer window to boast their chances of climbing up the table which they are rock-bottom now.

The Jaguars are looking at former Etoile FC midfielder Cyril Bagnost.

The Frenchman had played a key role in the defending champions midfield as they rode to victory in the 2010 season.

He had only missed one of the game in the 2010 season and the Jaguars need him in midfield now as they clearly lacked the extra attacking bite there.

Tampines Rovers player Taufik Rahmat have joined the Jaguars.

Mustafic Fahrudin is a Stags again

One-time Stags midfielder anchorman Mustafic Fahrudin have rejoined Tampines Rovers for the remainder of the season.

The 30-year-old is coming back to the S-league after spending two years in the Indonesian Super Liga and he has chosen to go back to his former employer.

And the Stags will be delighted with his decision as they need him more than ever now with them having lost Park Yo Seb for the season.

Fahrudin is now expected to slot into Park role in midfield and if needed in defence as well.

Home United Prime League Firdaus Kasman will join him as the midfielder rejoined the Eastern after serving his NS.

Rams release their Brazilian forward

According to TNP, Woodlands Wellington are set ton undergo a major revamp in the transfer window.

They have already released their Brazilian forward Leonardo Alexio da Costa and the remaining 3 foreigners - Adrian Butters, Munier Raychouni and Graham Tatters - could follow soon.

In the meantime, the Northern club have already started recruiting with Guntur Djafril re-joining them.

The 25-year-old was with the Rams last season but failed to notched a single goal thus he is unlikely to solve the Rams scoring woes.  

Shevki Sha'ban is finally back

This is a name that have been missing in the S-league for nearly the best part of two years but Shevki Sha'ban is set to return to action.

The Geylang United defender have passed his Beep Test and will be registered when the transfer window open according to Liga Singapura blog.

Shevki have been plagued by injuries in his last two years since he moved to Geylang United from Gombak and he has not make a single appearance for the Eagles side.

Singapore Selection Squad

Coach V.Sundramoorthy reveals his Singapore Selection squad for the international friendly match against the Kuwait Olympic Team to be played on Monday, 13 June 2011 (7.30pm) at the Jurong West Stadium.

Goalkeepers
1. Mohamed Hyrulnizam Bin Juma'at (SAFFC)
2. Muhammad Ridhuan Bin Barudin (Tanjong Pagar)

Defenders
3. Jeremy Chiang (Gombak)
4. Zul Nor Farahin Bin Haron (Hougang United)
5. Ali Hudzaifi Bin Mohd Yusof (Tampines Rovers)
6. Delwinder Singh (Tanjong Pagar)
7. Madhu M Mohana (Woodlands)
8. Eddie Affendy Chang (Courts Young Lions)

Midfielders
9. Ridhwan Bin Jamaludin (Gombak)
10. Tengku Mushadad (Gombak)
11. Zulfadil Bin Zainal Abidin (Home United)
12. Mohamed Syaqir Bin Sulaiman (Hougang United)
13. Mathew Abraham (SAFFC)
14. Rhysh Roshan Rai (SAFFC)
15. Muhammad Hafiz Bin Abu Sujad (Courts Young Lions)

Forwards
16. Andrew Tan (Balestier Khalsa)
17. Amy Recha (Geylang United)
18. Masrezwan Bin Masturi (Geylang United)
19. Fareez Farhan (Gombak)
20. Zulkiffli Hassim (Gombak)
21. Erwan Gunawan (SAFFC)
22. Taufiq Rahmat (Tampines Rovers)
23. Fazil Zailani (Tampines Rovers)

Lions crushed Maldives 4-0

The new-look Singapore team cruised to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Maldives team in the international friendly held on June 7 2011 at Jalan Besar Stadium. The match started off with a new captain for our national team and it was none other than 20-year-old Hariss Harun, who was also playing in his new role as a centre back.

A penalty in the 13th minute allowed the Lions to draw first blood and it was brilliantly converted by Qiu Li. He got himself on the score sheet again six minutes later before Shi Jiayi thrilled the 2,166 strong crowd in the 30th minute with the third goal of the match. Aleksander Duric proved everyone why he is the S.League’s top scorer with the final goal of the match in the 49th minute.

