Why I like Singapore Football ?

[NightLord]

Did you all ever ask urself this qns?

I never did...and one day when my teacher and my friends asked me why i like Singapore football?

I simply cannot answer them...

[NightLord]

This is what I wrote after my teachers and friends question me.

My maths teacher said that he don't understand why I like Singapore Soccer, his statement was echoed by my friend Gerald. Gerald said: "Yah, I also don't understand, the camera sucks, evryything sucks." Suprisingly, I don't know how to answer this question so I just smile to them.

I really wish to know why I like Singapore Soccer. There are other soccer leagues in the world which are ten times better than us and had superstars like Ronaldinho but why S-League is the only league I supported so passionately?

I watched the Spanish League, EPL, Italian Serie A, World Cup but why S-League still my favorite choice?

Even though Singapore football has let the fans down so many times but why I refuse to quit supporting Singapore football for good?

I asked my friends why I like S-League, some said because I am a Singaporean, I have to support my own league. However, I don't think that is the main reason why I supported S-League.

S-League started in 1996 and I remember that year, my school sold S-League bookmarks. Even though I only carry $1 per day that year, I saved up in order to get my hands on those bookmarks. Eventually, I collected them all! I still remember the sticker book and the stickers too bad I had lost them.

My love relationship with Geylang United begins in 1996. The team has Fandi, David Lee and stars like Mohammed Khapour went on to represent Iran in the France 98 World Cup.

That year we are the Tiger Beer Series champion and we did a treble before Manchester United did where we won the league, League Cup and the FA Cup. Strangely, Tampines Rovers are not our rivals that year instead is Woodlands Wellington!

I still remember former Geylang United player Kadhir Yaya said that they going to eat lamb chop for celebration after they had won Woodlands Wellington (Woodlands Wellington Mascot is RAM which explains why Kadhir Yaya say lamb chop) This phrase is still frequently used by Geylang United fans whenever we face Woodlands Wellington.

However, things started to turn out for the worst. Geylang United finished 5th in the Pioneer Series and the following season we ended up in 5th position also. Things are not that bad as it seemed as, youngsters like Indra Shadan and Ahmad Latiff is being groom, out goes Fandi (The Fans never forgive him), David Lee and Khapour.

We finish 3rd and 4th respectively in the following 2 seasons and then we turn to prime league coach Jang Jung to guide us to the top where we truly belong.

I still remember the 1999 to 2001 season is the best as we hold the record of attaining 100% record win in Choa Chu Kang (SAFFC Home Ground) and we are the jinx team of Home United. Sadly, all these records no longer perserve as Home United and SAFFC beaten us in season 2002 and 2003.

Jang Jung guided us to Champion again in 2001. We used the B&B combination in the midfield, Bone and Bothwell! We also have Lionel Lewis or sometimes Shahril Jantan. Not forgetting, the 'ang moh' marker Winston Yap. Fans invaded the pitch to get hold of the trophy but sadly our happiness is short-due as for some reason, we lost 8-0 in Singapore Cup Final.

Everyone left except for Noor Ali, Bothwell, Lionel, Duric left for the 2002 season. We had no choice but to use more youngsters.

The 2001-2003 season is the beginning of the love-hate relationship between Tampines Rovers and Geylang United. Newspaper give them the tag of Eastern Derby. No one like to lose. I still remember on 2002, out of the 3 Eastern Derbies matches played, We drew twice only for Tampines Rovers to win us in the last round of the derby match. The match ended 2-1, I still remember.

Is there another reason I supported S-League? I not too sure but I enjoy throwing ice packets onto the pitch, hurl abuse at refrees when things do not go our way. I still remember a group of tampines Rovers fans were unhappy with the refree that they went to protest outside the refree room.


Some say other leagues do have fans throwing things onto the pitch but hey! You are watching on TV but I am experiencing real-life incident even though it might not be exciting than other league.

Being a 'kpo', I went to see myself what happened. Not forgetting the passionate fans of clubs like Sembawang Rangers and Sengkang Marine.

Ar! Not forgetting the 1812 incident (Wonder why fans remember the date so easily? hehe).

Hopefully, when the day my children asked me why I like Singapore football, I could answer them. For now, I will continue searching for the answer...

[Rangers]

I am touched to read your article.And its truth, its very difficult to explain why we like Singapore football...just like why we fall in love with a particular gal... ;D...It could be the passion, it could be the way the team plays, the never say die attitude etc. And of course the main reason should be because we are Singaporeans...

[Admin]

Let me add abit...although its abit out of point...Some people must be wondering why I created this forum, especially now that Sembawang might not be even in S-League next season. I think not everything you do in life must have purpose in it. Instead, you want to do what you will not feel regret not doing in the future. And same thing here, why we like Singapore football need not neccessary need to have an answer for it. If we like something, and it does not contradict or affect negatively and adversely to those people around us and the society in general, just go for it, just do it.

[NightLord]

Looks like we can't find an answer for this qns

Anyway, today I told my friend prelim next week very boring because got CL, he told me CL boring lah...got S-League and I immediately ask him why he like Singapore soccer?

he told me it is very exciting to watch geylang youngsters to grow up...

[Rangers]

That could one of the answers to your question...to be able to identify and bonded with the players and the club closely...

[Cloud]

This is what we call... IDENTIFICATION