Author: Jacen

The Singapore football team will soon play the most important matches in the history of local football. Having reached the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time, they stand a good chance of achieving Goal 2010 (The country’s plan to reach the World Cup 2010, which nobody believed in and it was even scrapped).

Because of the upcoming group games in June 2008, FAS/SSC has decided to keep the National Stadium open for another few months/years, anticipating huge crowds to come support the Lions. But during last week’s friendly against Bahrain, only 5,000 fans turned up (it was 500 at time of kickoff, cos people have to rush down after Zo Gang). Maybe they can start the games later at 8pm to enable office crowd to get to the stadium in time.

How many times have I seen a ‘SOS for Kallang to roar’ article in the papers? I have resigned to the fact that fair-weather non-fans won’t turn up unless there’s a chance of winning something (Tiger AFC Cup finals, full house in Jan 2005 and Jan 2007). I estimate there are only 5,000 die hard Lions fans left in Singapore.

There was a closing ceremony match vs Australia in June 2007, and it wasn’t the last ever match in Kallang. Now speaking of last ever match, I’ve been hearing this for almost 4 years now. When will they decide to FINALLY have the last ever match? Many Singaporeans go ‘huh?’ when they hear there are games at Kallang again, ‘hasn’t it already closed?’

Kwa Giu (Watch Football) was filmed in Jan 2007 during the full-house Cup Final. I believe I managed to capture the last-ever full house crowd in Kallang. Believe me, when the stadium is filled, the atmosphere is intense. I will release the film when National Stadium finally closes. Otherwise I may bring a hammer.

But meanwhile, come support the Lions! Click here for details of Singapore vs Uzbekistan (2 Jun), Singapore vs Saudi Arabia (14 Jun).