Post by NightLord on Sept 10, 2003 20:19:43 GMT 8
Taken from Streats Online:
CHUA Kwee Peng is no fair-weather S-League fan.
The 28-year-old creative manager with Sterne & Lears Publishing has been through thick and thin with Sembawang Rangers since the inception of the S-League in 1996.
He even made a promise to the Stallions - till death do us part.
Chua goes beyond supporting the club at S-League matches.
At a time when companies are cutting costs, Chua had the audacity to ask his boss, Royston Loh, to extend a helping hand to the cash-strapped.
He persuaded his boss to donate an advertising board worth $500.
His company also takes care of the designing and printing of the matchday programme - Stable News -for all of Sembawang's home matches.
It costs about $3,500 to produce 2,500 copies which are distributed free during every home game.
Chua told Streats: "Sembawang have been trying to stay afloat for so many years without a main sponsor.
"So we are trying to help the club in whatever way we can. My boss agreed to sponsor the club because he admires the family spirit between the club and their fans."
The matchday programme not only carries the match preview but also the fans' views.
Said Chua: "The matchday programme acts as the voice of the fans.
"And we distribute the programme before the actual matchday so that the players get to read it.
"Recently, we criticised the players after a string of disappointing results. Their performance actually improved in the last two matches."
Sembawang are lying eighth out of 12 teams in the S-League.
Chua is not alone in his undying support for the northern-based club.
There are many like-minded fans.
He said: "Supporting Sembawang is a lifelong decision. I know a 70-year-old fan who swears at the players during every match.
"But come the next game, you will find him first in the queue."
It was only after much persuasion that Chua agreed to be interviewed.
And he did not want his photograph to be taken.
He said: "Sembawang fans are not the kind who will paint their faces and pose in front of the cameras.
"Once the broadcast media wanted to interview us. The club manager arranged for all of us to go to the stadium for the interview.
"But on the day of the interview, nobody showed up!"
Despite Chua's efforts, Sembawang are rumoured to be one of three clubs who may pull out of the S-League next year owing to the lack of sponsorship.
He said: "It will be a very sad day for all the fans if Sembawang opt out.
"But even if they play in the National Football League next year,I will still stand by my promise -till death do us part."
Fair-weather fan? Not Chua by any standard.
CHUA Kwee Peng is no fair-weather S-League fan.
The 28-year-old creative manager with Sterne & Lears Publishing has been through thick and thin with Sembawang Rangers since the inception of the S-League in 1996.
He even made a promise to the Stallions - till death do us part.
Chua goes beyond supporting the club at S-League matches.
At a time when companies are cutting costs, Chua had the audacity to ask his boss, Royston Loh, to extend a helping hand to the cash-strapped.
He persuaded his boss to donate an advertising board worth $500.
His company also takes care of the designing and printing of the matchday programme - Stable News -for all of Sembawang's home matches.
It costs about $3,500 to produce 2,500 copies which are distributed free during every home game.
Chua told Streats: "Sembawang have been trying to stay afloat for so many years without a main sponsor.
"So we are trying to help the club in whatever way we can. My boss agreed to sponsor the club because he admires the family spirit between the club and their fans."
The matchday programme not only carries the match preview but also the fans' views.
Said Chua: "The matchday programme acts as the voice of the fans.
"And we distribute the programme before the actual matchday so that the players get to read it.
"Recently, we criticised the players after a string of disappointing results. Their performance actually improved in the last two matches."
Sembawang are lying eighth out of 12 teams in the S-League.
Chua is not alone in his undying support for the northern-based club.
There are many like-minded fans.
He said: "Supporting Sembawang is a lifelong decision. I know a 70-year-old fan who swears at the players during every match.
"But come the next game, you will find him first in the queue."
It was only after much persuasion that Chua agreed to be interviewed.
And he did not want his photograph to be taken.
He said: "Sembawang fans are not the kind who will paint their faces and pose in front of the cameras.
"Once the broadcast media wanted to interview us. The club manager arranged for all of us to go to the stadium for the interview.
"But on the day of the interview, nobody showed up!"
Despite Chua's efforts, Sembawang are rumoured to be one of three clubs who may pull out of the S-League next year owing to the lack of sponsorship.
He said: "It will be a very sad day for all the fans if Sembawang opt out.
"But even if they play in the National Football League next year,I will still stand by my promise -till death do us part."
Fair-weather fan? Not Chua by any standard.