The Maldives team tried their best but were unable to break through the Singapore defensive wall and the match was played out before the home team were cheered off the pitch by their new-found fans.

Singapore captain Hariss Harun was delighted with not only the result but also the new batch of Lions fans who left Jalan Besar roaring to the beat of their cheers.

The 20-year-old said during the post-match press conference, "I feel that we did well to get a good 4-0 victory over Maldives and we can only continue to do well as a team. The fans were fantastic and although the stadium was not a full-house, it is up to us the team to win the fans back. But these fans, their cheering and new chants were great."

Maldives' coach, Diego Cruciani was equally full of praise for the new-look Lions at the post-match press conference when he said: "This Singapore team we played today is very good. They are compact and organised. I also saw a very good player in No.25 (Qiu Li). He has a great shot, can be the playmaker and can also control the game. It is hard to find a player like this."

International Friendly

Singapore 4-0 Maldives 

Scorer - Qiu Li (2) (The link only provide the second goal), Shi Jia Yi, Aleksander Duric

Singapore: Lionel Lewis (Izwan Mabud) (GK); Jumaat Jantan (Ruizaini Zainal); Daniel Bennett (Safuwan Baharudin); Hariss Harun (C); Ismail Yunos (Shaiful Esah); Isa Halim (Mustafic Fahrudin); Shi Jiayi (Shukor Zailan); Qiu Li (Hamqaamal Shah); Shahdan Sulaiman; Fazrul Nawas (Khairul Nizam); Aleksander Duric (Andrew Tan)

Nice words from Rohit Brinjnath but (Edited to add in the six-part series)

let say coming from SPH Straits Times, I am viewing it with a heavy does of salt.

This is nothing against the writer but more against the organisation as frankly SPH Straits Times have shown where it heart lie after all these years.

Having live through the years of Jeffery Low and Tan Cheong Kon - where the point make was Singapore football was shit, without Malaysia Cup football, no matter what .

If we win, it is because the other side was shit so we do not deserved anything and if we lose, it is because we deserved it as we are shit.

We cannot say Straits Times had the welfare of Singapore football on it pulse.

After all, where will one see an article anywhere in the world that tell us they are willing to give up international football and see Singapore grassroots football destroyed if we can return to a foreign country competition aka Malaysia Cup.

Do they care about Singapore football or Malaysia Cup football as these are two different entities.

 

No matter the common history, Malaysia Cup belong to FAM and they are it master thus to believe they will have the welfare of a foreign country playing in it league is farfetched.

For let not forget, years ago FAM promised BAFA they will take care of it as they shared a common history but when DPMM Brunei won and took the place of one of the Malaysian clubs slot in the Malaysia Cup, they immediately changed the laws ensuring no foreign sides are allowed to take part.

So much for a common history thus it should come as no surprise when BAFA got into troubles a while down the road, FAM did not even bat an eyelid and told it to leave the Malaysia League.

But let not say FAM is wrong as ultimately, neither Brunei nor Singapore is Malaysia 14th state so why should they take in the view or welfare of another football assoication.

After all, we cannot say we are that selfless ourselves for we see all the ASEAN FAs stepping in to 'help'  PSSI as it face a ban by FIFA.

But the solution is that the SEA Games football competition is held outside Indonesia so may one asked how it help Indonesia?

It does not as it meant to ensure the SEA Games football competition go on with or without Indonesia.

That why I find it hard to believe SPH Straits Times, at that time, could be that 'naive' and believed Malaysia Cup and Singapore are one entity.

It is more likely for selfish reasons as let be honest, we know which will bring in more money for them and frankly if Singapore football do get into trouble, SPH is not FAS so nobody will blamed it.

A no-lose situation for the organisation.  

SPH Straits Times may have 'changed' but let say I am a septic as it current six-part series may be more a show to appease talks that it does not do enough for local sports (not just football) despite being the national paper of Singapore.

Actions over the next six months may be a better indication than the six-part series, no matter what Rohit Brinjnath write.

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Part 1

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Part 2

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Part 3

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Part 4

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Part 5

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Part6